Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. Every vendor link is marked the same, whatever the arrangement behind it. The largest vendors in auto repair shop management software
cannot hold places 1 to 3. 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. How it works: placement disclosure ·
editorial process.
The 12 tools, reviewed
#1 Tekmetric
Cloud shop management with unlimited users on every plan · United States · tekmetric.com
Unlimited users Published tiers Houston
Tekmetric is a shop management system from Houston that puts the price on the page and does not count seats. Every plan carries unlimited users and support, and billing can run monthly or annually at a discount. Start holds inventory, vendor management, inspections and digital authorizations, Grow adds a labor guide, maintenance schedules and job clocks, and Scale goes further.
- Pricing: Per shop / month. Start $199 per month ($179 billed annually), Grow $349 ($309), Scale $439 ($409), Enterprise on quote; per-shop add-ons for Multi-Shop, Tire Suite and Marketing. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Independent shops that want published prices
- Strengths: Digital vehicle inspections; Estimate building; Parts and inventory.
Where it falls short
The advertised plan is only the start. Tire Suite adds $39 per shop per month, Multi-Shop $70, and Marketing $345, which costs more than the entry plan itself.
Wrong for
A shop that wants a single flat fee with marketing and payments included should ask Shopmonkey or Shop Boss for a bundle quote, and a heavy-duty truck shop should look at Fullbay.
Visit Tekmetric →
#2 Shopmonkey
Shop management with a mobile app for technicians · United States · shopmonkey.io
Mobile app Tire and lube Morgan Hill
Shopmonkey is built around the counter-to-bay flow: an estimate is created and authorized, the job moves through a workflow board, technicians clock in on a mobile app, and the customer pays online or at the desk.
- Pricing: Per shop / month. Basic $215, Clever $359 and Genius $449 per month with three to five users. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Shops of one to many bays
- Strengths: Estimates and authorizations; Two-way texting and email; Inventory and purchase orders.
Where it falls short
Users are capped by plan, three on Basic and five on Genius, with $20 for each extra seat, so a larger crew costs more than on an unlimited-seat plan.
Wrong for
A shop with a large crew should compare unlimited-user plans such as Tekmetric or Shop Boss, and a business that wants a quoted payment rate before signing should ask for it in writing.
Visit Shopmonkey →
#3 Shop Boss
Web-based shop management with unlimited users and orders · United States · shopboss.net
Unlimited users Priced migration Vehlo
Shop Boss grew out of code written by a former shop owner in 2008 and launched as a web-based system in 2012. Every package includes unlimited repair orders, unlimited users, two-way texting and integrated parts ordering, so adding a technician does not change the bill. Gold already has calendars, inventory and vendor management, time clocks and canned jobs.
- Pricing: Per shop / month. Gold $199 per month ($179 annually), Platinum $349 ($314), Premier $449 ($404), Premier Plus $649 ($584); data transfer $399 or $899. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Independent shops moving off older software
- Strengths: Unlimited repair orders; Unlimited two-way text and email; Integrated parts ordering.
Where it falls short
The comprehensive digital vehicle inspection, labor guides with diagrams and the business intelligence dashboard start at Platinum, and online booking and CRM arrive at Premier Plus or in a $249 add-on. Embedded payments carry transaction fees.
Wrong for
A shop that needs heavy-duty truck workflows should look at Fullbay, and a buyer who wants a vendor with no sister products in this category should note that Vehlo also owns Protractor and Shop-Ware.
Visit Shop Boss →
#4 Mitchell 1 Manager SE
Business management that tracks a job from estimate to invoice · United States · mitchell1.com
Snap-on company Estimator San Diego
Manager SE is Mitchell 1's business management product, described as a complete solution that tracks shop activity from estimate to invoice. Its job view groups labor and parts in job containers, the estimator draws on the Snap-on Digital Engine, and parts can be found and ordered from aftermarket, specialty and tire eCatalogs.
- Pricing: Quote only. No price on the product page; a free demo and a Buy Now link are offered. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Shops wanting a Snap-on-backed system
- Strengths: Estimator powered by Snap-on Digital Engine; Repair orders and job view; Digital vehicle inspection (available).
Where it falls short
The product page shows no price, only a free demo and a Buy Now link, so the cost is learned through a sales conversation.
Wrong for
A shop that wants a published monthly price before any call should read Tekmetric, Shopmonkey or Shop Boss first, and a shop outside North America should look at Garage Hive or Workshop Software.
Visit Mitchell 1 Manager SE →
#5 AutoLeap
Shop management with an Enterprise tier for chains · United States · autoleap.com
Four tiers Enterprise Atlanta
AutoLeap lists its offices in Atlanta and Toronto and sells four tiers. Essentials holds a work board, unlimited repair orders, canned jobs, eSignatures, parts ordering and CARFAX, Pro adds Magic Parts Lookup, texting, inventory, technician view, job clocks and a QuickBooks Online integration, and Elite brings next-generation inspections with auto-generated technician notes and an app.
- Pricing: Per shop / month. Essentials $179 per month annually ($199 monthly), Pro $309 ($349), Elite $409 ($449), Enterprise custom; one-time setup fee not stated. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Growing shops and multi-location groups
- Strengths: Customizable work board; Unlimited repair orders; CARFAX integration.
Where it falls short
There is no free trial, because the system is built with the shop's information and a personalized demo is offered instead. The setup fee for implementation, data migration, training and priority support is mentioned without an amount.
Wrong for
A shop that wants to test the software before paying should look at Fullbay, MechanicDesk or Workshop Software, which state free trials, and a shop that wants the setup fee as a number before signing should ask AutoLeap for it in writing.
Visit AutoLeap →
#6 Shop-Ware
Shop management with AI parts matrix and unlimited users · United States · shop-ware.com
Unlimited users AI parts matrix San Francisco
Shop-Ware's about page traces the software to Luscious Garage, a San Francisco shop started in 2007 whose owner ran it on a custom online management system. The packages page lists four plans, each with unlimited users, an AI parts matrix, the Digital Vehicle Experience, inventory and integrated parts ordering.
- Pricing: Per shop / month. Startup $279 per month ($251 annually), Pro $389 ($350), Master $499 ($449), Ultimate+ $999 ($899); migration, accounting link and transaction fees extra. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Tech-minded shops and multi-shop operators
- Strengths: AI Parts Matrix; AutoWrite digital workflow; TechApp for technicians.
Where it falls short
The entry plan costs $279, more than Tekmetric or AutoLeap at the same position. Limited two-way texting on Startup becomes unlimited only in Pro, and the labor guide is a Pro feature.
Wrong for
A one-bay garage with a small budget should look at Tekmetric Start or Shop Boss Gold, and a buyer who wants a vendor with no sister products here should note that Vehlo also owns Shop Boss and Protractor.
Visit Shop-Ware →
#7 ALLDATA Shop Manager
Shop management layered on ALLDATA repair information · United States · alldata.com
AutoZone company Estimating Memphis
ALLDATA Shop Manager Pro is aimed at shops with three to six bays handling roughly 150 to 400 repair orders a month. It builds on Shop Manager's repair orders, invoices and digital inspections and adds parts inventory, photos and video on the order, a work-in-progress board, technician time and cost tracking, and a QuickBooks Online sync.
- Pricing: Per shop / month. Shop Manager Pro lists $259 per month or $3,108 per year; it requires subscriptions to ALLDATA Repair or Collision, Inspections and Mobile. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Shops already subscribed to ALLDATA Repair
- Strengths: Repair orders and invoices; Digital inspections; Online booking widget.
Where it falls short
Pro requires ALLDATA Repair or Collision, ALLDATA Inspections and ALLDATA Mobile on top of the $259, so the real cost is the bundle.
Wrong for
A shop that does not buy ALLDATA repair information should skip it, and a shop that wants unlimited simultaneous users should look at Tekmetric, Shop Boss or Shop-Ware.
Visit ALLDATA Shop Manager →
#8 Protractor
Shop software for professional and multi-location shops · United States · protractorsoftware.com
Multi-location Since 2003 Vehlo
Protractor says it pioneered cloud-based shop software in 2003, launched its .Net version in 2014, and supports thousands of single and multi-shop operations across North America. The Core plan holds integrated accounting, parts and labor guides, inventory, matrices, payments and basic inspections. Performance adds advanced inspections from AutoServe1, and the higher tiers add digital marketing.
- Pricing: Per shop / month. Core $399 per month ($359 annually), Performance $599 ($539), a marketing tier $1,099 ($989) and Elite $1,299 ($1,169), with CAD prices listed too. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Larger shops with several rooftops
- Strengths: Work orders; Digital vehicle inspections; Online service scheduler.
Where it falls short
Core starts at $399 a month, twice the entry price of Tekmetric Start, and the full Elite bundle reaches $1,299. Integrated payments are stated as available to shops located in the United States.
Wrong for
A one-bay or two-bay garage should look at Shop Boss Gold or Tekmetric Start, and a shop outside North America should read Garage Hive or Workshop Software.
Visit Protractor →
#9 Fullbay
Shop and fleet software for heavy-duty truck repair · United States · fullbay.com
Heavy duty Fleet tools Phoenix
Fullbay is built for heavy-duty truck and trailer repair, for independent shops and for fleets with in-house workshops. A service order moves from estimate to invoice, a unit carries its history and costs, and preventive maintenance can be scheduled by mileage, engine hours or time.
- Pricing: Plan + per user / month. Basic $188 per month, Pro $258, Elite $318, each with extra users at $89, $109 or $119. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Heavy-duty and diesel repair shops
- Strengths: Service order workflow; Estimates and invoicing; Customer and unit management.
Where it falls short
Every added user costs $89 to $119 per month, so a larger team gets expensive. All plans are on an annual agreement, billed monthly.
Wrong for
A garage that works on passenger cars and light trucks should compare Tekmetric, Shopmonkey and Shop Boss, and a shop that wants month-to-month terms should avoid the annual agreement.
Visit Fullbay →
#10 Workshop Software
Garage and workshop software for many trades · Australia · workshopsoftware.com
Multi-currency Many trades Warriewood
Workshop Software publishes prices in Australian, US, UK and South African currencies and lists support phone lines for Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa. It supports auto electricians, truck repairers, mechanical workshops, farm machinery, motorcycles and boats.
- Pricing: Per workshop / month. Silver AUD 99 per month annually (119 monthly), Gold 119 (149), Platinum 199 (249), all plus GST. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Workshops outside North America
- Strengths: Quote and job management; Booking management; Time clocking.
Where it falls short
Several costs are metered separately: texting carries a small per-message fee, vehicle lookups carry a fee, and DVLA lookups and MOT history are listed at 9p. Electronic inspections and online bookings require Gold, and multi-site support requires Platinum.
Wrong for
A busy North American shop that needs integrated card payments and a large parts catalog should look at Tekmetric, Shopmonkey or Shop Boss.
Visit Workshop Software →
#11 Garage Hive
Community-driven cloud garage management for the UK · United Kingdom · garagehive.co.uk
UK MOT history Cloud
Garage Hive is a cloud-based garage management system that lists an office in Nottingham and a legal address in Mansfield, England. It covers the workshop diary, checklists, stock, customer authorisation, electronic vehicle health checks, MOT history and automated reminders for MOT, service and timing belt changes. Accounting can run on its own package, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Sage, Xero or QuickBooks.
- Pricing: Quote only. Quote only; a free demo can be booked. Free plan: none.
- Best for: UK and Irish independent garages
- Strengths: Live diary and bookings; Checklists; Stock management.
Where it falls short
No price is visible, so every buyer has to book a demo before comparing it with anything else. Its MOT history, Autodata and supplier links are built around UK practice and mean less to a shop elsewhere.
Wrong for
A North American shop that needs CARFAX, text-to-pay and a US parts catalog should read Tekmetric or Shopmonkey, and a buyer who needs a visible price should look at MechanicDesk.
Visit Garage Hive →
Australia 14-day trial By headcount
MechanicDesk is a web workshop system from Autodeck Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne. It states that nothing needs installing and backups are handled by the vendor, with unlimited customer and supplier entries, histories and uploads against any record. Pricing is by headcount, from a one-user Starter plan to a 15-user Large plan, which keeps the cost of a small team predictable.
- Pricing: Per workshop / month. Starter AUD 85 per month (1 user), Small 115 (3), Team 150 (6), Large 250 (15), plus GST; extra users $15; SMS 10 cents. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Small workshops in Australia and New Zealand
- Strengths: Customer and vehicle history; Supplier records; Service reminders by email or SMS.
Where it falls short
The footer copyright reads 2014 to 2021, so a buyer should ask about the current roadmap.
Wrong for
A shop that needs integrated card payments, a labor guide or multi-location reporting should look at Shop-Ware, Protractor or Workshop Software.
Visit MechanicDesk →
Questions and answers
What is the best auto repair shop management software in 2026?
Tekmetric ranks first of 12, best for independent shops that want published prices. Shopmonkey is second (shops of one to many bays) and Shop Boss third (independent shops moving off older software). Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands, wherever the category has them.
How much does auto repair shop software cost per month?
Published entry plans range from AUD 85 for MechanicDesk and AUD 99 for Workshop Software to $179 to $199 for Tekmetric, AutoLeap and Shop Boss, $188 for Fullbay and $215 for Shopmonkey.
Do I pay per user or per shop?
It depends on the vendor. Tekmetric, Shop Boss and Shop-Ware state unlimited users per shop plan.
What does digital vehicle inspection add to a repair shop?
A digital vehicle inspection lets a technician record findings with photos from a tablet, and sends the customer recommendations to approve.
Can the software take card payments at the counter?
Several vendors embed payments. Shopmonkey sells readers at $299 plus $10 per month per device, Shop-Ware and Shop Boss say transaction fees apply, and Tekmetric sells Payments as an add-on.
What does it cost to move my old customer and vehicle history over?
Shopmonkey charges a $500 one-time data migration fee and Shop Boss $399 for customers and vehicles or $899 with repair history and inventory. AutoLeap folds migration into an unpriced setup fee.
Is there software for heavy-duty truck repair shops?
Fullbay is built for heavy-duty truck and trailer repair, with unit histories, preventive maintenance by mileage, engine hours or time, DVIR and defect tracking, and telematics integrations.
Which products suit garages outside the United States?
Garage Hive is a cloud system from the United Kingdom with MOT history, Autodata and Dynamics 365 accounting links.
Do I need to sign a long-term contract?
Not always. Tekmetric states no long-term contracts, though its terms renew automatically and require 30 days of notice before an annual term ends. Shop-Ware states month-to-month plans without an annual contract. Fullbay states an annual agreement with monthly billing.
Who owns these products and does it matter?
Shop Boss, Protractor and Shop-Ware are all published by or powered by Vehlo of Knoxville, Tennessee. Mitchell 1 is a Snap-on company and ALLDATA is an AutoZone company.
When should a shop skip dedicated repair software?
A solo mobile mechanic who only issues invoices and takes a few jobs a week may be fine with an invoicing app and a spreadsheet.
