11 Best Inventory Management Software – Comparison Guide

Note: Where possible, we have included user ratings from Trustpilot for each item in this list. Reviews on this platform consider both the software’s functionality and the reliability of the software provider’s customer support services. Where a Trustpilot profile was not available, unverified, or had fewer than 100 reviews, we have provided user ratings from trusted software review platform Capterra instead.

Unleashed is a cloud-based inventory management software that helps small–medium sized businesses reduce operational costs and take control of inventory management with fast, automated workflows. It provides a central platform for monitoring stock levels, automating inventory purchasing, and managing customer orders.

Despite a catalogue of features for B2C firms, Unleashed also caters to B2B businesses – such as manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors – with robust production planning functionality, an online B2B portal, and bulk inventory monitoring features.

Pricing: Plans start from $359/month

User ratings (Trustpilot): 4.9/5 (800+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? Yes, a 14-day free trial is available.

Why we picked it

Unleashed is a dedicated, cloud-based inventory management software that gives businesses complete control and visibility over their inventory levels, product costs, and purchase orders – from production and purchasing through to inventory control, order fulfilment, and forecasting.

It’s specifically designed to help small and mid-sized businesses manage inventory in real-time, across multiple warehouses and sales channels – helping to simplify your multichannel sales strategy.

Unleashed also has the the highest number of five-star reviews on Trustpilot. This can be attributed to an above-and-beyond approach to customer support and a comprehensive feature set that automates critical workflows to ensure total inventory accuracy.

Who it’s best for

Unleashed is best for small and mid-sized organisations and growing businesses that require scalable cloud inventory software with comprehensive customer support. Its features, pricing, and accessibility make Unleashed a good choice for B2C companies – such as retail firms, eCommerce sellers, and D2C manufacturers – as well as B2B companies in the distribution, production, and wholesale sectors.

Pros

• Real-time inventory tracking ensures stock records are always accurate and up to date.
• Unleashed integrates with over 30 popular business software applications, including Xero, QuickBooks, Shopify, Salesforce, and Amazon.
• It offers unique advanced inventory management solutions for challenging tasks, including demand forecasting, batch tracking, sales and inventory reporting, and supplier management.
• Unleashed has the top-rated customer support in the industry, with over 800 five-star reviews on Trustpilot.

Cons

• There is no free plan, although a 14-day free trial is available for new users.
• It may be unsuitable for large enterprises that require complex ERP functionality.
• Software training and implementation can take several weeks due to the extensive functionality of the system.

NetSuite is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software with advanced features for inventory management, financial management, and supply chain management. ERP inventory solutions like NetSuite offer a comprehensive alternative to ‘best-of-breed’ tech stacks, whereby various integrated solutions are replaced by a large, all-in-one business management software tool.

Pricing: Plans are priced according to number of users, platform type, and add-ons. Subscription prices are not currently available on NetSuite’s website and must be ascertained through a sales call.

User ratings (Capterra): 4.2/5 (1,500+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? No, NetSuite does not offer a free trial on its website. However, you can trial NetSuite for free through one of NetSuite’s partners, which include Techfino, RSM, and Threadgold Consulting.

Why we picked it

NetSuite’s comprehensive finance and inventory management system has been a market leader for larger enterprises for many years. Its primary benefit is that, as an ERP system, businesses can manage all of their core operations – from finance and payroll through to supply chain management – from a single location.

Who it’s best for

NetSuite is one of the best inventory management software options for medium–large enterprises, and any business that processes high volumes of sales or requires unique and/or complex inventory management capabilities.

• Looking for a more-affordable NetSuite alternative? Compare Netsuite ERP with Unleashed

Pros

• NetSuite’s functionality includes complementary key features such as warehouse management, finance management, and supply chain management.
• Users can benefit from managing all of their core operations in a single ERP platform.
• NetSuite’s parent company, Oracle, has dominated the business software space for many years and is unlikely to fall into bankruptcy in the near future.

Cons

• NetSuite is an expensive option with high subscription and implementation costs, making it an unsuitable solution for small businesses or companies with basic inventory needs.
• ERP software is not the same as a dedicated inventory system, meaning NetSuite may lack some core features for managing inventory.
• It’s a high-risk investment, with slow implementation times that can disrupt your business.

Katana, also called Katana Cloud Inventory or Katana MRP, is widely regarded as one of the top inventory management software options for small–medium manufacturing organisations. It offers extensive features for production management, including demand planning and factory floor management.

Pricing: Plans start from $199/month

User ratings (Capterra): 4.6/5 (165+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? No.

• Compare manufacturing software: Katana vs MRPeasy

Why we picked it

Katana is one of the few inventory management systems in this list that offers extensive features specifically for the manufacturing sector. For businesses that require industry-specific features like raw materials inventory tracking, production planning, and bill of materials management, Katana is widely regarded as one of the best solutions currently on the market.

Who it’s best for

Small and mid-sized businesses that manufacture goods and require inventory tracking software for controlling raw materials, components, bills of materials, and finished goods can benefit from using Katana. This includes electronics manufacturers, food and beverage firms, and furniture manufacturers.

• Considering manufacturing inventory systems? Compare Katana MRP vs Unleashed

Pros

• Katana offers essential features for streamlining manufacturing operations.
• It has an easy-to-use, intuitive user interface with visually clean dashboards.
• The subscription pricing makes it ideal for small and medium manufacturing companies.

Cons

• As an MRP system, its core inventory management features may not be as useful as other dedicated software.
• It’s unsuitable for larger enterprises, businesses with complex inventory requirements, and companies outside the manufacturing industry.
• Users have cited slow loading issues as a problem for geographic regions outside the United States.

Zoho Inventory is a basic inventory management software designed for sole proprietors, microbusinesses, and small–medium enterprises with simple inventory management needs. It offers cloud-based order fulfilment, warehousing, and reporting features. Zoho Inventory is one of the only inventory software platforms with a completely free subscription option.

Pricing: Plans start from $0/month

User ratings (Trustpilot): 4.2/5 (4,850+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? Yes, an unlimited free subscription option is available.

Why we picked it

Zoho Inventory is part of the Zoho product suite – an integrated system that allows businesses to buy and stack modules as needed for various business functions. It is also one of the only inventory management software tools that comes with a free plan. However, it’s worth mentioning that this free plan only includes one warehouse, one user, and 50 orders/month.

Who it’s best for

Zoho Inventory is a good option for small, US-based businesses with minimal inventory management needs and a small budget. Its $0/month plan makes Zoho the one of the best free inventory management software tools – particularly for companies in the ecommerce sector, as its features and integrations are most useful for online retailers.

• Need more features or integrations? The 5 Best Zoho Inventory Alternatives

Pros

• Zoho Inventory offers a free subscription plan, making it an affordable step up from traditional spreadsheet-based systems.
• As a cloud-based system, Zoho Inventory allows you to access and update inventory records in real time from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Zoho Inventory integrates with most major US-based shipping companies, including UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL Express.

Cons

• Its limited feature set may make Zoho Inventory unsuitable for medium, large, and scaling companies.
• Zoho Inventory works best as a module in the Zoho ecosystem; if you’re not already using Zoho products you may find its integration options limiting.
• There are not a lot of customisation options, making it difficult to create a bespoke dashboard based on your specific business goals.

Mintsoft is a cloud-based order management system that combines inventory management software with warehouse management and order fulfilment. It also offers unique functionality for third-party logistics (3PL) teams, enabling better client communication, cost tracking, and invoice management.

Pricing: Plans start from $205/month for ecommerce retailers and $490/month for 3PLs.

User ratings (Trustpilot): 4.5/5 (160+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? No.

Why we picked it

Most warehouse and inventory management systems are unsuitable for 3PL companies as they lack the features necessary to efficiently manage 3PL clientele. Mintsoft provides everything 3PLs need to streamline operations, while offering dozens of ecommerce platform integrations that enable online marketplace sellers to synchronise data between different sales channels.

Who it’s best for

Mintsoft is one of the best inventory management software systems for 3PL firms and ecommerce businesses that require advanced warehouse management functionality. Its robust feature set makes Mintsoft ideal for third-party logistics management, multichannel retailing, and efficiently managing warehouse inventory operations.

Pros

• Mintsoft streamlines order fulfilment processes with automated warehousing, shipping, and retail inventory features.
• It provides special features for 3PL teams and fulfilment houses that aren’t available from most inventory management software systems.
• Integrated system that allows you to unify sales, shipping, and inventory data between multiple sales channels and logistics partners.

Cons

• It may be unsuitable for certain sectors, such as manufacturing or food and beverage, as it lacks production management functionality.
• Mintsoft is primarily an order fulfilment and warehouse management solution, with a few additional features to track inventory levels.
• It does not have an integrated purchase order management system to align purchasing with real-time monitoring of inventory levels.

inFlow is one of the best inventory software options for companies that require asset management and field service solutions. It also offers integrations with over 50 logistics carriers, plus handy features for comparing carrier quotes, purchasing shipping labels, and invoicing customers.

Pricing: Plans start from $110/month

User ratings (Capterra): 4.6/5 (480+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? Yes, a free 14-day trial is available.

Why we picked it

In addition to the standard features you might expect from inventory management software, inFlow has some unique offerings. These include hardware – such as a barcode label printer and smart scanner – and specific features for B2B inventory and shipping management.

Who it’s best for

inFlow is a good inventory management software for small businesses and mid-sized companies that want to monitor inventory data, track inventory levels, and streamline shipping operations. It’s especially suited to B2B firms, as it has a B2B sales portal and manufacturing functionality.

• Comparing B2B inventory systems? The 4 Best Inventory Control Software for 2024

Pros

• inFlow offers many features some of the best inventory software tools don’t have, such as asset tracking and field service management.
• inFlow connects to over 50 carriers, helping you connect inventory with shipping.
• Its range of B2B features make it a good option for companies selling to other businesses.

Cons

• inFlow is based in North America and may be unsuitable for companies outside this region due to chat support availability and carrier options.
• Users have reported the lack of API access and integrations can be a problem for companies using multiple business software tools.
• The software can sometimes lag, making it unsuitable for customer-facing use cases.

monday.com is a comprehensive project management system that gives you a broad suite of useful tools for running your business. While its primary focus is project management, monday.com also provides features for optimising sales processes and inventory management.

Pricing: Plans start from $0

User ratings (Trustpilot): 2.8/5 (3,100+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? Yes, a free trial and a free subscription plan are available.

Why we picked it

Some companies only have a few stock-keeping units to keep track of, and don’t require the best inventory software on the market. For teams simply looking to organise their ongoing inventory and warehousing tasks, monday.com provides a clean and affordable platform that takes very little time to learn.

Who it’s best for

monday.com is an optimal inventory management solution for companies with very simple inventory tracking needs and product variety. However, its project management features make it an excellent tool for improving general productivity and complements a more-robust inventory management system, such as Unleashed or Access ERP.

Pros

• You can set up automated inventory workflows that instantly notify you of status updates affecting your inventory.
• monday.com enables you to import data from spreadsheets and convert them into smart boards for streamlined project management.
• Its clean and simple UI design makes monday.com an accessible, user-friendly option for most businesses.

Cons

• Its inventory management functionality is limited to basic inventory tracking; it lacks key features found in other software options.
• Despite being one of the best project management systems on the market, monday.com is unsuitable for complex supply chain management activities.
• Users will need to set up their inventory management system essentially from scratch, which can be time-consuming and disrupt the business.

Fishbowl is a dynamic inventory management software platform for companies using QuickBooks as their cloud accounting system. It does almost everything you would expect from a good inventory management tool, with key complementary features including a point-of-sale (POS) system and asset tracking.

Pricing: Subscription and implementation costs are not available on Fishbowl’s website and must be ascertained through a sales call.

User ratings (Capterra): 4.2/5 (925+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? Yes, a free trial is available on the Australian and UK Fishbowl websites.

Why we picked it

Fishbowl does everything the best inventory software needs to do, along with offering a bunch of nice-to-have features for growing business needs. Its managed QuickBooks integrations position the software as the perfect solution for those already using this platform.

Who it’s best for

Small–medium enterprises that rely on QuickBooks (or intend to invest in it) for cloud accounting will find Fishbowl a reliable inventory management software system for their needs. Its feature set includes POS, manufacturing, and multi warehouse management – making Fishbowl a viable option for most industries.

• Not using QuickBooks for your inventory accounting? Compare Unleashed vs Fishbowl

Pros

• Designed for QuickBooks users, with managed integrations for QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and QuickBooks Canada.
• Fishbowl offers several rare features not found in other inventory systems, such as time tracking, labour costing, and POS systems.
• Implementation package is available to ensure smooth onboarding and effective training.

Cons

• Fishbowl’s nontransparent pricing structure could be seen as a red flag and hints at hidden costs and unexpected price hikes.
• Fishbowl is not suitable for companies that don’t use QuickBooks for accounting.
• Its services and support cater to a North American market, meaning it’s less suitable for businesses based in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania.

Brightpearl is a retail operating system that helps retail businesses establish more efficient operations with automated solutions for order management, inventory management, and warehouse management. Its multichannel sales features make it an especially practical option for ecommerce brands selling through different sales mediums.

Pricing: Subscription prices are not displayed on Brightpearl’s website and must be ascertained through a sales call.

User ratings (Capterra): 4.4/5 (150+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? No.

Why we picked it

Brightpearl offers advanced automation tools for managing inventory, customer orders, and shipping across multiple online and offline sales channels. It also provides dashboards and systems for measuring retail performance and financial health.

Who it’s best for

Brightpearl is one of the best inventory management software for small–medium retailers that have (or plan to have) multiple revenue channels. Its also a good choice for businesses familiar with its parent company, Sage, and their existing suite of software solutions.

• Not sure if Brightpearl is the right inventory management software for you? Compare Unleashed vs Brightpearl

Pros

• Brightpearl integrates with a large number of ecommerce platforms including Amazon, BigCommerce, Shopify, Walmart, and eBay.
• It helps improve operational efficiency across the business, with solutions for order fulfilment, warehouse management, and customer relationship management.
• Brightpearl connects to systems that most other inventory software don’t, including Tik Tok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Cons

• Brightpearl’s lack of transparent pricing can make it difficult to avoid a sales call, and may include hidden costs and fees.
• Users report that the software’s UI can be confusing and unintuitive to use.
• Brightpearl customer support can be unreliable and unhelpful, or take too long when trying to resolve urgent issues.

Xero is cloud-based accounting software that automates key financial workflows such as invoicing, bank reconciliation, and basic inventory tracking. It integrates with a wide variety of apps to synchronise business data and minimise financial errors.

Pricing: Plans start from $15/month

User ratings (Trustpilot): 4.1/5 (6,950+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? Yes, a free 30-day trial is available.

Why we picked it

For companies stuck between spreadsheets and inventory management software, a cloud accounting system with inventory tracking features like Xero can be the perfect fit. It offers more automation and accuracy than spreadsheet-based systems, while automatically syncing inventory levels with your financial records.

Who it’s best for

Xero is a perfect tool for small–medium retailers selling finished products and carrying low volumes of on-hand inventory. It works best when paired with cloud-based inventory management software, enabling a single source of truth for all your stock, sales, and financial data.

Pros

• Useful inventory reporting features make it easy to identify best- and worst-selling items and make informed business decisions.
• The Xero App Store offers hundreds of software integrations that enable you to synchronise inventory and accounting with a custom app stack.
• Its ultra-clean, easy-to-use interface provides a simple way of automating and centralising key workflows.

Cons

• Inventory tracking is limited to 4,000 finished items, and cannot track raw materials or work-in-process inventory.
• As an accounting system, it lacks important inventory management features such as barcode scanner integration and inventory optimisation.
• Xero doesn’t allow you to track unfinished assemblies or raw materials, making it a poor choice for manufacturers and food and beverage producers.

Cin7 styles itself as a ‘connected inventory performance’ platform – which is just a fancy way of saying cloud inventory management software. In 2021, Cin7 acquired popular inventory platforms DEAR Systems and Orderhive, which have since been partially integrated into Cin7’s software offering.

Pricing: Plans start from $349/month

User ratings (Trustpilot): 2.4/5 (295+ reviews)

Is there a free trial? Yes, a free 14-day trial is available.

Why we picked it

Although Cin7 has received a lot of negative feedback in recent years, due to its substandard levels of customer support, the software itself is one of the best inventory management platforms on the market. It provides extensive features for tracking stock, selling, and managing production.

Who it’s best for

Cin7 is best for small–medium software companies that require very little software training and implementation assistance. If you’re comfortable using business management tools without relying customer support and onboarding guidance, it could be a good solution for your business.

• Need a system that comes with reliable customer support? Compare Unleashed vs Cin7

Pros

• Cin7 offers a broad suite of tools for optimising inventory management, manufacturing, and purchasing.
• As an acquisition company, Cin7 combines some of the best features from multiple inventory management software systems.
• Specialty features include point-of-sale, a B2B portal, and job costing.

Cons

• According to hundreds of Cin7 reviews across multiple online review sites, Cin7’s level of customer support has almost ceased to exist.
• These reviews also speak about unjustified price hikes and critical software bugs that disrupt business as usual.
• The combination of frequent bugs and slow or nonexistent support can destroy operational efficiency and result in unhappy staff and customers.

Manually tracking your inventory is time-consuming and prone to error. Inventory management software creates a streamlined system for the business to track stock levels and fulfilment progress.

It can help you automatically restock required inventory, forecast future order needs, and create detailed reports to support data-driven business decisions.

When shopping for inventory software, first answer the following questions:

• What’s your budget?
• Do you require a system that can scale with you?
• What are the main pain points you need the software to solve?
• Which features are essential for solving these problems?
• Can you trust the software provider?
• How well does it integrate with your existing business systems?
• What levels of customer support does the software provider offer?

Remember – inventory management software is a big investment that can take a long time to implement. Consider additional costs, such as implementation and training, when creating your software budget.

To learn more about this, check out our guide: 10 Obvious Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Inventory System