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Workshop Software vs Shop Boss
Shop Boss is a long-standing US shop management system with unlimited users and unlimited two-way texting on every plan. For a big team that texts customers all day, that is a real advantage. Some people search for it as “Shopboss” or “Shop Boss Pro”. It is the same product.
The differences that matter are the entry price, which plan you need for inspections and labor guides, how you connect your accounting, how you get started, and what you pay for setup.
What is Workshop Software?
Workshop Software is cloud shop management for independent auto repair shops and multi-site groups. It runs your booking diary, job cards, quoting and invoicing, stock control, electronic inspections, service reminders and customer portal. Workshop Intelligence reporting sits on Gold and Platinum.
We have decades of experience building software for repair shops. Workshop Software has more than 9,400 users in 33+ countries. It connects to QuickBooks Online and Xero, and it is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store. A free native app for iOS and Android runs the whole shop on Gold and above.
Pricing starts at USD $149 a month billed annually ($169 month to month). There is a 14 day free trial with full features, no credit card and no lock-in contract. See full pricing
What is Shop Boss?
Shop Boss is web-based shop management software for independent US auto repair shops, single and multi-location. It is based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and is part of Vehlo. Its four published plans all include unlimited repair orders and unlimited users, starting at USD $179 a month billed annually.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Workshop Software | Shop Boss |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | 36 in use, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, PartsTech, Mitchell1, Carfax, Tiremetrix, TireConnect, Parts Authority, PROLink, Stripe, Podium and Mailchimp, plus an open API (the Workshop API and the Public Booking API, on Platinum) | 12 partners on their partners page, including PartsTech, 360 Payments, Steer and Epicor CRM |
| QuickBooks Online | Yes, and a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store, every plan | Through API Nation, a third-party connector, USD $25 a month on API Nation’s page |
| Xero | Yes, every plan | Not listed |
| Labor times in the job | Mitchell 1 and PartsTech integrations, with MOTOR labor data through PartsTech. These carry their own subscription | Labor guide integrations on Gold. Full labor guides with diagrams and procedures on Platinum |
| Electronic inspections | Yes, with photos and a link the customer opens to approve the work. Gold and above | From Platinum |
| Two-way texting | Yes, Two-Way SMS add-on. Customer replies land against the job. Outbound SMS 2 cents a message | Unlimited two-way text and email on every plan |
| Mobile app | Free iOS and Android app that runs the whole shop on Gold and above | Not named on their website. Web-based |
| Reporting | Workshop Intelligence (Pulse, Scoreboard, Advisor) on Gold and Platinum, plus Mechanic Performance and other technician reports | Standard reports on every plan. Business intelligence dashboard from Platinum |
| Online bookings | Public booking link (Gold), WordPress plugin, API (Platinum), or a WorkshopWeb website | Online service scheduler on Premier Plus, or USD $249 a month add-on with CRM |
| Website for your shop | WorkshopWeb, on Platinum | From Premier |
| Multi-site | Platinum, priced per site | Single and multi-location supported |
| Users | 1 included, then USD $20 a month each | Unlimited on every plan |
| Annual billing | Optional. Month to month also available | Optional. Month to month also available |
| Free trial | 14 days, full features, no credit card | Not published. Demo on request |
| Setup and data transfer | Onboarding and data migration included at no extra charge | Data transfer USD $399 or $899 |
| Contract | No lock-in. Cancel any time and export your data | Not published on pricing page |
| Support | Phone (including a US number), email and 24 hour online chat | Phone listed. Custom 1:1 training on Premier |
Pricing comparison
| Workshop Software | Shop Boss | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Silver: USD $149 a month annual, $169 monthly | Gold: USD $179 annual, $199 monthly |
| Second plan | Gold: USD $179 annual, $199 monthly | Platinum: USD $314 annual, $349 monthly |
| Third plan | Platinum: USD $249 annual, $299 monthly, per site | Premier: USD $404 annual, $449 monthly |
| Top published plan | Platinum is our top plan | Premier Plus: USD $584 annual, $649 monthly |
| Users | Extra users USD $20 a month each | Unlimited |
| Online bookings | Public booking link from Gold | Premier Plus, or USD $249 a month add-on ($224 annual) with CRM |
| Data transfer | Data migration included | USD $399 or $899 |
| Free trial | 14 days | Not published |
On the entry plans, Workshop Software is USD $30 a month cheaper on annual billing. Shop Boss gives you unlimited users from day one, so a large team pays nothing extra for seats. If you have a lot of people, do that sum first.
The bigger gap is inspections. Shop Boss lists digital inspections, full labor guides and its business intelligence dashboard from Platinum, at USD $314 a month annual. Workshop Software has electronic inspections and Workshop Intelligence on Gold, at $179.
Online booking is a similar story. Shop Boss puts its online scheduler on Premier Plus or in a $249 a month add-on. Workshop Software’s public booking link is on Gold. Prices are as at October 2026. Both companies change prices from time to time, so check before you commit.
Users and texting: Shop Boss is built for big teams
Shop Boss includes unlimited users and unlimited two-way text and email on every plan. If you have eight advisors and techs and you text customers all day, that is simple pricing and it saves money.
Workshop Software charges USD $20 a month for each extra user. Two-Way SMS is an add-on with us, with customer replies landing against the job. For a small to mid-sized shop the total often still comes out lower. Work it through for your own headcount.
Inspections and labor guides: which plan you need
Workshop Software’s electronic inspections start on Gold. Technicians add photos and the customer opens a link to approve the work. You get it at USD $179 a month annual.
Shop Boss lists comprehensive digital inspections, and full labor guides with diagrams and procedures, from Platinum at $314. Its Gold plan lists labor guide integrations but not inspections.
Accounting: Xero, and how QuickBooks connects
Workshop Software connects directly to QuickBooks Online and Xero. Payments and supplier invoices sync across. We are a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store.
Shop Boss does not name QuickBooks or Xero on its pricing or partners pages. QuickBooks Online and Desktop are offered through API Nation, a third-party connector, at USD $25 a month on API Nation’s page. We did not find a Xero connection.
The app on the shop floor
Workshop Software’s free app for iOS and Android runs the whole shop on Gold and above. Technicians clock on and off jobs and do inspections from their phone. Advisors can take bookings and invoice from it.
Shop Boss is web-based, and its website does not name a dedicated app. Technicians can use it in a browser on a tablet or phone.
Getting started
Workshop Software gives you 14 days with every feature on and no credit card. A full support team takes you through onboarding.
Shop Boss offers a demo. A free trial is not on its pricing page. Data transfer is priced at USD $399 for customers and vehicles, or $899 including repair history and inventory.
Where Shop Boss is stronger
- Unlimited users on every plan.
- Unlimited two-way text and email on every plan.
- Integrated payments with Text to Pay, Venmo and PayPal.
- A built-in website service and 1:1 training on Premier.
- AI ProNotes, which Shop Boss lists from Platinum.
Closer than you might expect
Both run the daily work of an auto repair shop in the cloud: scheduling, estimates, repair orders, invoicing, inventory and digital inspections. Both connect to PartsTech for parts ordering. Both publish their prices openly, with a discount for annual billing. Both handle single shops and multi-location groups.
Which should you choose?
Choose Workshop Software if:
- Your books are in Xero, or you want QuickBooks connected directly
- You want inspections and reporting without moving to a USD $314 plan
- You want online bookings without a $249 a month add-on
- You want your techs on a native iOS or Android app
- You want to run your own jobs through it before you pay anything
Shop Boss may suit you if:
- You have a large team and unlimited users saves you real money
- Two-way texting with customers is central to how you work
- You want a website and 1:1 training bundled into one plan
The quickest way to settle it is to run two weeks of your own jobs through Workshop Software. Start a free trial
Comparing more systems? Read our guide to choosing between workshop platforms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Workshop Software cost in the US?
Silver is USD $149 a month billed annually or $169 month to month. Gold is $179 or $199. Platinum is $249 or $299 per site. Extra users are USD $20 a month each.
Does Workshop Software have a free trial?
Yes. Workshop Software has a 14 day free trial with full features. You do not need a credit card, and there is no lock-in contract.
Does Workshop Software integrate with QuickBooks and Xero?
Yes. Workshop Software connects to QuickBooks Online and Xero, and it is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store.
Does Workshop Software have a mobile app?
Yes. On Gold and above, the free iOS and Android app runs bookings, job cards, inspections, invoicing and clocking on and off jobs.
Which Workshop Software plan includes digital inspections?
Gold and Platinum. Technicians add photos, and the customer opens a link to approve the work.
Can customers book online with Workshop Software?
Yes. Bookings can come through a public booking link on Gold, the Workshop Software WordPress plugin, or the API on Platinum. Every booking lands in Booking Approvals with a notification on your dashboard and phone.
Can I move my data to Workshop Software?
Yes. A full support team takes you through onboarding, including bringing across your data, at no extra charge.
How much does Shop Boss cost?
Shop Boss publishes Gold at USD $179 a month annual ($199 monthly), Platinum at $314 ($349), Premier at $404 ($449) and Premier Plus at $584 ($649). The CRM and online scheduler add-on is $224 a month annual ($249 monthly).
Does Shop Boss integrate with Xero?
Xero is not named on Shop Boss’s website. QuickBooks is available through API Nation, a third-party connector.
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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.