There MAY be stand alone plug in tools but VCDS is a windows based software you run on a laptop with USB port and buy the cable / dongle from Ross Tech. The full version comes in three forms. The first is for up to 3 VINs, the second 10 VINs and the third unlimited VINs. Each time you use the program the software determins if it constitutes a life from the VIN count and will work on the same car again without using another life. Once the lifes are used the cable will still work on other cars but is far more limited. Extra lifes can be bought as an upgrade.