Autograff vs Shopmonkey.

If you're shopping for auto repair software right now, you've probably seen the same short list a dozen times. But most videos just rank logos and skip what actually matters for your shop. So we'll go through the popular systems, what each one's good at and what it really costs. We'll look at what the newer AI-first systems do differently, and we'll finish with the main things to check before you sign up for anything.

What is auto repair shop software?

First, what is auto repair shop software? It's the system that runs your shop in one place: appointments, estimates, repair orders, inspections, parts, invoices, and your customer and vehicle history. It replaces the paper ROs, the whiteboard, and the spreadsheets. You've probably seen the same list a dozen times. What matters is whether it handles what your shop actually needs.

The must-have list

• Get the job in the door — booking and answering the phone.
• Quote it fast — estimates and inspections with photos, so customers approve without phone tag.
• Protect your margins — parts markup rules and labor times built in, so every estimate is priced right without you doing the math.
• Run the work — one board for your techs and your bays.
• Get paid — invoicing and payments.
• Bring customers back — service history and follow-ups.
• Know your numbers — see what's slipping without digging for it.
• Connect to what you already use. Your accounting software, your parts suppliers — your shop software should work with them, not make you enter everything twice.

Now rank that list by what hurts your shop most today. That ranking is your real buying criteria.

Shop-Ware

Shop-Ware is built around the customer experience. It stands out for video-based digital inspections — customers see the problem and approve the work from their phone.

Pricing: flat with unlimited users, from about $279 to $499 a month depending on the tier.

Note: two-way texting, labor guides and parts catalogs only on the higher tiers.

Shopmonkey

Shopmonkey is known for its clean, modern interface. Two-way texting and email are included on every tier.

Pricing: per user. Basic from $239 for three users. Clever $399. Genius $499. Then about $20 for each extra user.

Note: because it's per user, your bill climbs every time you hire. The entry plan also leaves out inventory management and time clock tracking, and caps digital inspections at two templates.

Tekmetric

Tekmetric is the multi-location and reporting heavyweight. Its standouts are deep reporting, multi-shop management, and a dedicated tire suite.

Pricing is flat with unlimited users, from about $199 to $439 a month. Add about $70 per extra shop and $39 for the tire suite.

Note: two-way texting is locked to the top tier, and QuickBooks runs through a third-party connector.

AutoLeap

AutoLeap leans into marketing, reviews, and retention. It's built to fill your calendar with repeat work.

Pricing: from $199 to $449 a month.

Additional add-ons: marketing suite, AI receptionist, digital marketing services, payments, and multi-shop management are all sold on top of the plan.

Note: texting, inventory, clock-in and QuickBooks integration are on the Pro tier only.

The legacy specialists

Then there are the legacy specialists. RO Writer has mature estimating and back-office tools. Mitchell 1 pairs shop management with OEM repair data through ProDemand. NAPA TRACS fits if you're in the NAPA parts ecosystem. Pricing by quote for all three.

What AI-first systems do differently

For 20 years, shop software stored things — like the RO, the estimate and the invoice. Now AI-led software actually helps you work. It can pick up the busy work, chase approvals, and flag revenue before it slips away.

Here's one example of a system built AI-first: ShopOS by Autograff, launched in 2026.

An AI agent can pick up the calls you miss and book the job onto the schedule. You can ask a question like "which bays are open this afternoon?" and get an answer from your live data without running a report. It can flag what's slipping, like estimates gone cold or jobs waiting on parts. And the core shop workflow is all there too — booking, estimate, invoice, payment. One system, start to finish.

Pricing: Base is free if you use ShopOS Payments — no monthly subscription. Pro is $350 a month and adds all AI features. Both are flat per shop with unlimited users.

Switching costs

Here's what nobody warns you about. Switching software costs you time before it saves you any. Moving years of customers, vehicles, and service history can take weeks — longer, if you're on paper. That's the main reason shops stay on software they've outgrown.

Here's what moving your data in looks like with each one.

• Shopmonkey will move your data for you for a one-time fee of about $500.
• Tekmetric: moving off a legacy or unsupported system runs about $750 through a third party, and it doesn't bring over your reporting history or open repair orders.
• AutoLeap bundles migration into its one-time setup fee, which isn't published.
• Shop-Ware says migration fees may apply, but doesn't state an amount.
• ShopOS offers free migration.

Whoever you're talking to, ask the same three questions. How do you get my data in? How long does it take? What does it cost?

How to choose

Don't demo all systems. Do this instead.

• Go through the must-have list and start with what's costing you most today.
• Check the pricing model — is it flat, or per user so it grows every time you hire?
• Ask what's included and what's a paid add-on, especially texting, AI, and integrations.
• Ask the three switching questions.