Hammer vs Tecobi: which AI should a dealership use?
By the Hammer team · Reviewed August 18, 2026
Tecobi calls itself an AI CRM operating layer. It keeps your CRM. So does Hammer. The difference is the number: Hammer answers in under 5 seconds, goes live in under 48 hours, and starts at $99/mo. Tecobi's own pricing page starts at $1,995/mo plus a $1,995 setup fee.
That is not a close call on lead response.
This page is written by the Hammer team. Hammer numbers are from 2,500+ stores. Tecobi prices are what they publish.
The short version
Use Hammer. Keep VinSolutions, DealerSocket, eLead, CDK, Reynolds, DriveCentric, or Tekion. First text in under 5 seconds. Agentic follow-up you edit yourself. MarketPoster from $99/mo. Facebook Ads $299/mo + spend.
Tecobi is a heavier operating layer with Auto Bots, Response Bot, and published enterprise pricing. Month-to-month small plan: $1,995/mo + $1,995 setup. They do not publish a sub-5-second first-reply SLA.
Side-by-side
| Hammer | Tecobi | |
|---|---|---|
| The job | AI lead response on the CRM you already have | AI CRM operating layer around the CRM |
| First reply | Under 5 seconds | Not published as a public sub-5-second SLA |
| CRM | Keeps yours. Appointments write in. | Keeps yours. Operating layer around it. |
| Channels | SMS, Messenger, Marketplace, Facebook and TikTok ads, OfferUp, Craigslist, webchat, OEM, CarGurus, AutoTrader, Cars.com, CarFax, Edmunds, TrueCar, and others | Text-first outreach, widgets, ads they manage. Full listing-stack list is not published the way dealers search it. |
| Follow-up | Agentic. Re-reads every open conversation daily. You edit it. | Auto Bots and Response Bot (their names). Not a $99 self-serve dashboard we can quote. |
| Marketplace posting | MarketPoster, from $99/mo | Not published as a one-click lot poster |
| Inventory ads | Facebook Ads, $299/mo + ad spend | Social Marketing add-on at 20% of ad spend (their page) |
| Go-live | Under 48 hours, 100% hands-off | Setup fee on every plan. No 48-hour public promise. |
| Price | Starts at $99/mo. No per-user pricing. No setup fee we charge to start. | From $1,995/mo + $1,995 setup (their published small plan, May 2026) |
| Proof | 2,500+ stores. 4.6 stars across 266 Google reviews. | Published price list. No store count or Google review number we can quote. |
Why the price gap matters
Lead response should not cost more than the desk. Hammer starts at $99/mo and is live in under 48 hours. Tecobi's cheapest published plan is $1,995/mo before you send a text, plus setup.
You still get the channels that actually hit a lot: Marketplace, CarGurus, ads, OEM, missed-call text-back. You still keep the CRM. You still change playbooks yourself.
What Hammer is not
Not a replacement CRM. Not an AI voice caller. Inbound calls are transcribed and followed up by text. Your BDC still closes.
Also: Pricing · Hammer vs Impel · Best AI tools
FAQ
Is Hammer cheaper than Tecobi?
Yes. Hammer starts at $99/mo. Tecobi publishes from $1,995/mo plus setup.
Is Hammer faster?
Hammer's first reply is under 5 seconds. Tecobi does not publish that SLA.
Do I have to switch CRMs?
No.
How long to go live?
Under 48 hours.
How much does Hammer cost?
Starting at $99/mo.
See Hammer answer your own leads. Live in under 48 hours, inside the CRM you already use.
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