Autera vs Garage Assistant

The Garage Assistant alternative
cloud-native, no desktop install.

Garage Assistant (from SWS Solutions, including the modern GA4 product) is a long-established UK garage system with a strong parts catalogue. Autera is a cloud-native, mobile-first alternative for garages that want to run their workshop from a tablet, not a desktop PC.

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FEATURE COMPARISON

Side-by-side comparison

17 clear winsAutera leads on 17 features Garage Assistant doesn’t match
FeatureAuteraGarage Assistant
Free planWIN
Public, transparent pricing onlineWIN
Pricing modelWINGarage Assistant pricing is quote-based and varies by modules.Per workshop, monthlyQuote-based
Starting priceWIN£29 / monthQuote-based
Annual discountWIN~20% offQuote-based
No long-term contractWINCancel any month. Garage Assistant typically requires annual commit + setup project.
Cloud-native (no install)WINGA4 cloud version available
Native iPad appWINBrowser-based
Native Android tablet appWINBrowser-based
Designed phone-first for techniciansWIN
Setup time to first jobWINUnder 30 minutesOnboarding required
Mobile camera direct photo upload to jobStarter+Limited
Live UK DVLA reg lookup
Quote → invoice → online payment
Stripe online payments built-inWINAvailable
ADAS calibration certificates (PAS 1880)WINWorkshop+Add-on / not standard
MOT reminder workflowWorkshop+
Branded invoices and PDFsStarter+
Photo filing to jobStarter+Limited
Customer quote-acceptance & pay-by-link portalLimited
CSV import for customers + vehiclesWINPaid migration
Xero / QuickBooks syncStarter+Available
Parts catalogue integrationGarage Assistant has a long history of strong parts catalogues.Roadmap
Best fitCloud-native, mobile-first independentsEstablished workshops with desktop workflows

Comparison reviewed May 2026. Pricing and feature sets change frequently, check sws-solutions.co.uk for the latest from Garage Assistant.

WHY AUTERA

Why UK garages choose Autera

Cloud-first, not desktop-first

Autera was designed cloud-native from day one. No desktop install, no Windows-only modules, no IT support required. Your tablet, your phone, or any browser is enough.

Built for the shop floor

Technicians work on phones and tablets, not desktop PCs in the office. Autera reflects that: the primary interface is touch-first with reception desk and management on the same data via web.

Public, transparent pricing

Pick a plan from £29 to £149 per month, see exactly what is included, sign up online. No quote process, no salesperson, no contract negotiation.

Live in 30 minutes

No implementation project, no onboarding fees. The setup wizard walks you through your first job. Most UK garages are fully operational within half an hour.

ADAS certificates built in

PAS 1880-compliant ADAS calibration certificates are included on the £79 Workshop plan, with technician IMI numbers captured on each cert and emailed to the customer.

Free Solo plan

Solo mechanics use Autera Solo free forever, no card. Try the full product on real customers before deciding whether to upgrade.

QUESTIONS

Common questions

Yes for customers and vehicles via CSV export from Garage Assistant into Autera’s import wizard. Job history is harder to migrate cleanly; most garages keep Garage Assistant read-only for a month and start new jobs on Autera.

No. Autera is fully cloud-native, with no Windows install, no server, no IT setup. Sign up, open it in a browser or download the iPad/Android app, you’re working. Garage Assistant has a cloud version (GA4) too, but the classic product still requires a desktop install.

Garage Assistant is quote-based by module. Autera is publicly priced: Solo £0, Starter £29, Workshop £79, Multi-Bay £149 per month. You see the full feature list and the price before signing up.

Not yet. Garage Assistant has a long-established parts catalogue, which is a real strength of theirs. Autera’s UK parts factor integration is on the 2026 roadmap. For now, parts are entered manually or imported from supplier quotes.

Both. Independent garages running for 20+ years use Autera on the Workshop plan to replace older desktop systems. The migration takes about a week of parallel running. For multi-site dealer-group setups, Garage Assistant’s modular approach may fit better.

Yes. Solo plan is free forever (real customers, real jobs, no card). Paid plans have a 14-day free trial, also no card. Most garages run Autera in parallel with their existing system for two weeks before fully cutting over.

Comparing other UK garage software too?

vs ServiceM8vs Garage Hivevs MAM Autoworkvs LaunchControl

Or explore Autera by feature:

Garage management softwareMOT remindersInvoicingVehicle health checks
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