Last Updated: 10.12.2020

The Chevrolet Camaro SS won the 2016 Motor Trend Car award because it’s lightweight, with a well-designed body and engine to effectively improve its world-class sports car performance and dynamics. But if you still want more oomph to this already incredible machine, you might want to check out what a tuner can do for it. We’ve round-up the best Camaro SS tuners in the industry today to help you quickly find the device that will make you love your car even more.

[Don’t know the difference between a tuner and a programmer? Read our Ultimate Guide to Tuners, Programmers, and Chips.]

Note: Not every device will work with every model year of the Camaro SS. To check if your Camaro model will be compatible with the device listed, you can run a check on the manufacturer’s website.

The 4 Best Tuners for Camaro SS:

    1. Jet Performance Programmer – the best tuner for Camaro SS
    2. DiabloSport 8200 inTune i3 Performance Programmer 3rd Generation inTune 50-State Legal inTune i3 Performance Programmer
    3. Innovative Performance Chip/Power Programmer for Chevrolet Camaro 2.5L, 2.8L, 3.1L, 3.4L, 3.6L, 3.8L, 5.0L, 5.7L, 6.2L and 7.0L
    4. Bully Dog GT Platinum Performance Tuner

Our Recommendations

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REVIEWS YOU CAN TRUST 

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Our Recommendations:

1. Best Pick: Jet Performance Programmer – the best tuner for Camaro SS

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The Jet Performance Programmer is perfect if you need a balance between price and functionality. This small, yet powerful, device improves your car’s drivability and MPG with only a few adjustments and saves you a couple hundred of dollars compared to some of the other tuners on our list. You can use the pre-loaded tune, but if you already know what needs to be changed to improve its performance, manual tuning is great for you.

Manual Tuning Gives Better Parameter Control

The Jet Performance Programmer is the right tuner if you’re on a budget and you know what your car needs. Some programmers have pre-loaded tunes where you can’t adjust anything; these tunes might not be able to deliver the performance improvements you want. This tuner solves that problem for you. It’ll let you to come up with a specialized tune according to your driving needs, such as adjustments on your tire size, throttle response, and transmission shift. And in case your teenager wants to borrow your car, plug it in first and decrease your speed limit so you’re guaranteed that he or she won’t be trying to hide a speeding ticket from you.

Go Back to Square One Whenever You Want

The Jet Performance Programmer allows you to experiment with different parameter settings. So if you’re not happy about the tune, you can always go back to the stock tune that’s been automatically backed up, and calibrate a new tune again.

Why should you purchase it?

If you’re trying to save some money, the Jet Performance Programmer is your best bet. If you’re experienced with tunes, you won’t be paying extra for features you don’t need. You can also set the speed limit so you can rest easy that you or someone who wants to borrow your car won’t go beyond the speed limit. It’s also a great buy because you can alter your parameters manually, rather than only relying on a pre-loaded tune, which will give you more control over your Camaro’s performance.

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Pros

  • Lets you adjust your speed limit
  • Quick stock tune backup
  • Adjust the pre-loaded tune to your specs
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Cons

  • No special features apart from tuning

2. Simply Great:  DiabloSport 8200 inTune i3 Performance Programmer 3rd Generation inTune 50-State Legal inTune i3 Performance Programmer

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If you’re someone who is always looking for more horsepower and response from your Camaro then you should certainly consider DiabloSport’s inTune i3 programmer. In its latest version, the 8200 module is the ideal way to boost horsepower without fiddling much under the hood of your vehicle. 

Use it everywhere in the US

It has 50-state certification which adds to the peace of mind. It’s fairly easy to hook up to the OBD diagnostic port and once plugged in, this inTune i3 programmer is proven to deliver better response, drivability, and expansion of horsepower gain lower down the rev range for real-world performance.  

Why should you purchase it?

Naturally you shouldn’t expect huge gains because this thing is basically only a tuner. That said, if you feel your Camaro is not as responsive as it should be, this tuner will sort that out. According to many users, this module results in a big difference in the way the engine and transmission interact to deliver stronger performance. All in all, you’ll benefit from a linear performance from the motor and a more responsive transmission when hitting throttle or driving across mountains.  

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Pros

  • Improved bottom-end performance
  • 50-state emissions compliant
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Cons

  • Lacks custom tuning capabilities

3. Quick and Easy:  Innovative Performance Chip/Power Programmer for Chevrolet Camaro 2.5L, 2.8L, 3.1L, 3.4L, 3.6L, 3.8L, 5.0L, 5.7L, 6.2L and 7.0L

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Performance chips are generally the easiest ways to up the power in any modern engine and while there are plenty of options available in the market, few deliver on what the box says. Innovative Performance’s chip is among the effective ones when it comes to unlocking the hidden performance and efficiency of your Camaro.

Quick installation

Like all other aftermarket chips, this one does its magic by sending signals through the motor’s stock sensor that the ECM observes. The customized signals then enable the stock ECM to produce a more efficient mix of air and fuel to go with the motor’s timing ultimately to deliver more horsepower. Meanwhile, installation is a matter of minutes and doesn’t require any tampering with the physical components of the motor.

Why should you purchase it?

The company claims that you can achieve up to 35 horsepower gain and 5MPG in gas mileage, huge numbers really considering it’s just a chip. We think that it’s worth going for this product even if you’re able to partially experience these claims. Another important thing to consider is that this chip doesn’t void the warranty and is compatible with pretty much all the versions of the Camaro right from the base 2.5 all the way to the fire breathing 7-liter cars.  

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Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Doesn’t void warranty
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Cons

  • Results may vary at times

4. Bully Dog GT Platinum Performance Tuner

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Regain the power your Camaro SS used to have by using the Bully Dog GT Platinum Performance Tuner. This device is in their gas tuner line that allows you to increase speed, improve your fuel mileage, and boost torque for seamless towing capabilities. It’s also really easy to get the latest updates for the Bully Dog GT Platinum. You just download them online via Bully Dog’s free software.

3 Pre-Loaded Tunes To Start the Fun Immediately

The Bully Dog GT Platinum Performance tuner is a small device that you can mount on your dash or stick to your windshield. It’s not touchscreen but it has buttons on each side to help you navigate and load a tune quickly. It comes with three pre-loaded tunes namely Tow/Economy, Regular and Premium. For your Camaro SS, make sure you’re using 91 or 93 octane fuel to use the Premium tune. If you’re using 87 octane fuel, use the Tow or Regular tune. Never attempt to use the Premium tune with 87 octane fuel since it could potentially damage your engine.

Space for 10 Custom Tunes If You Want to Get Fancy

If you have some aftermarket parts on your car and you’re not happy about the performance of these pre-loaded tunes, you can always contact Bully Dog or your local trusted tuner so they can provide you with a custom tune that will match your current setup. The device can store up to ten custom tunes so you can store different tunes for specific performance concerns, such as towing, fuel efficiency, and so on. You’ll be able to aggressively test the engine with each tune to help you find the right ECU program for your car.

Exclusive “Driving Coach” to Improve Your Driving Style

Bully Dog GT Platinum also has a “Driving Coach” feature. It is an exclusive program that assesses your driving habits. It’ll give you feedback on how you can improve your performance on the road so you’re not damaging your engine with the tune you’ve installed or just maximize your car’s fuel efficiency.

Why Should You Purchase It?

If you’re someone who wants to explore what your Camaro SS can do, the Bully Dog GT Platinum is for you. The space for ten custom tunes will let you play with different calibrations so you can try something different every day. Additionally, it offers great feedback on how you should improve your habits on the road so your car can achieve its optimum performance. But if you just want to start playing immediately, the tuner has three pre-loaded tunes right out of the box.

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Pros

  • Exclusive Driving Coach Feature
  • Saves up to 10 custom tunes
  • Downloadable updates from the internet
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Cons

  • Not a touchscreen

What is the best tuner for a Camaro SS?

Don’t hesitate! If you want to experience the best performance of your Camaro SS, get in on tuning. If you’re still skeptical about the benefits, watch the suggested videos and see how the devices work in more detail.

If you have a tight budget, yet you still want to get performance boosts, get the Jet Performance Programmer. If you’re looking for a tuner that will work no matter where you are in the US, the DiabloSport’s inTune i3 Programmer  is your best option. However, iOn the other hand, if you don’t want to mess with the warranty and want a quick install, you should go with the Innovative Performance Chip/Power Programmer. But if you want to splurge and get a better handle on how your car performs when you’re on the road, the Bully Dog GT Platinum Performance Tuner is your best bet.

If we can leave you with one piece of knowledge it’s this: once you’ve experienced your Camaro with a tune installed, you’ll never want to go back to stock.