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Workshop Software vs Shopmonkey
Shopmonkey is a well known US shop management system with unlimited two-way texting on every plan. Workshop Software costs less to start, and you can try it free before you sign anything.
The differences that matter are what each entry plan includes, how they connect to your accounting, what the mobile app can do, and the contract you sign. Some owners search for “Shop Monkey” as two words. It is the same product.
What is Workshop Software?
Workshop Software is cloud based shop management software for independent auto repair shops and multi-location groups. We have decades of experience building software for workshops. It has more than 9,400 users in 33+ countries and has generated $4.7b in invoices.
It covers your booking diary, job cards (repair orders), estimates and invoicing, stock control, service reminders by SMS and email, booking reminders, a customer portal and follow-ups. Payments and supplier invoices sync to QuickBooks Online or Xero. Electronic inspections with photos, the full mobile app and Workshop Intelligence reporting come with Gold and above.
Pricing starts at USD $149 a month billed annually, or $169 billed monthly. Extra users are USD $20 a month each. Every plan starts with a 14 day free trial with full features and no credit card. See full pricing
What is Shopmonkey?
Shopmonkey is a US company founded in 2016. It covers estimates and invoices, workflow, digital inspections, payments, parts lookup and customer texting for shops in the United States and Canada. Plans start at USD $215 a month billed annually, or $239 monthly.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Workshop Software | Shopmonkey |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Yes, every plan, and a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store | From the Clever plan, USD $359 a month billed annually. Not on Basic |
| Xero | Yes, every plan | Not listed |
| Integrations | 36 in use, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, PartsTech, Mitchell 1, Carfax, Stripe, Tiremetrix and TireConnect, plus an open API (the Workshop API and the Public Booking API, on Platinum) | QuickBooks Online and CARFAX named in its help center, plus parts ordering and an API |
| Labor times in the job | Mitchell 1 and PartsTech integrations, with MOTOR labor data through PartsTech. These carry their own subscription | MOTOR parts and labor from Clever. MOTOR diagrams and procedures on Genius |
| Inventory | Stock control, every plan | From Clever |
| Digital inspections | Gold and above, with photos and a link the customer opens to approve the work | 2 templates on Basic, unlimited from Clever |
| Two-way texting | Yes, Two-Way SMS add-on. Customer replies land against the job. Outbound SMS at 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: bookings, job cards, inspections, invoicing, clocking on and off | Technician app: time clock, assigned orders, inspections, VIN and plate scanning |
| Time clock | Clocking on and off jobs on mobile, desktop and web | From Clever |
| Reporting | Workshop Intelligence on Gold and Platinum, plus a Mechanic Performance report | Multi-shop reporting on Genius |
| Multi-location | Platinum, priced per site | Multi-Shop plan, custom pricing |
| Users | 1 included, then USD $20 per extra user | 1 on Basic, 3 on Clever, 4 on Genius, then USD $20 per extra license |
| Annual billing | Yes, cheaper than monthly | Yes, saves 10% |
| Free trial | 14 days, full features, no credit card | No trial advertised. Demo request |
| Contract | No lock-in contract, cancel any time | Term renews automatically. Cannot be ended for convenience during the term |
| Support | Phone (including a US number), email and 24 hour online chat | Live support 8am to 8pm EST, Monday to Friday |
Pricing comparison
| Workshop Software | Shopmonkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Silver: USD $149 a month annual, $169 monthly | Basic: USD $215 a month annual, $239 monthly |
| Middle plan | Gold: USD $179 annual, $199 monthly | Clever: USD $359 annual, $399 monthly |
| Top plan | Platinum: USD $249 annual, $299 monthly, per site | Genius: USD $449 annual, $499 monthly |
| Extra users | USD $20 a month each | USD $20 a month each |
| Paid add-ons | Not needed to run the shop | Accounting USD $89 annual. CRM Essentials USD $314 annual. Data migration fee $500 |
| Free trial | 14 days | None advertised |
| Lock-in | None | Auto-renewing term |
At every tier, Workshop Software costs less per month. Our Gold plan, with inspections, the full mobile app and reporting, is USD $179 billed annually. Shopmonkey’s Basic plan is USD $215.
The fair comparison is not only price. Shopmonkey Basic includes unlimited two-way texting and two inspection templates. It does not include QuickBooks or inventory. You need Clever at USD $359 for those.
On the entry plans both charge USD $20 for each extra user, so the gap does not close as a small team grows. Prices are as at October 2026. Both companies change prices from time to time, so check before you commit.
Accounting on the entry plan
Workshop Software connects to QuickBooks Online and Xero on every plan. We are a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store. Payments and supplier invoices sync across, so your bookkeeper is not re-keying invoices.
Shopmonkey connects to QuickBooks Online from its Clever plan. QuickBooks Desktop goes through Accounting Link, a product from a separate company called The Back Office. Shopmonkey also sells its own accounting add-on. We could not find a Xero integration.
Trying it before you sign
Workshop Software gives you 14 days with every feature switched on. No credit card. If it suits, you pick a plan. If not, you walk away and export your data.
Shopmonkey’s website offers a demo request rather than a free trial. A demo shows you the software. A trial lets your team run real jobs through it first.
Contract terms
Workshop Software has no lock-in contract. You can cancel any time.
Shopmonkey’s Terms of Service, updated June 2026, say the term renews automatically for periods of up to one year. They also say an agreement “may not be terminated for Customer’s convenience during the Term” and fees are “non-refundable and non-cancellable”. Read those terms before you sign.
What the mobile app does
On Gold and above, the free Workshop Software app runs the whole shop. You can take bookings, open job cards, do inspections, invoice and clock on and off from a phone or tablet.
Shopmonkey’s mobile app is built for technicians. It covers the time clock, assigned orders, inspections and VIN and plate scanning. Its help center does not describe estimating or invoicing from the app.
Reporting and a website
Gold and Platinum include Workshop Intelligence, with Pulse, Scoreboard and Advisor. The Mechanic Performance report shows hours worked against hours charged, so you can see where labor is leaking.
Platinum adds WorkshopWeb, a website for your shop with online booking built in. Bookings land in Booking Approvals with a notification on your dashboard and phone.
Where Shopmonkey is stronger
Unlimited two-way texting and email is included on every Shopmonkey plan, including Basic. Workshop Software offers Two-Way SMS in the US too, as an add-on, so compare what each costs at your message volume.
Shopmonkey also offers MOTOR diagrams and procedures inside the system on its Genius plan, and a Google Reviews manager on Genius.
Closer than you might expect
Both run in the cloud, so there is nothing to install. Both handle bookings, estimates, invoices, digital inspections with photos and payments. Both connect to PartsTech for parts ordering and Carfax for vehicle data. Both sell annual billing at a lower monthly rate than month to month.
Which should you choose?
Choose Workshop Software if you want QuickBooks Online or Xero without paying for a higher tier, you want a full free trial before you commit, you do not want a lock-in contract, or you want one app that runs the whole shop from a phone.
Shopmonkey may suit you if unlimited two-way texting on the entry plan is your top priority and you are comfortable with an auto-renewing term.
The best test is your own shop. Start a free trial and run real jobs through Workshop Software for 14 days.
Comparing more systems? Read our guide to choosing between workshop platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Is Workshop Software cheaper than Shopmonkey?
Yes, at every tier. Workshop Software starts at USD $149 a month billed annually. Shopmonkey Basic is USD $215. Both charge USD $20 for each extra user.
Does Workshop Software integrate with QuickBooks Online?
Yes. Workshop Software is a listed app on the Intuit QuickBooks App Store. Payments and supplier invoices sync to QuickBooks Online. It also connects to Xero.
Does Workshop Software have a free trial?
Yes. Workshop Software offers a 14 day free trial with full features and no credit card. There is no lock-in contract and you can cancel any time.
Does Workshop Software have a mobile app?
Yes. The free iOS and Android app runs the whole shop on Gold and above: bookings, job cards, inspections, invoicing and clocking on and off.
Does Workshop Software do digital inspections?
Yes, on Gold and above. Technicians add photos, and the customer opens a link to approve the work.
Does Workshop Software have two-way texting in the US?
Yes. Two-Way SMS is an add-on, and customer replies land against the job. Workshop Software also sends service reminders, booking reminders and messages by SMS and email.
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.
What support does Workshop Software offer?
Phone, email and 24 hour online chat. We have a US phone number, and a full support team takes you through onboarding, including your data, at no extra charge.
How much does Shopmonkey cost?
As at October 2026, Basic is USD $215 a month billed annually or $239 monthly. Clever is $359 or $399. Genius is $449 or $499. Multi-Shop is custom.
Does Shopmonkey integrate with Xero?
We could not find a Xero integration. Shopmonkey connects to QuickBooks Online from its Clever plan.
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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.