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Workshop Software vs Hoist
Hoist is a new workshop system built in New Zealand for New Zealand workshops. Workshop Software is a cloud workshop platform used by workshops in more than 33 countries. Both run your bookings, job cards and invoicing, and both connect to Xero.
The differences that matter are accounting choice, technical data in the job card, how far the mobile app goes, reporting, and what you pay as your team grows. This page compares Workshop Software with Hoist (sometimes written Hoist Software or Hoist NZ) on what each company publishes.
What is Workshop Software?
Workshop Software is cloud workshop management software for independent automotive workshops. It is built by a team with decades of experience in software for workshops, and has more than 9,400 users. Workshops have generated $4.7b in invoices through it.
It covers the booking diary, job cards, quoting and invoicing, stock control, service and booking reminders by SMS and email, a customer portal and electronic inspections. Payments and supplier invoices sync to Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks Online. A free native app for iOS and Android runs the whole workshop on Gold and above.
Pricing starts from AUD $99 a month billed annually, with extra users at AUD $20 a month. New Zealand workshops are billed in AUD. Every plan comes with a 14 day free trial, no credit card and no lock-in contract. See full pricing
What is Hoist?
Hoist is made by Hoist Software Limited, a small team in Upper Hutt founded in 2023, with its public launch in April 2026. It sells only in New Zealand and covers job cards, scheduling, WoF and CoF reminders, inspections, invoicing and Xero. It costs NZD $140 a month plus GST, with 3 users included.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Workshop Software | Hoist |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | 36 integrations in use, plus an open API (the Workshop API and the Public Booking API, on Platinum) | 3 live (Xero, rego lookup, Verifone EFTPOS), with Windcave and Smartpay in progress |
| Accounting | Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online. A listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store | Xero, including Xero Payroll. MYOB and QuickBooks listed as planned |
| Repair times and technical data in the job card | WorkshopData powered by HaynesPro: repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring. Add-on from AUD $69 a month | Rego lookup fills make, model, VIN, WoF and CoF. Vehicle history with recall alerts and manufacturer schedules. Repair times, torque and wiring not listed |
| Electronic inspections | Yes, with photos and a link the customer opens to approve the work (Gold and above) | Yes, photo inspections on your own templates, customer approves estimates from a link |
| Mobile app | Free native iOS and Android app that runs the whole workshop: bookings, job cards, inspections, invoicing, clocking on and off (Gold and above) | Roadmap lists a native technician app for iOS and Android as shipped. Other Hoist pages still say “coming soon” |
| Reporting | Workshop Intelligence (Pulse, Scoreboard, Advisor) on Gold and Platinum, plus Mechanic Performance and other mechanic reports | Sales, receivables, GST, stock and team reports, plus an admin dashboard |
| Online bookings | Four ways: public booking link (Gold), WorkshopWeb website, WordPress plugin, or API (Platinum). All land in Booking Approvals | Customers book from your website into available slots |
| Website for your workshop | WorkshopWeb with Platinum | Not listed |
| Multi-site | Yes, on Platinum, priced per site | Not listed |
| Parts ordering | Stock control plus parts supplier integrations including Capricorn and Repco | Purchase orders drafted from low stock, multiple suppliers per product. No supplier integrations listed |
| Users | 1 included, then AUD $20 each | 3 included, then NZD $10 each |
| Annual billing | Yes, lower monthly price on annual billing | Not published. Flat monthly price |
| Free trial | 14 days, full features, no credit card | 14 days free |
| Contract | No lock-in, cancel any time, export your data | No long-term contract, cancel any time, data accessible for 30 days after cancelling |
| Support | Phone, email and 24 hour online chat. A full support team takes you through onboarding | Phone, email and in-app chat from an NZ-based team |
Pricing comparison
| Workshop Software | Hoist | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | From AUD $99 a month billed annually (NZ workshops are billed in AUD) | NZD $140 a month plus GST |
| Plans | Silver, Gold, Platinum | One plan, every feature |
| Inspections and full mobile app | Gold and above | Included |
| Users included | 1 | 3 |
| Extra users | AUD $20 a month each | NZD $10 a month each |
| Outbound SMS | From 11c | 12c |
| Technical data | WorkshopData add-on from AUD $69 a month | Not offered |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
| Contract | None | None |
For a single site with three people who need inspections and two-way texting, Hoist will usually cost less each month. Its one plan includes 3 users and two-way SMS. On Workshop Software you would be on Gold, paying for two extra users.
The gap closes once you need what Hoist does not offer: repair times and wiring in the job card, MYOB or QuickBooks, a workshop website, more than one site, or parts supplier integrations. Our prices are in AUD and Hoist’s are in NZD, so compare like for like before you decide.
Prices are as at October 2026. Both companies change prices from time to time, so check before you commit.
Your accounting, your choice
Workshop Software connects to Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online. Payments and supplier invoices sync across, and GST on sales and purchases comes out of the system. Workshop Software is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store.
Hoist connects to Xero, including Xero Payroll. MYOB and QuickBooks are on its roadmap as planned, with no date. If your books are in Xero and will stay there, this makes no difference. If they are in MYOB or QuickBooks, it does today.
Repair times and wiring in the job card
WorkshopData, powered by HaynesPro, puts repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring information inside the job card. It is an add-on from AUD $69 a month on any plan. Your quotes are based on published times, not a guess.
Hoist fills vehicle details from a rego lookup and keeps a vehicle history with recall alerts and manufacturer schedules. It does not list repair times, torque settings or wiring information.
How far the mobile app goes
Workshop Software’s free iOS and Android app runs the whole workshop on Gold and above. Bookings, job cards, inspections, invoicing and clocking on and off all work from a phone.
Hoist’s roadmap shows a technician app for iOS and Android as shipped, for job management and inspections. Other pages on its site still say the apps are coming soon, so check the app stores before you commit.
Reporting that shows where the money goes
Workshop Intelligence comes with Gold and Platinum. Pulse, Scoreboard and Advisor show how the workshop is tracking. The Mechanic Performance report compares hours worked with hours charged, alongside other mechanic reports.
Hoist offers sales, receivables, GST, stock and team reports, plus an admin dashboard with revenue, margin and receivables. That covers the basics well. Workshop Software goes further on mechanic productivity.
Room to grow
Workshop Software has three plans, so a small workshop can start on Silver and move up. Platinum adds multi-site, priced per site, plus WorkshopWeb and the API.
Hoist has one plan with everything in it. That is simple, but it does not list multi-site, a website or an API today.
Where Hoist is stronger
- Three users and two-way SMS are included in one flat price, which suits a small team.
- Its support team is based in New Zealand and works in your time zone.
- One plan means no tiers to compare and no upgrade decisions.
- Rego lookups are published at 5c cached and 24c live.
- It connects to Xero Payroll for technician hours.
Closer than you might expect
Both run a booking diary, job cards, quotes and invoicing in the cloud. Both offer photo inspections with customer approval by link, service reminders, online bookings, clocking on and off, and a price matrix. Both connect to Xero, offer a 14 day free trial and have no lock-in contract.
Which should you choose?
Choose Workshop Software if your books are in MYOB or QuickBooks, you want repair times and wiring in the job card, you want a phone app that handles the whole job through to invoice, you want deeper mechanic reporting, or you run more than one site.
Hoist may suit you if you run one site with three or fewer people, your books are in Xero and will stay there, you do not need technical data in the job card, and a single flat plan with an NZ-based team matters most to you.
The best test is your own jobs. Start a free trial and run a week of real work through Workshop Software, free for 14 days with no credit card.
Comparing more systems? Read our guide to choosing between workshop platforms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Workshop Software cost?
Workshop Software starts from AUD $99 a month billed annually. Extra users are AUD $20 a month each. New Zealand workshops are billed in AUD.
Does Workshop Software work with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks?
Yes. Workshop Software connects to Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online. Payments and supplier invoices sync across, and it is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store.
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 have repair times and technical data?
Yes. WorkshopData, powered by HaynesPro, adds repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring information to the job card. It is an add-on from AUD $69 a month.
Can customers book online with Workshop Software?
Yes, four ways: a public booking link on Gold, a WorkshopWeb website, the Workshop Software WordPress plugin, or the API on Platinum. Every booking lands in Booking Approvals with a notification on your dashboard and phone.
Does Workshop Software offer a free trial?
Yes. Workshop Software has a 14 day free trial with full features and no credit card. There is no lock-in contract, you can cancel any time and export your data.
What support does Workshop Software offer?
Phone, email and 24 hour online chat. A full support team takes you through onboarding.
Is Hoist cheaper than Workshop Software?
For a small single site, often yes. Hoist is NZD $140 a month plus GST with 3 users and two-way SMS included. Workshop Software costs more for the same team once you add users, but offers technical data, more accounting choices and multi-site.
Does Hoist integrate with QuickBooks or MYOB?
Not yet. Hoist connects to Xero, and lists MYOB and QuickBooks as planned on its roadmap.
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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.