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.

Rootstock Cloud ERP is a manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain software on the Salesforce Cloud Platform. The software integrates CRM and accounting with sales order management, inventory control, purchase order tracking, and standard cost accounting.

Best For:

Rootstock Cloud ERP is tailored for manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain industries. It offers specialized solutions for sectors like Aerospace, Cannabusiness, and High-Tech Electronics, ensuring comprehensive control and efficient operations.

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

Our Verdict:

We enjoyed Rootstock’s versatility on the Salesforce Cloud Platform and thought it was a prime choice for Manufacturers, Distributors, and Supply Chain organizations. Its low-code, business-driven approach lets users tailor the system effortlessly to meet their unique needs, bridging the gap between ERP and CRM.

However, if you’re focused heavily on financial reporting and accounting, Rootstock might leave you wanting more, given its weaker external financial reporting capabilities.

Pros:

Designed with inventory and manufacturing in mind
Built on Salesforce platform
Tailored customization

Cons:

Importing excel files for reporting can be troublesome
Reliance on external financial package (Financial Force)
Long process lengths requiring more steps and clicks

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

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $75/user/month
Client OS Web

Our editorial staff has reviewed and tested Fishbowl Inventory and Rootstock Cloud ERP. We’ve explored each product’s strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases, and we’re here to share our insights.

Fishbowl Inventory Overview

Fishbowl Inventory is an adaptable software solution that offers a wide array of features for inventory management. It’s a great fit for QuickBooks users seeking advanced inventory management or a light MRP system. Typically, it’s best for small to medium-sized businesses, with the median user having around 30 employees.

Our review found that Fishbowl Inventory excels in offering competitive pricing without requiring a subscription, and integrates well with QuickBooks. It can function as a light MRP system, making it a solid choice for manufacturers with FDA or USDA audit requirements for traceability. However, the software does come with a somewhat steep learning curve, and transactions do not post to QuickBooks in real time. It requires a manual or scheduled sync.

Rootstock Cloud ERP Overview

Rootstock Cloud ERP is a manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain software built on the Salesforce Cloud Platform. It integrates CRM and accounting with sales order management, inventory control, purchase order tracking, and standard cost accounting. Rootstock is well-suited for manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain industries, offering specialized solutions for sectors like aerospace, cannabusiness, and high-tech electronics.

We appreciated Rootstock’s versatility on the Salesforce Cloud Platform and its tailored customization. Its low-code, business-driven approach lets users modify the system effortlessly to meet their unique needs, bridging the gap between ERP and CRM. However, Rootstock has weaker external financial reporting capabilities.

Our Recommendation

For most businesses, Fishbowl Inventory is the more beneficial choice. Its competitive pricing, seamless integration with QuickBooks, and ability to function as a light MRP system make it a good fit for small to medium-sized businesses. It provides a robust, scalable inventory management solution that won’t put too much strain on your budget.

However, if your business operates within specific industries like aerospace or cannabusiness, or if you are looking for a software that bridges the gap between ERP and CRM, Rootstock Cloud ERP’s specialized solutions might be a better fit.

For a broader look at options, you can also check out our roundup of the best ERP software on the market.

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

Rootstock Cloud ERP

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$75/user/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted