Overview

ARI is auto repair shop software for mobile mechanics, independent technicians, repair shops, dealers and other auto care professionals. Its strongest case is bringing repair work and customer approvals together, with no app or account required for customers using its portal. The free tier’s five-item caps make it a trial rather than a practical ongoing plan for most shops.

Key features

Shop workflow

ARI combines job cards, estimates, digital inspections, invoices and payments with client and vehicle records, parts inventory, accounting, appointments, reminders, technician time tracking and reporting. That breadth suits operators looking to manage records and jobs in one product, rather than stitch together separate tools. Paid accounts have no monthly invoice limit and no limit on added users or devices, a useful contrast with the tightly capped trial.

Customer portal and vehicle tools

Customers can follow repair progress, review and approve recommended work, book visits and pay invoices through a link, without downloading an app or signing up. That makes the portal a practical way to reduce friction around approvals and payment. ARI also describes VIN decoding, license plate reading, service history and OBD scanning; these vehicle tools broaden its appeal beyond invoicing and scheduling.

Integrations and support

Payment integrations include Square, 360Payments, PayPal, Stripe and Helcim. ARI also lists PartsTech, M1, CarFax, CarMD, QuickBooks and Wisetack. It advertises 24/7 email support, with priority support included in the paid plans. ARI says account access uses secure usernames and passwords, sensitive data is encrypted and stored on Firebase, and user data is not shared except with CarFax when users opt in.

Pricing

ARI offers a free trial that permits up to five invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, vehicles and other items. That is enough to explore a small slice of the workflow, but the caps are too low for a shop to rely on it as a continuing free plan.

ARI Pro costs 39.99 USD per month, or 399.99 USD per year, billed as $33.33 Monthly and paid yearly for a total of $399.99. It includes invoicing, inspections, inventory, accounting, appointments, reminders, time tracking, payments, reporting, credits, image attachments, priority support, a white-labeled client portal and a white-labeled booking page. The yearly option lowers the effective monthly cost but requires an annual commitment.

ARI Pro Plus costs 59.99 USD per month, or 599.99 USD per year, billed as $49.99 Monthly and paid yearly for a total of $599.99. It includes the same listed features, with 3000 credits as a one-time allotment instead of the credits included with Pro. It is the fit for shops that need that specified credit package; the higher price does not add a different set of core workflow tools. Paid accounts have no monthly invoice cap and no limit on users or devices, so growing teams are not constrained by those quotas.

Platforms

ARI supports Android, iOS, web and Windows, covering mobile use as well as desktop shop workflows.

Who it's for

ARI is best suited to mobile mechanics, independent technicians and repair businesses that want records, estimates, inspections and payments in one workflow, especially those that value customer approvals and payment through a simple portal link. A shop that wants a substantial free tier should look elsewhere; the trial’s five-item limits make it unsuitable for sustained use.

Pros and cons

Pro: The customer portal handles progress updates, approvals, bookings and invoice payments without requiring customers to install an app or create an account.
Pro: Paid plans combine repair workflow, inventory, accounting and reporting, with no monthly invoice or added-user/device limits.
Pro: Broad payment and business integrations give shops multiple listed connections, including QuickBooks and several payment processors.
Con: The free trial caps invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, vehicles and other items at five each, so it cannot serve as a practical ongoing free plan.
Con: Pro Plus mainly differentiates itself through a one-time 3000-credit allotment; shops that do not need that package may find Pro the more sensible choice.
Con: The lower annual prices require paying for the year upfront.

Alternatives

Compare automotive repair software if you want to weigh a wider set of shop-management options.

GEM-CAR may suit shops that prefer its listed 100 GB storage and two included users, though its monthly plans start at 149.00 USD per month.
Workshop Software is another paid option with Android, iOS, web and API platforms; its Silver plan is priced in AUD and includes job and vehicle management, booking management and data import/export.
GetAFix uses tailored quotes based on branches, users and modules; its Starter plan is described for up to five users and one location.
Protractor may be worth considering for customer communication, reminders, follow-ups and targeted retention offers; its CRM + Online Service Scheduler costs 249.00 USD per month.
ShopKey Shop Management is another paid shop-management option.
CCC ONE Repair Workflow is another paid repair workflow option.
Mitchell 1 Manager SE is described for independent repair shops serving autos and light-duty trucks.
Shopmonkey may suit shops considering a paid option with three included user licenses on its Basic plan, priced at 239.00 USD per month.

Verdict

Choose ARI if you want a broad repair-shop workflow with a customer portal that makes approvals and payments accessible by link, plus paid plans without invoice or user/device limits. Its five-item trial caps and annual upfront commitment on the lower monthly rates are the main reasons to compare alternatives before settling in.

	ARI	OpenAuto
Free plan		Yes
Free trial	Yes
Paid from	$33.33/mo	Free
Platforms	Android, iOS, Web, Windows	Windows
Free plan	No	Yes
Paid from	33.33 /mo
Work order management	Yes	Yes
Digital inspections	Yes
Estimate approvals	Yes
Parts inventory	Yes
Technician time tracking	Yes	Yes
Vehicle history	Yes

ARI vs OpenAuto

ARI

OpenAuto