The short version
Shopmonkey is full shop management for fixed locations: bays, service advisors, and a front counter. If you work out of a van, Trackara Pro covers the jobs you actually do (quotes, invoices, scheduling, inspections, mileage) for $49.99/month instead of $239/month. If you run a multi-bay shop with advisors, Shopmonkey is the better fit.
Who switches from Shopmonkey, and why
The mechanics who move from Shopmonkey to Trackara Pro are mostly solo mobile mechanics and small mobile teams of 1 to 5 techs: people who work out of a van or truck at the customer's driveway, fleet yard, or campground rather than in a fixed bay. These are the reasons they give most often.
Price for a one-person operation
Shopmonkey Basic is $239/month ($215/month billed annually). Trackara Pro is $49.99/month or $499.99/year. On annual billing that is $2,580 a year against $499.99, a difference of about $2,080.
No bays, no front counter
Shopmonkey's workflow assumes cars come to you. A mobile mechanic's day is a route of driveways and parking lots. Trackara Pro is organized around that route: Day Planner, Route Optimizer, and On-My-Way ETA texts to the customer.
Mileage is a real expense
Mobile work means business miles. Trackara Pro logs trips for an IRS-compliant mileage record and builds Schedule C tax reports. Shopmonkey's pricing page does not list mileage tracking.
Working without signal
Basements, rural roads, parking garages. Trackara Pro runs fully offline on iOS and Android and syncs when you are back in coverage.
When Shopmonkey is the better fit
Trackara Pro is not built for every shop, and switching is a mistake if your business looks like this:
- You run a fixed shop with multiple bays and want bay and technician boards.
- You have service advisors who handle intake and approvals separately from the techs.
- You need integrated parts lookup and ordering today. Shopmonkey includes it on Basic; Trackara Pro does not have parts ordering yet.
- You need multi-location reporting across several shops.
Shopmonkey vs Trackara Pro at a glance
Competitor details below come from Shopmonkey's own website. Where their pricing or product page does not mention a feature, we say so rather than guess. Ask Shopmonkey directly if a feature matters to you.
| Feature | Trackara Pro | Shopmonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49.99/month or $499.99/year | $239/month Basic ($215/month billed annually) |
| Plans | One plan, every feature | Basic, Clever ($399), Genius ($499), Multi-Shop (custom) |
| Users | Assigned techs free; $15/month per extra app login | 3 user licenses on Basic, +$20/month each extra |
| Free trial | ✓ 14 days | ✗ No free trial listed on the pricing page |
| Built for | Mobile mechanics and small operators (1 to 5 techs) | Fixed-location repair, tire, lube and heavy-duty shops |
| Offline mode on the phone | ✓ Full offline on iOS and Android | Not listed on their pricing page |
| Mileage tracking for taxes | ✓ IRS mileage log + Schedule C reports | Not listed on their pricing page |
| OBD2 scanning in the app | ✓ Bluetooth ELM327 adapters | Not listed on their pricing page |
| Route planning | ✓ Route Optimizer + Day Planner | Not listed on their pricing page |
| On-my-way texts | ✓ On-My-Way ETA + Proof of Service | Not listed on their pricing page |
| Digital inspections | ✓ Photo on iOS and Android, video on iOS | ✓ 2 templates on Basic, unlimited on Clever |
| Online booking | ✓ Online Booking Portal | Offered as a paid add-on |
| Card payments | ✓ Card payments through your Square account | ✓ Integrated payments; card reader $299 + $10/month per device |
| Integrated parts ordering | ✗ Not available yet | ✓ Parts lookup and ordering on Basic |
| Multi-bay shop workflow | ✗ Not built for bays | ✓ Yes, this is its core |
Shopmonkey details checked September 25, 2026 on www.shopmonkey.io/pricing and www.shopmonkey.io/. Prices change; check Shopmonkey's site for current pricing.
Pricing: Shopmonkey vs Trackara Pro
Shopmonkey lists Basic at $239/month ($215/month billed annually), Clever at $399/month ($359 annually), Genius at $499/month ($449 annually), and custom pricing for Multi-Shop. Basic includes 3 user licenses, with extra licenses at +$20/month. The pricing page also notes a one-time $500 data migration fee for its migration assistance, and card reader hardware at $299 plus $10/month per device.
Trackara Pro is $49.99/month or $499.99/year with every feature. Technicians you assign work to are free; a technician who needs their own app login is a $15/month seat.
A fair example: an owner plus two techs who each want their own login. On Trackara Pro that is $49.99 + 2 x $15 = $79.99/month. On Shopmonkey Basic, three licenses are included, so it is $239/month. The gap is about $159/month. Shopmonkey's price includes things Trackara Pro does not do, such as bay workflow and parts ordering, so weigh whether you need them.
Switching from Shopmonkey to Trackara Pro
You do not need to re-type your customer list. Most mechanics switch in an afternoon and run both systems side by side for a week or two.
- Start the trial. Create your account, pick your business type, and install the app on iPhone, iPad, or Android. Your subscription also includes the web portal at shop.trackara.app.
- Export from Shopmonkey. Download your customer list and, if you track stock, your parts list as CSV or Excel files. Shopmonkey's support can tell you where their export lives.
- Import in the web portal. In Settings, open Data Import and Export and upload the file. The Data Import tool has a Shopmonkey preset for its customer and parts export column names, so most columns map themselves. The importer handles customers with their vehicles, parts inventory, suppliers, and past invoices, quotes, and work orders, and it shows a preview with counts and sample rows before anything is saved.
- Rebuild your common jobs. Save your usual services as frequent jobs so quotes take a few taps, and set up inspection templates.
- Connect payments. Card payments run through your own Square account: Trackara Pro sends a Square-hosted payment link, and the money goes straight to you.
- Turn on mileage tracking from day one so your mileage log and tax reports start filling in.
- Cancel Shopmonkey once your open jobs are finished and you are comfortable.
Questions during the switch? Call or text support at +1 (801) 946-9396 or email support@trackara.app.
Read the full Trackara Pro vs Shopmonkey comparison A longer, feature-by-feature write-up of where each product wins.Shopmonkey alternative FAQ
Is Trackara Pro cheaper than Shopmonkey?
For most mobile mechanics, yes. Trackara Pro is $49.99/month or $499.99/year with every feature. Shopmonkey Basic is listed at $239/month, or $215/month billed annually, as of September 2026. Trackara Pro technicians you assign work to are free, and a technician who needs their own app login is a $15/month seat.
Is Shopmonkey good for mobile mechanics?
Shopmonkey is built for fixed-location shops: its site lists auto repair, tire, quick lube, heavy-duty, and wrap and detail shops. It has a mobile app, but its pricing page does not list mobile-specific tools like mileage tracking or route planning. Trackara Pro is built for mechanics who drive to the customer.
When is Shopmonkey the better choice?
If you run a multi-bay shop with service advisors, need integrated parts ordering today, or manage several locations, Shopmonkey is the better fit. Trackara Pro is designed for mobile mechanics and small operators with 1 to 5 techs.
Can I move my Shopmonkey customers into Trackara Pro?
Yes. Export your customers and parts from Shopmonkey as a spreadsheet, then use Settings, Data Import and Export in the Trackara Pro web portal. It has a Shopmonkey preset, shows a preview before anything is saved, and also imports vehicles and invoice history.
Does Trackara Pro have a free trial?
Yes, 14 days. You add a card at signup and are not charged until day 15, so you can cancel before then and pay nothing.
Try the Shopmonkey alternative free for 14 days
Quotes, invoices, scheduling, inspections, mileage tracking, OBD2, and route planning in one app for iPhone, iPad, Android, and the web. $49.99/month or $499.99/year, every feature included.
Start your 14-day free trial14-day free trial. You add a card at signup and are not charged until day 15, so you can cancel before then and pay nothing.