If you're comparing garage management systems, Garage Hive is probably on your shortlist. It's well-known in the UK, has a strong user base, and offers a comprehensive feature set. So does My Garage CRM. Both systems handle jobs, invoices, customers and scheduling. The question isn't which one "works" — both work. The question is which one fits your specific garage.
This comparison is written by us — the My Garage CRM team — so we're biased. We'll be upfront about that. But we've tried to be honest about where Garage Hive has strengths and where we believe My Garage CRM offers a better fit for certain types of workshop. You should trial both before deciding.
Feature Comparison — Side by Side
| Feature | My Garage CRM | Garage Hive |
|---|---|---|
| Digital job cards | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Bay-level diary scheduling | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Invoicing with VAT | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Customer management / CRM | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| MOT reminder automation | ✅ SMS + Email | ✅ SMS + Email |
| Service reminder automation | ✅ Multi-stage | ✅ Available |
| Parts / inventory tracking | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Purchase order management | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Online booking | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Available |
| One-tap payment links on invoices | ✅ SMS + Email | ⚠️ Varies by integration |
| Automated payment chasing | ✅ Multi-stage auto | ⚠️ Manual or basic |
| Google review automation | ✅ Auto post-job SMS | ⚠️ Available, less automated |
| Win-back / SMS campaigns | ✅ Built-in segmentation | ⚠️ Limited campaign tools |
| Technician time tracking | ✅ Auto from job cards | ✅ Included |
| Vehicle health check (digital) | ⚠️ Coming soon | ✅ Strong — VHC is a core feature |
| Tyre stock / labelling | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Detailed tyre management |
| Multi-branch / group management | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Strong multi-site support |
| Accounting integration (Xero, QB) | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Free trial (no credit card) | ✅ 28 days, self-serve | ❌ Demo-led, requires sales call |
| Setup without training | ✅ Self-serve, same day | ⚠️ Typically requires onboarding |
Pricing
Where Garage Hive Wins
There are areas where Garage Hive has a clear advantage. Being honest about these is important if this comparison is going to be useful:
Vehicle Health Checks (VHC)
Garage Hive winsGarage Hive's digital vehicle health check is one of the best in the industry. Colour-coded (red/amber/green) inspection reports with photos, customer-facing approval workflows and upsell tracking. If VHC is central to your workflow, Garage Hive has a genuine edge here.
Multi-Site / Group Management
Garage Hive winsIf you run 3+ branches and need consolidated reporting, staff management across sites, and centralised pricing — Garage Hive is built for this. My Garage CRM is designed primarily for single-site independents and small groups.
Tyre Management
Garage Hive winsDedicated tyre stock management, labelling, and tyre-specific workflow features. If tyres are a significant part of your revenue, Garage Hive's tyre handling is more mature.
Established User Community
Garage Hive winsGarage Hive has been in the market longer and has a larger user community. More garages use it, more integrations exist, and there's more third-party content and peer support available.
Where My Garage CRM Wins
Automated Payment Chasing
My Garage CRM winsMulti-stage automated payment reminders (Day 3, 7, 14) with one-tap payment links on every SMS. Reduces average days-to-payment from 22 to 9 days. This level of payment automation is a core differentiator.
SMS Marketing & Win-Back Campaigns
My Garage CRM winsBuilt-in customer segmentation, win-back campaigns to lapsed customers, seasonal promotions — all from within the CRM. No third-party SMS tool needed. Database filtering by last visit, vehicle age and service history.
Google Review Automation
My Garage CRM winsFully automated post-job SMS with direct Google review link, 24-hour delay, complaint filtering. 23% conversion rate. Set up once, runs forever — no manual "please leave us a review" at the desk.
Self-Serve Setup & Pricing Transparency
My Garage CRM winsSign up, start using it today. No sales call, no demo requirement, no contract. £139/month — published publicly. 28-day free trial with no credit card. If you want to evaluate without a sales process, My Garage CRM lets you.
Learning Curve
My Garage CRM winsDesigned for garage owners who aren't tech-savvy. The interface is deliberately simple — fewer features on each screen, clearer workflows, less configuration required. Most garages are productive within 1–2 days without formal training.
Price for Small Garages
My Garage CRM winsAt £139/month with everything included and no contract, My Garage CRM is predictable and affordable for 1–3 bay garages. Garage Hive's pricing is quote-based and typically higher — especially with onboarding costs.
Who Should Choose Which
Choose My Garage CRM if...
- You're a 1–4 bay independent garage looking for an all-in-one system at a predictable price
- Payment chasing and cash flow are your biggest pain points — you need invoices paid faster
- You want to start today without a sales call, demo or contract
- SMS marketing and customer retention matter to you — win-back campaigns, review automation, seasonal promotions
- You're migrating from paper or spreadsheets and need something simple that the team will actually use
- Budget is tight — £139/month all-in with no surprises
- You don't want training — you want to figure it out yourself in a day or two
Consider Garage Hive if...
- You run 3+ branches and need multi-site management with consolidated reporting
- Digital vehicle health checks are central to your workflow and upsell strategy
- Tyre management is a significant part of your business
- You want a guided onboarding with training, account management and dedicated support
- You're already using Garage Hive and it's working — switching costs may not be justified
- You're a larger operation (5+ bays) with complex workflow requirements and budget to match
- You value a large user community and established ecosystem of integrations
The Honest Summary
Garage Hive is a strong, established product with features that My Garage CRM doesn't yet match — particularly VHC, tyre management and multi-site support. If those are your priorities, Garage Hive deserves serious consideration.
My Garage CRM is built specifically for independent garages that need three things above all: faster payments (automated chasing with payment links), customer retention (SMS campaigns, review automation, win-back) and simplicity (self-serve setup, no contract, clear pricing). If those are your priorities, My Garage CRM is the better fit.
The gap between the two systems on core features — job cards, scheduling, invoicing, inventory — is small. Both handle the fundamentals well. The difference is in the secondary features (where each system has strengths), the pricing model (transparent vs quote-based), and the onboarding experience (self-serve vs guided).
Switching from Garage Hive to My Garage CRM
If you're currently on Garage Hive and considering a switch, here's what the migration involves:
- Customer data: Export your customer list from Garage Hive as a CSV and import it into My Garage CRM. Names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and vehicle registrations transfer directly.
- Vehicle history: Historical job records don't transfer automatically between systems. Your Garage Hive data remains accessible in your Garage Hive account. New jobs from the switch date onwards are recorded in My Garage CRM.
- MOT dates: MOT expiry dates import with the customer/vehicle data. Automated reminders resume immediately from the imported dates.
- Timeline: Most garages complete the switch in 1–2 days. Day 1: import data and configure settings. Day 2: start using the system for live jobs. The free trial gives you 28 days to run both systems in parallel if needed.