Formerly known as Epicor ERP, Kinetic is renowned in manufacturing and distribution. Kinetic is a two-tier ERP software offering compliance management, planning and scheduling, supply chain management, quality assurance, and maintenance management.

Best For:

Kinetic is best for a range of business sizes, from small companies (10-50 employees) to enterprises (over 10,000 employees). It supports mixed-mode, made-to-order, engineer-to-order, and discrete manufacturing environments.

Fishbowl Inventory is an out-of-the-box software which caters to a lot of different industries in need of inventory management tools.

Best For:

Fishbowl is best for QuickBooks users that need advanced inventory management or a light MRP system. Typically best for small to medium sized businesses. Median business user has 30 employees.

8.8

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

8.9

USER RATING

based on 9 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like Kinetic’s extensive product configuration, discrete manufacturing capabilities, and customizable reporting. We also liked having the option to make limited code adjustments to the software.

Though it offers multi-company management, Kinetic is not the best option for multinational organizations with numerous product lines.

Pros:

Built for manufacturers
Collects real-time shop floor data
Built-in artificial intelligence support
Customizable and extensive reporting
Easily-integrated with applications like Excel

Cons:

Not ideal for multinational organizations
High learning curve

8.9

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

6.7

USER RATING

based on 23 user reviews

Our Verdict:

If you’re a small or midsize business on the hunt for a powerful and scalable inventory management software that won’t break the bank, Fishbowl is the way to go. We found it perfect for manufacturers with FDA or USDA audit requirements for traceability.

However, if you’re looking for a simple inventory management system to handle just a few assets, Fishbowl might be a bit too robust for your needs. And its seamless integration with QuickBooks means if you already have a full ERP solution in place, some features might end up being redundant.

Pros:

Competitive pricing; does not require a subscription
Integrates with QuickBooks
Can function as a light MRP system

Cons:

Somewhat steep learning curve
Transactions do not post to QuickBooks in realtime; manual or scheduled sync only
Customizations can lead to difficult support scenarios
Does not store quotes

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $175/user/month
Client OS Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $4,395 (perpetual license)
Client OS Windows, macOS

Our editorial review staff has spent time using, demoing, and critically reviewing both Epicor Kinetic and Fishbowl Inventory, two popular ERP and inventory management solutions. We’re here to share our insights to help you make an informed decision.

Epicor Kinetic Overview

Epicor Kinetic holds a strong position in the ERP market, particularly for manufacturing and distribution, especially in mixed-mode, made-to-order, engineer-to-order, and discrete manufacturing environments. Its range of features includes compliance management, planning and scheduling, supply chain management, quality assurance, and maintenance management.

Kinetic’s software allows for limited code adjustments, which is a valuable feature for businesses seeking customization. However, it’s not the best choice for multinational organizations with numerous product lines. It can support small companies with 10-50 employees to large enterprises with over 10,000 employees.

Fishbowl Inventory Overview

Fishbowl Inventory is a versatile inventory management software that caters to a variety of industries. This software is a great option for QuickBooks users that need advanced inventory management or a light MRP system. It’s also ideal for small to medium-sized businesses with around 30 employees. ANd if your business has FDA or USDA audit requirements for traceability, Fishbowl can help you meet these requirements.

Though Fishbowl offers competitive pricing and does not require a subscription, it may not be the best fit for businesses in need of a simple inventory management system. Moreover, while it integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks, some of its features might be redundant if you already have a full ERP solution in place.

Epicor Kinetic vs Fishbowl Inventory: Which is Better for Most Businesses?

After careful consideration, we found Fishbowl Inventory is likely a better fit for most businesses. Its competitive pricing, QuickBooks integration, and functionality as a light MRP system make it a versatile choice for a wide range of small to medium-sized businesses. It offers scalability and a powerful inventory management system.

Epicor Kinetic fits best in the manufacturing sector, particularly for businesses that require detailed product configuration and discrete manufacturing capabilities. However, its high learning curve and lack of suitability for multinational organizations may limit its appeal.

If you’re still unsure, check out our roundup of the best ERP software available to further assist in your decision-making process.

Epicor Kinetic

★★★★★

(9)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$175/user/month

Client OS

Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web

Deployment

Cloud or On-Premises

Fishbowl Inventory

★★★★★

(23)