Compare
Compare dealer management software, without the marketing arithmetic.
Independent dealers shortlist the same handful of dealer management systems: DealerCenter, Frazer and AutoManager among them. These pages set out what each vendor publishes about itself, from its own pages with the date we checked, beside what DealersCloud does: one quote covering the CRM, inventory, desking and F&I, accounting and the dealer website, unlimited users, no setup fee, no long-term contract, and migration at no extra cost.
Comparisons
DealersCloud and DealerCenter →
DealerCenter is a widely used dealer management system for independent and Buy Here Pay Here dealerships, sold as a set of separately priced modules.
Pricing shapePer-module subscriptions, plus pay-per-use charges
DealersCloud and Frazer →
Frazer is one of the longest-running dealer management systems for independent dealers, serving the market since 1985 at a flat published subscription.
Pricing shapeFlat published subscription
DealersCloud and AutoManager →
AutoManager is a long-standing independent-dealer software provider that sells its DMS, website and CRM as three separately priced products.
Pricing shapeThree separately priced products
DealersCloud and Wayne Reaves →
A long-running dealer management system built for independent dealerships, sold alongside its own dealer websites and digital marketing.
Pricing shapeQuoted; no list price published on the pages checked
DealersCloud and DealerSocket →
A dealership software suite for franchise and independent dealers, part of Solera, that offers its CRM, independent-dealer DMS, websites and inventory tools as named products.
Pricing shapeQuoted; no list price published on the pages checked
How these pages are written
Three rules, so you can trust the numbers.
- Every figure comes from the vendor. If a price appears on one of these pages, it is published on that company’s own site, linked, and stamped with the date we checked it.
- We do not say what anyone else lacks. A feature missing from a pricing page is not evidence it does not exist. These pages describe what each company publishes and what DealersCloud does.
- We do not compete on price. Some of these systems cost less than DealersCloud. The useful comparison is what a quote includes and how the pieces fit together, not which number is smaller.
Prices change. If you find something here that is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
Before you compare quotes
Six questions that decide what a dealer platform really costs.
Monthly prices in this category are rarely comparable as printed. One vendor’s number is a whole platform; another’s is one module of six. These are the questions that turn two quotes into the same unit of measurement - worth asking of every vendor on your shortlist, including us.
What does the headline number actually include?
Some systems price the DMS, the CRM, the accounting and the website as separate monthly modules, so a store that wants all four is adding four lines. Others bundle. Price the shopping list you will actually run, not the entry product.
Is it priced per user?
Per-seat pricing quietly penalises growth: every salesperson you hire and every lot porter who needs to look something up becomes a line item. Ask what happens to the bill when the store adds four people.
What is metered on top of the subscription?
Contracts, deal printing, credit reports, FICO scores, vehicle history and compliance checks are commonly billed per use, and book values are often separate monthly add-ons. On volume, metered charges can outweigh the subscription.
What is the contract, and what does setup cost?
A low monthly price on a long term is a different product from the same price you can leave. Ask for the term, the setup fee, and what it costs to get your data out if you leave.
Who pays for migration, and how long is the store down?
Moving inventory, customers and deal history is the real cost of switching. Ask whether migration is quoted separately, how long it takes, and what happens to the store on the day.
Is the AI included, an add-on, or a separate vendor?
This is the newest line on most quotes and the least standardised. Ask whether AI lead response and phone answering are included in the plan, priced as modules, or bought from a third party that then needs integrating.
For the record, DealersCloud’s answers: core dealer management system and dealer CRM modules are included in one quote (Buy Here Pay Here is quoted on request), users are unlimited with no per-seat licence, there is no setup fee and no long-term contract, migration is handled at no extra cost, and core AI tools are on every plan with advanced DealersAI available as premium modules. See what is included →
Questions
Frequently asked comparison questions.
- What is the best alternative to traditional dealership software like DealerCenter or Frazer?
- Independent dealerships shortlisting alternatives to multi-module dealership software typically look for unified platforms that combine DMS, CRM, inventory distribution, desking, and accounting without per-user licensing fees or fragmented module add-ons. DealersCloud provides an all-in-one architecture with unlimited users, automated inventory feeds, and native AI lead response under a single transparent quote.
- Can I use DealersCloud for Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH)?
- Yes. DealersCloud includes specialized Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) workflow support, including in-house financing structures, payment scheduling, receivables tracking, and deal desking quoted upon request.
- How long does it take to switch from another DMS to DealersCloud?
- Most independent dealerships complete onboarding and data migration in a few business days. The DealersCloud team handles the export and migration of active inventory, customer records, and deal history at no extra cost, minimizing downtime during store operations.
- Does DealersCloud require long-term contracts?
- No. DealersCloud operates on flexible agreements with no long-term contracts and no setup fees. Stores maintain full control of their dealership data with zero lock-in.
Glossary
Terms worth knowing
- Dealer management system (DMS)The core software a dealership runs its operations on: inventory, sales, deal paperwork and accounting in one system of record.
- DeskingStructuring a deal - price, trade, down payment, term and rate - into payment options a customer can choose from.
- Floor planA revolving line of credit a dealership uses to buy inventory, secured by the vehicles themselves and paid off when each unit sells.
- Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH)A dealership model where the store finances the customer itself and collects the payments, instead of selling the loan to an outside lender.
Guides
Read next
- Connecting Your Website, Inventory and CRMThree ways an independent dealer can connect the website, inventory and CRM, what breaks with each one, and the questions to ask any vendor before buying.
- Best DMS for Independent Used Car DealersA sourced look at the dealer management systems independent used car dealers compare, what each vendor publishes about itself, and the store each one fits.
- DMS Migration ChecklistA practical checklist for changing dealer management systems: what to export before you cancel, the checks that prove it landed, and what to run in parallel.
- Switching Dealer Software: What to CompareHow to compare dealer software when you already run DealerCenter, Frazer or AutoManager, and why the monthly price is the wrong place to start.
Not ready to switch?
You do not have to change systems to fix the after-hours problem.
Most dealers looking at these pages are not unhappy with their whole system - they are losing leads at night and calls at lunchtime. DealersAI runs alongside the dealer management system you already use, with no migration.