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Workshop software compared
RobotRoo, MechanicDesk, Workshop Software and Workshop Mate side by side, with prices including GST, contracts, phone apps, accounting and where your data is kept.
We make RobotRoo, so we’ve kept to what each company publishes. Every price and feature below comes from its own website, checked on 10 November 2026, and the sources are listed at the bottom.
Lowest monthly price, GST included
- RobotRoo1 person$99
- MechanicDesk1 user$93.50
- Workshop SoftwarePaid yearly; $130.90 paid monthly$108.90
- Workshop MateUnlimited users$100.10
At a glance
The other three list their prices plus GST. Here every plan price includes GST, so they can be compared. Extra costs are shown as each company lists them.
| Compared | RobotRooThis site | MechanicDesk | Workshop Software | Workshop Mate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made by | SKILTONZERO PTY LTD, an Australian company | Autodeck Pty Ltd, Melbourne | Workshop Software Pty Ltd, Warriewood NSW | Jeal Computer Services Pty Ltd, which agreed in 2024 to be bought by Pickles Auctions |
| In business since | RobotRoo is new and in early access | 2013 | 2013. It says it has built automotive software since 1992. | 1983 |
| Lowest price, GST included | $99 a month for 1 person | $93.50 a month for 1 user | $130.90 a month, or $108.90 a month paid yearly | $100.10 a month for unlimited users |
| Contract | Monthly, with no cancellation fee. Change plan or stop at any time; a cancelled plan runs to the end of the month already paid. | Month to month, with no cancellation fee. Its terms say payments aren’t refunded. | Advertised as “No lock-in contract”. Monthly or yearly terms renew automatically. Cancelling inside the app takes effect at the end of the term, with no refund for the rest of it. | Advertised as “No lock-in plans” |
| Runs on | A web browser on a phone, tablet or computer | A web browser, plus a staff app for iPhone and Android | A web browser, plus apps for iPhone and Android | A web browser, plus the EasyPhoto Pro app for uploading photos |
| Accounting | Xero | Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online | Xero, MYOB AccountRight and QuickBooks | Xero and MYOB |
| AI assistant | Roo, built in. Text, voice messages, photos and supplier invoices. | None advertised | Its terms cover AI features and name Anthropic as the provider. Its product pages don’t name an AI feature. | None advertised |
| Where data is kept | Australia, with encrypted backups | Amazon Web Services in Australia and the UK (2021 privacy policy) | Amazon Web Services in Australia, for Australian and New Zealand customers | Microsoft Azure. Its privacy policy says data centres in Australia and overseas. |
| Help moving across | We help, whatever you use now | Free import of up to 3 years’ history | A paid import service on Silver and Gold; listed without a fee on Platinum | Part of an optional setup package, $1,209 plus GST |
What each costs
Monthly prices in Australian dollars with GST included, from each company’s pricing page. Under each price is the figure the company lists.
RobotRoo
GST included in the listed price
- Launch1 person$99
- GrowUp to 3 people$149
- ScaleUp to 6 people$199
- MaxUp to 15 people$349
Every plan has all the features and a monthly AI usage allowance for Roo.
Extra costs
- More than 15 people: email us for a plan
MechanicDesk
Listed plus GST
- Starter1 user$93.50$85 + GST
- Small3 users$126.50$115 + GST
- Team6 users$165$150 + GST
- Large15 users$275$250 + GST
Extra costs
- Extra user, $15 a month, even for a mechanic who only has jobs assigned
- SMS, 10c a message
- Rego or VIN lookup, 30c, or 65c with rego expiry, plus GST
- Digital signatures, $38.50 a month (GST not stated)
- Video storage, $38.50 a month (GST not stated)
Workshop Software
Listed plus GST
- SilverPaid monthly$130.90$119 + GST
- GoldPaid monthly$163.90$149 + GST
- PlatinumPaid monthly, per site$273.90$249 + GST
Paid yearly, the plans are $108.90, $130.90 and $218.90 a month ($99, $119 and $199 + GST), billed for the year. Its terms say the rest of a term isn’t refunded if you cancel. The entry plan includes 1 user, by its own comparison page. Phone app users are free.
Extra costs
- Extra user, $20 + GST a month
- SMS, from 11c a message
- Two-way SMS, from $49 a month plus a setup fee
- Rego lookups, from 39c
- WorkshopData repair information, $69 a month paid yearly or $79 monthly
- A failed payment, $39 + GST
Workshop Mate
Listed plus GST
- StandardUnlimited users$100.10$91 + GST
Extra costs
- Integrations, charged per integration (amounts not published)
- Optional setup package with data import and training, $1,209 + GST
- One-on-one training, charged by the hour
The same team, a month
RobotRoo costs more than MechanicDesk at each team size and less than Workshop Software’s Silver plan. Workshop Mate’s one price covers any number of users, before its integration charges. RobotRoo’s price includes Roo and a monthly AI usage allowance.
Workshop Software is its Silver plan, which includes 1 user, plus $20 + GST a month for each extra user. People who use only its phone app are free, so it can cost less.
| Team size | RobotRooThis site | MechanicDesk | Workshop Software | Workshop Mate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $99 | $93.50 | $130.90$108.90 paid yearly | $100.10 |
| 3 people | $149 | $126.50 | $174.90$152.90 paid yearly | $100.10 |
| 6 people | $199 | $165 | $240.90$218.90 paid yearly | $100.10 |
| 15 people | $349 | $275 | $438.90$416.90 paid yearly | $100.10 |
Feature by feature
Yes means the company’s own website says it has it. Not stated means we couldn’t find it there, so it may still exist.
| Feature | RobotRooThis site | MechanicDesk | Workshop Software | Workshop Mate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs and vehicles | ||||
| Bookings calendar | YesDay, week or month | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Job cards, quotes and invoices | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vehicle history | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rego and VIN | YesRead from a photo of the plate or VIN label | YesPaid lookup by rego or VIN | YesPaid lookup by rego | Not stated |
| Technicians clock on and off jobs | YesWith timesheets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Voice notes | YesSpoken notes go on the job | NoIts help centre suggests the phone keyboard’s dictation | YesTalk to Text in its phone app | Not stated |
| Change history on each job | YesWho changed what, people or Roo | Not statedIts help centre says activity history isn’t generally logged | YesAn activity log on each invoice | Not stated |
| Parts | ||||
| Parts, stock and stocktakes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Purchase orders | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supplier invoices into parts | YesRoo reads a photo or PDF | Not stated | YesRepco and Burson invoices sync | Not stated |
| Ordering from supplier catalogues | NoComing soon | YesRepco, Burson, NAPA and others, included | YesRepco, Burson, GPC ProLink (NAPA) and others | YesBurson and Repco, charged per integration |
| Customers | ||||
| Next service by date or km | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Service reminders sent | NoComing soon | YesSMS and email | Yes | YesLetter, email and SMS |
| SMS to customers | NoComing soon | Yes10c a message | YesFrom 11c a message | Yes |
| Online booking from your website | NoComing soon | Yes | YesGold and Platinum | Listed as a new feature, no details published |
| Digital inspections | NoComing soon | YesChecksheets with photos | YesGold and Platinum | Not statedA service checklist is listed, no details |
| Customer app or portal | NoIn development | YesService Book app | YesPortal on Gold and Platinum | Not stated |
| Money | ||||
| Xero | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MYOB | NoComing soon | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| QuickBooks | NoComing soon | YesQuickBooks Online | Yes | Not stated |
| Card payments inside the software | NoComing soon. For now, payments are recorded. | YesNuvei and Windcave | YesWorkshopPay and Stripe | A payment gateway is listed as a new feature, provider not named |
| Your data | ||||
| Download your data | YesAll of it, as one file | YesExcel or CSV, any time | YesSpreadsheet files while subscribed, not after | Not statedNo self-serve export described |
Where RobotRoo is different
RobotRoo has the usual screens for jobs, customers, vehicles, parts, quotes and invoices. It also has Roo, an AI assistant that does the data entry from a message, a voice note or a photo.
MechanicDesk and Workshop Mate don’t advertise AI features, and Workshop Software’s product pages don’t name one.
- Talk or send a photo.Send Roo a voice message or a photo from the bay and he adds it to the job, ready on the computer when you’re back at the counter.
- Supplier invoices into parts.Send a photo or PDF of a supplier invoice. Roo reads every line and puts the parts on the job, priced for that customer.
- Vehicles from photos.Photos of the rego plate, VIN label and odometer fill in the vehicle.
- Invoice notes written for you.Roo writes the invoice notes from the mechanic’s notes in your workshop’s style, and checks the invoice against the work when you ask.
- See and undo what Roo did.Each change shows in the chat, supported changes can be undone, and each job’s log records who changed what.
What the others have
Things MechanicDesk, Workshop Software or Workshop Mate offer that RobotRoo doesn’t, as of 10 November 2026.
Years in use
Workshop Mate’s maker has been in business since 1983, and MechanicDesk’s maker and Workshop Software since 2013. Workshop Software says it has built automotive software since 1992 and has more than 9,400 users, and MechanicDesk says more than 20,000 mechanics use it. RobotRoo is new and in early access.
Supplier catalogues
All three order from Repco and Burson inside the software, and MechanicDesk and Workshop Software link more suppliers. RobotRoo reads supplier invoices instead.
MYOB and QuickBooks
All three connect to MYOB, and MechanicDesk and Workshop Software to QuickBooks. RobotRoo connects to Xero only.
SMS and service reminders
All three send service reminders and SMS. MechanicDesk records customers’ SMS replies, and Workshop Software sells a two-way SMS add-on. RobotRoo doesn’t send reminders or SMS.
Online booking and inspections
MechanicDesk and Workshop Software (Gold and Platinum) take bookings from your website and do digital inspections. RobotRoo does neither.
Card payments
MechanicDesk and Workshop Software take card payments through payment partners. RobotRoo records payments you take on your own card reader.
Apps from the app stores
MechanicDesk and Workshop Software have apps for iPhone and Android. RobotRoo runs in the phone’s web browser.
An app or portal for customers
MechanicDesk’s Service Book app and Workshop Software’s portal (Gold and Platinum) let customers follow their jobs. RobotRoo’s customer app is in development.
Repair information
Workshop Software sells WorkshopData, HaynesPro service and repair information, as an add-on.
Unlimited users
Workshop Mate charges one price for any number of users.
Moving across
We’ll help you move, whatever software you use now. Email support@robotroo.ai and tell us what you’re on, and we’ll work out how to bring your data across.
Get your data out of the old system before you cancel it.
- From MechanicDesk.Export customers, vehicles, jobs and invoices to Excel or CSV yourself, at any time. Cancel in MechanicDesk in a web browser; its phone app can’t.
- From Workshop Software.Export customers, vehicles, products, suppliers and transactions as spreadsheet files before you cancel. Its terms say it doesn’t provide exports after a subscription ends, and that only cancelling inside the app counts, not an email.
- From Workshop Mate.Ask Jeal for a copy of your data before you cancel. Its terms only promise a copy when Jeal ends the account, and we couldn’t find a self-serve export described on its website.
Sources
Checked on 10 November 2026. Prices and features change, so check each company’s website before you decide. If something here is wrong or out of date, email support@robotroo.ai and we’ll correct it.
MechanicDesk
Workshop Software
MechanicDesk, Workshop Software and Workshop Mate are trademarks of their owners. RobotRoo isn’t connected with or endorsed by them.
Questions
Which is the cheapest?
It depends on the size of your team. For one person, MechanicDesk’s Starter plan is the lowest at $93.50 a month including GST, and RobotRoo’s Launch plan is $99. For two or more people, Workshop Mate is the lowest: $100.10 a month including GST covers any number of users, before its integration charges, which it doesn’t publish.
Does MechanicDesk have AI features?
Its website and help centre don’t advertise any, as of 10 November 2026. Its help centre says it has no built-in voice-to-text.
Does Workshop Software have AI features?
Its terms, which took effect on 8 November 2026, cover AI features and name Anthropic as its AI provider. Its product pages and help guides don’t name a specific AI feature.
Is Workshop Mate still sold?
Yes, at workshopmate.com.au, for $91 a month plus GST. Its maker, Jeal Computer Services, announced in February 2024 that it had agreed to be bought by Pickles Auctions.
Which of them work with MYOB?
MechanicDesk, Workshop Software and Workshop Mate. RobotRoo connects to Xero only.
Can I move to RobotRoo from one of these?
Yes. Email support@robotroo.ai and tell us what you use now. Export your data before you cancel your old system, because Workshop Software’s terms say it doesn’t provide exports after a subscription ends.
Why trust a comparison written by RobotRoo?
Every fact about the others comes from their own websites or the ABN register, and the sources are listed on this page. We’ve included what they do that RobotRoo doesn’t. If you find a mistake, email support@robotroo.ai and we’ll correct it.
See RobotRoo working
One vehicle at a demo workshop, from a new customer’s handwritten form to the invoice and the team chat.