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Automotive · head to head

CarNow vs Shop-Ware

CarNow logo

CarNow

Automotive

Modern vehicle leasing solutions

From
$800/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shop-Ware logo

Shop-Ware

Automotive

Cloud-based shop management system

From
$279/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CarNow no pricing information disclosed on website; Shop-Ware pricing structured per location
  • They diverge on capability: CarNow covers Lease processing, Shop-Ware covers Work order management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CarNow and Shop-Ware actually diverge.

Attributes where CarNow and Shop-Ware differ
AttributeCarNowShop-Ware
Starting price$800/month$279/month
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, ApiWeb, Mobile, App
Founded20152005

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automotive).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CarNow

  • Lease processing
  • Document automation
  • Compliance management
  • Lease tracking
  • Payment processing
  • Warranty integration
  • Fleet management
  • DMS systems

Only in Shop-Ware

  • Work order management
  • Customer database
  • Vehicle history
  • Scheduling
  • Invoicing
  • Mobile application
  • Business analytics
  • Email services

Both cover

  • Customer portal
  • Payment processors
  • Accounting software
  • SSL encryption
  • Data encryption
  • Secure authentication

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CarNow

  • Automotive dealership managementnot Shop-Ware
  • Car inventory and sales automationnot Shop-Ware

Shop-Ware

  • Dealership Managementnot CarNow
  • Service Schedulingnot CarNow
  • Inventory Managementnot CarNow
  • Sales Operationsnot CarNow
  • Customer Relationshipnot CarNow

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CarNow

  • No pricing information disclosed on website
  • Vendor directs customers to book demo or contact support for pricing
  • Consultative sales approach suggests custom pricing based on dealership needs

Shop-Ware

  • Pricing structured per location
  • Data migration fees apply
  • Accounting integration fees apply

Pricing, plan by plan

CarNow

$800/month
  • Starter$800/month
    • Lease processing
    • Document automation
    • Basic compliance
  • Professional$1800/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Advanced compliance
    • Multi-location support
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Custom integrations
    • Advanced reporting

Shop-Ware

$279/month
  • Startup$279/month
    • Unlimited users
    • AI Parts Matrix
    • DVX
  • Pro$389/month
    • Startup features
    • Unlimited two-way texting
    • MOTOR Labor Guide
  • Master$499/month
    • Pro features
    • Business Analytics Suite
    • Monthly inventory value tracking
  • Ultimate+$999/month
    • Master features
    • High performance website
    • Search engine optimization

Which should you pick?

Choose CarNow if

  • You need lease processing.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want document automation.
CarNow review

Choose Shop-Ware if

  • You need work order management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want customer database.
Shop-Ware review

Questions people ask

Is CarNow or Shop-Ware better?
Neither clearly leads. CarNow starts at $800/month and Shop-Ware at $279/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CarNow or Shop-Ware?
CarNow starts at $800/month and Shop-Ware at $279/month.
Does CarNow or Shop-Ware run on more platforms?
CarNow runs on Web, Mobile, Api. Shop-Ware runs on Web, Mobile, App.
What is CarNow best used for?
CarNow is most often used for automotive dealership management, car inventory and sales automation. Of those, automotive dealership management and car inventory and sales automation are not what Shop-Ware is typically brought in for.
What can CarNow do that Shop-Ware cannot?
CarNow covers Lease processing, Document automation, Compliance management, Lease tracking. Shop-Ware covers Work order management, Customer database, Vehicle history, Scheduling. Both handle Customer portal, Payment processors, Accounting software, SSL encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CarNow: How much does CarNow cost?

CarNow does not publish pricing on its website. To receive pricing information, you must book a demo or contact support at 877-882-5353 or [email protected].

Source
Shop-Ware: How much does Shop-Ware cost?

Shop-Ware pricing ranges from $279/month for Startup to $999/month for Ultimate+. Annual billing offers discounts: $251/month for Startup, $350/month for Pro, $449/month for Master, and $899/month for Ultimate+.

Source
CarNow: Does CarNow offer different pricing tiers?

CarNow's pricing model is not publicly disclosed, but the vendor's consultative approach suggests pricing is customized based on individual dealership size, location, and specific requirements.

Source
Shop-Ware: What is included in the Shop-Ware Startup plan?

The Startup plan ($279/month) includes unlimited users, AI Parts Matrix, DVX, Maintenance Builder, and limited two-way texting.

Source
CarNow: Can I request a free trial of CarNow?

CarNow encourages booking a demo to see the platform in action, but trial terms and conditions are not specified on the public website.

Source
Shop-Ware: What features does the Master plan add to Shop-Ware?

Master ($499/month) adds Business Analytics Suite, monthly inventory value and gross profit tracking, and coaching dashboards compared to the Pro plan.

Source
Shop-Ware: What makes Shop-Ware Ultimate+ different from Master?

Ultimate+ ($999/month) includes a high-performance website, SEO, Google Ads enablement, call tracking, CRM, and online service scheduling beyond Master's features.

Source
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