OrbisX and Tekmetric pricing 2026 looks similar on the front page of each website. It is not. The two products price along different axes, and at certain shop sizes one is half the cost of the other. This post breaks down the actual all-in cost at four shop sizes so you can do the math for your own situation.
We have to be honest about something up front: pricing on both tools moves. We are using publicly listed rates as of Q1 2026, plus the standard add-on stack each tool ships with. If you are reading this in 2027, run the numbers fresh.
The pricing models in plain English
OrbisX prices per-shop with a base subscription that includes a fixed number of users (typically 3) and then charges per additional user beyond that. SMS is metered separately. Payment processing runs through their integrated processor with a markup over interchange.
Tekmetric prices per-shop with an unlimited-user base subscription, but the base tier is higher. Tekmetric's payment processing is via Tekmetric Payments with a similar interchange-plus model. SMS is bundled in the base subscription up to a threshold (around 2,000 messages/month), then metered.
That is the big shape. Now the actual numbers.
Shop size A: 1 to 3 users, low SMS volume
Typical for a solo-operator or two-person shop doing 80-150 cars/month.
- OrbisX: base subscription $189/month, no per-user overage at 3 users, SMS at ~$45 for typical volume. All-in: ~$234/month.
- Tekmetric: base subscription $299/month, unlimited users (overkill here), SMS bundled. All-in: ~$299/month.
OrbisX wins by about $65/month at this size. The catch: OrbisX's quote builder is less polished than Tekmetric's. If you have a senior service writer who values speed at quote time, the Tekmetric premium might be worth it.
Shop size B: 5 users, medium SMS volume
Typical for a 2-3 bay shop with two installers, one service writer, one owner, one front-desk.
- OrbisX: base $189 + 2 extra users at $35 each = $259/month, SMS ~$80. All-in: ~$339/month.
- Tekmetric: base $299/month, unlimited users, SMS bundled. All-in: ~$299/month.
Tekmetric wins by $40/month at this size. The per-user pricing on OrbisX starts to bite.
Shop size C: 10 users, high SMS volume
Typical for a 4-bay multi-tech shop or small two-location group.
- OrbisX: base $189 + 7 extra users at $35 = $434/month, SMS ~$140. All-in: ~$574/month.
- Tekmetric: base $299/month, unlimited users, SMS bundle exceeded by maybe 800 msgs = ~$24 overage. All-in: ~$323/month.
Tekmetric wins by $250/month at this size. Per-user pricing is killing OrbisX's value here.
Shop size D: 3 locations, 20+ users, integrated payments
Multi-location aftermarket group, 20+ users across locations, $400k+ monthly payment volume.
- OrbisX: base $189 × 3 locations = $567, plus 17 extra users at $35 = $595. SMS combined ~$400. All-in: ~$1,562/month software, plus payment processing markup.
- Tekmetric: base $299 × 3 locations = $897, unlimited users, SMS overage ~$120. All-in: ~$1,017/month software, plus payment processing markup.
Tekmetric wins by ~$545/month at this size before payment processing differences.
The hidden fees on each
OrbisX hidden fees: - $99 onboarding fee per location (often waived in deals) - $25/month per integration after the first two - Payment processing markup: ~0.35% over interchange - Data export fee on cancellation: $300 in some legacy contracts
Tekmetric hidden fees: - 12-month minimum contract on most plans (negotiable on volume) - Payment processing markup: ~0.30% over interchange - Custom integrations through their developer API: free if you build them yourself, $150/hr if you hire their team - Cancellation requires 30-day notice in writing
Neither product is unusually predatory — these are pretty standard SaaS terms. They are worth modeling into your decision though.
What about SalesThumb?
For context, here is how SalesThumb prices for the same four scenarios:
- Shop size A: $99/month (Starter tier), no per-user fees, SMS bundled up to 1,500/month
- Shop size B: $199/month (Pro), unlimited users, SMS bundled up to 5,000/month
- Shop size C: $349/month (Pro), unlimited users, SMS overage ~$15
- Shop size D: $299 × 3 + HQ tier $199 = $1,096/month, unlimited users across all locations, SMS bundled
We are typically the lowest-cost option at any shop size between $99 and $1,100/month. The deeper savings show up because we ship the features (Smart Pricing, photo gallery, recoat reminders) without add-on fees that OrbisX and Tekmetric typically charge separately for.
The honest take on which to pick
- Pick OrbisX if you have 1-3 users, value the lower base price, and the OrbisX quote builder gets the job done for your workflow.
- Pick Tekmetric if you have 5+ users, value unlimited-user pricing, and you want a more polished service-writer experience.
- Pick SalesThumb if you are in tint, PPF, ceramic coating, detail, or wrap and you want a tool built for the appearance protection workflow specifically.
The wrong move is to pick on brand recognition without doing the math at your actual shop size. We have seen 3-user shops paying for Tekmetric Enterprise at $499/month because someone read a review online. That is real money on the table.
Related
- How to choose tint shop management software in 2026 - Tekmetric alternatives - OrbisX alternatives - Migrate from OrbisX