Head to head
Garegi vs Garage Hive: which UK garage software?
Two different approaches to running a UK garage. Garage Hive builds on Microsoft Business Central for deep analytics; Garegi keeps it flat-rate and simple. Here's an honest look at both so you can decide which fits your workshop.
Garegi at a glance
Garegi is a cloud-based garage management system built for independent UK garages that want predictable costs. The garage module is £200 a month with unlimited users, no setup fee, and a customer booking website included. It covers jobs, invoicing, MOT and vehicle lookups, SMS reminders, digital inspections, tyre stock with Bond wholesale, GSF parts ordering, and card payments through Mollie. There are separate modules for car sales (£80/month) and vehicle hire (£80/month), each with their own website.
It's a newer system, built from scratch in 2025, which means it doesn't carry legacy baggage but also doesn't have the track record or community that longer-established systems have.
Garage Hive at a glance
Garage Hive is built on Microsoft Business Central, giving it deep reporting through Power BI and integration with the wider Microsoft ecosystem. It starts from £145 a month, but each user needs a Microsoft licence at roughly £62 per month on top. On-site implementation is listed at £3,000 on Microsoft Marketplace.
It's an established system with a strong community of UK garage owners, Autodata technical data built in, multi-site capability, technician time-clocking, customer self-check-in, and marketing campaign tools. The active Facebook community is a genuine asset. Owners share reports, benchmark performance and push for features.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Garegi | Garage Hive |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs & invoicing | Yes | Yes |
| Workshop diary | Yes | Yes (dynamic scheduling) |
| MOT/DVLA lookups | Yes | Yes |
| SMS reminders | 300/month included | Included |
| Digital inspections | Yes (with photos) | Yes (checklists, QC) |
| Parts ordering | GSF + Bond wholesale | GSF |
| Tyre stock | Yes (Bond integration) | Stock control |
| Card payments | Mollie (card, link, online) | PDQ terminal + online |
| Accounting export | Xero, Sage, QuickBooks | Xero, Sage, QuickBooks |
| Customer booking website | Included | Online booking widget |
| Car sales module | Yes (£80/month) | Yes |
| Vehicle hire module | Yes (£80/month) | No |
| Autodata / technical data | No | Yes |
| Power BI reporting | No | Yes |
| Multi-site | No | Yes |
| Technician clocking | No | Yes |
| Customer self-check-in | No | Yes |
| Community / user group | No | Yes (active Facebook) |
Pricing comparison
| Cost | Garegi | Garage Hive |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly (garage) | £200 flat | From £145 + ~£62/user |
| Setup fee | None | Not published; £3,000 on-site implementation on MS Marketplace |
| Contract | Monthly rolling | Monthly rolling |
| Per-user fees | None | ~£62/user (MS licence) |
| Booking website | Included | Not clearly included |
| Data migration | Free | Part of setup (paid) |
All pricing from publicly listed sources. Pricing reflects standard published rates and does not include promotional offers, limited-time discounts or negotiated rates. Figures checked 19 August 2026. Confirm current pricing directly with each provider.
Who each is best for
Choose Garegi if:
- Predictable, flat-rate pricing matters more than advanced reporting
- You want a customer booking website included from day one
- You run car sales or vehicle hire alongside the workshop
- You want Bond wholesale tyre integration
- You don't want to pay setup fees or per-user licensing
Choose Garage Hive if:
- Power BI reporting and data visualisation are central to your management style
- You need Autodata technical data (service schedules, wiring diagrams) built in
- You run multiple sites and need a unified system
- You value an established community of UK garage owners
- Technician time-clocking and efficiency tracking are must-haves
The verdict
These are genuinely different systems built for different priorities. Garage Hive is deeper on analytics and technical data; Garegi is simpler on pricing and includes more out of the box. Neither is universally better. The right choice depends on whether your garage needs Microsoft-grade reporting or straightforward, all-inclusive management.
See the full Garegi pricing or what's included in the garage module.
Common questions
What's the main difference between Garegi and Garage Hive?
Garegi offers flat-rate pricing with no per-user fees, no setup fee and a booking website included. Garage Hive is built on Microsoft Business Central with deeper reporting and Autodata integration, but charges per-user Microsoft licensing on top.
Which is cheaper?
Garegi is typically cheaper for small to mid-sized garages. A three-user garage pays £200 per month with Garegi versus approximately £331 per month with Garage Hive. Garegi also has no setup fee.
Which has better features?
Both cover core workshop needs. Garage Hive has stronger reporting, multi-site management and Autodata. Garegi includes a booking website, car sales and hire modules, and Bond wholesale. The better choice depends on what your garage prioritises.
Can I migrate from Garage Hive to Garegi?
Yes. Garegi offers free data migration where your existing data is compatible. Get in touch to discuss what transfers.
Still deciding? See Garegi in action.
Book a demo and ask us anything. We'll be upfront about where we fit and where we don't.