Fishbowl Inventory vs. Dynamics 365 Business Central

Written by

David Budiac

Last updated on

September 20th, 2023

Fishbowl Inventory

Dynamics 365 Business Central

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.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides finance, human resources, operations, marketing, sales, and more functionalities. It is a part of Microsoft’s suite of enterprise applications and integrates seamlessly with services like Office 365, Power BI, and Azure.

Best For:

Dynamics 365 Business Central is best suited for small companies with 10-50 employees and midsize businesses with 50-200. This cloud-based solution fits the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial services, nonprofit, and professional services industries.

8.9

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

6.7

USER RATING

based on 25 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

8.3

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

8.5

USER RATING

based on 11 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like Business Central for its user-friendly interface, product integrations, and accounting module. The platform includes audit trails, multi-currency, and multi-language support. It also automates recurring tasks like invoicing and reporting.

However, it’s probably not the best fit if your business does complex manufacturing. We suggest a dedicated manufacturing ERP system for tasks like machine monitoring and shop floor control. Finally, Microsoft doesn’t offer a free version of Dynamics 365.

Pros:

Combined ERP and CRM
Similar interface to MS Word and Outlook
Integrations with Microsoft applications
Creates quotes, orders, and invoices in Outlook
Offers same capabilities on iOS, Android, and Windows devices

Cons:

Not ideal for complex manufacturing needs
May require extensive training
No free version
Clunky third-party integrations
Tedious setup

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

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $70/user/month
Client OS Web

When it comes to business management solutions, both Fishbowl Inventory and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are reliable choices. Our editorial review staff has used and reviewed these products to provide an in-depth comparison to help you decide which one suits your business needs better.

Fishbowl Inventory Overview

Fishbowl Inventory is a versatile software solution designed for a range of industries in need of inventory management tools. It’s best suited for small to medium-sized businesses, and typically excels in a setting where the median business user has around 30 employees.

Fishbowl stands out for its competitive pricing, seamless integration with QuickBooks, and its ability to function as a light Material Requirements Planning (MRP) system. However, it does have a somewhat steep learning curve, and its transactions do not post to QuickBooks in real-time, requiring manual or scheduled sync.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Overview

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, on the other hand, is a comprehensive solution offering functionalities beyond just inventory management. This includes finance, human resources, operations, marketing, and sales.

The platform stands out for its user-friendly interface, product integrations, and strong accounting module. However, it might not be the best fit for businesses with complex manufacturing needs, and it may require extensive training for full utilization.

Fishbowl and Microsoft Dynamics 365: Which is Better for Most Businesses?

For most businesses, we recommend Fishbowl Inventory. Its focus on inventory management and integration with QuickBooks makes it a powerful yet cost-effective solution.

However, if your business needs more comprehensive functionalities beyond inventory management, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central may be a better fit.

To explore other options in this category, you can check out our roundup of the best ERP software available.

Fishbowl Inventory

★★★★★

(25)

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

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$4,395 (perpetual license)

Client OS

Windows, macOS

Deployment

Cloud or On-Premises