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Workshop Software vs Motasoft
Motasoft is a long-standing UK garage system, best known for Virtual Garage Manager. Workshop Software is a cloud workshop platform used in more than 33 countries, including the UK. Both handle the diary, job sheets, invoicing, online bookings and Xero.
The differences that matter are how you try before you buy, what the mobile app does, how each prices users and technical data, and accounting. This page compares Workshop Software with Motasoft (sometimes written MotaSoft or Mota Soft, and its VGM product) using what each company publishes.
What is Workshop Software?
Workshop Software is cloud workshop management software for independent garages. It is built by a team with decades of experience in software for workshops, and has more than 9,400 users. Garages 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. DVLA and UK Vehicle Data lookups fill in vehicle details. Payments and supplier invoices sync to Xero or QuickBooks Online, and VAT on sales and purchases comes out of the system.
UK pricing starts from £99 a month billed yearly, or £119 paid monthly, with extra users at £16 a month. Every plan comes with a 14 day free trial, no credit card and no lock-in contract. See full pricing
What is Motasoft?
Motasoft is a Bristol company founded in 2007 and part of the ClearCourse group since March 2026. Its Virtual Garage Manager (VGM) covers the diary, job sheets, MOT and service reminders, online booking and invoicing for independent garages and fast-fit centres. Prices start from £55 a month plus VAT, with unlimited users.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Workshop Software | Motasoft |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | 36 integrations in use, plus an open API (the Workshop API and the Public Booking API, on Platinum) | Lists MotasoftPay, Xero, Sage 50 and QuickBooks export, DVLA, GSF Car Parts, GroupTyre, Haynes and HMRC MTD |
| Accounting | Xero and QuickBooks Online. Payments and supplier invoices sync. A listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store | Direct Xero integration. Exports sales and purchases to Sage 50 and QuickBooks. VAT returns to HMRC MTD |
| Repair times and technical data in the job card | WorkshopData powered by HaynesPro: repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring. Add-on, £29 a month | Haynes technical data, repair and job times, wiring diagrams and service schedules on VGM Plus and Complete |
| Electronic inspections | Yes, with photos and a link the customer opens to approve the work (Gold and above) | Yes, customisable VHCs with photo and video, sent as digital reports (VGM Complete) |
| 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) | VGM Technician for iOS and Android: tasks, VHCs, digital job cards, clocking on and off. Included in Complete. Invoicing and payments not listed |
| Reporting | Workshop Intelligence (Pulse, Scoreboard, Advisor) on Gold and Platinum, plus Mechanic Performance and other mechanic reports | Reporting and customisable dashboards |
| Online bookings | Four ways: public booking link (Gold), WorkshopWeb website, WordPress plugin, or API (Platinum). All land in Booking Approvals | Online booking widget, including MOT bookings |
| Website for your garage | WorkshopWeb with Platinum | Motor trade website, £25 a month plus a £150 build fee |
| Multi-site | Yes, on Platinum, priced per site | Not published |
| Parts ordering | Stock control, with GSF Car Parts and Ashdown Ingram integrations | Parts ordering and stock management |
| Reg lookups | DVLA and UK Vehicle Data (DVLA plus postcode lookup). DVLA lookups 9p | DVLA MOT history. 50 VRM and 100 postcode lookups a month included |
| Users | 1 included, then £16 each | Unlimited on every plan |
| Annual billing | Yes, lower monthly price billed yearly | Not published |
| Free trial | 14 days, full features, no credit card | No. Free demo only |
| Contract | No lock-in, cancel any time, export your data | No fixed-term contract |
| Support | Phone, email and 24 hour online chat. A full support team takes you through onboarding | UK-based chat and phone support, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:30 |
Pricing comparison
| Workshop Software | Motasoft | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Silver: £99 a month billed yearly, or £119 monthly | VGM Essential: £55 or £65 a month |
| Middle plan | Gold: £109 a month billed yearly, or £129 monthly | VGM Plus: £85 or £95 a month, includes Haynes data |
| Top plan | Platinum: £199 a month billed yearly, or £249 monthly | VGM Complete: £110 or £149 a month, includes technician app and VHCs |
| Users | 1 included, then £16 a month each | Unlimited |
| Inspections and mobile app | From Gold | VGM Complete |
| Technical data | WorkshopData add-on, £29 a month | Included from VGM Plus |
| Website | WorkshopWeb with Platinum | £25 a month plus £150 build fee |
| Free trial | 14 days | Demo only |
| Contract | None | None |
Motasoft’s two prices for each plan depend on whether you sign up to MotasoftPay. Its discounted rates are for customers who take MotasoftPay.
For a garage with one or two logins, the two are close. As your team grows, Motasoft’s unlimited users and bundled Haynes data make it cheaper. A garage with four people on Workshop Software Gold pays for three extra users at £16 each, plus WorkshopData if it wants technical data.
What you get for the money differs. Workshop Software’s app runs the whole job through to invoice, and you can try every feature for 14 days before you speak to anyone. Prices are as at October 2026. Both companies change prices from time to time, so check before you commit.
Try it before you talk to sales
Workshop Software gives you 14 days with every feature, no credit card. You can book a job, quote it, inspect the car, invoice it and see it land in Xero or QuickBooks, all on your own time.
Motasoft offers a free demo, booked with its team. There is no self-serve trial on its site. If you want to test a system on real jobs before committing, that matters.
A mobile app that finishes the job
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.
Motasoft’s VGM Technician app is built for technicians: daily tasks, VHCs, digital job cards and clocking on and off. It is included in VGM Complete. Its app page does not list invoicing or taking payments from the app.
Accounting: live sync or export
Workshop Software connects to Xero and QuickBooks Online. Payments and supplier invoices sync across, and VAT on sales and purchases comes out of the system. Workshop Software is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store.
Motasoft integrates directly with Xero. For Sage 50 and QuickBooks, its page says “VGM can also export sales and purchases to Sage 50 and QuickBooks.” If your books are in QuickBooks, ask how that export works day to day.
How users and technical data are priced
Motasoft includes unlimited users on every plan, and Haynes technical data from VGM Plus. That is a real advantage for larger teams.
Workshop Software includes one user and charges £16 a month for each extra user. WorkshopData, powered by HaynesPro, is an add-on at £29 a month. It puts repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring information in the job card.
Reporting on your mechanics
Workshop Intelligence comes with Gold and Platinum. Pulse, Scoreboard and Advisor show how the garage is tracking. The Mechanic Performance report compares hours worked with hours charged, alongside other mechanic reports.
Motasoft lists reporting, customisable dashboards and technician tracking. If mechanic productivity is a focus, compare the reports side by side in a demo and a trial.
Where Motasoft is stronger
- Unlimited users on every plan, so larger teams pay less.
- Haynes technical data is included from VGM Plus.
- MOT reminders, MOT history and online MOT bookings are built in.
- VAT returns can go straight to HMRC through its MTD integration.
- It exports to Sage 50 as well as Xero and QuickBooks.
- Monthly SMS, VRM and postcode credits are included in every plan.
Closer than you might expect
Both run a cloud diary, job cards, estimates and invoicing. Both offer digital inspections with photos, clocking on and off, service reminders, online bookings, stock control, DVLA lookups and Xero. Neither ties you to a fixed-term contract.
Which should you choose?
Choose Workshop Software if you want to trial every feature before you speak to sales, you use QuickBooks Online and want a live sync, 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.
Motasoft may suit you if you need many logins at the lowest monthly cost, you want Haynes data bundled into the plan, you use Sage 50, or you want MOT reminders and HMRC MTD filing from the same system.
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 in the UK?
Workshop Software starts from £99 a month billed yearly, or £119 paid monthly. Gold is £109 billed yearly and Platinum £199. Extra users are £16 a month.
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.
Does Workshop Software work with Xero and QuickBooks?
Yes. Workshop Software connects to Xero and QuickBooks Online, and payments and supplier invoices sync across. 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 do DVLA lookups?
Yes. Workshop Software connects to DVLA and UK Vehicle Data, which adds postcode lookup. DVLA lookups are 9p each.
Does Workshop Software have technical data and repair times?
Yes. WorkshopData, powered by HaynesPro, adds repair times, service schedules, torque settings and wiring information to the job card. It is an add-on at £29 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.
What support does Workshop Software offer UK garages?
Phone, email and 24 hour online chat. A full support team takes you through onboarding.
Does Motasoft offer a free trial?
Motasoft offers a free demo with its team rather than a self-serve trial.
How much does Motasoft cost?
Motasoft lists VGM Essential at £55 or £65, Plus at £85 or £95 and Complete at £110 or £149 a month, plus VAT, depending on MotasoftPay. Every plan has unlimited users.
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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.