Softwr

Automotive · head to head

CARFAX for Dealers vs Shopmonkey

CARFAX for Dealers logo

CARFAX for Dealers

Automotive

Show them the CARFAX

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shopmonkey logo

Shopmonkey

Automotive

The all-in-one auto shop software

From
$215/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CARFAX for Dealers the App Store listing (publisher CARFAX, Inc.) states the app requires an existing CARFAX for Dealers business account login, so it cannot be evaluated or purchased as a standalone app without a separate commercial dealer contract already in place.; 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: CARFAX for Dealers covers Vehicle history reports, Shopmonkey covers Digital estimates.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CARFAX for Dealers and Shopmonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where CARFAX for Dealers and Shopmonkey differ
AttributeCARFAX for DealersShopmonkey
Starting priceOn request$215/month
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19842016

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 CARFAX for Dealers

  • Vehicle history reports
  • Service history
  • Accident history
  • 1-Owner finder
  • CARFAX listings
  • Service retention
  • Dealer website tools
  • Customer leads

Only in Shopmonkey

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

Both cover

  • Data encryption

What people use each for

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

CARFAX for Dealers

  • Vehicle historynot Shopmonkey
  • Customer trustnot Shopmonkey
  • Inventory merchandisingnot Shopmonkey
  • Service retentionnot Shopmonkey
  • Lead generationnot Shopmonkey

Shopmonkey

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

Where each one falls short

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

CARFAX for Dealers

  • The App Store listing (publisher CARFAX, Inc.) states the app requires an existing CARFAX for Dealers business account login, so it cannot be evaluated or purchased as a standalone app without a separate commercial dealer contract already in place.

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

CARFAX for Dealers

On request
  • Basic$undefined/month
    • Vehicle history reports
    • Inventory listings
    • Dealer website badge
  • Advantage$undefined/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • CARFAX Hot Listings
    • Service retention tools
  • Advantage Plus$undefined/month
    • Everything in Advantage
    • Snap report
    • 1-owner leads

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 CARFAX for Dealers if

  • You need vehicle history reports.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want service history.
CARFAX for Dealers 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 CARFAX for Dealers or Shopmonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. CARFAX for Dealers starts at On request and Shopmonkey at $215/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CARFAX for Dealers or Shopmonkey?
CARFAX for Dealers starts at On request and Shopmonkey at $215/month.
Does CARFAX for Dealers or Shopmonkey run on more platforms?
CARFAX for Dealers runs on Web, Mobile, Api. Shopmonkey runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is CARFAX for Dealers best used for?
CARFAX for Dealers is most often used for vehicle history, customer trust, inventory merchandising, service retention. Of those, vehicle history and customer trust are not what Shopmonkey is typically brought in for.
What can CARFAX for Dealers do that Shopmonkey cannot?
CARFAX for Dealers covers Vehicle history reports, Service history, Accident history, 1-Owner finder. Shopmonkey covers Digital estimates, Work order management, Digital inspections, Customer messaging. Both handle Data encryption.

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
Share

Related pages

More on CARFAX for Dealers

More on Shopmonkey

Keep looking

Other head to heads