Coast vs. the alternatives.
Quick comparison. The full pitch is on the rest of the site.
| Coast | DealerSocket | VinSolutions | ProMax | SimpSocial | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $699–$2,499 | $750–$3,000+ | $1,500–$3,000 | $800–$2,000 | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Published pricing | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Setup fees | $0 | $1,500+ | $1,000+ | $500+ | $500+ |
| Annual contract required | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile-first | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI message drafting | ✓ | add-on | add-on | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI daily briefing | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Document signing | ✓ | add-on | add-on | limited | ✗ |
| Replaces your DMS | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bookkeeper P&L view | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Receipt-to-VIN capture | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bank & floor plan integration | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Customer merge + audit | ✓ | limited | ✓ | limited | ✗ |
| Referral & cashback management | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Built by a working sales rep | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Quick takes
The honest version.
Coast vs. DealerSocket
DealerSocket has gone downhill since Solera bought them in 2021. Support tickets sit open for months. Reviewers complain about a slow, cluttered interface. Coast does what DealerSocket does, with modern software and a company that responds to support tickets. At half the price.
Coast vs. VinSolutions
VinSolutions makes sense if you're already running the Cox Automotive stack. Otherwise you're paying a premium for ecosystem integrations you don't use. Coast costs less, runs better on mobile, and includes DMS functionality VinSolutions charges separately for.
Coast vs. ProMax
ProMax wins if 50%+ of your sales are BHPH or deep subprime. Their credit-driven workflow is built for that. For every other dealership, ProMax feels like 2008 — and you’re paying $1,000+ a month for that experience.
Coast vs. SimpSocial
SimpSocial has the basics — texting, dialing, notes. It doesn’t have document signing. No DMS. No bookkeeper view. No referral management. Coast does all of that plus everything SimpSocial does.