Shopping for a bi-directional scan tool before Black Friday usually comes down to Kingbolen vs iCarsoft, two direct-to-consumer scanner brands. Both sell all-system scanners in the $300 to $600 range, and both have sales running right now. But the fine print is very different: one charges a 15% restocking fee, the other can take up to a month to deliver if your model isn't in a local warehouse.
We checked the prices of each store's main scanners on their own websites on October 28, 2026, and read both stores' shipping, refund and warranty pages. Below you'll find the quick answer, a side-by-side table, what a return would really cost, and which tool fits which kind of buyer.
The quick answer
- Cheapest bi-directional option: the Kingbolen Ediag Elite at $74.99 (listed at $99.99). It's a Bluetooth dongle that runs through a phone app, not a tablet, but it does all-system scans and active tests on 120+ makes.
- Best value tablet under $350: close call. The Kingbolen K7 is $349 (was $499) and adds online ECU coding; the iCarsoft CR Pro S is $329.99 (was $489.99). Pick the K7 if you might return it, because Kingbolen doesn't list a restocking fee.
- Newer cars (2019+ GM, recent BMW): the Kingbolen K8 Pro at $549 (was $799) supports DoIP; the K7 does not.
- You own one brand of car (BMW, Mercedes, VW/Audi, Porsche, Volvo): iCarsoft's single-brand V4.0 tools at $229.99 to $249.99 go deep on one make and let you add two more vehicle groups free.
- Fastest, most predictable delivery: iCarsoft ships free to the Lower 48 with a stated 7 to 14 business days. Kingbolen can be faster (2 to 7 working days from a local warehouse) or much slower (7 to 30+ days from another warehouse).
Kingbolen's official store sells KINGBOLEN and EDIAG OBD2 scanners, from $75 Bluetooth dongles to 10-inch bi-directional tablets, plus LAUNCH and THINKCAR tools, with USD pricing, a 30-day return window and lifetime free updates on many models.
Kingbolen vs iCarsoft: prices side by side
All prices are each store's own price and its listed regular price on October 28, 2026.
Tool | Price | Was | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
Kingbolen Ediag Elite | $74.99 | $99.99 | Phone dongle, bi-directional |
iCarsoft E660 | $119.99 | $189.99 | 4 systems only, no active tests |
iCarsoft CR Genius | $189.99 | $369.95 | Clearance, 49% off |
iCarsoft V4.0 (one brand) | $229.99–$249.99 | $329.99–$369.95 | Deep single-make coverage |
iCarsoft CR Pro S | $329.99 | $489.99 | Tablet, bi-directional |
Kingbolen K7 | $349 | $499 | ECU coding, no DoIP |
Kingbolen K8 Pro | $549 | $799 | DoIP + CAN FD |
iCarsoft CR Max P | $599.99 | $819.99 | 10-inch, topology map |
The headline markdowns are similar: 25% to 31% on Kingbolen's three main scanners and 27% to 49% on the iCarsoft tools above. The biggest percentage cut (CR Genius at 49%) is a clearance item, so check its stock note before counting on it.
What does a return cost at each store?
This is the biggest difference between the two, and it matters if you aren't 100% sure the tool covers your car.
- iCarsoft: 30 days from delivery, new and unopened, with written approval first. Non-defective returns pay a 15% restocking fee, and software that has been downloaded or activated isn't refundable. On a $329.99 CR Pro S that fee alone is about $49.50.
- Kingbolen: 30 days from delivery, item undamaged and like-new with all packaging and accessories. The refund policy doesn't mention a restocking fee, but you pay return shipping on a change-of-mind return: the cost of the store's return label is taken out of your refund.
Kingbolen's older return page says there is no return handling fee and gives a 90-day window from the order date, which doesn't match the current refund policy. If you're counting on a return, get the terms from support in writing before you open the box.
With either store, the cheapest insurance is to check vehicle coverage first. iCarsoft has a check-by-VIN page before you buy; with Kingbolen, ask support with your VIN.
Shipping: predictable vs possibly faster
- iCarsoft ships free to the Lower 48 (Hawaii and Alaska pay $75 to $93). Orders are processed in 24 to 48 hours and the policy says 7 to 14 business days. Some product descriptions promise 3 to 5 days from a U.S. warehouse, so treat that as a best case. No P.O. boxes or APO/FPO.
- Kingbolen lists warehouses in the U.S. and several other countries, and ships from Shenzhen when local stock runs out. In-stock orders take 2 to 7 working days; orders from another warehouse can take 7 to 30+ days. The home page says free shipping with no minimum, but the cart asks for $50 more to qualify, so check the total at checkout.
If you need the tool before a specific date, like a holiday gift, ask Kingbolen which warehouse your order ships from.
Software updates: who charges later?
Most tools at both stores advertise lifetime free updates, including the Ediag Elite, K7, K8 Pro, CR Pro S and CR Max P. The exceptions are at the top of each lineup:
- iCarsoft's CR Ultra, CR Unicorn and CR Unicorn S use a paid update card, sold at $399 for one year.
- Kingbolen's K10 Pro ($779) includes 2 years of free updates, then the renewal is $359 a year.
Kingbolen also sells a $359 renewal labeled "K8" even though the K8 Pro page promises lifetime free updates, so confirm with support which model that renewal covers.
Warranty
- iCarsoft: one year from delivery for defects in materials or workmanship.
- Kingbolen: the warranty policy says 1 year for all products, while the K7 and K8 Pro product pages say 2 years. Save a screenshot of the product page when you order.
Is there a Black Friday sale yet?
Not officially. We re-checked both stores on November 1, 2026, and neither had announced a Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale. The prices in the table above hadn't changed.
- iCarsoft's Halloween 2026 sale page was still up on November 1, even though Halloween is over. It never listed an end date, so its extra $10 code (Halloween2026) could stop working at any time. Don't count on it; the regular sale prices in the table don't need a code.
- Kingbolen's home page still shows a flash sale of up to 45% off select scanners, with no end date.
Black Friday is November 27, 2026. Both stores already discount their main tools by 25% to 49%, so if a model you want is in stock at today's price, waiting is a gamble. We track both stores daily on our Black Friday deals page.
Which one should you buy?
- DIYer on a budget, one or two cars: Kingbolen Ediag Elite ($74.99), or iCarsoft E660 ($119.99) if you only need engine, transmission, ABS and airbag codes and want a standalone handheld.
- You mostly work on one European brand: an iCarsoft V4.0 for that make.
- Serious home mechanic, mixed cars up to about 2018: Kingbolen K7 ($349) or iCarsoft CR Pro S ($329.99). The K7's lack of a restocking fee is the tiebreaker for us.
- Newer GM, BMW or other DoIP cars: Kingbolen K8 Pro ($549).
- You want the bigger screen and a topology view: iCarsoft CR Max P ($599.99).
For more car electronics, see our pages for Carpuride CarPlay screens and FitcamX dash cams.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on CouponJolt. Prices change often; we list the date we checked each one. Follow CouponJolt on Facebook for deals we check every day.
