DIY vs. done-for-you

The plug-and-play alternative to the Tesla Android Project

If you've been looking at the Tesla Android Project — the open-source, Raspberry-Pi way to run Android on your Tesla's screen — TessDrive is the finished, supported alternative built on a purpose-made streaming chipset with real, full hardware video encoding and decoding, for a smooth, no-compromise picture. There's no Pi to build, and it stays current automatically over the air.

What the Tesla Android Project is

The Tesla Android Project is a free, open-source effort maintained by volunteers. You run it on a Raspberry Pi 4 (or Compute Module 4), flash its Android image yourself, and the Tesla's built-in browser connects over WiFi to show the screen. It's a genuinely clever project, and if you enjoy tinkering and want something free, it's a great option — provided "as is," with no warranty and no commercial support. It also offers ready-made units for people who'd rather not build one, which get online through a wired hotspot or a cellular modem, and it delivers updates over the air, including A/B field updates to deployed devices.

Where TessDrive is different

• Purpose-built streaming hardware. It runs on a chipset made for media, with full hardware video encoding and decoding — not a general-purpose Raspberry Pi — so the stream stays smooth and no-compromise.
• Built-in storage, not an SD card. TessDrive stores everything on fast, durable built-in storage. The DIY build runs from a microSD card, which is slower and can wear out or corrupt over time.
• A different way of getting online. TessDrive uses your phone's hotspot or WiFi you already have; the Tesla Android Project's units use a wired hotspot or cellular modem. Neither is better or worse — it's just two approaches, and you can pick whichever fits how you already connect.
• Finished and supported. It's a complete device with commercial support and a warranty. Like the Project, improvements arrive over the air — no re-flashing — so your device stays current on its own.

The honest trade: it's a paid, one-time purchase rather than free software. You're paying to have it just work, stream cleanly, and stay current. See how TessDrive works →

What they have in common

Both put genuine Android — not phone mirroring — on your Tesla's screen through the built-in browser over WiFi, with nothing wired into the car, and both deliver over-the-air updates — including A/B field updates to devices already deployed. And like the project it shares a concept with, TessDrive is built on Android and Linux and publishes its required GPL kernel source and license attributions. The difference comes down to the hardware it runs on, how you prefer to get online, and whether you want a supported, finished product or a build-it-yourself project. Compare all the options →

Which Teslas?

Any Tesla with a modern browser (MCU2 or newer): all Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck, and Model S / Model X from roughly mid-2018 onward, or an older S/X upgraded to MCU2.

Explore TessDrive   Compare all options

TessDrive is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Tesla Android Project or its maintainers, or with Tesla, Inc. Names are used only to describe and compare. "Raspberry Pi" is a trademark of Raspberry Pi Ltd.