ARI vs GaragePlug
ARI
ari.appGaragePlug
garageplug.comSide by side
| Figure | ARI | GaragePlug |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $33.33/mo | $199.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 5 |
| Spec score · Automotive Repair Software | 9.5 (#1) | 8.9 (#5) |
| Spec score · Repair Shop Software | 9.5 (#1) | 8.9 (#3) |
| Spec score · Auto Repair Software | 9.5 (#1) | 8.9 (#3) |
| Company facts | LinkedIn lists ARI as founded in 2020, headquartered in Block Island, Rhode Island, and employing 2–10 people. | LinkedIn lists GaragePlug as privately held, founded in 2017, headquartered in Newark, Delaware, with 11–50 employees and an additional Bengaluru location. |
| Headquarters | Wilmington, Delaware, United States | Newark, DE, USA |
| Integrations | ARI lists payment processors including Square, 360Payments, PayPal, Stripe, and Helcim, plus PartsTech, M1, CarFax, CarMD, QuickBooks, and Wisetack integrations. | The product listing says feedback integrates with Google Business Profile and vendor contacts can be reached through SMS, email, and WhatsApp. |
| Notable news | ARI announced an AI Cost Estimator on February 6, 2026 for preliminary repair estimates in its finder and client portal. | A LinkedIn post announced an October 7, 2026 webinar demonstrating Gia, an AI service advisor, after analyzing more than 3,000 shop calls. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | 4.7 out of 5 from 282 ratings | 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings |
| Rating on Capterra | 4.6 out of 5 from 661 reviews | 4.8 out of 5 from 56 reviews |
| Rating on G2 | 4.6 out of 5 from 136 reviews | 4.9 out of 5 from 36 reviews |
| Rating on Google Play | 4.3 out of 5 from about 1.36K reviews | 3.6 out of 5 from 89 reviews |
| Support | ARI advertises 24/7 customer support by email at [email protected]. | SoftwareWorld lists email, phone, chat, knowledge base, and FAQ/forum support, plus live online, webinar, documentation, and video training. |
| System requirements | The Windows download page lists Windows 10 and 11 support, while the Apple listing requires iOS 13 or later and macOS 11 with an Apple M1 chip or later. | The iOS listing requires iOS 15 or later; iPad requires iPadOS 15 or later, and Mac use requires macOS 12 or later with an Apple M1 chip or later. |
| What it does | ARI is cloud auto-repair management software covering booking, diagnosis, estimates, inspections, invoicing, payments and marketing. | GaragePlug is cloud software for automobile garages and parts or accessories shops, covering repair orders, invoices, reminders, feedback, inventory, accounting, and performance monitoring. |
Plans
ARI
- FreeFree
- ARI Pro$39.99 a month
- ARI Pro (monthly)$39.99 a month
- ARI Pro Plus$59.99 a month
- ARI Pro Plus (monthly)$59.99 a month
- ARI Pro$399.99 a year
- ARI Pro (yearly)$399.99 a year
- ARI Pro Plus$599.99 a year
- ARI Pro Plus (yearly)$599.99 a year
GaragePlug
- GEAR0 Monthly Plan$199.99 a month
- GEAR1 Monthly Plan$299.99 a month
- GEAR2 Monthly Plan$399.99 a month
- Custom network quotePriced on request
- Custom quotePriced on request
In their own words
ARI
ARI is auto repair shop software for managing appointments, diagnostics, quotes, digital inspections, invoices, payments, and promotion. It is aimed at mobile mechanics, independent technicians, repair shops, auto dealers, and other auto care professionals. Shop tools include client and vehicle records, inventory, job cards, estimates, accounting, reminders, time tracking, and reporting. Customers can use a portal to follow repair progress, review and approve recommended work, book visits, and pay invoices through a link without downloading an app or signing up. Vehicle tools include VIN decoding, license plate reading, service history, and OBD scanning. Listed integrations include payment processors such as Square, 360Payments, PayPal, Stripe, and Helcim, plus PartsTech, M1, CarFax, CarMD, QuickBooks, and Wisetack. The free trial permits up to five items in categories including invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, and vehicles. Paid accounts have no monthly invoice limit and no limit on added users or devices. ARI Pro costs $399.99 a year, billed yearly at 33.33 USD monthly; a monthly option costs $39.99 a month.
GaragePlug
GaragePlug is a cloud platform for auto repair workshops and detailing centers. It organizes workshop workflows and appointments, digital job cards, e-invoicing, inspections, estimate approvals, parts inventory, technician time tracking, and vehicle history. Teams can send quotes, invoices, inspection reports, service updates, and payment reminders by SMS, email, or WhatsApp. Customers can use a branded app, web booking, self-check-in, and service reminders. Dashboards report on revenue, sales, inventory, technicians, multiple outlets, and other business metrics. Gia, its AI advisor, answers calls around the clock, books or reschedules visits, handles service-status calls, and can transfer calls to staff. GaragePlug runs on Android, iOS, and the web, including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. The company lists onboarding, training, live support, in-platform chat, and online and video training. It is paid, with pricing on request and no free plan; a seven-day free trial is available.