Shop software, compared
Tekmetric vs Shopmonkey: Which One Fits Your Shop?
By Mario Martell, founder of Wrench Node. Published October 14, 2026.
Tekmetric and Shopmonkey are two of the best-known shop management systems for independent repair shops. Both run the basics well: repair orders, inspections, texting, payments and parts ordering. Where they differ is how they charge, what's in each plan, and what you pay for as add-ons.
Here's a straight comparison, using the prices each company lists on its own pricing page. We make Wrench Node, so we include it at the end, but this part sticks to the facts.
Pricing (as of Oct 2026)
| Tekmetric | Shopmonkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Start: $199/mo | Basic: $239/mo |
| Middle plan | Grow: $349/mo | Clever: $399/mo |
| Top plan | Scale: $439/mo | Genius: $499/mo |
| Annual discount | Yes ($179 / $309 / $409 billed annually) | Yes ($215 / $359 / $449 billed annually) |
| Users | Unlimited on every plan | 3 / 4 / 5 included, +$20/mo per extra user |
| Data migration | Check their site | One-time $500 fee listed |
Sources: tekmetric.com/pricing, shopmonkey.io/pricing, checked Oct 14, 2026. Prices change, so check their sites before you decide.
What that means in practice: if you have more than three people using the system, Shopmonkey's per-user fee adds up. Tekmetric's flat pricing is easier to predict. On both, the features many shops want, like a labor guide and two-way texting, sit in the higher tiers, so the price you actually pay is often above the entry number.
What's in the entry plans
Tekmetric Start ($199/mo) lists inventory and vendor management, digital vehicle inspections, Smart Jobs, and digital authorizations and invoicing. Per their pricing page, the labor guide and maintenance schedules start at Grow ($349). Two-way texting, the technician board and the real-time dashboard start at Scale ($439).
Shopmonkey Basic ($239/mo) lists two-way text and email, unlimited estimates and invoices, calendar and reminders, inspections (2 templates on Basic), e-signatures, integrated payments, parts lookup and ordering, and the mobile app. MOTOR parts and labor, inventory and the time clock start at Clever ($399). Automated estimate follow-ups and Google reviews start at Genius ($499).
Where each one stands out
Tekmetric is a good fit if:
- you have a bigger crew and don't want per-user fees
- you want the labor guide and maintenance schedules built in, and you're okay with the Grow plan
- you like a very structured workflow
Shopmonkey is a good fit if:
- you're a smaller team (3 or fewer users) and want texting in the entry plan
- you like its look and calendar-driven workflow
- you want lots of parts integrations out of the box (their page lists PartsTech, RepairLink and Nexpart)
Things to ask either one before you sign
- What's the real monthly price with everything I need: labor guide, texting, payments, and every user?
- Is there a setup or migration fee?
- Is there a free trial, or demo only?
- How do declined jobs get followed up? Is it automatic, or does someone have to do it by hand?
- Is support in Spanish if my techs or customers need it?
A third option for small independent shops: Wrench Node
If you read those tables and thought "that's a lot for a 2- to 4-bay shop," that's why we built Wrench Node.
- Pro is $79/mo with unlimited users. No per-user fees, no contract and no setup fee.
- Premium is $129/mo. It adds in-system parts ordering with live pricing and stock from your own suppliers, plus Mitchell 1 labor times and factory maintenance intervals.
- AI does the typing. Repair orders mostly fill themselves from what the tech finds. With Talk Your DVI, the tech talks through the inspection and it gets written up. The learned-repairs brain picks up how your shop does jobs, so it suggests the right parts and labor next time.
- Declined work follow-up is built in. Every declined job lands in one list, and Wrench Node drafts the follow-up text or email with the real job and price for you to send. Money Left on the Lift also catches inspection findings that never got quoted.
- An AI receptionist answers calls when you can't.
- Full Spanish for your team and your customers.
- Parts: Nexpart and in-system suppliers, plus Partslink24 for OEM. MOTOR integration is coming soon.
- 14-day free trial and free data migration. Our team moves your data over.
It's not the right fit for everyone. If you run a big multi-location group with a dedicated account manager, Tekmetric or Shopmonkey's top tiers are built for that. For a small independent shop, it's worth comparing.
See the full breakdowns: Wrench Node vs Tekmetric · Wrench Node vs Shopmonkey · Tekmetric vs AutoLeap vs Wrench Node · Best Tekmetric alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is Tekmetric or Shopmonkey cheaper?
At the entry level, Tekmetric Start is $199/mo and Shopmonkey Basic is $239/mo (monthly billing, as of Oct 2026). Shopmonkey also charges $20/mo for each user beyond the included count, so for bigger teams the gap gets wider. Check both pricing pages for current numbers.
Does Tekmetric charge per user?
No. Their pricing page says unlimited users on every plan.
Does Shopmonkey charge for data migration?
Their pricing page lists a one-time $500 data migration fee (as of Oct 2026).
Which is better for a small shop?
It depends on team size and which features you need in the entry plan. Shopmonkey includes two-way texting at Basic. Tekmetric includes unlimited users. If budget is the main concern, compare both against lower-priced options like Wrench Node at $79/mo.
Can I switch from Tekmetric or Shopmonkey to Wrench Node?
Yes. We move your customers, vehicles and history over for free, and you can try it for 14 days first.
Competitor pricing and plan contents are from each vendor's public pricing page as of October 2026 and may change; confirm current details with each vendor. Tekmetric and Shopmonkey are trademarks of their respective owners. Wrench Node is not affiliated with or endorsed by either.
Running a small shop? Don't pay for a big-shop system.
Try Wrench Node free for 14 days, from $79/mo with unlimited users. Free data migration.
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