Side Wrench vs GarageVault
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Side Wrench
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Transform your auto repair business with Side Wrench - the complete shop management solution designed for mobile mechanics, technicians, and small garage owners. WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT Create detailed work orders with customer information, vehicle details, and automatic work order numbering. Track every job from estimate to completion with customizable status tracking. Scan VIN barcodes for quick vehicle identification. REPAIR TRACKING Document every repair with detailed descriptions, labor hours, and parts lists. Track multiple repairs per vehicle with individual cost breakdowns. Use built-in timers to accurately capture labor hours and calculate actual hourly rates. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT • Financial Dashboard - Visualize revenue trends, profit margins, and top customers • Payment Tracking - Record partial payments with multiple payment methods (Cash, Check, Card) • Outstanding Balances - Track unpaid invoices and manage collections • Hourly Rate Analysis - Compare estimated vs. actual rates to optimize pricing • Professional Invoices - Generate PDF invoices with payment history • Tax Export - Export comprehensive financial data in CSV format for tax filing REAL-TIME TIMER TRACKING Never lose track of billable hours with: • Lock Screen Live Activities - See running timers without unlocking your device • Dynamic Island integration (iPhone 14 Pro and newer) • Hourly reminder notifications • App icon badge for active timers • Automatic labor cost calculations PARTS & MATERIALS Track parts with cost, markup, and quantity. Calculate profit margins automatically. Manage parts inventory across multiple repairs. Support for percentage or fixed dollar markups. PROFESSIONAL INVOICING Generate detailed PDF invoices including: • Complete vehicle and customer information • Itemized repairs with labor breakdown • Parts list with costs and markups • Payment history and outstanding balance • Shop branding and contact details BUSINESS INSIGHTS • Revenue trends with customizable time ranges • Profit margin analysis by repair and customer • Top customer identification for retention • Outstanding balance monitoring • Days outstanding tracking for collections ICLOUD SYNC (Premium) Access your data across all your devices. Automatic backup and sync keeps your business running smoothly. Work seamlessly between your iPhone and iPad. DATA EXPORT (Premium) Export financial data in CSV format for: • Tax filing (Schedule C compatible) • Quarterly estimates • Accountant review • Business loan applications • Performance analysis DESIGNED FOR PROFESSIONALS • Intuitive interface optimized for busy mechanics • Works offline - no internet required • Fast performance even with hundreds of work orders • Search and filter by customer, vehicle, date, or status • Swipe actions for quick edits and updates • Archive completed work orders FREE VERSION Get started with up to 2 work orders to try all features. PREMIUM FEATURES Unlock unlimited work orders, iCloud sync, and data export for serious shop management. Perfect for: • Independent mechanics • Small auto repair shops • Mobile mechanics • Side hustlers • Motorcycle and ATV repair • Equipment repair businesses • Truck and fleet maintenance Side Wrench helps you spend less time on paperwork and more time turning wrenches. Download now and take control of your repair business! NOW ON IPAD Full split-view layout, multiple windows, and drag & drop — optimized for larger screens! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
GarageVault
This app uses AI to identify and track your garage inventory, preventing duplicate purchases. It offers smart reminders when you're near hardware stores and allows for real-time sharing with family members. Organize tools, paint, and equipment with QR codes and smart tracking features.
- AI item identification from photos
- Automatic data extraction (brand, size, color)
- Shopping reminders near hardware stores
- Real-time family inventory sharing
- QR code generation for organization
- Low-stock threshold alerts
- Warranty and maintenance tracking
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Never buy duplicate tools again! GarageVault uses AI to track your entire garage inventory and reminds you what you need when you're shopping at hardware stores. SNAP, SCAN, ORGANIZED • Take a photo - AI identifies items instantly • No typing - extracts brand, size, color automatically • Works with tools, paint, fasteners, equipment, and more • Track quantities with simple swipe controls NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU NEED • Get alerts when you're near Home Depot, Lowe's, or your local hardware store • "You're near Lowe's - you need deck screws!" • Check inventory before shopping • Quick reorder right from the app FAMILY SHARING THAT ACTUALLY WORKS • Everyone sees what's in stock in real-time • Check if there's paint before heading to the store • No more "I didn't know we had that!" • Share with multiple households - control what you share QR CODE ORGANIZATION • Generate QR labels for toolboxes, shelves, and cabinets • Scan any container to see what's inside • Assign storage locations to every item • Find anything in seconds SMART TRACKING • Set low-stock thresholds for essentials • Track warranties and purchase dates • Schedule equipment maintenance • Log service history FREE TO START • Track up to 10 items free • Full AI identification • Photo uploads and location tracking • Test all core features PREMIUM UNLOCKS EVERYTHING • Unlimited inventory items • Full household sharing • QR code label generation • Maintenance scheduling • Store location reminders • Multiple photos per item • Advanced analytics PERFECT FOR: DIY enthusiasts, homeowners, busy families, and anyone with a garage, workshop, or storage space YOUR DATA, YOUR CONTROL • Private household data only • Secure cloud sync • No data selling - ever • You control what you share Transform your chaotic garage into a searchable, organized system in minutes. Download GarageVault now and join thousands of homeowners who never buy duplicates again! SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS: Monthly: $4.99/month Annual: $39.99/year (save 33%) • Payment charged to Apple Account at confirmation • Auto-renews unless canceled 24 hours before period ends • Manage in App Store Account Settings after purchase Privacy Policy: https://garagevault.app/privacy.html Terms of Service: https://garagevault.app/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: GarageVault at every 2 weeks against Side Wrench's monthly. GarageVault also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Side Wrench sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and GarageVault sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Side Wrench ships an update monthly, GarageVault every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.
| Parameter | Side Wrench | GarageVault |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Brent Burgin | Cass Mieczakowski |
In-app purchases
Side Wrench
- Side Wrench Monthly$9.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$69.991 Year
- Lifetime Unlock$99.99
GarageVault
- Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
- Premium Annual$39.991 Year









