Head to head
TechMan vs Garage Hive: which suits your workshop?
Two of the most established UK garage management systems, built on very different pricing models. TechMan uses tiered plans with pay-per-use credits; Garage Hive charges a subscription plus Microsoft per-user licensing. Here's an honest look at both, plus where Garegi offers a simpler third option.
TechMan at a glance
TechMan offers four tiers: Partner (£99/month), Flexi (£199/month), Professional (£339/month) and Enterprise (£529/month). The Partner plan has no upfront fee, while the Flexi plan requires a one-off setup cost of around £995. Higher tiers come with training, account management and deeper integrations.
On top of the monthly fee, TechMan uses a credit system. DVLA lookups, SMS messages and Mailchimp mailshots each consume credits at set rates. A busy garage sending 200 texts and running 400 DVLA lookups a month can add £40–£80 in credit charges on top of the subscription.
TechMan's strengths include Autodata integration (from Flexi upwards), Sage and Xero accounting exports, online booking, and a well-regarded parts ordering workflow.
Garage Hive at a glance
Garage Hive is built on Microsoft Business Central, starting at £145/month. The key cost factor is the Microsoft licence: roughly £62 per user per month. For a three-person team, that adds £186/month before any other extras. Setup and onboarding fees are not published on their pricing page; on-site implementation is listed at £3,000 on Microsoft Marketplace.
In return, Garage Hive offers deep Power BI reporting, dynamic scheduling, a strong UK garage owner community, and Autodata technical data across all plans. It's a more enterprise-grade system built on a proven Microsoft foundation.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | TechMan | Garage Hive | Garegi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | £99/month (Partner) | £145/month + MS licence | £200/month flat |
| Setup fee | None (Partner); ~£995 (Flexi) | Not published; £3,000 on-site implementation on MS Marketplace | None |
| Per-user fees | None | ~£62/user/month (MS licence) | None |
| Credit charges | Yes (DVLA, SMS, mailshots) | No | No |
| Contract | 12 months (Partner); varies by tier | Monthly rolling | Monthly rolling |
| Autodata | From Flexi tier | All plans | No |
| Power BI reporting | No | Yes | No |
| Booking website | Online booking widget | Online booking widget | Full website included |
| Parts ordering | Yes | GSF | GSF + Bond |
| Accounting export | Sage, Xero | Sage, Xero, QuickBooks | Sage, Xero, QuickBooks |
| SMS | Pay-per-credit | Included | 300/month included |
| Car sales module | No | Yes | Yes (£80/month) |
| Vehicle hire module | No | No | Yes (£80/month) |
| Multi-site | Yes (Enterprise) | Yes | No |
All pricing from publicly available 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.
Where TechMan wins
TechMan's Partner plan at £99/month is the lowest entry point of the three, with no upfront fee. For a small garage that doesn't send many texts or do heavy DVLA lookups, the credit charges stay low and the total cost is competitive. The tiered structure also means garages can start small and upgrade as they grow.
Where Garage Hive wins
Garage Hive's Microsoft Business Central foundation gives it genuine enterprise-grade reporting. Power BI dashboards, the active owner community and Autodata integration on all plans make it the stronger choice for garages that prioritise data-driven management and want deep business analytics.
Where Garegi fits in
If the priority is predictable costs with nothing hidden (no credit charges, no per-user licensing, no setup fee), Garegi's flat £200/month covers the garage module, a booking website and 300 SMS messages. It doesn't match TechMan's entry price or Garage Hive's reporting depth, but it eliminates the cost surprises that both systems can produce as a workshop scales. See the full pricing breakdown.
Common questions
Is TechMan or Garage Hive cheaper?
TechMan's Partner plan starts at £99/month with no upfront fee, making it the lower headline price. Garage Hive starts at £145/month but adds a Microsoft licence of roughly £62 per user per month. First-year cost depends on team size and chosen tier.
Does TechMan have credit charges like Garage Hive?
TechMan charges per-use credits for DVLA lookups, SMS and Mailchimp mailshots. Garage Hive includes SMS in its subscription and doesn't use a credit system. The cost models are different.
Which system has better Autodata integration?
Both integrate Autodata. TechMan's integration is available from the Flexi tier (£199/month); Garage Hive includes it across all plans.
Is there a simpler alternative to both?
Garegi offers a flat £200/month with no credit charges, no per-user fees, no setup cost and a booking website included. It suits garages that want predictable costs without managing credits or Microsoft licences.
Want to compare all three in practice?
Book a demo and bring your TechMan or Garage Hive questions. We'll be honest about where Garegi fits.