Workshop Software alternatives compared
Choosing a workshop system is a big decision. You will live with it every day, and moving again is painful. So it pays to compare properly.
This guide sets out the six questions that matter most, then lists fourteen systems workshops often weigh up against Workshop Software. Each one links to a full side-by-side comparison.
Workshop Software has decades of experience building software for workshops. It is used in 33+ countries by more than 9,400 users. We will tell you where we fit, and where another system may suit you better.
Six questions to ask before you choose
1. Does it work with your accounting package? This is the question that quietly kills more implementations than any other. If the system does not talk to your books, someone ends up re-keying invoices. Check which accounting packages are supported on the plan you would actually buy. Workshop Software connects to Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online, and payments and supplier invoices sync across. On Platinum, an open API (the Workshop API and the Public Booking API) lets other applications connect too.
2. Can you try it properly first? A 14 day free trial with no card and no call tells you more in an afternoon than a scripted demo tells you in a week. Load a few real jobs and get your team to use it. Workshop Software has a 14 day free trial with every feature switched on and no credit card.
3. Is the price published, and what are the terms? Look for published prices, the cost of extra users and any onboarding fees. Then check the contract. A long lock-in makes a bad choice expensive. Workshop Software publishes its prices, has no lock-in contract and lets you cancel any time and export your data.
4. Is technical data in the job card? Repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring information should sit inside the job card. Flicking between systems costs time on every job. Workshop Software offers WorkshopData, powered by HaynesPro, inside the job card. Ask every vendor whether technical data is included or priced separately.
5. Can technicians run the job from their phone? Technicians should be able to work a job from the floor: photos, inspections, notes, times, parts and customer approval. Workshop Software has a free native app for iOS and Android on Gold and above. It runs bookings, job cards, inspections, invoicing and clocking on and off.
6. When can you get help? Problems do not wait for business hours. Check support hours in your time zone, and whether faster support costs extra. Workshop Software has phone, email and 24 hour online chat, and a full support team takes you through onboarding.
Fourteen alternatives at a glance
| System | Origin | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Shopmonkey | United States and Canada | North American shops with a strong local review presence |
| AutoLeap | North America, well funded | North American shops that want a heavily marketed platform |
| Tekmetric | North America, 16,000+ shops | US shops that want an established market leader |
| Fullbay | United States | Heavy-duty truck and trailer repair |
| Orderry | 80,500+ businesses in 62 countries | Businesses running workshops alongside other types of service business |
| GaragePlug | Offices in Newark, Delaware and Bengaluru, India | Multi-outlet chains in India, the Gulf and Southeast Asia |
| MechanicDesk | Australian built | Australian, NZ and UK workshops that want published pricing |
| Workshop Mate | Jeal Computer Services, Sydney (since 1983) | Australian workshops looking for the lowest cost |
| Auxo Workshop | Owned by the NZ Motor Trade Association | New Zealand workshops that only need Xero |
| Hoist | New Zealand (launched April 2026) | New Zealand workshops happy to adopt a new system |
| Garage Hive | UK, Ireland and South Africa | UK garages using Sage, or wanting accounts inside Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central |
| Mitchell 1 | Snap-on division (founded 1918, San Diego) | Shops built around ProDemand technical data |
| Shop Boss | Knoxville, Tennessee (part of Vehlo) | Large US teams that want unlimited users on every plan |
| Motasoft | United Kingdom (part of ClearCourse) | UK garages wanting unlimited users at a low cost |
Where Workshop Software usually fits better
- Your books are in Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks Online
- You want HaynesPro technical data inside the job card
- You want to try the full system before you talk to sales
- You want a native app your technicians can run jobs from
- You want no lock-in contract
- You want support outside business hours, with 24 hour online chat
Already a Workshop Software customer?
If you have landed here because something is not working, please talk to us before you start demoing other systems. Most of what sends people looking is a setting, a workflow habit or a feature nobody showed you.
Email support@workshopsoftware.com and tell us what is getting in the way.
Questions to ask every vendor
- Which accounting packages are supported on the plan I would actually buy?
- What is the total cost for year one, including onboarding and training?
- Can I trial the product without speaking to sales?
- Is vehicle technical data included or priced separately?
- What is the contract term, and can I export my data if I leave?
- What are your support hours in my time zone, and does faster support cost extra?
- How many workshops in my country and my type of work use your system?
Try it for yourself
A 14 day free trial takes an afternoon and settles more than a demo will. No card, no sales call. Start a free trial or see full pricing.
Competitor details on this page are summarised from our individual comparison pages and each company’s published information, checked October 2026. Products change, so check current pricing and features with each company before you decide.