ARI and Tekmetric both run a full auto repair shop — estimates, inspections, invoicing, scheduling, and payments. The difference is price and fit. ARI is the affordable, mobile-first choice for solo, mobile, and small shops, starting at $39.99/month with a free trial. Tekmetric is a premium, cloud-based platform built for established full-service and multi-shop operations.
Last updated: June 2026
Choose ARI if you’re a solo, mobile, or small auto repair shop that wants an affordable, all-in-one tool — running natively on web, iOS, Android, and Windows, with a built-in OBD scanner and a free trial to start today. Choose Tekmetric if you run an established full-service or multi-location shop and want strong reporting and analytics and a polished workflow — and have the budget for a premium platform.
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| ARIBest for small & mobile shops | Tekmetric | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Solo, mobile & small shops, dealers | Established full-service & multi-shop operations |
| Starting price | $39.99/mo (Pro) | $199/mo (Start), $179 annual* |
| Top plan | $59.99/mo (Pro Plus) | $439/mo (Scale)*; Enterprise custom |
| Billing & contract | Month-to-month or annual; no contract | Month-to-month or annual; no long-term contract |
| Free trial | Yes — free sign-up | No free trial (demo + self-guided tour) |
| Apps | Web, iOS, Android, Windows | Web + iOS/Android companion app |
| Full shop management on mobile | Yes — complete feature set | No — companion app (check-in & inspections only) |
| Native Windows desktop + offline | Yes | No (cloud-based) |
| Built-in OBD scanner | Yes | No (integrates diagnostic data) |
| Digital inspections (DVI) | Yes | Yes |
| Estimates, invoices & payments | Yes | Yes (Tekmetric Pay) |
| Online booking | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & analytics | Yes — reports & stats | Yes — advanced real-time analytics |
| Labor guides | Mitchell1 + AI Labor Guides | Included (Grow+); 70+ integrations |
| Key integrations | Square, Stripe, PayPal, PartsTech, Mitchell1, CarFax, QuickBooks, Wisetack | PartsTech, Nexpart, WORLDPAC, CarFax, Kukui, QuickBooks (Accounting Link), Stripe |
| Availability | 50+ countries | Primarily United States |
| Capterra rating | 4.6★ (660 reviews) | 4.7★ (103 reviews) |
| G2 rating | 4.6★ | 4.9★ (461 reviews) |
*Tekmetric pricing per tekmetric.com as of June 2026; optional add-ons (multi-shop $70/location, payments, marketing) may apply — contact Tekmetric for a custom quote. ARI pricing per ari.app. Tekmetric holds higher review scores; ARI’s edge is affordability, platform breadth, and global availability.
ARI delivers the core workflows shops use every day — estimates, inspections, invoices, and payments — at a fraction of Tekmetric’s monthly cost. Pick your shop size to estimate the difference.
ARI Pro
$39.99 /monthTekmetric Start
$199.00 /month*| Time with ARI | Estimated savings |
|---|---|
| 1 month | $159.01 |
| 3 months | $477.03 |
| 6 months | $954.06 |
| 1 year | $1,908.12 |
| 2 years | $3,816.24 |
| 5 years | $9,540.60 |
Estimated pricing based on publicly available information and user-reported data. Actual pricing may vary. Contact the vendor directly for a custom quote.
Yes — substantially. ARI starts at $39.99/month (Pro) and tops out at $59.99/month (Pro Plus), billed month-to-month with a free trial.
Tekmetric’s published plans run from $199/month (Start) to $439/month (Scale), with optional add-ons such as multi-shop management ($70/location), payments, and marketing. Both tools offer month-to-month billing with no long-term contract, so the real gap is price — ARI costs roughly 75–85% less per month at the entry tier — plus ARI’s free trial. (Tekmetric figures are as of June 2026; verify with the vendor.)
Yes — it’s built for them. ARI runs natively on web, iOS, Android, and Windows, so the whole job travels with you.
Write an estimate in the driveway, read a fault code with the built-in OBD scanner, send the invoice, and take payment from your phone — the full ARI workflow runs on any device. Tekmetric’s mobile app, by its own description, is a companion for service advisors and technicians: it speeds up check-in and inspections but does not handle estimates, invoicing, payments, scheduling, or reporting — those require the browser or desktop. ARI puts the complete toolkit on the device in your hand, and is rated 4.8★ on the App Store with 1,340+ Google Play ratings.
ARI. It offers true native apps for web, iOS, Android, and a Windows desktop, with the same core capabilities on each and offline-friendly mobile use.
Tekmetric is cloud-based with native iOS and Android apps, but there is no native Windows desktop app and no offline mode — it needs an internet connection to work. If your shop runs on a Windows PC at the counter or you work where signal is patchy, ARI’s native, offline-friendly approach is a practical advantage.
Both cover the essentials. Tekmetric offers more advanced real-time analytics across shop, employee, and customer performance, while ARI focuses on the reports and stats small, solo, and mobile shops use most — at a fraction of the cost.
If deep, team-level analytics drive day-to-day decisions in a multi-bay operation, Tekmetric goes further. For the typical independent or mobile shop, ARI’s built-in reports — revenue, jobs, and customer activity — cover what you need to run and grow the business without paying a premium-platform price.
You’re a solo, mobile, or small independent shop (or a dealer) that wants to control costs, start fast with a free trial, and run the full workflow on every device — web, iOS, Android, and a native Windows app, plus offline-friendly mobile. You value a built-in OBD scanner and a booking-to-payment workflow, and you want software trusted by 4,000+ shops in 50+ countries.
You run an established full-service or multi-location shop in the US and want strong reporting and analytics, a polished workflow, and 70+ integrations — and have the budget for a premium platform. Tekmetric rates highly with users (4.9★ on G2, 4.7★ on Capterra) and is trusted by 11,000+ shops nationwide.
“Extensive features at low cost” — reviewers consistently highlight ARI’s value and its fit for mobile mechanics.Verified reviews, Capterra & G2 (2026)
ARI holds 4.8★ on the App Store (286 ratings), 4.3★ across 1,340 ratings on Google Play, and 4.6★ on Capterra (660 reviews).
Reviewers call Tekmetric “very easy to use” and “intuitive,” with strong reporting; some note the higher cost and that top features require the Scale plan.Verified reviews, Capterra (4.7★) & G2 (4.9★), 2026
We show both sides so you can choose on facts. For affordability-focused small, mobile, and international shops, ARI is the stronger fit; established multi-bay shops wanting advanced analytics may prefer Tekmetric.
Yes. ARI is $39.99–$59.99/month, billed month-to-month with a free trial. Tekmetric’s published plans run from $199/month (Start) to $439/month (Scale), plus optional add-ons (estimated as of June 2026 — verify with the vendor). Both offer month-to-month billing with no long-term contract, so the main difference is price: ARI costs about 75–85% less per month at the entry tier.
Tekmetric does not offer a free trial; it provides free demos and 24/7 self-guided tours. ARI offers a free sign-up so you can start using it right away — no demo required.
Yes. ARI is purpose-built for solo, mobile, and small shops, with native apps on web, iOS, Android, and Windows, a built-in OBD scanner, and a booking-to-payment workflow you can run from your phone. It holds 4.8★ on the App Store and 1,340+ ratings on Google Play. Tekmetric is designed primarily for larger full-service shops with teams.
Yes. ARI offers a native Windows desktop app alongside web, iOS, and Android, with offline-friendly mobile use. Tekmetric is cloud-based with native iOS and Android apps but has no native Windows app and no offline mode.
Yes. ARI includes a built-in OBD scanner for reading vehicle fault codes. Tekmetric does not include its own OBD scanner; it surfaces diagnostic and labor data through its 70+ integrations, such as PartsTech and CARFAX.
For affordability-focused solo, mobile, and small shops — and shops outside the United States — yes. ARI covers core workflows such as estimates, inspections, invoicing, payments, and online booking at a fraction of the price, with broader device support and availability in 50+ countries. Tekmetric remains an excellent choice for established full-service and multi-location shops that want advanced reporting.
Join 4,000+ shops in 50+ countries running estimates, inspections, invoicing, and payments on ARI. Start in minutes on web, iOS, Android, or Windows.
Last updated: June 2026. Tekmetric pricing and terms are based on publicly available information and may change — verify with Tekmetric.
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Add clients, vehicles & all the details that are relevant to them
Create detailed inspections with checklists, damage reports
Manage your parts, tires, business assets, and all other important items.
Track labor progress, start & stop work clocks, approve & deny services.
Create professional quotes for your auto repair clients
Generate professional invoices for your auto shop’s clients
Generate damage reports & attach pictures to your auto inspections
Let your clients book your services online from the comfort of their home
Earn return customers by reminding them when service is due
Create purchase orders, track your expenses, and monitor your profits
Read Engine Error Codes with ARI monitor car’s parameters live
Reports for your business performance & export the data
Never miss a payment keep an eye on your invoice billing process
Reach your core customers & market business across different channels
Manage vendors, partners & orders for a streamlined repair experience
Monitor and label the activity of multiple employees
Receive payments on your Online Invoices with the world’s most renowned payment networks
Order parts easily with PartsTech and ARI! Smooth and reliable parts procurement process.
Every mechanic benefits from quality Repair Guides and Car Repair Estimates.
Get Service History Instantly. Decode VINs and Plates with Accurate Data from a Leading Supplier.
Get Diagnostic & Maintenance Info. Access Diagnosis, Solutions, and Problem Predictions.
Sync ARI invoices to QuickBooks Online. Manage customers and inventory.
Get detailed labor guides, labor times, and estimates from the world's first AI labor guides system.
Process In-Person Payments On The Spot. Geared towards auto repair businesses.
ARI has partnered with Wisetack to offer your clients extra payment options for auto repair services.
Order auto parts through Nexpart without leaving ARI — a faster, more reliable way to source what your shop needs.
You can access ARI on all major digital platforms.
A complete guide to setting up and running your auto repair business
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How to add multiple users to your ARI Profile
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ARI offers features and settings tailored for auto repair services
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