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Workshop Software vs Garage Hive
If you run a UK garage, Garage Hive (sometimes written GarageHive) is probably on your shortlist. So is Workshop Software. Both are cloud systems. Both handle bookings, job sheets, health checks, invoicing and reminders.
So this page is not about which one can raise an invoice. They both can. The differences that matter are how each is built, how you get to try it, how it handles your accounts and VAT, where your technical data comes from, and how your technicians use it on the workshop floor.
What is Workshop Software?
Workshop Software is cloud workshop management software for garages and repair workshops. We have decades of experience building software for workshops. It is used in 33+ countries by more than 9,400 users, has generated $4.7b in invoices and sends over 100,000 SMS a month. It has 36 integrations in use, plus an open API on Platinum: the Workshop API and the Public Booking API.
It covers the booking diary, job cards, quoting and invoicing, stock control, service and booking reminders by SMS and email, and electronic inspections with photos. Technicians clock on and off jobs from mobile, desktop or web. A free native app for iOS and Android runs the whole workshop on Gold and above. It connects to Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online.
In the UK, pricing starts from £99 a month billed annually, or £119 billed monthly. Extra users are £16 a month. Every plan comes with a 14 day free trial, full features and no credit card. See full pricing
What is Garage Hive?
Garage Hive is a garage management system based in Nottingham. It is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, an ERP and finance system, and sells in the UK, Ireland and South Africa. It advertises pricing from £145 a month on a one-month rolling contract.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Workshop Software | Garage Hive |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Yes, three plans, from £99 a month billed annually | A single “starting from £145 per month” figure |
| Free trial | 14 days, full features, no credit card | None advertised |
| Contract | No lock-in contract, cancel any time | One-month rolling contract |
| Platform | Cloud workshop management software | Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central |
| Accounting | Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks Online | Own MTD-ready accounts, or Sage 50 Cloud, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Xero, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop |
| VAT | VAT on sales and purchases flows out to your accounting package | Built-in accounts can create and submit VAT returns to HMRC |
| Technical data | WorkshopData powered by HaynesPro, add-on | Autodata integration. Buy Autodata through Garage Hive or transfer your licence |
| Electronic inspections | Yes, with photos and a link the customer opens to approve work (Gold and above) | Yes, health checks with images, sent by SMS or email, approved on the customer’s phone |
| Online bookings | Yes: public booking link, WorkshopWeb, WordPress plugin or API | Yes, works with any website |
| Reminders | Service and booking reminders by SMS and email | MOT, service and timing belt reminders by SMS and email |
| Reg lookup | DVLA and UK Vehicle Data (DVLA plus postcode lookup) | VRM lookup on the job sheet |
| Technician time | Clock on and off jobs from mobile, desktop or web | Technician time registration |
| Mobile | Free native iOS and Android app (Gold and above) | Responsive on PC, laptop, tablet and phone |
| Payments | WorkshopPay payment links, Stripe | Online payment request by SMS, Stripe, Dojo |
| Reporting | Workshop Intelligence (Pulse, Scoreboard, Advisor) on Gold and Platinum, Mechanic Performance report | Power BI dashboards, technician labour recovery reporting |
| Multi-site | Platinum, priced per site | Multi-location, pricing not published |
| Support | Phone, email and 24 hour online chat | Phone, email and WhatsApp, Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 8am to 1pm |
Pricing comparison
| Workshop Software | Garage Hive | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Silver: £99 a month billed annually (£1,188 a year), or £119 monthly | From £145 a month |
| Mid plan | Gold: £109 a month billed annually, or £129 monthly | Not published |
| Top plan | Platinum: £199 a month billed annually, or £249 monthly, per site | Not published |
| Extra users | £16 a month each | Not published |
| Setup or onboarding | Onboarding and data migration included at no extra charge | Not published |
| Free trial | 14 days, no credit card | None advertised |
| Contract | No lock-in, cancel any time | One-month rolling |
| Technical data | WorkshopData add-on, £29 a month | Autodata, licence cost not published |
On the headline number, our Silver and Gold plans start below Garage Hive’s £145. But the two prices do not buy the same thing. Garage Hive lists a built-in accounts module, phone support and multi-site capability in what its price includes.
Garage Hive does not publish tiers, per-user pricing or how VAT applies. So the only way to get a real number is to ask for a quote for your users and sites. With Workshop Software you can add up the cost yourself from the pricing page, including extra users and WorkshopData.
Prices are as at October 2026. Both companies change prices from time to time, so check before you commit.
Purpose-built workshop software or a garage system on an ERP
Garage Hive is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. That gives it a full finance system underneath, with Power BI reporting on top. If you want one system for the workshop and the books, that is a real advantage.
Workshop Software is built for running the workshop. It does not try to be your accounting system. Instead it connects to Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks Online, and payments and supplier invoices sync across.
Think about who does your books. If your bookkeeper already lives in Xero or QuickBooks, a sync may suit you better than moving your accounts into a new system.
Trying it before you sign
Workshop Software has a 14 day free trial with every feature switched on and no credit card. You can load a few real jobs and see how it feels with your team.
Garage Hive does not advertise a trial. Its site points you to a phone number and an enquiry form. That is common in this market, but it means you see the system through a demo first.
Accounts and VAT
Garage Hive’s own accounts are Making Tax Digital ready. They can create your VAT return and submit it to HMRC. It also gives your accountant a free licence.
With Workshop Software, VAT on sales and purchases comes out of the system and into your accounting package. Your VAT return is then done there. If you use Sage, note that Garage Hive connects to Sage and we do not.
Technical data: HaynesPro or Autodata
WorkshopData, powered by HaynesPro, puts repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring information inside the job card. It is an add-on at £29 a month.
Garage Hive connects to Autodata, which covers wiring diagrams, maintenance schedules and timing belt information. Its Autodata page says you buy Autodata through Garage Hive or transfer your current licence. Ask whether the licence is in the £145 or on top.
Both are established data sources. If your technicians already prefer one, that is worth weighing.
On the workshop floor
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. Technicians do not need to sit at a PC.
Garage Hive says it is fully responsive on any device, and technicians see jobs as soon as they are assigned. Ask to see it on the phone or tablet your team would actually use.
Support hours differ too. Garage Hive’s phone support runs Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm. Workshop Software has phone, email and 24 hour online chat.
Where Garage Hive is stronger
- Built-in accounts. A Making Tax Digital ready accounts module that submits VAT returns to HMRC, with a free licence for your accountant.
- Sage and QuickBooks Desktop. It connects to Sage 50 Cloud, Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Desktop. We do not.
- MOT history in the system. It pulls DVLA MOT history into the software and keeps MOT expiry dates up to date for reminders.
- Power BI reporting. Custom dashboards that can run on wallboards in the workshop.
- Customer surveys. Automated NPS surveys by SMS after the job.
- Phone support in the price. Its pricing page lists phone support for unlimited users.
Closer than you might expect
On the day-to-day work, the two are closer than the marketing suggests. Both are cloud based. Both run a diary, job sheets, stock control and invoicing.
Both do electronic inspections with photos that the customer approves from their phone. Both take online bookings and send SMS and email reminders. Both look up UK registrations. Both connect to Xero and QuickBooks Online. Both handle more than one site. Neither locks you into a long contract.
Which should you choose?
Choose Workshop Software if:
- You want to see the price and try the full system before you talk to sales
- Your books are in Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks Online and you want to keep them there
- Your technicians would rather use a native app on their phone
- You want HaynesPro technical data inside the job card
- You want 24 hour online chat support
Garage Hive may suit you if:
- Your accounts are in Sage, or you want accounts and VAT returns inside the garage system
- You want Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Power BI underneath
- Your technicians are set on Autodata
The quickest way to decide is to use it. Start a free trial. It takes 14 days, needs no credit card and has every feature switched on.
Comparing more systems? Read our guide to choosing between workshop platforms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Workshop Software cost in the UK?
Workshop Software starts from £99 a month billed annually, or £119 billed monthly. Gold is £109 or £129, and Platinum is £199 or £249 per site. Extra users are £16 a month.
Does Workshop Software have a free trial?
Yes. Workshop Software has a 14 day free trial with every feature switched on. You do not need a credit card.
Is Workshop Software tied to a contract?
No. Workshop Software has no lock-in contract. You can cancel any time and export your data.
Does Workshop Software work with Xero and QuickBooks?
Yes. Workshop Software connects to Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online, and is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store. Payments and supplier invoices sync to your accounts. It does not connect to Sage.
Does Workshop Software have a mobile app?
Yes. 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.
Does Workshop Software include technical data?
Workshop Software offers WorkshopData, powered by HaynesPro, as an add-on at £29 a month. It puts repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring information in the job card.
Can customers approve work from their phone with Workshop Software?
Yes. On Gold and above, Workshop Software’s electronic inspections include photos and a link the customer opens to approve the work.
Does Workshop Software look up UK registrations?
Yes. Workshop Software connects to DVLA and UK Vehicle Data, which adds postcode lookup. Registration lookups carry a small per-use fee.
How much does Garage Hive cost?
Garage Hive advertises pricing from £145 a month on a one-month rolling contract, checked October 2026. It does not publish plan tiers, per-user pricing or VAT treatment.
Is Garage Hive built on Microsoft Dynamics?
Yes. Garage Hive says it is built on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central platform.
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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.