Auto repair shop software: how to compare Shopmonkey, Tekmetric and Mitchell 1

By Ranjit Bhinge, founder of Blur Studio · Updated October 24, 2026 · 7 min read

Short answer: Auto repair shop software runs your repair orders, estimates, inspections, parts, scheduling and invoices. As of October 2026, Tekmetric starts at $199 a month per shop with unlimited users, Shopmonkey starts at $239 a month for three users, and Mitchell 1 sells Manager SE with its repair data in a $348 a month bundle. Most shops should buy one of these. Custom software fits multi-shop groups, fleet work or shops with tools that do not connect.

You're comparing shop management systems and want the real pricing and trade-offs.

I'm Ranjit, and I run Blur Studio: 15+ years building software, 120 apps taken live, and clients who have gone on to raise $10M+. I build AI systems and processes that help businesses do a lot more with a lot less time. I also work differently from most of what else is out there, more on that further down this page. Say hello.

What does auto repair shop software need to do?

A shop management system should cover the full path of a repair order. These are the core jobs:

Estimates: Writers build estimates with parts and labor times, then send them to the customer by text or email.
Digital vehicle inspections: Techs take photos and notes on a phone or tablet. The customer sees what is worn and why it matters.
Customer approval: The customer approves or declines each job, and the system records who approved it and when.
Parts lookup and ordering: Writers check prices and stock from parts suppliers without leaving the repair order.
Labor guides and repair data: Standard labor times and repair steps help writers quote correctly.
Scheduling and a tech board: Everyone sees which car is in which bay and who is working on it.
Invoices and payments: Customers pay by card or text link, and the invoice syncs to your accounting tool.
Customer texts and reminders: The system texts updates and sends reminders for future service.

How much does auto repair shop software cost?

The table lists each vendor's own published prices as of October 2026. Annual billing is cheaper on both Shopmonkey and Tekmetric.

Product	Entry plan (monthly billing)	Users included	Top published plan	Notes
Tekmetric	Start, $199 a month	Unlimited	Scale, $439 a month	Priced per shop. No long-term contract
Shopmonkey	Basic, $239 a month	3 users	Genius, $499 a month	Extra users cost $20 a month each
Mitchell 1 Manager SE	$348 a month bundle	Not stated	Not published	Bundle is "Teamworks with Manager SE"

Tekmetric

Tekmetric has three published plans as of October 2026. Start costs $199 a month, or $179 a month on annual billing. Grow costs $349 a month and adds a labor guide, time clocks and more reports. Scale costs $439 a month and adds two-way texting, a live shop dashboard and a tech board. Every plan includes unlimited users and repair orders, and Tekmetric says no long-term contract is required. Add-ons include multi-shop management at $70 a month and a marketing add-on at $345 a month.

Shopmonkey

Shopmonkey also has three published plans. Basic costs $239 a month, or $215 a month on annual billing, and includes three users. It already includes two-way texting, payments, parts ordering and digital inspections with two templates. Clever costs $399 a month for four users and adds unlimited inspection templates, inventory, purchase orders, MOTOR labor data and a QuickBooks Online link. Genius costs $499 a month for five users and adds automatic estimate follow-ups and a Google reviews tool. Extra users cost $20 a month each.

Mitchell 1 Manager SE

Mitchell 1's shop software, Manager SE, includes more than 180 reports, mobile inspections, scheduling and an estimating tool. Its repair data product, ProDemand, needs its own subscription. Mitchell 1 does not list a price for Manager SE on its own. Its online store sells a bundle called "Teamworks with Manager SE" for $348 a month. Contactless payments, inspections and text messages are optional add-ons, so ask what your setup will cost in total.

Shopmonkey vs Tekmetric: which should you choose?

Both are cloud tools that run in a web browser, and both cover estimates, inspections and payments. The real differences come down to how you pay and what is in the entry plan.

Choose Tekmetric if: you have many writers and techs who need logins. Its price is per shop with unlimited users, so adding staff does not raise the bill.
Choose Shopmonkey if: you are a small shop that wants two-way texting and parts ordering in the entry plan. Its Basic plan includes both, while Tekmetric puts two-way texting in its Scale plan.
Compare the full cost: A shop with eight users on Shopmonkey Genius pays $499 plus three extra users at $20 each. That comes to $559 a month on monthly billing. The same shop on Tekmetric Scale pays $439 a month.

Run your own numbers with your real user count and the add-ons you need. Then ask each vendor for a demo using one of your recent repair orders.

Current 2026 pricing makes the trade-off concrete. Tekmetric starts at $179 a month and includes unlimited users, unlimited repair orders and unlimited support at every tier, which matters a lot for a shop that is growing staff. Shopmonkey starts slightly higher at $199 a month but caps included seats by tier, three on its Basic plan up to five on Genius, and charges $20 a month for every extra seat, so the real cost gap widens fast for a bigger team. Mitchell 1's Manager SE does not publish pricing at all and is best suited to a shop already anchored in its ProDemand repair-information ecosystem, with texting, inspections, QuickBooks sync and review requests all sold as separate add-on modules rather than included.

What should you check before you buy shop software?

Approval records: Some states set strict rules on approvals. In California, the Bureau of Automotive Repair says you need approval before you begin any added work. For a phone approval, the record must show the date, time, the person's name and the number you called. Make sure your software captures all of this on the work order and invoice.
Plain language on invoices: California's guide says customers should not have to decode shop shorthand such as "R&R." Check that your invoice templates use plain words.
Record keeping: California requires you to keep records for at least three years. Ask how long your vendor keeps your data and how you can export it.
Parts suppliers: Check that the suppliers you use most are connected.
Labor and repair data: Ask which labor guide comes with each plan and what costs extra.
Payments: Ask for the full card processing rate. Tekmetric lists payments under its Enterprise plan and promotes intro offers, so ask what your rate will be after the offer ends.
Moving your history: Ask if the vendor will import your customers, vehicles and past repair orders from your old system.

If you work outside California, look up your own state's rules on estimates and approvals before you choose.

How can AI help an auto repair shop?

An AI phone line for bookings and "is my car ready?" calls

Service writers lose time to calls that ask the same things. An AI receptionist can book appointments, give hours and answer basic status questions by reading the repair order. When a caller needs a person, it passes the call to a writer. My guide to AI receptionists covers how to set one up. If you want AI to make outbound calls, note the FCC rule. In February 2024, the FCC ruled that AI-generated voices count as "artificial" voices under the TCPA. Telemarketing robocalls with those voices need the customer's prior express written consent.

Inspection notes rewritten for the customer

A tech might write "LF pads 2mm, rotors scored." AI can turn that into a short, friendly note. It says the front left brakes are worn and need attention soon. The customer understands the problem, and the writer spends less time explaining. A writer should still check each note before it goes out.

Follow-up on declined work

Customers often decline a job and plan to come back later. AI can track each declined item and send a reminder at the right time, with the photo from the inspection. Shopmonkey's Genius plan includes automatic estimate follow-ups. A custom version can go further and write each message around the customer's own car and history.

When does custom software make sense for a repair shop?

A single shop with a standard workflow should buy one of the products above. They are mature, and they connect to parts suppliers and repair data that would take years to rebuild. Custom software earns its cost in a few situations.

You run several shops with different brands: A group may need one view of all locations, shared customers and its own reports.
You do fleet or commercial work: Fleet clients often want their own portal, approval rules and monthly billing.
Your tools do not connect: If staff copy data between shop software, a CRM, a marketing tool and a spreadsheet, a custom link can join them.
You need a special workflow: Shops that do restoration, EV conversions or performance builds often track long projects that do not fit a normal repair order.

Many shops do best with a mix. They keep standard shop software for repair orders and add a custom portal, dashboard or AI assistant on top. My guide to build vs buy software walks through that choice.

How would Blur Studio approach a repair shop project?

I start by following one car through your shop, from the first call to the final payment. That shows where time and money leak out. Often the fix is a better setup of the tool you already pay for, and I will say so.

When a custom tool is the right call, I build it around your current shop software. Common projects are a fleet client portal, a multi-shop dashboard or an AI phone assistant that reads your repair orders. Your shop holds the code and every login, and I keep the software working after launch.

Questions people ask

What is the best software for a small auto repair shop?

For a small shop, Tekmetric Start at $199 a month and Shopmonkey Basic at $239 a month are common starting points as of October 2026. Shopmonkey Basic includes two-way texting, while Tekmetric includes unlimited users. Pick the one that fits your team size and the features you use daily.

Is Tekmetric cheaper than Shopmonkey?

At list price, Tekmetric's entry plan is $40 a month cheaper than Shopmonkey's, as of October 2026. Tekmetric also includes unlimited users, while Shopmonkey charges $20 a month for each extra user. The real gap depends on your user count and the features you need.

How much does Mitchell 1 Manager SE cost?

Mitchell 1 does not publish a price for Manager SE alone. Its online store lists a "Teamworks with Manager SE" bundle at $348 a month as of October 2026. Ask Mitchell 1 for a quote that includes any add-ons you plan to use.

Can shop software record customer approvals by text?

Yes, most modern shop software sends estimates by text and records the customer's approval. In California, an electronic approval must record the date, time, the person's name and the email or phone number used. Check that your software saves all of these details.

Can AI answer my shop's phone?

Yes, an AI receptionist can book jobs, answer common questions and give status updates if it can read your repair orders. It should pass hard calls to a person. Outbound AI voice calls for marketing need the customer's prior express written consent under FCC rules.

Is Tekmetric or Shopmonkey cheaper for a growing shop?

Tekmetric's unlimited users at every tier usually makes it cheaper as you add staff, since Shopmonkey charges $20 a month per seat past its tier's included limit. Shopmonkey's edge is a more complete out-of-the-box workflow including digital inspections and text approvals without add-ons.

Does Mitchell 1 cost more than Shopmonkey or Tekmetric?

Mitchell 1 does not publish pricing, so it requires a direct quote, and several core features other platforms include standard, like texting and digital inspections, are sold as separate add-on modules on Mitchell 1's Manager SE.

Roughly what does this cost?

As a broad reference, fixes and finishes start at around $1,500, and new builds start higher, always a fixed price agreed in writing before I start, never an hourly rate. My AI app cost guide explains what actually drives a quote up or down.

Is my project too small for this?

No. Most of the owners I work with have no tech team at all, that is the whole point. If the smarter move is a cheap software subscription instead of custom software, I will tell you that on the first call, even though it means I do not get paid.

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