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.

QT9 ERP is a cloud-based or on-premise software for the life sciences manufacturing sector. Key features include inventory control, accounting, and sales. QT9 ERP also provides tools for effective supply chain management and product delivery acceleration. QT9 ERP integrates directly with QT9 QMS to ensure ISO and FDA compliance.

Best For:

Organizations operating in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, medical device manufacturing, and biotech sectors. It caters to businesses of all sizes globally.

8.9

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

6.6

USER RATING

based on 22 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

10.0

USER RATING

based on 1 user reviews

Our Verdict:

QT9 ERP is great for organizations in the life sciences manufacturing sector. It successfully unifies disparate business processes, promoting efficiency, quality control, and fostering seamless collaboration across teams. The software’s real-time inventory control and extensive financial management tools make it a prime choice for businesses desiring an all-in-one ERP.

However, QT9 might be a hurdle for companies just starting out due to its complexity and the potentially steep learning curve. The lack of transparent pricing might also deter small to mid-sized businesses.

Pros:

"Hot Links" for quick navigation
History tracking of products sold
Integration with QT9 QMS

Cons:

Confusing inventory and job scheduling integration
Difficult to customize reports
Pricing requires a custom quotation

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

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Client OS Windows, Web

After demoing and reviewing by our editorial staff, we are here to break down the key differences between Fishbowl Inventory and QT9 ERP. Both solutions are solid options in their respective spaces, but they target different markets and serve different needs.

Fishbowl Inventory: Best for SMEs with QuickBooks

Fishbowl Inventory is an out-of-the-box software geared towards industries in need of inventory management tools. It’s effective for QuickBooks users that require advanced inventory management or a light MRP system. Typically, it’s best for small to medium-sized businesses, with the median business user having 30 employees.

Fishbowl offers competitive pricing and doesn’t require a subscription. One of its standout features is its seamless integration with QuickBooks. This makes it a desirable choice for businesses that already use QuickBooks and want to enhance their inventory management. However, it’s worth noting that transactions do not post to QuickBooks in real-time and require manual or scheduled sync.

However, if you’re looking for a simple inventory management system or you’re a large enterprise, Fishbowl might be an overkill. It also has a somewhat steep learning curve, which could be a deterrent for some.

QT9 ERP: Best for Life Sciences Manufacturing

QT9 ERP is a complete ERP software that helps businesses integrate data from multiple systems into one flexible and user-friendly platform. It’s tailored towards organizations operating in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, medical device manufacturing, and biotech sectors, catering to businesses of all sizes globally.

QT9 ERP’s real-time inventory control and financial management tools make it a good fit for businesses desiring an all-in-one ERP. Its “Hot Links” for quick navigation and history tracking of products sold are some of its standout features.

However, just like Fishbowl, QT9 ERP also has a steep learning curve. The confusion around its inventory and job scheduling integration and the lack of training materials could be stumbling blocks for new users. Another potential deterrent is the lack of transparent pricing, requiring a custom quotation.

Fishbowl Inventory vs QT9 ERP: Which is Better for Most Businesses?

For most businesses, Fishbowl Inventory is likely the better choice. Its competitive pricing, QuickBooks integration, and ability to function as a light MRP system make it a powerful and scalable solution that won’t break the bank.

However, for organizations in the life sciences manufacturing sector that require a unified business process, QT9 ERP is a decent choice. It promotes efficiency, quality control, and fosters seamless collaboration across teams.

For a wider array of options, you might also want to check out our roundup of the best ERP software overall.

Fishbowl Inventory

★★★★★

(22)

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

QT9 ERP