Workshop Software

What it is

Workshop Software is cloud-based garage management software for automotive and mechanical repair businesses. Its dashboard brings job progress, stock, quotes, staff allocation, and invoicing into view. Customers can book online into the workshop system, while the mobile app supports bookings, jobs, photos, videos, work hours, and inspections. Paperless vehicle checks can send findings and costs to a customer’s smartphone for approval. Inventory tools track stock levels and reorders, and supplier management covers orders, invoices, and payments. Integrations include Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB, Burson EzyParts, Repco Navigator Pro, and WorkshopData. The pricing note lists service from $149/mo (annual) and a 14-day trial; there is no free plan. Silver (AUD, monthly) is A$119 a month, Gold (AUD, monthly) is A$149 a month, and Platinum (AUD, monthly) is A$249 a month, each plus GST. Integrated payments are available only in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. The Workshop API is limited to Platinum and can be managed only by admin users.

Who it suits. It is aimed at automotive and mechanical workshops, including auto mechanical, truck, farm machinery, motorcycle, boat, and RV repair businesses. It may suit teams wanting online bookings, digital inspections, and stock management.

Your product? You can pay for an editorial review of Workshop Software; CarCody's editors write the verdict · from $99/mo. How it works →

Overview

Workshop Software is cloud-based garage management software for automotive and mechanical repair businesses. It is best suited to workshops that want job administration, stock control and customer-facing workflows in a shared system. Its main strength is the progression from core job management to digital inspections and multi-site tools; costs rise by tier, and integrated payments are geographically limited.

Key features

Jobs, bookings and approvals

The dashboard brings job progress, stock, quotes, staff allocation and invoicing together, giving a workshop a central view of its work. Customers can book into the system online, while paperless inspections send vehicle details and costs to a customer’s smartphone for approval. Silver includes job and vehicle management plus booking management; Gold is the more suitable tier when website bookings and electronic inspections are part of the workflow.

Inventory and mobile work

Stock tools cover inventory levels and reorders, with supplier management for orders, invoices and payments. The mobile app supports bookings, jobs, photos, videos, work hours and inspections, which is useful for staff who need to record work away from the office. Integrations include Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB, Burson EzyParts, Repco Navigator Pro and WorkshopData.

Payments, support and API

WorkshopPay handles online and in-person payments, but integrated payments are available only in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. Plans include email and phone support, getting-started training, a knowledge base and live chat. Platinum adds priority support and a personal account manager, as well as the Workshop API; only admin users can view and manage that API.

Small fees apply per SMS message and registration lookup. Data import assistance may also incur an extra charge on Silver and Gold, so those costs belong in the operating budget alongside the subscription.

Pricing

There is no free plan, but a 14-day trial is offered. The pricing note says From $149/mo (annual). The listed AUD plan prices are plus GST; annual subscriptions are billed as a yearly total, while monthly subscriptions are billed monthly.

Silver is the economical fit for a single workshop needing job and booking management, but it gives up Gold’s website bookings and electronic inspections. Gold is the practical step up for customer approvals and more advanced mobile and business-intelligence features. Platinum is aimed at multi-site operations or businesses that need public APIs and the additional service and WorkshopWeb features; it is difficult to justify for a shop that does not need those capabilities.

Platforms

Workshop Software supports Android, iOS and web, with API availability on Platinum. That covers mobile and browser-based use, while API access is reserved for the top tier and admin users.

Who it's for

The intended businesses include auto mechanical, truck, farm machinery, motorcycle, boat and RV repair workshops. It is a strong fit for shops coordinating jobs, inventory and customer approvals in one workflow, and for multi-site operators that can use Platinum’s site and API features. A business outside Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA should not choose it for integrated payments.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Job, vehicle, stock and supplier workflows sit alongside bookings and invoicing, reducing the need to coordinate those tasks across separate systems.
• Pros: Gold’s electronic inspections send vehicle details and costs to customers for smartphone approval, a direct fit for workshops moving away from paper inspections.
• Pros: The mobile app covers job records, media, work hours and inspections, and Platinum provides multi-site and API capabilities for more complex operations.
• Cons: There is no free plan, and the subscription prices are in AUD plus GST; SMS and registration lookups can add per-use costs.
• Cons: Integrated payments are restricted to four countries, limiting the usefulness of WorkshopPay elsewhere.
• Cons: The API requires Platinum and is managed only by admin users, making it unavailable as a lower-tier integration option.

Alternatives

Compare auto repair shop software if you want to survey more workshop systems before choosing.

• ARI is worth considering if a free plan matters: it has one, as well as a $39.99-a-month Pro plan covering invoicing, inspections, inventory, accounting, appointments, reminders and time tracking.
• GEM-CAR may suit a shop that wants a stated storage and user allowance, with its I Standard plan at $149 a month including 100 GB and two users.
• GetAFix is an option for buyers seeking tailored quotes by branch, users and modules; its Starter plan covers up to five users and one location.
• LANKAR offers a $99-a-month plan with one user license, live online training and phone technical support, and allows cancellation at any time.
• Protractor is an alternative for businesses focused on customer communication, service reminders, follow-ups and retention offers, with a CRM and online scheduler plan at $249 a month.
• Pitlane may appeal to shops that want unlimited customer, vehicle and user seats; its Everything included plan is $200 a month.
• Shop Boss is another paid shop-management option, with its Gold plan shown at $179 a month billed annually and $199/Month.
• ShopKey Shop Management is another option for buyers to consider.

Verdict

Choose Workshop Software if you run an automotive or mechanical repair shop and want job, stock, booking and inspection workflows under one roof, with a clear upgrade path to multi-site tools. Gold is the most compelling tier for shops that need online bookings and digital approvals; look elsewhere if you need integrated payments outside its four supported countries, a free plan, or API access without paying for Platinum.

Getting started

1. Visit https://workshopsoftware.com/.
2. Choose a Silver, Gold, or Platinum plan and monthly or yearly billing.
3. Start the 14-day trial.
4. Use the web, Android, or iOS platform.
5. For Workshop API access, select Platinum and use an admin account.

Limits

There is no free plan; the listed trial lasts 14 days. The Workshop API is available only on Platinum and only admin users can view and manage it. Integrated payments are available only in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA.