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Automotive · head to head

CDK Global vs Tesla

CDK Global logo

CDK Global

Automotive

Drive your dealership forward

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tesla logo

Tesla

Automotive

Tesla owner app for remote vehicle control, charging and account management, useless without a Tesla

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Tesla has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CDK Global no pricing information is published on the website; Tesla it is entirely hardware bound; there is no function for anyone who does not own or lease a Tesla, so it cannot be evaluated as standalone software.
  • They diverge on capability: CDK Global covers Dealer Management System, Tesla covers Remote climate and charging control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CDK Global and Tesla actually diverge.

Attributes where CDK Global and Tesla differ
AttributeCDK GlobalTesla
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteFree app, hardware bound to a Tesla vehicle, some features need Premium Connectivity
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, ApiiOS, Android
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: 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 CDK Global

  • Dealer Management System
  • Sales desking
  • F&I management
  • Service scheduling
  • Parts inventory
  • Accounting
  • CRM integration
  • Digital retailing

Only in Tesla

  • Remote climate and charging control
  • Phone as key
  • Vehicle locate and Summon
  • Charging network access
  • Service and software
  • Premium Connectivity features

What people use each for

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

CDK Global

  • Dealership operationsnot Tesla
  • Sales managementnot Tesla
  • Service departmentnot Tesla
  • Parts managementnot Tesla
  • Financial reportingnot Tesla

Tesla

  • A Tesla owner preconditioning the cabin before getting in on a cold or hot daynot CDK Global
  • An owner using the phone as the car key instead of carrying a separate fob or cardnot CDK Global
  • Checking charge state and Supercharger availability before a road tripnot CDK Global
  • Scheduling a service visit or monitoring an over-the-air software update remotelynot CDK Global

Where each one falls short

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

CDK Global

  • No pricing information is published on the website
  • Pricing model is not disclosed; buyers must contact sales directly

Tesla

  • It is entirely hardware bound; there is no function for anyone who does not own or lease a Tesla, so it cannot be evaluated as standalone software.
  • Some remote features that owners of other connected cars get included, such as live traffic navigation and live camera viewing, sit behind the paid Premium Connectivity subscription on many vehicles.
  • Which features are free versus paid has changed across model years and firmware versions, so what a new owner reads online may not match what their specific car actually gets.
  • Phone-as-key relies on the phone's Bluetooth and battery; a dead phone or Bluetooth fault can leave an owner needing the physical key card as a backup.
  • App outages, which Tesla has had periodically, can temporarily remove remote access to features like climate preconditioning and vehicle locating that owners have come to depend on.

Pricing, plan by plan

CDK Global

On request
  • Drive$undefined/month
    • Core DMS functionality
    • Sales & F&I
    • Service & parts
  • Drive+$undefined/month
    • Everything in Drive
    • Advanced CRM
    • Digital retailing
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Drive+
    • Custom integrations
    • Dedicated support

Tesla

Free
  • Standard ConnectivityFree
    • Over-the-air software updates
    • Basic remote lock, climate and location
  • Premium Connectivity$9.99/month
    • Live traffic-based navigation
    • Streaming media and internet browser
    • Live camera viewing and satellite-view maps

Which should you pick?

Choose CDK Global if

  • You need dealer management system.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Api.
  • You also want sales desking.
CDK Global review

Choose Tesla if

  • You need remote climate and charging control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want phone as key.
Tesla review

Questions people ask

Is CDK Global or Tesla better?
Neither clearly leads. CDK Global starts at On request and Tesla at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CDK Global or Tesla?
Tesla has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for CDK Global and Free for Tesla.
Does CDK Global or Tesla run on more platforms?
CDK Global runs on Web, Desktop, Api. Tesla runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Tesla for free?
Yes. Tesla has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CDK Global starts at On request.
What is CDK Global best used for?
CDK Global is most often used for dealership operations, sales management, service department, parts management. Of those, dealership operations and sales management are not what Tesla is typically brought in for.
What can CDK Global do that Tesla cannot?
CDK Global covers Dealer Management System, Sales desking, F&I management, Service scheduling. Tesla covers Remote climate and charging control, Phone as key, Vehicle locate and Summon, Charging network access.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CDK Global: How much does CDK Global cost?

CDK Global does not publish pricing on its website. The vendor requires customers to contact their sales team directly at 833.620.2129 or through their contact form to obtain quotes.

Source
Tesla: Do I need the Tesla app to drive the car?

No, but many convenience features such as phone-as-key, remote preconditioning and Supercharger payment depend on it.

CDK Global: What is CDK Global's pricing model?

The pricing model is not disclosed. CDK Global directs all pricing inquiries to their sales team, suggesting a custom quote or negotiated pricing structure.

Source
Tesla: Is Premium Connectivity required?

No, but without it several features including live traffic navigation and live camera viewing are unavailable on many vehicles.

CDK Global: Is there a free trial available?

No information about free trials is provided on CDK Global's website.

Source
Tesla: Can I use the app without owning a Tesla?

No, it has no function without an owned or leased Tesla vehicle.

CDK Global: Who should I contact for pricing information?

Contact CDK Global's sales team at 833.620.2129 or 847.397.1700, or visit their Contact Us page to request pricing information.

Source
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