Softwr

Automotive · head to head

KBB vs Shopmonkey

KBB logo

KBB

Automotive

Vehicle pricing and research from Kelley Blue Book

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 KBB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: KBB kBB car-values tool is free to consumers with no subscription tier, per the 27 Dec 2022 archive capture; 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: KBB covers Vehicle pricing, Shopmonkey covers Digital estimates.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KBB and Shopmonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where KBB and Shopmonkey differ
AttributeKBBShopmonkey
Starting priceFree$215/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, AppWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19262016

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 KBB

  • Vehicle pricing
  • Trade-in values
  • Depreciation estimates
  • Expert reviews
  • Comparisons
  • Research tools
  • Cost of ownership
  • Inventory search

Only in Shopmonkey

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

Both cover

  • Marketing tools

What people use each for

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

KBB

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

Shopmonkey

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

Where each one falls short

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

KBB

  • KBB car-values tool is free to consumers with no subscription tier, per the 27 Dec 2022 archive capture

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

KBB

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Vehicle values
    • Pricing data
    • Expert reviews
  • Dealer Instant Offer$299/month
    • Instant offer capability
    • Lead generation
    • Customer tools

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 KBB if

  • You need vehicle pricing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want trade-in values.
KBB 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 KBB or Shopmonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. KBB 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, KBB or Shopmonkey?
KBB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for KBB and $215/month for Shopmonkey.
Does KBB or Shopmonkey run on more platforms?
KBB runs on Web, Mobile, App. Shopmonkey runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use KBB for free?
Yes. KBB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shopmonkey starts at $215/month.
What is KBB best used for?
KBB is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations. Of those, dealership management and service scheduling are not what Shopmonkey is typically brought in for.
What can KBB do that Shopmonkey cannot?
KBB covers Vehicle pricing, Trade-in values, Depreciation estimates, Expert reviews. Shopmonkey covers Digital estimates, Work order management, Digital inspections, Customer messaging. Both handle Marketing tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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