Shop management software writes estimates and repair orders, schedules bays, tracks parts and technician time, and takes payment.
This guide ranks twelve products on what the first ninety days cost, the price once texting, inspections and payments are added, how your records leave, and whether you can buy, run and leave without a partner. Two are heavy-duty or UK-specific.
Vendors can pay for visibility on this page. It never changes what an entry
says about a product, including the criticism, and we earn nothing when you click through to a
vendor. How that works.
In short
What auto repair shop software does
Auto repair shop software handles estimates, repair orders, appointments, parts ordering, technician time, customer messaging and invoicing for independent garages and service centres, usually as a monthly subscription per location.
In this order: setup effort, what it really costs, how your data comes back out, whether
you can leave, and who each auto repair shop tool is built for. One rule sits on top of those tests:
Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands in a category, wherever the category has them; the established names follow from place 4 in their ranked order. Why those five, and why there is no
score out of ten, is on the how we work page.
Free plan for MTD VAT filing; one published monthly plan; 14-day trial
Yes
Small UK garages replacing paper job cards and spreadsheets at minimal monthly cost
Multi-bay workshops needing inspections, parts ordering or payments integrations
Country is where the vendor is headquartered or contracts from, which is a
different question from where your data is hosted. Where the two tell different stories, the
entry says so.
Per-shop pricing with unlimited users and no long-term contract
Ranked #1 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
The entry tier already covers digital inspections, inventory and vendor management, and digital authorisations, so a small shop can start there. The price that matters for most buyers is the third tier, because two-way texting, a technician board and the real-time dashboard sit there.
Migration is offered from over 150 other systems, with details depending on the source system. Annual terms need 30 days' cancellation notice before renewal.
What stands out
Unlimited users
Month-to-month
Per-shop tiers
Where it costs you
Two-way texting sits on the third tier, so a shop that wants customer replies pays the higher price level.
Payments, marketing, tyre and multi-shop modules cost extra, and subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled.
Right for
Independent single-location shops wanting unlimited staff logins and monthly billing without a contract
Wrong for
Buyers who want a hands-on trial before talking to sales
United StatesPer shop per month in tiers, published; demo only
Three published tiers with included seats and a clear add-on list
Ranked #2 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
Two-way text and email, estimates, invoices, integrated payments and the mobile app are in the cheapest tier. Inventory, purchase orders and time clocks begin at the middle tier, and coupons and automated estimate follow-ups at the top one.
Labour guides and parts lookups come from Motor, while heavy-duty lookups are a separate paid add-on with custom pricing. Multi-location groups are quoted individually, with user pricing by agreement.
What stands out
Included seats
Add-on modules
Annual discount
Where it costs you
Included seats stop at three to five, and every extra user is charged monthly.
Data migration has a one-time fee, and the CRM add-on costs more than the Basic plan itself.
Right for
Growing independent shops wanting mobile apps, parts lookup and texting inside the base plan
Wrong for
Larger teams or shops that need many users on a tight budget
United StatesPer month in three published tiers; extra users and multi-shop priced separately
Tiered plans with a one-time setup fee covering migration and training
Ranked #3 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
The entry tier holds the work board, estimates, CARFAX vehicle history, canned jobs and standard inspections. Two-way texting, inventory and labour guides begin at the middle tier, and the top tier adds the newer inspection tools and a real-time dashboard.
Maintenance schedules and diagrams carry additional fees in the lower tiers. The vendor lists offices in Atlanta and Toronto and says it supports data from more than 65 sources.
What stands out
Setup fee
Demo only
Order-form terms
Where it costs you
The setup fee amount is not published, so the first-year cost cannot be calculated from the website.
Order-form terms renew automatically, and a login works on one device at a time.
Right for
Shops that want migration, training and implementation handled for them in one setup fee
Wrong for
Shops wanting to test the product themselves before paying
United StatesPer month in three published tiers; one-time setup fee; enterprise by agreement
Cloud garage management from Nottingham on a one-month rolling contract
Ranked #4 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingEurope
The feature list includes estimates and jobsheets, a live-diary online booking tool, customer online job authorisation, electronic vehicle health checks and technician time clocking.
It also names Power BI dashboards, multi-site capability and advanced data filtering and exporting, which matters for exit. Hosting is described as Microsoft cloud storage with automated backups, and a community channel for customers is advertised.
What stands out
One-month rolling
UK MOT tools
Autodata link
Where it costs you
The pricing page gives one starting price and no tier breakdown, so a real quote needs a conversation.
MOT and Autodata features are UK-specific, which limits its use for shops elsewhere.
Right for
UK independent garages wanting MOT reminders, Autodata and a one-month contract
Wrong for
Shops outside the United Kingdom needing local tax or MOT tooling
United KingdomFrom a stated monthly price on a one-month rolling contract; published
Month-to-month plans with unlimited users, run by a larger portfolio vendor
Ranked #5 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
All plans bring the AI Parts Matrix, the digital vehicle experience, inventory management and integrated parts ordering. Unlimited two-way texting, the MOTOR labour guide and batch payments start at the second tier, and the analytics suite at the third.
The vendor describes migration from more than 150 systems and a Customer Success Specialist who builds a transition plan. Pricing is per location, with separate terms for multi-shop groups.
What stands out
Unlimited users
Month-to-month
Vehlo portfolio
Where it costs you
Data migration, the accounting link and payment transactions all carry separate fees.
The CRM and online scheduler need the top tier or a paid add-on, and the vendor sits inside a larger group.
Right for
Single and multi-shop owners wanting unlimited staff logins with a dedicated onboarding specialist
Wrong for
Buyers who want an independent vendor or a self-serve trial
United StatesPer month in four published tiers; month-to-month option; demo only
Four tiers with unlimited users and published data-transfer prices
Ranked #6 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
Gold has calendars, inventory, time clocks and embedded payments, with transaction fees applying. Platinum adds repair guides, a business intelligence dashboard and fuller inspections, and Premier adds a website and custom training.
The data transfer price list distinguishes customer and vehicle data from a full history move. The vendor says it launched web-based in 2012 and describes its owner as CSB Technologies, a Vehlo entity.
What stands out
Unlimited users
Priced data transfer
Vehlo group
Where it costs you
The refund under the Growth Guarantee is a gift card, and cancellation is only penalty-free after the first 90 days.
Online scheduling and CRM sit on the most expensive package or a separate add-on.
Right for
Owners wanting every user and text included, plus a printed price for data transfer
Wrong for
Shops needing online booking without paying for the top package
United StatesPer month in four published tiers; data transfer priced separately; demo only
Cloud shop management since 2003, sold in four packages
Ranked #7 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
The core package lists integrated accounting, parts and labour guides, inventory, linear parts and labour matrices, integrated payments and a basic inspection tool.
Higher packages add AutoServe1 inspections or a high-performance website with search optimisation and Google Ads enablement. Pricing is also shown in Canadian dollars, which suggests a North American footprint, and the footer states the product is made in the USA.
What stands out
Cloud since 2003
Bundled marketing
Vehlo group
Where it costs you
The core package is the most expensive entry price in this guide, and extras raise it further.
No trial or contract terms are shown on the pricing page.
Right for
Established shops wanting parts and labour matrices plus accounting inside one cloud system
Wrong for
Small shops comparing entry prices before adding extras
United StatesPer month in four published packages; Canadian dollar prices shown; demo only
Cloud shop management at a flat published monthly price, owned by AutoZone
Ranked #8 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
Manage Online is the highest-priced of ALLDATA's three shop management products on the page, above Shop Manager and Shop Manager Pro. Named features include job groupings, deferred work tracking, vendor-specific price matrices, a work-in-progress screen, technician cost and time tracking, and Canadian tax codes.
It exports to QuickBooks Desktop and integrates with QuickBooks Online, myCARFAX, Demandforce and MechanicNet, and the page lists several parts catalogues.
What stands out
Flat price
AutoZone company
Cloud platform
Where it costs you
The first parts catalogue listed is AutoZone, which the site names as ALLDATA's parent company.
Demo and purchase are by phone, and the page shows no trial or exit terms.
Right for
Shops that want one flat published subscription with a built-in CRM and QuickBooks export
Wrong for
Shops wanting a texting-first workflow or a published trial
United StatesFlat monthly or annual subscription, published; demo by phone
Shop manager from the Mitchell 1 repair-information group
Ranked #9 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Pricing on requestNorth America
The estimating tool is described as driven by the Snap-on Digital Engine, with job view grouping labour and parts into containers.
Optional modules cover OneFlow inspections and estimator, integrated payment processing, a ProPack toolbox of templates, MessageCenter texting and an accounting link. Multi-location shops are pointed to ManagerEnterprise Pro. The vendor lists a San Diego address and offers a no-obligation demo.
What stands out
Snap-on group
Optional modules
Daily cloud backup
Where it costs you
No price is shown on the product pages, so the cost is unknown until a conversation.
Inspections, texting and payments are optional modules, and data sits on the shop computer with a cloud backup.
Right for
Shops already using Mitchell 1 repair information that want a matching shop manager
Wrong for
Buyers wanting a published price or a browser-only system
United StatesNot shown on the product pages; sold through demo and ordering terms
Heavy-duty repair shop and fleet platform on annual agreements
Ranked #10 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
The entry plan covers estimates, parts and inventory, payments and reporting for up to five users, while the middle plan adds AI technician notes, QuickBooks and telematics integrations.
The top plan connects to Mitchell 1 ProDemand and TruckSeries and adds advanced parts pricing. Fullbay lists a Phoenix mailing address and is incorporated in Delaware. Fleet modules cover preventive maintenance, DVIR defects and asset history.
What stands out
Heavy-duty trucks
Annual agreement
Per-user add-ons
Where it costs you
The terms state Fullbay need not provide a data export after termination.
Extra users are charged per month, and the annual agreement limits flexibility.
Right for
Diesel and commercial truck shops and fleets needing heavy-duty workflows
Wrong for
Passenger car shops, which gain little from heavy-duty features
United StatesThree published tiers per month with per-user add-ons; annual agreement
UK-hosted workshop system for tyre and mechanical work, sold by demo
Ranked #11 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Pricing on requestEurope
The page describes online bookings, live visibility of workshop activity, parts and stock availability, digital job tracking, vehicle lookups, automated updates and confirmations, and approvals and invoicing.
Payments are handled inside the platform. Hosting is described as UK-hosted with automatic updates. A related Autowork family and Autocat parts catalogue exist, and a brochure is offered with the demo form.
What stands out
UK-hosted
Tyre and mechanical
Demo-led
Where it costs you
No prices, trial or exit terms are shown on the product page.
The vendor sells many unrelated products, so garage software is one line among several.
Right for
UK garages and tyre depots doing mechanical and tyre work in one system
Wrong for
Buyers outside the UK who need local tax or payment tools
United KingdomNo prices on the product page; sold through a demo
Sole-trader UK garage software with a low published monthly price
Ranked #12 of 12 in Best Auto Repair Shop Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingEurope
The workshop plan lists digital job cards, quotes converted to jobs in one click, printable and emailed VAT invoices, MOT and service reminders, a registration lookup, customer and vehicle records, bookings and revenue insights.
It says unlimited jobs, customers and vehicles. A free plan covers VAT filing. The founder describes building it with a garage in Connah's Quay, and the privacy policy lists a London address.
What stands out
Sole trader
Low price
Young product
Where it costs you
The HMRC VAT filing feature is marked as application pending.
The legal form is a sole trader, so continuity rests on one owner.
Right for
Small UK garages replacing paper job cards and spreadsheets at minimal monthly cost
Wrong for
Multi-bay workshops needing inspections, parts ordering or payments integrations
United KingdomFree plan for MTD VAT filing; one published monthly plan; 14-day trial
Auto repair shop software handles estimates, repair orders, appointments, parts ordering, technician time, customer messaging and invoicing for independent garages and service centres, usually as a monthly subscription per location. The differences that matter are rarely in the feature list, so this is
the order we would work through them.
01
Decide whether you need a published price
10 of the 12 tools here publish what they cost; the other 2 quote per organisation. The ones you can compare without a sales call: Tekmetric, Shopmonkey, AutoLeap, Garage Hive, Shop-Ware, Shop Boss, Protractor, ALLDATA Manage Online, Fullbay, GarageBooks.
02
Decide how much the jurisdiction matters
These 12 vendors are established in 2 countries across 2 regions (North America 9, Europe 3). That decides whose disclosure law applies to what the vendor holds, wherever the servers are.
How auto repair shop software is priced
Most products here sell tiers per shop per month, but what the tiers include differs. Tekmetric and Shop-Ware charge per shop with unlimited users, Shopmonkey includes three to five seats and charges for each extra one, and Fullbay prices a user licence beyond the first. Two-way texting, a technician board and fuller inspections usually sit above the cheapest tier, so the price a shop actually pays is often the second or third one.
Payments add transaction fees, and marketing or CRM bundles are priced separately. Shop Boss, for example, puts its CRM and online scheduler on the top package or a monthly add-on, and Shopmonkey sells its CRM bundle as a module costing more than its Basic plan. A fair comparison therefore prices the same set of features in every product, not the same tier name.
Write down which tier holds two-way texting, inspections and inventory, and price that tier.
Count every person who needs a login, then check the seat price.
Ask for the payment processing rate and any transaction fees in writing.
Moving records into and out of a shop system
Almost every vendor handles inbound data, but the terms differ. Tekmetric says it migrates from over 150 systems, Shop Boss prints a price for two levels of transfer, Shopmonkey notes a one-time migration fee and AutoLeap includes migration in a one-time setup fee. Outbound is rarer to see in writing. Fullbay's terms say it has no obligation to provide a data export after termination, and Garage Hive lists advanced filtering and exporting.
Repair history is what a shop cannot rebuild, so test an export before you sign. Shop-Ware and Tekmetric both describe migration from more than 150 systems, which helps a shop moving in but says nothing about moving out. Ask each vendor what a leaving customer receives, in what format, and how soon after cancellation the records are deleted.
Ask whether repair history and inventory move too, or only customers and vehicles.
Request the export format and a sample file during the demo.
Read the termination clause for what happens to your records.
Contracts, trials and cancellation
Contract terms vary more than the price list suggests. Tekmetric says no long-term contract is required but renews automatically, and annual terms need 30 days' notice. Shop-Ware offers month-to-month with a discount for annual billing. Garage Hive uses a one-month rolling contract. AutoLeap's terms set the length on an order form with a minimum annual commitment unless specified otherwise, and Fullbay sells annual agreements billed monthly.
Most vendors offer a demo rather than a trial, so you pay before you have run a real week. Shop Boss attaches a guarantee to its two higher packages, but the refund is a gift card for one month and needs repair order history from your previous system. Treat any guarantee as a marketing term, and read the conditions as carefully as the price.
Ask for the term length, renewal date and notice period before signing.
Check whether cancellation requires a rep, a form or a date before renewal.
Ask for a trial extract of your own estimates before paying.
Heavy-duty, tyre and regional fit
A passenger-car shop and a diesel truck shop need different tools. Fullbay is built for heavy-duty repair and fleets, Shopmonkey sells a separate heavy-duty lookup add-on, and Mitchell 1 sells a Truck Edition of Manager SE. In the United Kingdom, Garage Hive and Autowork Online carry MOT and local tooling, while GarageBooks targets small garages and Making Tax Digital VAT.
Tyre-heavy shops should check whether tyre quoting and ordering sit in the base plan or in an extra suite, since Tekmetric sells a tire suite as an add-on and AutoLeap lists tyre ordering in its feature table. Protractor shows prices in US and Canadian dollars, a hint at where its customers are.
Confirm the vehicle classes the labour guide covers.
Check tyre quoting, DOT tracking or MOT features if your shop relies on them.
Confirm the vendor supports your country's tax and payment setup.
What goes wrong most often when buying auto repair shop software
Pricing the cheapest tier and then discovering that two-way texting and inspections sit one or two tiers higher.
Counting only the subscription and forgetting migration, setup, accounting link and payment transaction fees.
Signing an annual agreement on a demo alone, when only a few vendors let you test with your own data.
Assuming the vendor will hand over a complete export, when some terms do not promise one.
07
Frequently asked questions
6 answers
What is the best auto repair shop software in 2026?
Tekmetric leads our ranking of 12. Tekmetric prices per shop, not per user or repair order, so extra staff add nothing to the bill, and its pricing page says no long-term contract is required.
Two-way texting arrives only on the third tier, and payments, marketing, tyre management and multi-shop are paid add-ons. The Houston-based vendor offers demos and self-guided tours but no trial, and subscriptions renew automatically unless you cancel.
Which auto repair shop tools publish their pricing?
10 of the 12, with the pricing model each one publishes:
Tekmetric: Per shop per month in tiers, published; demo only.
Shopmonkey: Per month in three published tiers; extra users and multi-shop priced separately.
AutoLeap: Per month in three published tiers; one-time setup fee; enterprise by agreement.
Garage Hive: From a stated monthly price on a one-month rolling contract; published.
Shop-Ware: Per month in four published tiers; month-to-month option; demo only.
Shop Boss: Per month in four published tiers; data transfer priced separately; demo only.
Protractor: Per month in four published packages; Canadian dollar prices shown; demo only.
ALLDATA Manage Online: Flat monthly or annual subscription, published; demo by phone.
Fullbay: Three published tiers per month with per-user add-ons; annual agreement.
GarageBooks: Free plan for MTD VAT filing; one published monthly plan; 14-day trial.
The other 2 quote per organisation.
Is there a free auto repair shop tool?
GarageBooks offer a free tier or a free self-hosted edition.
Where are these auto repair shop software vendors established?
In 2 countries across 2 regions: North America 9, Europe 3.
Tekmetric: United States.
Shopmonkey: United States.
AutoLeap: United States.
Garage Hive: United Kingdom.
Shop-Ware: United States.
Shop Boss: United States.
Protractor: United States.
ALLDATA Manage Online: United States.
Mitchell 1 Manager SE: United States.
Fullbay: United States.
Autowork Online: United Kingdom.
GarageBooks: United Kingdom.
What should you use instead of Tekmetric?
Shopmonkey and AutoLeap are the next two on this page. Shopmonkey is for Growing independent shops wanting mobile apps, parts lookup and texting inside the base plan; AutoLeap is for Shops that want migration, training and implementation handled for them in one setup fee.
Who should not buy Tekmetric?
Buyers who want a hands-on trial before talking to sales. Two-way texting sits on the third tier, so a shop that wants customer replies pays the higher price level..
If your auto repair shop software product belongs among these 12, tell us what it does and who it is for. Inclusion is an editorial call; what a listing is and is not is set out under software advice.
