Open Labor Project vs ALLDATA
An honest comparison. ALLDATA is a strong product for OEM repair documentation. OLP is built for open, programmatic access and free public lookups.
One-line summary
ALLDATA is a paid subscription (~$30–$200/month depending on tier) with deep OEM TSB and wiring diagram coverage. OLP is free to view on the web, has a public developer API, and exposes confidence ratings on every data point. They're complementary for most shops.
Side-by-side
| Open Labor Project | ALLDATA | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free for end users; API from $0/mo (50/day) or $49/mo+ | Subscription, ~$30-$200+/month depending on tier |
| Web access | Open and free at openlaborproject.com | Subscription required |
| Public API | Yes — 6 endpoints, x-api-key, JSON | No public developer API |
| Data scope | Labor, torque, fluid, DTC, battery, recalls, procedures | OEM repair info, TSBs, wiring, labor, parts |
| OEM TSBs | Limited | Yes — comprehensive, current |
| OEM wiring diagrams | No (limited; not OLP's focus) | Yes — extensive coverage |
| DIY tier | All web access free | ALLDATAdiy subscription tier |
| Vehicle coverage | Thousands, 1955–present | Comprehensive 1982–present |
| Confidence transparency | Every data point labeled high/medium/low/expert | Single trust level |
| Programmatic / app integration | First-class — REST API, SDKs, webhooks (Business+) | Not designed for it |
| Best for | Indie shops, parts stores, fleets, app developers, DIY | Pro shops needing OEM TSBs + wiring; serious DIY |
When to pick OLP
- You're building an app, integration, or automation that needs labor/torque/fluid/DTC data programmatically — ALLDATA has no public API.
- You're a DIY mechanic who needs spec lookups but doesn't want a recurring subscription.
- You're a parts retailer, fleet, or independent shop who values free web access for customer-facing pages.
- You want to know exactly how confident a labor time or torque spec is — OLP labels every row.
When to stay with ALLDATA
- You need OEM Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) on every job, current and historical.
- You rely on factory wiring diagrams for diagnostics — OLP doesn't aim to replicate that.
- Your shop workflow is built around ALLDATA Repair, ALLDATA Manage, or ALLDATA Diagnostics integrations.
- You're working primarily on 2010+ model-year vehicles where ALLDATA's TSB coverage is densest.
Use both — they don't conflict
ALLDATA for your OEM TSB and wiring needs, OLP for free fast lookups, customer-facing pages, and any developer integration. Most shops we hear from end up using both.
Try OLP free at openlaborproject.com — every page is free, no signup. Or grab a free API key for development.