Auto Repair Shop Software
Auto Repair Shop Management Software Compared
Eleven auto repair shop systems side by side. What they do, who they fit and what they cost, taken from each vendor's own site.
Checked September 2026. Facts come from each vendor's own website.
In Short
- Shown starting prices run from a free tier to $359 a month billed yearly
- Tekmetric, Shop-Ware, Shop Boss and RO Writer list unlimited users on their plans
- Most vendors offer a demo instead of a free trial
- Mitchell 1 Manager SE does not publish prices
Our team also builds shop software. It is not included in these comparisons.
What Shop Management Software Does
Shop management software runs the front counter and the bays of an auto repair shop. It writes estimates and repair orders. It tracks parts, labor and inventory. It sends inspection photos to the customer and takes the approval. At the end, it builds the invoice and takes the payment.
Most systems today run in the cloud, so you can use them on a counter computer, a tablet or a phone. A few still keep data on a shop computer.
Who Needs It
Any shop that still writes tickets by hand, or runs an old desktop system, can gain from it. It helps most when:
- Your service writer spends too long building estimates.
- Customers call to ask if the car is done.
- You lose track of parts ordered for a job.
- You want to text photos from the bay and get a yes faster.
How to Choose
Start with your shop, not the feature list.
- Count your users. Some plans include unlimited users. Others include 3 to 5 and charge for each extra person.
- Check your parts vendors. Look for the parts catalogs and labor guides you already use.
- Look at where texting starts. On some systems, two way texting is only on a higher plan.
- Ask about moving your data. Some vendors charge to move your old records.
- Read the add ons. Payments, marketing and multi shop tools are often extra.
Auto Repair Shop Software Compared at a Glance
Here are 11 options, in alphabetical order. This is not a ranking.
| Product | Starting price shown | Free plan | Free trial | Mobile app | Support listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI | From $39.99 per month | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Email, chat |
| AutoLeap | From $179 per month, billed yearly | No | Not listed | Yes | Phone, email, chat, help center, training |
| Garage360 | From $79 per month, billed yearly | No | Not listed | Yes | Phone, email, help center, training |
| Mitchell 1 Manager SE | Pricing on request | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Phone, training |
| Protractor | From $359 per month, billed yearly | No | Not listed | Not listed | Phone, chat, email, help center, training |
| RO Writer | From $199 per month | No | Not listed | Not listed | Phone, email, help center, training |
| Shop Boss | From $179 per month, billed yearly | No | Not listed | Not listed | Phone |
| Shop-Ware | From $251 per month, billed yearly | No | Not listed | Not listed | Phone, help center |
| Shopmonkey | From $215 per month, billed yearly | No | Not listed | Yes | Phone, email, help center |
| Tekmetric | From $179 per month, billed yearly | No | Not listed | Yes | Phone, email, help center, training |
| Torque360 | From $89.99 per month, billed yearly | No | Not listed | Yes | Phone, email, chat, help center |
Starting price is the lowest paid price the vendor showed plainly, before add ons and taxes. Not listed means the vendor site did not say when we checked.
The Options, One by One
ARI
ARI is low cost auto repair software for phone, tablet, Windows and the web. It covers invoices, inspections, inventory, appointments and payments.
Who it fits: Built for auto repair shops of any size, including one person shops. It suits owners who want a low monthly cost and a phone app.
Price: From $39.99 per month.
AutoLeap
AutoLeap is cloud software for auto repair shops. It handles the work board, estimates, inspections, texting, payments and reports.
Who it fits: Built for auto repair shops from new shops to fast growing ones. The Enterprise plan is made for multi-location groups.
Price: From $179 per month, billed yearly.
Garage360
Garage360 is cloud software for auto repair shops. It covers estimates, work orders, inspections, scheduling, inventory and payments.
Who it fits: Aimed at independent shops from small general repair to tire, quick lube and mobile mechanics. It also offers a plan for multi-location groups.
Price: From $79 per month, billed yearly.
Mitchell 1 Manager SE
Mitchell 1 Manager SE is shop management software from Mitchell 1 for auto repair and light truck shops. It covers estimates, service writing, scheduling and a large set of reports.
Who it fits: Built for auto repair shops and light duty truck service shops. It suits shops that want to keep data on the shop computer with a cloud backup.
Price: Pricing on request.
Protractor
Protractor is cloud shop software for auto repair shops and tire stores. It includes accounting, inspections, work orders, parts and reports.
Who it fits: Built for aftermarket auto repair shops and tire stores. It serves both single shops and multi-shop groups in the US and Canada.
Price: From $359 per month, billed yearly.
RO Writer
RO Writer is long running shop software for auto repair, now offered in the cloud. It covers repair orders, parts, texting, payments, scheduling and reports.
Who it fits: Built for auto repair shops from one bay to many locations. The full RO Writer plan is aimed at busy and multi-location shops.
Price: From $199 per month.
Shop Boss
Shop Boss is web based software for auto repair shops. It covers repair orders, texting, parts ordering, inventory, payments and inspections.
Who it fits: Built for independent auto repair shops and was started by a former shop owner. It also supports shops with more than one location.
Price: From $179 per month, billed yearly.
Shop-Ware
Shop-Ware is cloud software for running an auto repair shop. It covers workflow, estimates, inspections, parts pricing, payments and reports.
Who it fits: Built for independent auto repair shops that want a detailed workflow. It also offers tools for multi-shop groups and fleets.
Price: From $251 per month, billed yearly.
Shopmonkey
Shopmonkey is cloud shop software for auto repair and other vehicle shops. It covers work orders, inspections, texting, payments and reports.
Who it fits: Built for auto repair shops, and the site also names tire, quick lube, heavy duty and detail shops. Plans scale from small shops to multi-shop groups.
Price: From $215 per month, billed yearly.
Tekmetric
Tekmetric is cloud software that runs an auto repair shop. It handles estimates, inspections, parts, texting, payments and reports in one place.
Who it fits: Built for independent auto repair shops that want one cloud system. Every plan allows unlimited users and repair orders.
Price: From $179 per month, billed yearly.
Torque360
Torque360 is cloud software for auto repair shops and mobile mechanics. It covers estimates, repair orders, inspections, texting, payments and reports.
Who it fits: Built for solo mechanics, small shops and growing shops. The top plan is aimed at high volume and multi-location shops.
Price: From $89.99 per month, billed yearly.
How We Compare Software
We have no user reviews, so we do not give stars, scores or ratings. Here is what we do instead.
- Every fact comes from the vendor's own website. We read those pages in September 2026.
- We list a price only when the vendor shows it plainly. Otherwise we say Pricing on request.
- If we could not check something, we left it out.
- Products are listed in alphabetical order. The order is not a ranking.
When we say a product fits a shop or team, we mean four plain things. The shop size or team size the vendor says it serves. The features named on the vendor's site. Whether the price is published. The support channels the vendor lists. None of it is based on user reviews.
Prices and plans change often. Check the vendor's pricing page before you sign up.
Common Questions
How much does auto repair shop software cost?
ARI starts at $39.99 a month and has a free tier capped at 5 records of each type. Garage360 and Torque360 start under $90 a month billed yearly. Tekmetric, Shopmonkey, Shop-Ware, AutoLeap, Shop Boss and Protractor start between $179 and $359 a month billed yearly. RO Writer shows $199 a month for the first year. Mitchell 1 Manager SE shows no prices.
Which shop software includes unlimited users?
Tekmetric, Shop-Ware, Shop Boss and RO Writer list unlimited users on their plans. ARI Pro also lists unlimited users. Shopmonkey includes 3 to 5 users per plan and charges $20 a month for each extra user.
Can I try shop software for free?
Most of the vendors we checked offer a demo, not a free trial. ARI has a free tier. Garage360 offers a 30 day money back guarantee.
Is there shop software that is not in the cloud?
Mitchell 1 says Manager SE keeps data on the shop computer, with a cloud backup. The other systems we checked run in the cloud.
Do you rank these products?
No. They are listed in alphabetical order. We have no user reviews, so we give no scores.
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