Workshop Software is an Australian workshop management platform that sells into New Zealand, the UK, the US and South Africa. It has been around since 2013, its team says it has been in automotive software since 1992, and it is a credible option for an NZ workshop. So how does it stack up against Hoist?
We’re Hoist, so read this knowing who wrote it. To keep it fair, every Workshop Software figure below comes from their own published product facts page (last updated 5 August 2026), and where we couldn’t verify something we say so rather than guess.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Workshop Software | Hoist |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Silver A$119 a month, or A$99 a month billed yearly (AUD) | $140 + GST a month |
| Extra users | A$20 per user per month | 3 users included, $10 a month per extra user |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card, no lock-in contract | 14 days, no card |
| Xero | Native, on every plan (also MYOB and QuickBooks); listed on the Xero App Store | Customers, invoices, payments and credit notes sync; invoices can land as drafts; Xero is optional |
| Mobile | Free native iOS and Android apps | Runs in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer; needs a connection |
| Parts supplier integrations | Burson EzyParts, Repco Navigator Pro, PartsTech, Parts Authority (Australian and US suppliers) | On the roadmap, not live |
| Based in | Australia (founded 2013, serves AU, NZ, UK, US and South Africa) | New Zealand |
About Workshop Software
Workshop Software describes itself as built to manage automotive, marine, truck and other workshops, from online bookings through to jobs and inventory. A few facts from their own site:
- Scale: more than 9,400 users across their markets
- Accounting: Xero, QuickBooks and MYOB are native on every plan
- Apps: free native iOS and Android apps on every plan, with an advanced app from the Gold tier
- Parts: integrations with Burson EzyParts, Repco Navigator Pro, PartsTech and Parts Authority
- Terms: 14-day free trial with full feature access, no credit card, no lock-in contract
Their site lists NZ as a priced region. We couldn’t verify the detail of NZ-specific features such as WoF reminders or rego lookup from their published material, so ask them directly if those matter to you.
Pricing, in the Same Currency
Workshop Software prices in Australian dollars. At roughly 1 AUD = 1.20 NZD (mid-market rate, 20 August 2026), their Silver plan is about NZ$143 a month billed monthly, or about NZ$119 a month billed yearly. Extra users are A$20 (about NZ$24) each per month, so check how many seats your plan includes. Your card provider may add a foreign-currency fee on top. Their page says NZ customers pay the AUD figures with no GST added.
Hoist is $140 + GST a month. Three users are included and extra users are $10 a month each.
First Year for a 3-Person Workshop
- Workshop Software (Silver, billed monthly): 12 x A$119 = A$1,428, about NZ$1,714, plus A$20 a month for each user beyond what the plan includes. Billed yearly it’s A$1,188, about NZ$1,426.
- Hoist: 12 x $140 = $1,680 + GST, with all three users included.
At the standard rate the two are in the same range, and the difference comes down to how many seats you need and how you bill. Neither number is the whole cost, which brings us to metered charges.
Metered Costs, Both Ways
Hoist charges per text message and per rego lookup on top of the monthly fee, so a workshop sending a lot of reminders should ask us for a typical month. Workshop Software publishes its add-ons: SMS from A$0.11 a message in Australia and NZ, registration lookups from A$0.39 each, and two-way SMS (so replies land on the job) from A$49 a month plus a set-up fee. Put both sets of metered charges into your comparison, not just the subscription.
Features We Can Verify for Both
| Feature | Workshop Software | Hoist |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs, customers, vehicle history, invoicing | Yes | Yes, with live margin on the job card and clock on/off per job |
| Online bookings | Yes | Yes, per service: auto-confirm or approve each booking |
| Accounting sync | Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB | Xero (customers, invoices, payments, credit notes) |
| Native mobile apps | iOS and Android | No. Browser on any device |
| Parts supplier integrations | Four named AU/US suppliers | Roadmap |
| Stock and purchasing | Inventory management | Reserve parts to jobs, purchase orders (manual or drafted from low stock), supplier bills, stocktake, price matrix |
| NZ vehicle data | Ask them | Rego lookup from official NZ vehicle records, including WoF expiry |
| Reminders | Yes | WoF, CoF and service reminders by text and email, auto or manual |
| Digital inspections | Ask them | Pass/fail/warning items, photos, PDF to the customer |
| Payments | WorkshopPay, their own integrated payments product | Card, cash, bank transfer, EFTPOS, HoistPay online pay link, Verifone terminal integration |
Where Workshop Software Is Ahead
- Native apps: if your techs want a phone app rather than a browser tab, they have one and we don’t yet
- Parts supplier links: live integrations today, though with Australian and US suppliers rather than NZ ones
- Accounting choice: MYOB and QuickBooks as well as Xero
- Track record: thirteen years in market and a large user base
Where Hoist Is Ahead
- NZ data built in: rego lookup from official NZ vehicle records, WoF and CoF reminders, GST invoices, NZ-based support
- Pricing in NZ dollars: one plan, 3 users included, no exchange rate to think about
- Job card detail: live margin as parts and labour go on, clock on/off, technician productivity reporting
- Getting started: we bring your customer and vehicle records across when you sign up
Which One Fits Your Workshop
Choose Workshop Software If
- You want native phone apps today
- You use MYOB or QuickBooks rather than Xero
- You order from one of the suppliers they integrate with
- You’d rather be on a larger, longer-established platform
Choose Hoist If
- You want NZ vehicle data and WoF reminders working from day one
- You’d rather pay in NZ dollars with 3 users included
- You want margin and tech time visible on every job card
- You’re happy working in the browser on a phone or tablet
Both offer a 14-day trial without a card, so the real test is to run your real jobs through each for a week and see which one your team keeps opening.