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Automotive · head to head

iATN vs Shopmonkey

iATN logo

iATN

Automotive

Community-powered automotive technical advice

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shopmonkey logo

Shopmonkey

Automotive

The all-in-one auto shop software

From
$215/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iATN has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: iATN business+ tier labeled as 'Best Value' but costs $45/month, a 25% increase over Business plan at $36/month; Shopmonkey included user licences are capped at 3 on Basic, 4 on Clever and 5 on Genius, with each extra user costing $20 per month
  • They diverge on capability: iATN covers Discussion forums, Shopmonkey covers Digital estimates.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iATN and Shopmonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where iATN and Shopmonkey differ
AttributeiATNShopmonkey
Starting priceFree$215/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, AppWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19962016

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 iATN

  • Discussion forums
  • Question posting
  • Expert responses
  • Knowledge base
  • Community profiles
  • Search functionality
  • Archives access
  • Real-time notifications

Only in Shopmonkey

  • Digital estimates
  • Work order management
  • Digital inspections
  • Customer messaging
  • Parts ordering
  • Payment processing
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Reporting & analytics

What people use each for

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

iATN

  • Automotive technician community and knowledge sharingnot Shopmonkey
  • Technical support and peer-to-peer troubleshootingnot Shopmonkey
  • Job listings for automotive industry positionsnot Shopmonkey

Shopmonkey

  • Managing estimates, repair orders and invoicing in an auto repair shopnot iATN
  • Digital vehicle inspections sent to customers by text or emailnot iATN
  • Tracking parts inventory, purchase orders and technician timenot iATN

Where each one falls short

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

iATN

  • Business+ tier labeled as 'Best Value' but costs $45/month, a 25% increase over Business plan at $36/month
  • Job posting on iATN Auto Pro Careers costs additional $50 per off-site position posting outside free Business+ allowance
  • Individual plan limited to single concurrent browser connection, restricting multi-device usage for solo accounts

Shopmonkey

  • Included user licences are capped at 3 on Basic, 4 on Clever and 5 on Genius, with each extra user costing $20 per month
  • The Basic plan at $239 per month allows only 2 digital vehicle inspection templates; unlimited inspections require Clever
  • Inventory management, purchase orders, time clock tracking and customisable workflow are all excluded from the Basic plan
  • Multi-Shop is custom priced with no published rate and additional user licences on it are call-for-pricing
  • The discounted rates of $215, $359 and $449 per month require annual billing rather than monthly
  • Annual billing saves up to 10%, so the monthly premium is roughly 11% higher

Pricing, plan by plan

iATN

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Participation in TechHelp
    • Forums access
    • Live chat access
  • Individual$19/month
    • Knowledge Base access for single personal user
    • Classified ad posting
    • Single concurrent browser connection
  • Business$36/month
    • Business use at one location
    • Up to 4 concurrent browser connections
    • Knowledge Base access
  • Business+$45/month
    • Up to 4 employee sub-accounts
    • Private team forum
    • $10/month discount on Identifix Direct-Hit subscription

Shopmonkey

$215/month
  • Basic$239/month
    • 3 user licenses
    • $215/month with annual billing (10% savings)
    • 2-way text and email
  • Clever$399/month
    • 4 user licenses
    • $359/month with annual billing
    • unlimited DVI templates
  • Genius$499/month
    • 5 user licenses
    • $449/month with annual billing
    • coupons manager
  • Multi-Shop$null/custom
    • for franchises and 100+ location operations
    • cross-location reporting
    • standardization

Which should you pick?

Choose iATN if

  • You need discussion forums.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want question posting.
iATN review

Choose Shopmonkey if

  • You need digital estimates.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want work order management.
Shopmonkey review

Questions people ask

Is iATN or Shopmonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. iATN starts at Free and Shopmonkey at $215/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iATN or Shopmonkey?
iATN has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for iATN and $215/month for Shopmonkey.
Does iATN or Shopmonkey run on more platforms?
iATN runs on Web, Mobile, App. Shopmonkey runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use iATN for free?
Yes. iATN has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shopmonkey starts at $215/month.
What is iATN best used for?
iATN is most often used for automotive technician community and knowledge sharing, technical support and peer-to-peer troubleshooting, job listings for automotive industry positions. Of those, automotive technician community and knowledge sharing and technical support and peer-to-peer troubleshooting are not what Shopmonkey is typically brought in for.
What can iATN do that Shopmonkey cannot?
iATN covers Discussion forums, Question posting, Expert responses, Knowledge base. Shopmonkey covers Digital estimates, Work order management, Digital inspections, Customer messaging.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iATN: How much does iATN membership cost?

Free Basic plan with TechHelp and forums. Individual at $19/month for one user, Business at $36/month for one location with up to 4 concurrent connections, Business+ at $45/month for up to 4 employee sub-accounts.

Source
Shopmonkey: How much does Shopmonkey cost?

Shopmonkey's Basic tier is $239/month ($215/month annually), Clever is $399/month ($359/month annually), Genius is $499/month ($449/month annually), and Multi-Shop requires custom pricing. All prices are in USD with up to 10% savings with annual billing.

Source
iATN: What are the concurrent connection limits for different iATN tiers?

Individual plan supports 1 concurrent browser connection. Business and Business+ plans allow up to 4 concurrent browser connections from one location.

Source
Shopmonkey: What features does each Shopmonkey tier include?

Basic includes 3 user licenses, 2-way text and email, and unlimited estimates. Clever adds 4 user licenses and workflow customization. Genius includes 5 user licenses and full platform features including Google Reviews Manager and automated estimate follow-ups.

Source
iATN: Does iATN Business+ include a discount on other services?

Business+ members receive a $10/month discount on Identifix Direct-Hit subscription, equaling $120 annual savings.

Source
Shopmonkey: What additional costs does Shopmonkey charge?

Shopmonkey charges $249 upfront plus $10/month per card reader device (available for Basic-Genius tiers). Additional user licenses on Basic cost $20/month each. Payment processing fees and QuickBooks Desktop integration require additional charges.

Source
iATN: How much does it cost to post a job on iATN?

Job posting on iATN Auto Pro Careers is free for Business and Business+ members posting on-site positions (one per 30 days for Business; multiple for Business+). Off-site positions cost $50 per job posting.

Source
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