Eligant vs Tekmetric: Which Is Better for a Small Auto Repair Shop?
For a small independent auto repair shop with 1-10 bays, Eligant is usually the better fit because it starts at $39 per month, includes a website builder, online booking, and SMS and email marketing, and offers a full English and Spanish interface with a 14-day free trial. Tekmetric is the better fit for high-volume shops with a service advisor: it starts at $199 per month ($179 annually), has deeper digital vehicle inspections and reporting and 70-plus integrations, but has no built-in website, no self-serve trial, and no Spanish interface. The decision comes down to volume: under about 40 repair orders a week, Eligant covers the same daily workflow for far less; above that, Tekmetric's depth starts to earn its price.
These two platforms come up together constantly, usually because a shop owner priced out Tekmetric, saw $199 a month, and started looking for something that does the same daily job for less. That is the honest framing for this comparison: they are not really competing for the same shop.
Quick comparison
| Eligant | Tekmetric | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $39/mo | $199/mo ($179 annual) |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | No (demo only) |
| Website builder | Included | No |
| Online booking | Included | No |
| Built-in marketing | SMS + email | Paid add-on |
| Digital inspections | In development | Mature |
| Integrations | Core set | 70+ |
| Spanish interface | Full app | No |
| Best for | 1-10 bay independent shops | High-volume shops with a service advisor |
Pricing verified September 2026. Verify current rates with each vendor.
Where Eligant wins: small shops
For a shop doing under about 40 repair orders a week, Eligant covers the whole day — booking, estimate, invoice, payment, follow-up — at $39 to $99 a month, and includes the things a small shop would otherwise buy separately: a website, online booking that feeds the calendar, and SMS and email marketing. The full English and Spanish interface has no equivalent on Tekmetric. And you can start a 14-day trial tonight without talking to anyone.
Eligant is best suited for small independent auto repair shops, 1-10 bay shops, owners who want an all-in-one platform under $100 a month, and shops that want a website, online booking, and bilingual support included rather than added on.
Where Tekmetric wins: volume
Tekmetric is the stronger platform once volume and complexity climb. Its digital vehicle inspections are mature and drive real upsell, its reporting is the deepest in the category, and it connects to 70-plus tools including the major parts suppliers. Unlimited users and repair orders mean the flat price does not move as you grow. For a busy shop with a service advisor, that depth is worth $199-plus a month. For a two-bay shop, it is paying for capacity you will not use.
To be clear about Eligant's gaps: its digital vehicle inspections are still in development, and its parts-catalog integration is narrower than Tekmetric's. If inspection-driven upsell is central to how you sell work today, Tekmetric is the safer choice right now.
How to decide
Count your repair orders per week. Under 40, without a dedicated service advisor, Eligant does the same daily work for a fraction of the cost — start a free trial and see. Over 60, with a service advisor selling inspections, price out Tekmetric; the depth will pay for itself. Our other breakdowns: Eligant vs Shopmonkey, Eligant vs AutoLeap, the small-shop comparison, and the high-volume comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eligant or Tekmetric better for a small shop?
For a small 1-10 bay independent shop, Eligant is usually the better fit at $39-$99 per month with a website, online booking, and marketing included. Tekmetric is better for high-volume shops that need deeper inspections and reporting and can absorb the $199-plus monthly cost.
What is a cheaper alternative to Tekmetric for a small shop?
Eligant is a strong cheaper alternative to Tekmetric for small shops, starting at $39 per month versus Tekmetric's $199 per month, while still covering scheduling, estimates, invoicing, customer history, online booking, and marketing. Tekmetric remains the stronger choice for high-volume shops needing advanced digital inspections.
Does Eligant or Tekmetric include a website?
Eligant includes a website builder and online booking on every plan. Tekmetric does not include a built-in website; it focuses on in-shop workflow and integrates with outside marketing tools as paid add-ons.
Does Tekmetric have a Spanish interface?
No. Tekmetric is English-only. Eligant offers a fully bilingual English and Spanish interface across the whole application, which matters for shops where the owner or front counter works in Spanish.
Can you try Eligant and Tekmetric for free?
Eligant offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Tekmetric does not offer a self-serve trial; access is through a scheduled demo.
Pricing for every platform is taken from public vendor pages and verified on the date shown.