Autera vs GDS

The GDS alternative
with no setup fee.

GDS (Garage Data Systems) is a UK workshop system with HaynesPro technical data, GaragePay terminals, and NAPA parts ordering. Autera covers the same working day and adds a free plan, self-serve signup in minutes, native iOS and Android apps, and no setup charge.

Autera is best for garages who want to start today, on their own, free, with native phone apps and no upfront cost.

GDS is best for workshops that want HaynesPro repair data inside the job card, NAPA parts ordering, and GaragePay terminals with built-in reconciliation.

Start free. No card.Book a demo

✓Already on GDS? Free migration included →

FEATURE COMPARISON

Side-by-side comparison

What each company charges to start

The cost to get going, as listed by each company

GDS Express

£149/month + £350 setup

Their entry package. The Managed tier is £249/month + £450 setup. VRM lookups, SMS and HaynesPro lookups cost extra credits. VAT treatment not stated.

Autera Starter

£29/month, no setup fee

Unlimited mechanics and office logins, unlimited jobs, invoices and quotes, native iOS and Android apps, and Xero, QuickBooks and Sage sync. Free Solo plan below it.

10 clear winsAutera leads on 10 features GDS doesn’t match

Feature	Autera	GDS
Free planWINAutera Solo is free with no time limit. GDS does not list a free plan or a free trial on their site.	Solo, free forever
Free trialWINNo free trial is mentioned on gds.co.uk. GDS offers a demo booked through their team.	Free plan instead	Not listed
Sign yourself upWINGDS signup routes are Book a Demo, Book a Callback, or calling 01482 330735. Autera signup creates your account immediately.	Yes, in minutes, no card	Book a demo or call
Setup feeWINGDS lists setup charges of £350 for Workshop Manager Express and £450 for Managed. The Commercial Vehicle Manager setup is £1,500. Autera has no setup fee on any plan.	None	£350 (Express) or £450+ (Managed)
Entry priceWINGDS Workshop Manager Express starts at £149/month. Whether that includes VAT is not stated. Autera Starter is £29/month.	£29/month	From £149/month
Price for a workshop teamWINGDS Workshop Manager Managed is from £249/month. Autera Workshop is £79/month with unlimited users.	£79/month	From £249/month (Managed)
User pricingGDS does not publish user limits or per-user pricing on their site. Autera includes unlimited mechanics and office logins on every paid plan.	Unlimited, included	Not stated
Native iPhone and Android appWINAs at October 2026, no GDS page mentions a native iOS or Android app. Their site says the system works from desktop, tablet or mobile. Autera ships native apps on every plan.		Not listed
HaynesPro technical dataGDS integrates HaynesPro for repair times, service schedules, wiring diagrams and technical data inside the job card. Autera does not have HaynesPro integration.
NAPA parts orderingGDS integrates NAPA Auto Parts for search, quote and order. Autera tracks parts against jobs but supplier ordering is on the roadmap.	Roadmap
GaragePay terminalsGDS has GaragePay built in: pay-by-link, virtual terminal and card terminals with reconciliation. Autera uses Stripe for online payments and bank transfer for the rest.	Stripe + bank transfer
Live UK DVLA reg lookup		VRM lookup (paid credits)
Quote, job card, invoice and payment in one tool
Vehicle health checks with photos
MOT and service reminders	Workshop+
Xero, QuickBooks and Sage syncBoth sync with Xero, QuickBooks and Sage.	Starter+
Online bookingWINGDS lists their Connect online booking feature as "Coming Soon". Autera has public booking pages live today.		Coming soon
Data migrationWINGDS does not publish migration pricing. Autera migrates your data free on any plan.	Free, usually within one working day	Not stated

Comparison reviewed October 2026. Pricing and feature sets change frequently, check gds.co.uk for the latest from GDS.

WHY AUTERA

Why UK garages choose Autera

Five times less per month

Autera Starter is £29/month. GDS Express starts at £149/month, and they charge a £350 setup fee on top.

Start today, on your own

Sign up and raise a job in minutes. No form, no callback, no demo booking. GDS requires a demo or a phone call before you start.

Native apps for the team

Autera ships native iOS and Android apps on every plan, down to free. No GDS page mentions a mobile app.

No per-lookup charges

DVLA lookups are included in your Autera plan. GDS charges VRM lookups and SMS as paid credits.

Online booking, live today

Every Autera workshop gets a public booking page. GDS lists their booking feature as coming soon.

Free data migration

Send whatever you have. We load your customers, vehicles, job history and staff free, usually within one working day.

QUESTIONS

Common questions

Is Autera cheaper than GDS?

Significantly. Autera Starter is £29/month with no setup fee. GDS Express starts at £149/month plus a £350 setup charge. And Autera Solo is free with no time limit.

Does GDS have a mobile app?

Not that we could find. As at October 2026, no page on gds.co.uk mentions a native iOS or Android app. Their system works from desktop, tablet or mobile browser. Autera has native apps on every plan. Check their site yourself, because sites change.

Can I try GDS without talking to anyone?

Not currently. GDS requires a demo booking, a callback or a phone call. No free trial or self-serve signup is listed on their site. Autera signup creates your account immediately and asks for no card.

What does GDS do better than Autera?

HaynesPro technical data (repair times, service schedules, wiring diagrams) is built into the job card. NAPA parts ordering lets the team search, quote and order from the same screen. GaragePay gives card terminal reconciliation inside the system. If technical data and integrated parts ordering are central to your workflow, they are worth your time.

Does GDS charge per user?

Their site does not state user limits or per-user pricing. Autera includes unlimited mechanics and office logins on every paid plan.

How do I move from GDS to Autera?

Export what you can, in whatever format it comes out in. We load your customers, vehicles, job history and staff free, usually within one working day. No fee, on any plan.

Comparing other UK garage software too?

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Or explore Autera by feature:

Garage management software MOT reminders Invoicing Vehicle health checks

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