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Automotive · head to head

CDK Global vs Shopmonkey

CDK Global logo

CDK Global

Automotive

Drive your dealership forward

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: CDK Global no pricing information is published on the website; 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: CDK Global covers Dealer Management System, Shopmonkey covers Digital estimates.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where CDK Global and Shopmonkey differ
AttributeCDK GlobalShopmonkey
Starting priceOn request$215/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20142016

Identical on both: 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 CDK Global

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

Only in Shopmonkey

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

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • PCI DSS
  • Data encryption

What people use each for

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

CDK Global

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

Shopmonkey

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

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

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

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 CDK Global if

  • You need dealer management system.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Api.
  • You also want sales desking.
CDK Global 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 CDK Global or Shopmonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. CDK Global 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, CDK Global or Shopmonkey?
CDK Global starts at On request and Shopmonkey at $215/month.
Does CDK Global or Shopmonkey run on more platforms?
CDK Global runs on Web, Desktop, Api. Shopmonkey runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Shopmonkey is typically brought in for.
What can CDK Global do that Shopmonkey cannot?
CDK Global covers Dealer Management System, Sales desking, F&I management, Service scheduling. Shopmonkey covers Digital estimates, Work order management, Digital inspections, Customer messaging. Both handle SOC2, PCI DSS, Data encryption.

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
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
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
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
CDK Global: Is there a free trial available?

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

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
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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