Mitchell1 vs JRD Garage: Feature Comparison
If you run an auto shop, you've probably been paying Mitchell1 somewhere between $250-$500/month for as long as you can remember. It's the industry standard. It's also highway robbery.
I built JRD Garage because I run a shop and got tired of the monthly bleed. Here's an honest feature-by-feature comparison.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mitchell1 ProDemand | JRD Garage |
|---|---|---|
| Work Orders | Yes | Yes |
| Estimates | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Database | Yes | Yes |
| Vehicle History | Yes | Yes |
| Parts Inventory | Yes | Yes + Markup Engine |
| Technician Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Repair Information | Extensive | Not included |
| Labor Time Guides | Yes | Not included |
| OEM Wiring Diagrams | Yes | Not included |
| AI Call Scripts | No | Yes |
| SMS Notifications | Add-on ($) | Built-in |
| Works Offline | No | Yes |
| Mobile Access | Yes | Yes (any browser) |
The Honest Take
Mitchell1 has JRD Garage beat on one thing: repair information. Their library of wiring diagrams, TSBs, labor guides, and repair procedures is massive and genuinely useful for diagnostics.
If your shop relies heavily on Mitchell1's repair database, JRD Garage alone won't replace that. But here's the thing — you can get repair information from other sources (AllData, iATN, YouTube, manufacturer sites) for free or much cheaper than $300/month.
Most shops pay Mitchell1 for the repair info and barely use the shop management side. JRD Garage is for shops that want work orders, CRM, and scheduling without paying a premium for a repair database they might not need.
The Price Breakdown
| Cost | Mitchell1 | JRD Garage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | $300+/mo | $0/mo |
| Year 1 Cost | $3,600+ | $99 |
| 5-Year Cost | $18,000+ | $99 |
| Setup Fee | Varies | None |
| Cancellation Penalty | Contract terms | N/A — you own it |
| Hosting Cost | Included (in your $300) | $0 (serverless) |
THE VERDICT
If you need Mitchell1's repair database: keep Mitchell1 for the info, but consider running JRD Garage alongside it for shop management. You'll have a better CRM and scheduling system for $99.
If you don't need repair info databases: JRD Garage is a no-brainer. Same shop management features, $99 once vs $3,600/year.
Ready to stop paying rent on your shop software?
JRD Garage — $99 one-time. Work orders, CRM, parts, scheduling. No subscription.
Get JRD Garage — $99— Jay Durango, JRD Connect