Quick Verdict
ARI (Auto Repair Invoice) by uMob started as an invoicing app and has grown into a broader auto-repair suite, with estimates, inspections, inventory, appointments, reminders, time tracking, payments, and reporting (plus AI damage detection and vehicle diagnostics on its top tier). Trackara Pro is a mobile-first platform purpose-built for mobile mechanics, pairing invoicing, quotes, work orders, time tracking, mileage tracking, integrated OBD2 diagnostics, business analytics, parts inventory, scheduling, CRM, digital signatures, and offline mode in one flat $49.99/month plan (14-day free trial, no card required). If you want a single integrated workflow built around field work on native iOS, Android, and web, Trackara Pro is the stronger fit.
If you've been using ARI (Auto Repair Invoice) for your auto repair business, you already know its roots: fast, tidy invoices and estimates. Over the years ARI has added more, and today it markets inspections, inventory, scheduling, payments, reporting, and (on its Pro Plus tier) diagnostics. So this isn't a story about one app that "can't do anything." It's about fit.
In this Trackara Pro vs ARI comparison, we'll lay out what each tool costs, which platforms they run on, and where they genuinely differ, so you can decide which one matches how you actually work as a mobile mechanic or auto repair pro.
Table of Contents
Head-to-Head Comparison: Trackara Pro vs ARI
Here's a side-by-side look at how Trackara Pro and ARI compare. Both cover the invoicing and estimating basics well, so the real differences show up in pricing structure, platform focus, and a handful of features:
| Trackara Pro | ARI (Auto Repair Invoice) | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49.99/month (or $499.99/year), all features included | Free version; ARI Pro $39.99/month; ARI Pro Plus $59.99/month |
| Free tier | 14-day free trial, no card required | Free version, capped at roughly 5 invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, and vehicles |
| Platforms | Native iOS, Android, and web portal | iOS, Android, and web |
| Best for | Mobile mechanics who want one integrated field workflow | Shops that want invoicing-first software with tiered add-ons |
| OBD2 / vehicle diagnostics | Integrated OBD2 in every plan, tied to the work order | Vehicle diagnostics on the Pro Plus tier |
| Mileage & tax tracking | Built-in, IRS-compliant | Not a focus of the product |
| Pricing model | One flat all-in price, no tiers | Free / Pro / Pro Plus tiers (portal, AI damage detection, and diagnostics on Pro Plus) |
ARI pricing verified July 2026 from ari.app. Pricing is subject to change; check each company's website for current rates.
The table shows two tools that overlap more than they used to. ARI gives you a free tier and lower-priced entry plans, with its most advanced capabilities on Pro Plus. Trackara Pro gives you one flat price with every feature on, an integrated field-first workflow, and built-in OBD2 and mileage tracking. Which one wins comes down to how you work, not a feature the other simply can't do.
Pricing: What Each One Costs
The two products take different pricing paths. ARI uses a free-plus-tiers model, and Trackara Pro uses one flat all-in price.
ARI (Auto Repair Invoice):
- Free version, capped at roughly 5 invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, and vehicles
- ARI Pro: $39.99/month (or $33.33/month billed annually, $399.99/year)
- ARI Pro Plus: $59.99/month (or $49.99/month billed annually, $599.99/year), which adds a white-label client portal, AI damage detection, vehicle diagnostics, and priority support
- No contract
Trackara Pro: $49.99/month or $499.99/year with every feature included. No tiers, no upsells, no per-user charges, and a 14-day free trial that needs no card. One subscription, one place where all your business data lives together.
How to read the numbers:
- Want to start for free or spend the least each month? ARI's free version and $39.99/month Pro plan have the lower entry point.
- Want ARI's most advanced features (client portal, AI damage detection, diagnostics)? Those live on Pro Plus at $59.99/month.
- Want everything in one flat price, including OBD2 and mileage tracking, with nothing gated behind a higher tier? That's Trackara Pro at $49.99/month.
Neither price is "the cheap one" across the board. On a strict monthly minimum, ARI Pro is lower. For an all-in plan with diagnostics and mileage tracking included, Trackara Pro's single price often lands below stacking ARI Pro Plus with the extra tools a mobile mechanic tends to want.
Where Mileage Fits In
One thing worth calling out for mobile mechanics: mileage deductions. Mileage tracking isn't a focus of ARI, whereas Trackara Pro builds it in. If you're driving 25,000+ business miles per year, Trackara Pro's built-in IRS-compliant mileage tracking can log up to $17,500 in deductions at the 2026 standard mileage rate of $0.70/mile, translating to roughly $4,200 in tax savings. If you drive to your jobs, that alone can offset the subscription several times over.
Where Trackara Pro Stands Out
If you're weighing an ARI alternative, here are the areas where Trackara Pro is genuinely differentiated for mobile mechanics, rather than claims you could disprove in a click:
1. Purpose-Built for Mobile Mechanics
Every screen, workflow, and tap in Trackara Pro is designed for a mechanic working in the field, not behind a service counter. It runs fully offline in garages, basements, and rural driveways where cell service is spotty, and syncs automatically when you reconnect. If most of your work happens at the vehicle rather than in a shop, that field-first design shows up in every part of the app.
2. One Integrated Workflow, One Flat Price
Trackara Pro keeps invoicing, quotes and estimates, work orders with digital signatures, time tracking, mileage tracking, OBD2 diagnostics, business analytics, parts inventory, scheduling, and CRM connected in one app, at one flat $49.99/month with nothing gated behind a higher tier. A quote flows into a work order, into a signature, into an invoice without you re-entering data.
3. OBD2 Diagnostics in Every Plan
Trackara Pro's integrated OBD2 diagnostics let you scan vehicles, read and clear codes, view live data, and attach diagnostic results directly to work orders, from the same app you invoice in, on every plan. ARI also offers vehicle diagnostics, but on its higher Pro Plus tier. If you want scanning tied to the job without stepping up a pricing tier, Trackara Pro includes it by default.
4. Built-In Mileage & Tax Tracking
Mileage tracking isn't a focus of ARI, and for a mobile mechanic it matters. Trackara Pro's built-in mileage tracking automatically logs every business trip with IRS-compliant records. At the 2026 standard mileage rate, 25,000 business miles is around $17,500 in deductions and roughly $4,200 in tax savings, which for a driving-heavy mechanic can offset the subscription many times over.
5. Native iOS, Android, and Web
Trackara Pro ships true native apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android, plus a web portal, so your data is the same whether you're at the vehicle or at a desk. Both products run on multiple platforms, but Trackara Pro's mobile apps are built as the primary way to work, not a companion to a desktop tool.
6. US-Based Support
When something comes up mid-job, Trackara Pro backs the app with US-based support you can reach by email or phone, included for every subscriber rather than reserved for a top tier. For a solo operator who is also the owner, the tech, and the front desk, responsive help is part of what you're paying for.
Where ARI Might Be the Better Pick
We believe in giving you an honest comparison. Here are the scenarios where ARI could be the right choice:
1. You Want a Free Tier to Start
ARI has a genuinely free version (capped at roughly 5 invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, and vehicles). If you'd rather try software at $0 before committing to any subscription, ARI lets you do that. Trackara Pro's answer to the same need is a 14-day free trial with no card, so you get the full app for two weeks instead of a permanently limited free plan.
2. You Want the Lowest Monthly Price
If minimizing your monthly software line item is the priority, ARI Pro at $39.99/month (or $33.33/month billed annually) undercuts Trackara Pro's $49.99/month. You give up the features ARI keeps on its Pro Plus tier, but for a shop that mainly wants invoicing, estimates, and the basics at the lowest recurring cost, that's a fair trade.
3. You're Already Invested in ARI
If your client and vehicle history already lives in ARI and it's working for you, there's no urgency to switch. ARI has matured into a capable suite, and staying put is reasonable. The case for Trackara Pro is strongest when you specifically want a mobile-first, integrated field workflow rather than a tiered invoicing-first tool.
The Pattern: ARI is the pick when a free tier or the lowest monthly price matters most, or when you're happy with what you already have. Trackara Pro is the pick when you want one flat price with everything on, built-in OBD2 and mileage tracking, and a workflow designed around field work on native iOS, Android, and web.
Who Should Choose Trackara Pro
Trackara Pro is the right choice if you:
- Want one flat price with every feature on, including OBD2 and mileage, rather than tiered add-ons
- Are a mobile mechanic who needs a platform built for field work with offline mode and mobile-first design
- Drive business miles and want automatic IRS-compliant mileage tracking that can save you $4,200/year in tax deductions
- Perform on-site diagnostics and want OBD2 scanning integrated directly into your work orders on every plan
- Want to grow your business with analytics that show you revenue trends, profit margins, and which services are most profitable
- Prefer one integrated app where quotes, work orders, signatures, and invoices flow together without re-entering data
- Need professional work orders with digital signature capture for customer authorization
- Value US-based support included with your subscription
If even two or three of those describe you, Trackara Pro is likely the stronger fit.
Who Should Choose ARI
ARI may be the better call if you:
- Want to start on a free plan and only step up to paid if and when you need to
- Prioritize the lowest monthly price, where ARI Pro at $39.99/month undercuts Trackara Pro
- Are invoicing-first and happy to keep advanced features like the client portal, AI damage detection, and diagnostics on ARI's Pro Plus tier
- Rarely drive to customer locations, so built-in mileage tracking isn't a deciding factor
- Already run your history in ARI and see no reason to migrate
For those priorities, ARI is a reasonable choice. The tradeoff is that its most advanced capabilities sit on the Pro Plus tier, while Trackara Pro puts everything, including OBD2 and mileage, on a single flat plan built around field work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ARI (Auto Repair Invoice) and how does it compare to Trackara Pro?
ARI (Auto Repair Invoice) by uMob started as an invoicing app for auto repair and has grown into a broader suite, with estimates, inspections, inventory, appointments, reminders, time tracking, payments, and reporting, plus AI damage detection and vehicle diagnostics on its top Pro Plus tier. Trackara Pro is a mobile-first platform purpose-built for mobile mechanics, pairing invoicing, quotes, work orders, time tracking, mileage tracking, integrated OBD2 diagnostics, business analytics, parts inventory, scheduling, and CRM in one flat plan across native iOS, Android, and web.
How do Trackara Pro and ARI differ on diagnostics and mileage?
Trackara Pro includes integrated OBD2 diagnostics in every plan and ties scan results to the work order, and it also includes built-in IRS-compliant mileage tracking, which is useful for mobile mechanics who drive to jobs. ARI offers vehicle diagnostics and AI damage detection on its higher Pro Plus tier. If diagnostics and mileage in one field-ready app matter to you, that's where Trackara Pro is designed to stand out.
Is ARI cheaper than Trackara Pro?
On sticker price, ARI can be lower. ARI has a free version (capped at roughly five invoices, estimates, inspections, clients, and vehicles), ARI Pro is $39.99/month (or $33.33/month billed annually), and ARI Pro Plus is $59.99/month (or $49.99/month billed annually). Trackara Pro is $49.99/month or $499.99/year with every feature included and a 14-day free trial that needs no card. The best value depends on whether you want a free or lower entry tier, or one flat all-in price.
Should I switch from ARI to Trackara Pro?
Consider it if you want a single integrated workflow built around field work on native iOS, Android, and web. You can start a 14-day free trial of Trackara Pro with no card and begin entering your clients and vehicle data. Many mechanics run both side by side during the transition, then pick the one that fits how they work.
Who should choose ARI instead of Trackara Pro?
ARI can be the better pick if you want a free tier to start, prefer a lower monthly price on ARI Pro, or are already invested in ARI and happy with it. Trackara Pro is the stronger fit if you want a mobile-first, all-in-one workflow purpose-built for mobile mechanics, with integrated OBD2, mileage tracking, and US-based support.
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The Bottom Line: Match the Tool to How You Work
Both tools have earned their place. ARI has matured well beyond invoicing, and with a free tier plus a lower-priced Pro plan, it's a sensible pick when starting cost or a familiar workflow is what matters most.
Trackara Pro takes a different approach: one flat price with every feature on, and a workflow built specifically for mechanics who work in the field. Invoicing, quotes, work orders, time tracking, mileage tracking, OBD2 diagnostics, business analytics, parts inventory, scheduling, and CRM all live together for $49.99/month, with offline mode, digital signatures, and native iOS, Android, and web included.
The real question isn't which app does "more." It's which one fits how you run your day. If you want a free or low-cost entry point and invoicing-first tooling, ARI is worth a look. If you want an integrated, mobile-first workflow with OBD2 and mileage built in and one price for all of it, Trackara Pro is built for exactly that.
Next Steps:
- Start your 14-day free trial of Trackara Pro (no card required)
- Set up your invoicing and import your clients and vehicles
- Explore work orders with digital signatures
- Turn on automatic mileage tracking from day one
- Connect your OBD2 adapter for integrated diagnostics
- Check your business analytics dashboard after your first week