Workshop Software vs Fullbay

Fullbay is heavy-duty truck and trailer repair software. Its whole product is built around fleet units, preventive maintenance and commercial billing. If you run a dedicated heavy-duty shop, Fullbay was designed for you, and we would rather say that up front. People also search for it as Full Bay or FullBay.

Workshop Software is cloud shop management for auto repair shops, including shops that look after fleets and light commercial vehicles. This page is for shops on the line between the two: a mixed workload, some fleet, deciding where to build. The differences that matter are per-user cost, what each entry plan includes, inspections, and how much heavy-duty tooling you really need.

What is Workshop Software?

Workshop Software is cloud shop management software for auto repair shops. We have decades of experience building software for workshops. It is used in 33+ countries by more than 9,400 users, and has generated $4.7b in invoices.

It covers the booking diary, job cards, quoting and invoicing, stock control, service reminders by SMS and email, a customer portal and follow-ups. A price matrix lets you set pricing for individual clients or groups, such as fleets. Electronic inspections with photos, and a link the customer opens to approve the work, are included on Gold and above. Technicians clock on and off from mobile, desktop or web.

There is a free native app for iOS and Android, which runs the whole shop on Gold and above. Workshop Software is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store and connects to QuickBooks Online and Xero, and Platinum includes an open API: the Workshop API and the Public Booking API. Plans start at USD $149 a month billed annually, with extra users at USD $20. There is a 14 day free trial with full features, no credit card and no lock-in contract. See full pricing

What is Fullbay?

Fullbay is a US company that describes itself as “the #1 heavy-duty truck and trailer repair shop software”. It covers work orders built around customer units, preventive maintenance, DVIR and defect tracking, parts and inventory, payments and fleet reporting. Plans run from USD $188 a month (Next) to $318 (Elite), plus an Enterprise plan on quote.

Feature comparison

Pricing comparison

The entry plans are USD $39 apart. The real gap is per-user cost. Extra users are USD $20 with us and $89 to $119 with Fullbay. At five users, that is $229 against $544 on the entry plans, and $329 against $794 on the top plans.

Check what each entry plan includes. Fullbay Next is aimed at mobile repair and one-person shops. Its pricing table does not show QuickBooks, MOTOR labor guides, 2-way texting, PM tracking or multi-location on Next. For most fleet shops, Pro at $258 is the real starting point.

Fullbay’s extra cost buys heavy-duty tools we do not have, such as national account billing and telematics connections. If you need them, the price difference may be worth it. Prices are as at October 2026. Both companies change prices from time to time, so check before you commit.

Heavy-duty specialist or general shop software

Fullbay is built for heavy-duty. Work orders are organized around customer units. Preventive maintenance can be scheduled by mileage, engine hours or time. It connects to telematics and to national account billing services. If that is your daily work, Fullbay deserves a hard look.

Workshop Software is general shop management. We do not specialize in heavy-duty workshops, but we can certainly handle them: a price matrix for fleet customers, service reminders, multi-site on Platinum and tight control of tech time. If your day runs on per-unit PM schedules, telematics and national account billing, Fullbay is built around those.

The cost of every extra person

A shop is rarely one person for long. Each extra user on Workshop Software is USD $20 a month. On Fullbay it is $89, $109 or $119, depending on the plan.

Fullbay does offer timesheet users at $25 on Pro and Elite, which helps for techs who only clock time. Even so, for a team of five with full access, Workshop Software costs less than half.

Inspections in the plan, not a second subscription

Workshop Software includes electronic inspections from Gold at USD $179. Techs add photos, and the customer opens a link to approve the work.

Fullbay has DVIR and defect tracking for drivers and fleets. For full inspections it connects to Whip Around on Pro and Elite. Fullbay notes that integrations need active subscriptions with the provider. Whip Around is a good product. It is also a second bill and a second login.

A native app on the shop floor

Workshop Software has a free native app for iOS and Android. On Gold and above it runs bookings, job cards, inspections with photos, invoicing and clocking on and off.

Fullbay’s FAQ says you can use it on any smartphone or tablet with Wi-Fi. Its new Next platform is built mobile-first. Ask for a demo on a phone in your own bay and see how it feels.

Try before you commit

Workshop Software gives you 14 days with every feature, no credit card and no lock-in contract. A full support team takes you through onboarding, and we can bring across your customers, vehicles, suppliers, products and vehicle history.

Fullbay offers a free demo, not a trial. Its pricing page says plans are on an annual agreement billed monthly, while its FAQ says month-to-month is an option. Ask which applies to you before you sign.

Where Fullbay is stronger

• Heavy-duty workflow. Work orders around customer units, PM tracking and automated PM service orders. This is the core of Fullbay.
• Commercial integrations. National account billing through FleetNet America and Interstate Billing. Telematics from Samsara, Geotab, Motive, Verizon Connect and more. MOTOR truck service guides and Mitchell 1 TruckSeries on Elite.
• Built-in texting. 2-way texting is included on Pro and Elite, with 300 or 500 texts a month. Ours is a paid add-on.
• AI tools. AI voice transcription on all plans, and tech note cleanup and translation on Pro and Elite.

Closer than you might expect

Both systems handle estimates, invoicing, payments, inventory, purchase orders and a customer portal. Both let customers approve work. Both connect to QuickBooks Online and to labor data from MOTOR and Mitchell 1. Both offer multi-location management on higher plans.

For a fleet or mixed shop that does not need national account billing or telematics, the daily work looks much the same. The difference is mostly what you pay per person and what sits on the entry plan.

Which should you choose?

Choose Workshop Software if:

• Most of your work is cars, light commercials and fleet servicing rather than dedicated heavy-duty
• You have more than one or two users and want to pay USD $20 per extra user
• You want electronic inspections in the plan, without a second subscription
• Your books are in QuickBooks Online or Xero
• You want a free native app that runs the shop from the floor
• You want to trial the software before talking to anyone, with no lock-in contract

Fullbay may suit you if:

• You run a dedicated heavy-duty truck and trailer shop
• You bill national accounts through FleetNet America or Interstate Billing
• You need PM scheduled per unit and telematics connections
• You want 2-way texting included in the plan
• You want heavy-duty labor guides such as the MOTOR Truck Service Guide

If your work is mostly light vehicle and fleet servicing, the quickest test is a fortnight of your own jobs. Start a free trial

Comparing more systems? Read our guide to choosing between workshop platforms.

Frequently asked questions

Is Workshop Software cheaper than Fullbay?

Yes. Workshop Software Silver is USD $149 a month billed annually, against Fullbay Next at $188. Extra users are USD $20 with Workshop Software against $89 to $119 with Fullbay. At five users, that is $229 against $544 a month.

Can Workshop Software handle fleet and heavy-duty work?

Yes. We do not specialize in heavy-duty workshops, but we can certainly handle them. Workshop Software has a price matrix for individual clients or groups, such as fleets, plus service reminders by SMS and email and multi-site on Platinum.

Does Workshop Software include digital inspections?

Yes, on Gold and above. Techs add photos, and the customer opens a link to approve the work. There is no second vendor to sign up with.

Does Workshop Software have a mobile app?

Yes. There is a free native app for iOS and Android. On Gold and above it runs bookings, job cards, inspections, invoicing and clocking on and off.

Does Workshop Software work with QuickBooks Online and Xero?

Yes. Workshop Software is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store, and connects to Xero as well, on every plan.

How does Workshop Software handle labor times?

Workshop Software brings US technical data into the job through its Mitchell 1 and PartsTech integrations, and MOTOR labor data is available through PartsTech. These carry their own subscription.

Does Workshop Software have an API?

Yes, on Platinum. The Workshop API lets other applications integrate with your workshop system, and the Public Booking API lets them manage bookings and appointment scheduling.

Does Workshop Software have a free trial?

Yes. 14 days with full features, no credit card and no lock-in contract. You can cancel any time and export your data.

Is Fullbay only for heavy-duty truck repair?

Fullbay describes itself as heavy-duty truck and trailer repair shop software. It also lists mobile repair, private fleets, heavy equipment, towing and RVs among the industries it serves.

Does Fullbay offer a free trial?

No. Fullbay’s FAQ says it offers a free demo with one of its team.

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Comparison based on information each company publishes. Prices and features change, so please check the details with each company before you commit. Prices as at October 2026.