Last updated: August 15, 2026
Auto repair shop software typically costs $199 to $500 per month per shop in 2026 for a full shop management platform, and roughly $40 to $80 per month for a scheduling-focused tool. The two biggest things that move your actual bill are whether the vendor charges per user or per shop, and how many add-on modules you end up needing.
What the main platforms charge
| Software | Entry plan | Top published plan | User pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| NextCarHub | $49/mo | $49/mo (one plan) | Per shop, unlimited users |
| Tekmetric | $199/mo (Start) | $439/mo (Scale) | Per shop, unlimited users |
| Shopmonkey | $239/mo (Basic, 1 user) | $499/mo (Genius, 4 users) | +$20/mo per extra user |
Annual billing usually shaves 10–15% off: Tekmetric Start drops to $179/month and Shopmonkey Basic to $215/month when paid annually.
Why the range is so wide
It is not that expensive software has a better calendar. It is scope. A $239/month platform is bundling estimating, invoicing, parts catalogues and ordering, inventory, digital vehicle inspections, customer messaging and integrated card payments. If your shop uses all of that, the price is reasonable and probably replaces two or three other subscriptions.
If you already invoice through your accountant's system and order parts by phone, most of that bundle is money spent on modules nobody in your shop opens.
The per-user trap
This is where quoted prices and real invoices diverge. Take a shop with a manager, two service advisors and five technicians who all need logins — eight people:
| Pricing model | Headline price | Actual cost for 8 users |
|---|---|---|
| Per shop, unlimited users (NextCarHub) | $49/mo | $49/mo |
| Per shop, unlimited users (Tekmetric Start) | $199/mo | $199/mo |
| Included seats + per-user (Shopmonkey Basic, 1 seat) | $239/mo | $379/mo |
Shopmonkey Basic includes one user licence and charges $20/month for each extra, so seven additional logins add $140/month. Always price the tool for the number of people who actually need to open it, not for one seat.
Costs that don't appear on the pricing page
- Add-on modules. Tekmetric lists multi-shop at +$70/month per shop, a tire suite at +$39/month and marketing at +$345/month, on top of the plan.
- Onboarding and data migration. Some vendors charge a one-off setup fee; others include it. Ask before signing.
- Payment processing. If you use integrated payments, the card rate matters more than the subscription over a year.
- Annual contracts. The discounted annual rate usually means committing for twelve months. Worth it if you are certain; expensive if you are not.
What you should actually budget
| If your shop… | Realistic budget | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Needs a calendar and customer history, invoices elsewhere | $40–80/mo | Scheduling, customers, vehicles, service history, reports |
| Wants estimating and invoicing in one system | $199–300/mo | Full shop management, entry tier |
| Wants inspections, payments, marketing, multi-shop | $350–600/mo | Upper tiers plus add-ons |
Where NextCarHub sits
NextCarHub is $49/month per shop with unlimited team members, and a 14-day free trial that does not ask for a card. It is cheaper than the platforms above because it is narrower: it does scheduling, customers, vehicles, service history, attachments and reports, and it does not do estimating, invoicing, parts inventory or digital inspections. If you need those, one of the bigger platforms is the right purchase — that is a genuine recommendation, not false modesty. If you don't, $49 does the job that $239 was doing.
See the full pricing breakdown, or compare directly against Shopmonkey and Tekmetric.
Sources
Prices above were taken from each vendor's own pricing page on August 15, 2026 and are quoted in USD for a single shop: Shopmonkey pricing, Tekmetric pricing. Vendor pricing changes — check the current figures directly before making a decision. Where a vendor does not publish a price, we have said so rather than estimating.
Common questions
How much does auto repair shop software cost per month?
Most auto repair shop management software costs between $199 and $500 per month per shop in 2026. Entry-level scheduling-focused tools run roughly $40 to $80 per month. Tekmetric starts at $199/month and Shopmonkey at $239/month; NextCarHub is $49/month.
Is auto repair software priced per user or per shop?
It varies, and it is the single biggest driver of your real cost. Tekmetric and NextCarHub charge per shop with unlimited users. Shopmonkey includes a set number of user licences per plan and charges $20 per month for each additional user, so an eight-person shop pays substantially more than the headline price.
Why is there such a big price gap between tools?
Scope. The $200-plus platforms bundle estimating, invoicing, parts ordering, inventory, digital vehicle inspections and integrated payments. Tools in the $40 to $80 range typically cover scheduling, customers, vehicles and history only. You are not paying more for a better calendar; you are paying for modules.
Are there hidden costs beyond the monthly fee?
Often. Watch for per-user charges, onboarding or setup fees, paid add-on modules, and payment processing rates if you use the vendor's integrated payments. Tekmetric, for example, lists add-ons such as multi-shop at $70/month and marketing at $345/month on top of the base plan.
What is the cheapest way to get shop scheduling software?
If you only need scheduling and customer records, a focused tool at $40 to $80 per month does the job for a fraction of a full suite. NextCarHub is $49/month flat with unlimited users and a 14-day free trial that does not require a card.
See if it fits your shop
14 days free, no card required. Put a real week of work into it before deciding.