If you are comparing Shop Controller vs. Tekmetric, the real question is not which platform has the bigger name. It is which auto repair shop management software better fits your shop, your budget, and the way your team actually works.
A practical side-by-side based on Shop Controller's current offer and Tekmetric's public pricing page, checked September 28, 2026.
| Category | Shop Controller | Tekmetric |
|---|---|---|
| Starting monthly price | $99 for month one; $199/month for months 2–12 | $199/month for Start; $349 Grow; $439 Scale |
| Contracts | Month to month | Month to month or discounted annual billing; no long-term contract required |
| Users and repair orders | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Core shop workflow | Included in one connected platform | Core estimating, inspections, inventory, and invoicing start at $199/month |
| Two-way texting | Included | Listed in the $439/month Scale plan |
| Integrated payments | Included | Listed with Enterprise custom pricing |
| Multi-lingual communication | Built into the customer experience | Ask Tekmetric how language support fits your workflow |
| Reporting and intelligence | Connected reporting, useful automation, and decision support | Advanced reporting and dashboards are available in higher tiers |
| Guidance and support | Hands-on onboarding, training, and ongoing U.S.-based support | Unlimited support; dedicated account manager and quarterly reviews on Enterprise |
Pricing and packages can change. Confirm current Tekmetric details directly with Tekmetric before making a purchasing decision.
Feature parity matters. Fit, adoption, guidance, and what the system helps you understand every day matter more.
Shop Controller starts at $99 for your first month and $199 per month for months two through twelve. You get unlimited users, technicians, and repair orders without climbing through plans to unlock the connected experience.
Both systems cover the fundamentals an independent repair shop expects: estimates, repair orders, inspections, inventory, customer communication, payments, and reporting. The better choice is not the platform with the longest checklist—it is the one your team can use consistently.
Shop Controller is built around the belief that your software should fit your operation. Workflows, visibility, communication, and guidance are shaped around how your shop runs instead of forcing every team into one prescribed process.
Implementation is not a handoff. Shop Controller includes guided data conversion, team training, and ongoing support from people who help your team turn the platform into better daily habits.
Serve more customers clearly with multi-lingual tools woven into estimates, approvals, reminders, and the customer experience—not treated as a separate afterthought.
Work from the front counter, bay, tablet, or phone without maintaining a shop server. Tekmetric is cloud-based too, so the meaningful difference is how each platform supports your workflow once your team signs in.
Shop Controller brings live operational reporting, useful automation, and responsible assistance into a clean interface. The goal is not more AI language—it is clearer decisions and less work between your team and the next repair order.
Tekmetric is one of the best-known shop management platforms. Its established footprint, familiar repair-order workflow, and mature ecosystem can be a strong fit for larger, multi-location, or process-heavy operations. If your team already works comfortably inside Tekmetric's operating model, that familiarity has real value.
Shop Controller is strongest when an independent shop wants useful intelligence—not more noise. Connected reporting, responsible automation, and selective AI support help surface what needs attention. Straightforward pricing and a hands-on team help turn those insights into better day-to-day decisions.
For the first year, Shop Controller is $99 for the first month and $199 per month for months two through twelve. Tekmetric's public pricing starts at $199 per month and rises to $349 for Grow and $439 for Scale, with Enterprise priced by quote. Compare the exact capabilities your shop needs, not only the starting price.
No. Shop Controller includes unlimited users, technicians, and repair orders. Tekmetric also publicly states unlimited users and repair orders.
Tekmetric offers established dashboards and advanced reporting in its higher plans. Shop Controller focuses on connected reporting, useful automation, and practical intelligence that helps owners see what needs attention and act sooner. The right choice depends on the decisions your shop needs the system to support.
Shop Controller covers the core workflow from scheduling, estimates, repair orders, inspections, parts, customer communication, payments, and reporting. A demo using your real workflow is the best way to confirm any specialized requirement before switching.
Yes. Guided historical data conversion is included, the standard $500 conversion fee is currently waived, and the team helps you plan the transition.
Yes. Shop Controller is cloud-based and can be used across connected desktops, tablets, and phones. Tekmetric is also cloud-based.
No. Shop Controller is month to month. Tekmetric also says it does not require a long-term contract, while offering discounted annual billing.
Tekmetric is a strong platform, and for some shops it is the better choice. If you want to fit your operation to an established Tekmetric workflow, choose Tekmetric. If you want intelligence, straightforward value, and a team that helps the platform fit the way your shop runs, trust Shop Controller.
