Selly Automotive Alternatives: Four CRMs Compared on AI Control

Compare four Selly Automotive alternatives on DMS fit, texting and who approves AI messages, plus what to check if you also use AutoManager's DMS.

The best Selly Automotive alternative depends on whether you use AutoManager's DMS and how much of your follow-up you want AI to send without review. Selly is a CRM for independent, used and buy-here-pay-here car dealers. AutoRaptor, DealerCenter, DealerSocket and Shiftix Cloud differ most on DMS fit and AI control.

At a glance

Selly Automotive suits independent and buy-here-pay-here lots that want automated text and email follow-up, especially stores already on AutoManager's DeskManager and WebManager.
AutoRaptor suits used, independent and buy-here-pay-here dealers that want fast AI replies with a person approving every send.
DealerCenter suits independent dealers that want the CRM, DMS, websites and an AI Sales Agent from one vendor, with prices published.
DealerSocket's Independent CRM suits independent and buy-here-pay-here dealers that want texting, a native app and equity mining from a large CRM vendor.
Shiftix Cloud suits auto, RV, marine and powersports dealers that want a CRM and Unified Customer Inbox beside their DMS, with a human-controlled Aria AI Assistant.

How we compared Selly Automotive alternatives

We compared four alternatives that their vendors describe as built for dealerships and that cover lead handling and customer messaging, the core of what Selly sells. Shiftix Cloud publishes this guide and is one of the products compared.

How options were chosen: review directories such as Capterra's Selly Automotive page list DealerCenter, Carsforsale.com, AutoManager, Frazer and AutoRaptor next to Selly. We kept the CRM options aimed at independent dealers, added DealerSocket's Independent CRM, and included Shiftix Cloud. AutoManager is covered in its own section because it is part of the same group as Selly.
Evidence: each vendor's own website, read on October 19, 2026, plus trade-press reports of the 2022 Selly and AutoManager merger. Nothing was tested first-hand, and no vendor reviewed this guide.
Criteria: what the product is, who it is built for, lead handling, texting, email and video, DMS and other integrations, AI and who approves its messages, service department coverage, whether pricing is published, and who it suits.
"Not stated" means the pages we read did not cover a point. It does not mean the product lacks it.
No prices. We say only whether each vendor publishes pricing.

Our guide to used car dealer software compares DMS and CRM options for independent lots in general. This guide is narrower: it is for stores already on Selly, or shortlisting it, that want to see the alternatives side by side.

What Selly Automotive offers, according to Selly

Selly Automotive describes itself on its home page as an AI-powered automotive CRM "designed for independent, buy here, pay here (BHPH), and used car dealerships."

What it is: a CRM and marketing platform, not a DMS. Selly's About page says Selly is part of A1 Software Group Inc and AutoManager holdings.
Lead handling: lead management and deal prioritization that ranks opportunities and organizes daily tasks. The Selly products page says it "captures every lead, sends the right message, and closes deals fast."
Texting, email and video: emails, texts and calls in one platform, text campaigns to past customers, and "Smart Call Routing" to the right salesperson. A video messaging feature is not stated.
DMS and integrations: the home page claims 100+ integration partners across DMS platforms, websites, inventory systems and lead providers. The Selly integrations page names categories (inventory and ADF XML, sales data) but no partners in its text. Selly's comparison page says it is "Fully Integrated with" AutoManager's DeskManager and WebManager.
AI and who approves: the products page says Selly "automatically engages every shopper with customizable follow-up sequences," sends follow-up emails and texts "even after hours," and alerts the team "when human intervention is needed." An approval step before AI messages are sent is not stated.
Other tools: branded payment proposals and the Selly Mobile App are named on the products page. Service department features are not stated.
Pricing: not published on Selly's own site, which directs buyers to schedule a demo. Review directories such as Capterra list a starting rate; confirm any figure with Selly.
Who it suits: independent, used and buy-here-pay-here car dealers that want automated text and email follow-up. RV, marine and powersports dealers are not mentioned on the pages we read.

Selly Automotive and AutoManager: check your stack before you switch

Selly Automotive and AutoManager have been part of the same group since 2022, so a store using both should map what Selly connects to before it changes CRMs. Business Wire carried the June 2022 announcement that AutoManager Holdings Group had merged with A1 Software, Inc. (dba Selly Automotive), and Auto Remarketing reported the merger on June 22, 2022.

The AutoManager home page describes a cloud-based DMS "designed specifically for used car dealers," plus websites, marketing and an automotive CRM that integrates "with DeskManager and WebManager," shown with the Selly Automotive CRM logo. In practice, Selly is AutoManager's CRM. That matters in three ways.

Keeping AutoManager's DMS: ask any new CRM vendor to name the AutoManager connection in writing and to say what data it moves, such as customers, deals, inventory or sold dates, and in which direction.
Inventory feeds: if WebManager feeds your website and listings, confirm the new CRM can receive the same inventory so salespeople see current units in each lead.
Bundled contracts: if Selly is billed with AutoManager products, ask AutoManager what changes if you cancel the CRM only.

Among the alternatives here, the Shiftix Cloud integrations page lists AutoManager/DeskManager as an inventory feed integration. It also lists Frazer and Wayne Reaves among its DMS platforms, and says availability, data direction, permissions and setup are confirmed during implementation. AutoRaptor, DealerCenter and DealerSocket do not name AutoManager on the pages we read.

Who sends the message? AI controls in Selly and its alternatives

AI control is a clear difference between Selly Automotive and its alternatives, because some products send AI follow-up on their own while others draft messages for staff to approve. The summary below uses each vendor's own wording, read on October 19, 2026.

Selly Automotive: automatic follow-up sequences by text and email, including after hours, with alerts when a person is needed. Approval before sending is not stated.
AutoRaptor: the AI responds, qualifies buyers and books appointments, and the page lists "Human approval on every send."
DealerCenter: an AI Sales Agent "automatically replies to inbound leads via text or email within seconds" and notifies the team when a lead engages. Approval before sending is not stated.
DealerSocket Independent CRM: automated, targeted campaigns based on customers' online behavior. AI is not mentioned on the page we read.
Shiftix Cloud: the Aria AI Assistant prepares follow-up drafts "for a team member to review and approve," and is human-controlled.

Neither approach is right for every store. Automatic replies can reach an after-hours shopper sooner; approval on each send keeps a person responsible for every message. Our research summary on dealership lead response time explains how to measure which one your store needs.

AutoRaptor and Shiftix Cloud as Selly alternatives

AutoRaptor and Shiftix Cloud are CRMs that sit beside a dealer's existing DMS, as Selly does, and both state that staff approve AI messages.

AutoRaptor

What it is: a dealership CRM, not a DMS.
Built for: AutoRaptor says it "was built for used, independent, and BHPH (buy here, pay here) auto dealerships," on its used car dealership CRM page.
Lead handling: leads from the dealership's website, email and phone, with inventory management and a mobile app listed.
Texting, email and video: the AI Sales Assistant page lists text, email and chat, and says the AI can send pictures, videos and finance applications in conversations.
DMS and integrations: the AutoRaptor integrations page says it "supports DMS integrations for many dealership systems" without naming DMS providers, and lists 80+ lead source and dealership integrations configured by a specialist during onboarding.
AI and who approves: "Human approval on every send."
Service department: not stated.
Pricing: the AutoRaptor pricing page shows plans by user count with figures given on request, and notes that premium integrations may carry extra charges.
Who it suits: used, independent and buy-here-pay-here dealers that want fast AI replies with a person approving each message.

Shiftix Cloud

What it is: a Customer Operations Platform that works alongside a dealer's DMS, ERP and accounting systems. It is not a DMS. Its CRM sits beside the Unified Customer Inbox.
Built for: auto, RV, marine and powersports dealers. The Shiftix Cloud auto page names franchise stores, independent used-car lots and multi-rooftop groups.
Lead handling: condition-based routing by source, vehicle type, location or round-robin, with assignment gap monitoring, follow-up reminders, a drag-and-drop deal-stage board, and aging and stall flags.
Texting, email and video: phone, email, SMS, website forms, Facebook Messenger and live chat in one inbox, and personalized video sent by link from the CRM. STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE and similar keywords are saved and permanently honored for Shiftix-managed messaging.
DMS and integrations: the integrations page lists Frazer, Wayne Reaves, Dealertrack and other DMS platforms, lists AutoManager/DeskManager and Carsforsale.com as inventory feeds, and says availability, data direction, permissions and setup are confirmed during implementation.
AI and who approves: the Aria AI Assistant summarizes calls and prepares follow-up drafts. It is human-controlled: staff review and approve before follow-up is sent.
Service department: Improved Service Communications adds two-way SMS and email with shared conversation history for the service department, with the DMS kept as the system of record.
Pricing: published for some plans on the Shiftix Cloud pricing page, with the top plan quoted by sales. Cost depends on users, locations and communications capacity, and data cleanup or complex migrations may carry a separately scoped implementation fee agreed before work begins.
Who it suits: dealers that want CRM, messaging and human-controlled AI in one place without changing their DMS, including groups that sell RVs, boats or powersports as well as cars.

Before you book demos, it helps to know where leads slip in your current process; the Revenue Leak Audit is a complimentary, no-obligation review of lead response, follow-up and retention.

DealerCenter and DealerSocket as Selly alternatives

DealerCenter and DealerSocket's Independent CRM come from vendors that sell more than a CRM, so they suit stores open to buying more of their software from one company.

DealerCenter

What it is: a suite with a DMS, CRM, dealer websites, digital marketing, inventory, buy-here-pay-here tools, a mobile app and AI Agents, according to DealerCenter's home page.
Built for: DealerCenter says it "caters to independent auto dealers."
Lead handling: the DealerCenter CRM page describes leads from Cars.com, Autotrader, CarGurus "and 50+ others," plus Caller ID and Facebook Messenger, with duplicates removed and leads auto-assigned to reps.
Texting, email and video: bulk SMS, MMS with vehicle images, bulk email, templates, delivery tracking and read receipts. Video calls are listed through the Facebook Messenger integration.
DMS and integrations: DealerCenter sells its own DMS. The CRM page does not say how the CRM connects to another vendor's DMS.
AI and who approves: the AI Sales Agent replies automatically and runs follow-up sequences for unresponsive leads. An approval step is not stated.
Service department: "Service Bay" is listed in the DMS and app menus; CRM service features are not stated.
Pricing: published on DealerCenter's pricing page, where the DMS, CRM tiers, AI Sales Agent and websites are listed as separate products, some marked "Call For Pricing."
Who it suits: independent dealers that want one vendor for DMS, CRM and websites, and are comfortable with AI that replies automatically.

DealerSocket Independent CRM

What it is: the DealerSocket Independent CRM page calls it "a one-stop sales and marketing solution for independent and BHPH dealers."
Built for: independent and buy-here-pay-here dealers.
Lead handling: lead tracking and follow-up, and RevenueRadar equity mining that analyzes customer data for sales, service and marketing teams.
Texting, email and video: SocketTalk, described as "our fully integrated texting and internal messaging tool," plus a native mobile app. Email and video are not stated on that page.
DMS and integrations: not stated on the page we read.
AI and who approves: automated, targeted campaigns based on customers' online click behavior. AI is not stated.
Service department: not stated, beyond RevenueRadar insights for service teams.
Pricing: not published on the page we read.
Who it suits: independent and buy-here-pay-here dealers that want texting, equity mining and a mobile app from an established CRM vendor. Our DealerSocket CRM alternatives guide covers DealerSocket's wider product line.

What to carry over when you leave Selly Automotive

Leaving Selly Automotive means carrying over more than a contact list, because much of Selly's value sits in automated sequences and text campaign lists. Ask Selly in writing what you can export, and ask each new vendor what it can import, before you give notice.

Conversation history: texts, emails, call logs and notes on each customer record, so salespeople do not restart conversations cold.
Follow-up sequences: write down each automated sequence, its timing and wording before access ends, because you will rebuild them by hand.
Text campaign lists and opt-outs: export opt-out and consent records and load them into the new system before any automated text runs. Our guide to dealership text messaging covers consent and wording.
Phone numbers and call routing: ask both vendors whether the numbers customers already use can be ported, and rebuild Smart Call Routing rules in the new system.
Payment proposals: if salespeople build payment proposals in Selly, decide where that step will happen next, whether in your DMS or the new CRM.
Lead sources and AutoManager connections: re-point every lead source, send a test lead from each, and confirm the inventory feed and DMS connection by name.
Vendor security terms: the FTC's Safeguards Rule FAQ for auto dealers (June 2025) says dealers must require "service providers by contract to implement and maintain such safeguards," and should securely dispose of customer information once there is no business need to keep it.

For contract notice, cutover week and the first 30 days, the four-stage checklist in our Elead switching guide applies to any CRM change, Selly included.

Which Selly Automotive alternative should you choose?

The right Selly Automotive alternative follows from three decisions: whether you keep AutoManager, how much AI should send without review, and which vehicle types and departments the CRM must cover.

Staying on AutoManager's DMS and happy with Selly's results: the deepest AutoManager tie is Selly's own, so weigh the cost of rebuilding DeskManager and WebManager connections before you move.
Wanting one vendor for DMS, CRM and websites: compare DealerCenter, and check whether its AI Sales Agent's automatic replies fit your store.
Wanting a person to approve AI messages: compare AutoRaptor and Shiftix Cloud, and ask each to show the approval step in a demo.
Wanting equity mining for a buy-here-pay-here lot: look at DealerSocket's Independent CRM and RevenueRadar.
Selling RVs, boats or powersports as well as cars: check which vendors serve every store you run; Shiftix Cloud serves all four.
Not sure the CRM is the problem: measure first. Our missed call text-back guide and speed to lead research summary show where leads are lost before any CRM sees them.

For a wider scoring of six car dealership CRMs, read our guide to the best CRM for car dealerships.

Frequently asked questions

Is Selly Automotive a DMS?

No. Selly Automotive is a CRM and marketing platform for independent, used and buy-here-pay-here car dealers, not a dealer management system. It is part of the same group as AutoManager, which sells a DMS for used car dealers, and Selly says it is fully integrated with AutoManager's DeskManager and WebManager. Dealers on other DMS platforms should ask Selly to name their system.

Who owns Selly Automotive?

Selly Automotive is part of A1 Software Group Inc and AutoManager holdings, according to Selly's About page. AutoManager Holdings Group, backed by The Beekman Group, completed a merger with A1 Software, Inc. (dba Selly Automotive) in June 2022, as reported by Business Wire and Auto Remarketing. Selly still operates under its own name and website.

Does Selly Automotive publish its pricing?

No. Selly Automotive's own website did not show prices in October 2026 and directs buyers to schedule a demo. Review directories list a starting rate, but confirm any figure with Selly in writing. Dealership CRM cost usually depends on the number of users and rooftops, the modules chosen, texting volume and integrations.

Which systems does Selly Automotive integrate with?

Selly Automotive says it has more than 100 integration partners across DMS platforms, dealer websites, inventory systems and lead providers, and names AutoManager's DeskManager and WebManager on its comparison page. Its integrations page groups partners into inventory and ADF XML, and sales data, without naming them in text, so ask Selly to confirm your exact systems.

Find where leads slip before you switch CRMs

A new CRM fixes some problems and carries others over. The Revenue Leak Audit from Shiftix Cloud is complimentary, with no obligation and no software purchase required. It looks at lead response, follow-up, conversion, customer retention, accountability and workflow, and Shiftix walks through the findings with you, whichever CRM you choose.