ARI

What it is

ARI is auto repair shop software for handling appointments, diagnostics, estimates, digital inspections, invoices, payments and promotion. It is aimed at mobile mechanics, independent technicians, repair shops, dealers and other auto care professionals. Shop tools cover client and vehicle records, inventory, job cards, accounting, reminders, technician time tracking and reporting. Through the client portal, customers can check repair progress, approve recommended work, book visits and pay invoices from a link without an app or account signup. Vehicle tools include VIN decoding, plate reading, service history and OBD scanning. ARI connects with payment services including Square, PayPal and Stripe, and tools such as PartsTech, CarFax and QuickBooks. A free plan and trial are listed; the trial is limited to five items in categories such as invoices, estimates, inspections, clients and vehicles. Paid accounts have no monthly invoice cap or limit on users and devices. ARI Pro costs $39.99 per month or $399.99 per year, billed at $33.33 monthly.

Who it suits. ARI may suit mobile mechanics, independent technicians, repair shops and dealers that need shop records, work approvals and customer payments in one system. Its client portal also fits businesses that want customers to follow repair work through a link.

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Overview

ARI brings repair-shop administration, vehicle tools and customer-facing workflows together for mobile mechanics, independent technicians, repair shops, dealers and other auto care professionals. It is strongest for operators who want customers to approve work and pay through a simple link; its capped free tier is for a small-scale trial, not ongoing high-volume use.

Key features

Shop workflow

Job cards, estimates, digital inspections, invoices and payments cover the core repair workflow, while inventory, accounting, appointments, reminders, time tracking and reporting address the surrounding shop administration. The breadth makes ARI relevant to shops seeking one system for both job handling and records; teams should still weigh the plan terms and credit allotments before committing.

Customer and vehicle tools

Customers can follow repair progress, review and approve recommended work, book visits and pay invoices through a link, without an app download or account signup. That removes friction from customer approvals and payment. VIN decoding, license plate reading, vehicle service history and OBD scanning add vehicle-focused tools alongside shop management.

Integrations and data

ARI lists integrations with Square, 360Payments, PayPal, Stripe and Helcim for payments, as well as PartsTech, M1, CarFax, CarMD, QuickBooks and Wisetack. It says account access uses usernames and passwords, sensitive data is encrypted and stored on Firebase, and user data is shared with CarFax only when users opt in.

Pricing

ARI offers a free trial with a five-item cap for invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, vehicles and other items. That is useful for evaluating a small workflow, but the cap makes it a poor fit for an active shop's continuing operations.

The annual Pro option lowers the effective monthly bill compared with paying $39.99 a month, in exchange for paying $399.99 upfront for the year. Pro Plus costs more and is distinguished by its 3000-credit one-time allotment; it suits buyers who specifically need that allotment, while Pro is the less costly route to the shared operating tools. Paid accounts have no monthly invoice limit and no limit on added users or devices, which removes two potential scaling constraints. ARI advertises 24/7 email support at [email protected].

Platforms

ARI supports Android, iOS, web and Windows, giving shops desktop and mobile access across common operating environments.

Who it's for

ARI is a strong candidate for independent operators and repair businesses that want repair administration, vehicle tools and customer approvals in one product, especially when an app-free customer portal matters. Buyers should compare the credit terms between Pro and Pro Plus and decide whether an annual upfront payment is worthwhile. A shop that only needs a very small trial workflow may start with the capped free tier, but should not mistake it for an uncapped free plan.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad repair workflow coverage combines inspections, estimates, work orders, invoicing, payments, inventory and time tracking.
• Pros: Customers can approve work, book and pay through a link without signing up or installing an app.
• Pros: Paid accounts remove monthly invoice, user and device limits.
• Cons: The free trial caps each of several key records and transactions at five, limiting its usefulness beyond evaluation.
• Cons: Annual plans require a yearly payment, while Pro Plus's 3000 credits are a one-time allotment rather than a recurring monthly amount.

Alternatives

Compare auto repair shop software if you want to survey the category before settling on a workflow.

GEM-CAR is an alternative with monthly plans starting at $149 a month and two included users on its I Standard plan; choose it if that plan's stated storage and user terms fit better than ARI's free trial and credit-based plan distinctions.

Workshop Software offers a Silver plan priced at A$99 a year, billed $1,188 + GST annually, with job and vehicle management, booking management and data import/export; it is worth comparing if those stated capabilities and billing terms suit your operation.

GetAFix uses tailored quotes based on branches, users and modules, with its Starter plan covering up to five users at one location.

Protractor is another paid option, with a CRM and online service scheduler plan at $249 a month.

Shopmonkey has a Basic plan at $239 a month, with three user licenses and extra users at $20/month; compare its stated seat terms with ARI's unlimited added users on paid accounts.

Tekmetric has a Start plan at $199 a month with unlimited users and repair orders per shop, making it a comparison point for shops prioritizing those stated limits.

ShopKey Shop Management and R.O. Writer are also options to compare.

Verdict

ARI is best suited to independent repair businesses and mobile technicians that want shop records, job workflows, vehicle tools and a customer portal in one system. Its clearest advantage is the ability to keep customers involved in approvals, bookings and payment without forcing an app or signup. Look elsewhere if the five-item trial cap is too restrictive for evaluation, or if the annual commitment and credit distinction do not fit your buying preference.

Getting started

1. Visit https://ari.app/ to get started.
2. Choose the free plan or trial, or select an ARI Pro or ARI Pro Plus plan.
3. Use ARI on Android, iOS, web or Windows.
4. Set up client and vehicle records, appointments, estimates and inspections.
5. Connect payment or business services such as Square, PartsTech or QuickBooks if needed.

Limits

The free trial allows up to five invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, vehicles and other items. Paid accounts have no monthly invoice limit and no limit on added users or devices.