Software Connect logo Software Connect logo
Best-in-Class Software Reviews Research
9.0
Editor’s Rating:
Best Overall
MRPEasy
  • User-friendly interface
  • Fully-integrated system
  • Affordable pricing
8.2
Editor’s Rating:
Runner-Up
Fishbowl
  • Real-time inventory tracking
  • Improved production planning
  • Enhanced reporting and analytics
7.9
Editor’s Rating:
Also Great
JobBOSS
  • Enhanced job costing
  • Collaboration tools
  • Scalability

We recommend the best products through our own independent review process.

MRP enables manufacturers to take greater control over the manufacturing process and overall business processes. But for manufacturers looking to purchase, integrate, and deal with the implementation their first set of MRP tools or upgrade an existing software package, choosing the right solution can seem overwhelming.

We've evaluated a handful of options on the market, and have deemed that the best options will provide master production scheduling, plan purchasing, and forecast demand. After researching and comparing 20+ options, here are our top picks for the best MRP software.

1 MRPEasy

MRPEasy helps small and medium-sized manufacturers streamline their production processes. It offers features such as:

  • Production planning with automatic scheduling and dynamic rescheduling
  • Inventory management with stock movements, batch and serial number tracking, and optimized stock levels
  • CRM for sales management including product cost calculation, quotation and invoice preparation, and end-to-end sales process tracking
  • Real-time shop floor reporting and overview of human resource availability
  • Purchasing management with pre-filled purchase orders and supply chain statistics
  • Accounting with real-time monitoring of cash flow, balance sheet, and profitability.

MRPEasy stands out as one of the best MRP software options due to its affordability, ease of use, and comprehensive functionality. Its integrated system allows manufacturers to manage all aspects of production in one place, reducing the need for multiple software solutions. Additionally, its cloud-based platform allows for remote access, making it a flexible and convenient solution for manufacturer

Runner-Up:
Fishbowl
★★★★★
★★★★★
(9)

Production Schedule
Sales Management
Costs and Prices of Customer Order
Book Goods For Customer Order
Inventory Shipments
Inventory Items
Manufacturing Orders Dashboard
Gantt Chart
Create a Manufacturing Order
Home
What We Like
User-friendly interface
Fully-integrated system
Affordable pricing
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: $49/user/month
Client OS: Web

2 Fishbowl

Fishbowl is a manufacturing and material requirements planning (MRP) software that provides a comprehensive solution for managing inventory, production, and sales for small to mid-sized businesses. It offers features such as inventory management, manufacturing management, and order management, all in a user-friendly interface.

Fishbowl stands out as a great choice for manufacturing and material requirements planning due to its extensive functionality and ability to integrate with popular accounting software such as QuickBooks. Its inventory management capabilities allow businesses to keep track of inventory levels, set reorder points, and manage multiple warehouses. Its manufacturing management features include bill of materials (BOM) management, work orders, and custom manufacturing options. Fishbowl's order management features enable businesses to manage sales orders, purchase orders, and shipping orders.

Overall, Fishbowl is a great choice for businesses looking for a comprehensive MRP software that can streamline their inventory management, production, and sales processes. Its integration with popular accounting software and user-friendly interface make it a top choice for small to mid-sized businesses.

Runner-Up:
Fishbowl
★★★★★
★★★★★
(20)

Calendar
Dashboard
Part List
Purchase Orders & Sales Orders
What We Like
Real-time inventory tracking
Improved production planning
Enhanced reporting and analytics
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Starting Price: $4,395 (perpetual license)
Client OS: Mac, Windows

3 JobBOSS

JobBOSS is a good fit for manufacturing businesses looking to effectively manage their inventory and production processes. This is accomplished through the material requirements planning, streamlined production processes, and robust inventory management modules.

  • Demand: Helps manufacturers forecast demand, plan their production schedules, and manage inventory levels. This feature ensures that businesses have the right materials available when they need them, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
  • Production: Streamlines their production processes by providing tools for job scheduling, workflow management, and machine tracking. This feature allows manufacturers to optimize their production processes, improve quality control, and reduce lead times.
  • Inventory: Includes real-time inventory tracking, automated reordering, and barcode scanning. This feature allows manufacturers to manage their inventory levels effectively, reducing stockouts and minimizing the costs associated with carrying excess inventory.
  • Reporting: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) and make data-driven decisions. This feature helps businesses identify areas for improvement, such as reducing waste, improving productivity, and optimizing inventory levels.
Also Great:
JobBOSS
★★★★★
★★★★★
(14)

Scheduling
Read Only Feature
Ordering
Order Breakdown
Modifiable Dashboard
Dashboard
Adjustable Scheduling Dashboard
What We Like
Enhanced job costing
Collaboration tools
Scalability
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Starting Price: $4,995 (perpetual license)
Client OS: Web, Windows

This guide will offer information on the following topics:

What Is MRP Software?

Manufacturing resource planning (MRP), also known as material requirements planning systems or MRP II software, helps streamline the manufacturing process through production planning, scheduling, and inventory control. Known as a leading type of manufacturing software, MRP systems allow manufacturers to plan and calculate material requirements, coordinate personnel and machine workloads, and optimally plan purchasing to meet customer demands.

MRP also aids in inventory and production schedules to produce products and complete manufacturing jobs. An MRP system determines which assemblies must be built, what materials must be purchased, and the order in which to build products to meet customer due dates.

MRP software can work for all types of companies in the manufacturing industry, including in make to order, engineer to order, and a discrete manufacturing process.

Most Common MRP Software Functionalities

The functions of an MRP platform enable manufacturers to manage, coordinate, streamline, and account for all steps of the production process and overall increase productivity and efficiency. Here are some of the most common functionalities included in MRP:

Functionality Definition
Master production scheduling MRP enables manufacturers to create a highly detailed master production schedule that accounts for resource, staffing, and inventory needs in order to complete and optimize production.
Purchasing planning With the master production schedule, manufacturers can accurately estimate the amount of components and raw materials they must purchase to complete manufacturing projects.
Demand forecasting Manufacturers use MRP to forecast the demand for inventory. This includes inventory items based on independent demand (such as finished products) and dependent demand (components required in order to build products). Inventory reservation and availability management: To ensure proper resources are available for production, MRP allows manufacturers to check all available resources and reserve inventory to carry out specific tasks.
Shop floor control For an overview of the work in process, shop floor control helps track, schedule, prioritize, evaluate, and report on the status of materials and production.
Equipment maintenance scheduling MRP helps prevent downtime by scheduling, organizing, and tracking preventive and critical equipment maintenance tasks.
Production cost reporting Throughout the manufacturing process, MRP can produce accurate and detailed primary and secondary cost reports that can account for labor, overhead, storage, waste, and other manufacturing expenditures.

Best MRP Software Products

MRP systems can be highly specific to an organization's size, scale of manufacturing, or industry. Because every manufacturing operation is different, there's no one-size-fits-all solution; instead, there are dozens of great MRP products available to help manufacturers meet their specific needs.

An example of an MRP software is MRPEasy, a software-as-a-service production planning and warehouse management tool popular among small and medium-sized organizations. The main goal of this solution as well as other MRP options is "What is the actual production cost, and when will the order be ready?"

Fishbowl Manufacturing showing it's material section for MRP software functionality

Fishbowl Inventory is a more complete solution that offers warehouse and manufacturing capabilities to it's users. It markets itself as a manufacturing-focused version of an ERP, including bill of materials, inventory control, shop floor control, and more.

What About Existing ERP Solutions?

Your company may already be using a solution such as Microsoft Dynamics GP or Sage 100 ERP. These complete ERP solutions are more industry-neutral, and thus can work with a large number of industries. However, ERP vendors offer specialized services that can help implement the solution into a manufacturing environment, or perhaps include an add-on they've developed themselves that provides a more focused MRP approach then the base package allows.

MRP Software Trends

Two noticeable trends have emerged in MRP: the evolution from MRP I to MRP II, and the evolution from MRP II to ERP. The major differences among MRP I, MRP II, and ERP come from technological advances that have led to systems that offer greater functionality and control.

What's the Difference Between MRP I and MRP II?

MRP I is named for the first sets of manufacturing resource planning software tools originally developed in the 1970s and 1980s. Limited by the technology at the time, MRP I software offered basic accounting for master production scheduling, inventory tracking, and the Bill of Materials.

MRP II developed out of the need to link MRP I software to inventory management software and accounting software. Far more capable than MRP I, MRP II adds the ability for manufacturers to oversee the actions of the shop floor, forecast demand, and carry out robust cost reporting.

Learn more about the difference between MRP I and MRP II.

What's the Difference Between ERP Systems and an MRP?

Enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) are large suites of tools that help plan and account for the resources of an entire organization. While incorporating some of the functionality of MRP, ERP systems handle more of an organization's data management, including customer relationship management (CRM) tools, supply chain management tools, and accounting tools. ERP solutions can be fully integrated into an organization's data operations to handle most major aspects of the business. It is often utilized by large businesses.

MRP, in comparison, is a narrow but highly specialized set of tools designed specifically for manufacturing purposes. More nimble than a full ERP suite, smaller manufacturers or businesses looking for complete control over their manufacturing often select MRP to oversee their manufacturing operations.

Cloud MRP

In our latest MRP Software Buyer Trends Report, "manufacturers claimed to be very flexible in how they are willing to deploy MRP software, with nearly three-quarters (71 percent) indicating they would be open to reviewing either hosted or on-site installation options. Only 15 percent insist on a hosted solution."

Pain Points Solved By MRP Software

The MRP Software Buyer Trends Report mentioned above (published in 2018) found the following key findings:

  • Three MRP features are head-and-shoulders above the rest on manufacturers' must-have lists. More than 70% of buyers are looking for purchase planning, demand forecasting, and master production scheduling.
  • More than 65% of MRP software buyers are actually looking for a full blown ERP system that includes core accounting features. Order management is a close second.
  • MRP buyers are 45% less likely to have a preference for hosted systems.
  • 29% of MRP software buyers are replacing QuickBooks.

Over 70 percent of the manufacturers spoken with identified three features to help address common manufacturing pain points: purchase planning, demand forecasting, and master production scheduling. MRP offers specific features to alleviate each of these manufacturing pain points, making the manufacturing process more organized and transparent.

Why Are Manufacturers Choosing Software?

The five key reasons manufacturers are seeking to purchase MRP:

  • 25% wish to increase their manufacturing software functionality.
  • 23% are buying an MRP system for the first time.
  • 14% are businesses seeking to replace outdated systems.
  • 12% are pursuing the benefits of consolidating multiple MRP systems into a single package.
  • 9% have outgrown their current system.

Upgrading QuickBooks?

Products MRP Buyers are replacing

At this time there is no QuickBooks MRP. However, some manufacturers continue to use QuickBooks and QuickBooks Enterprise to handle manufacturing and accounting needs. 29% plan to replace QuickBooks with a different software solution, while 20 percent stated their next MRP system will not be replacing existing software. Whether it's standalone MRP solution or an integrated QuickBooks app like MRPEasy, there are options to consider when desiring to implement MRP into your business.

Are There Any Free MRP Software Options?

Some of the top MRP software options offer free 30-day trials of their solutions, which should give you enough time to fully evaluate an option and decide if implementation is right for you. Other times, vendors may be able to provide guided walkthroughs in the form of a webinar or a product overview video while answering any questions you have about the software.

If you are looking for a true free mrp software for small business, your best bet is to explore open-source ERP software such as Odoo, which provides manufacturing, maintenance, PLM, and quality management functionalities.

MRP Software Pricing

How much does MRP Software Cost? Some products such as Katana MRP are subscription-based, and can start at $48/month. In a subscription model, you'll need to take into account the amount of users, the level of included support, and any additional features included with your base package.

Other options may require more of an upfront investment such as E2 Shop System, which start at a one-time cost of $4,995. These solutions tend to be locally hosted and may include one-year of support included in the cost. On-going costs will include future support, and any additional services you may need for the software.

Related Software

If MRP doesn't fit your needs or you need additional software to support your manufacturing systems, more options are available. For software that can assist across all aspects of the business, including manufacturing, logistics, business intelligence, payroll, CRM, HR, and more, an ERP solution includes different operations that can be tailored to any industry. To handle specific manufacturing needs, like a manufacturing execution system (MES) or a quality management system (QMS), different types of manufacturing software also exist.

Choosing the right MRP software solution for your manufacturing operation can feel overwhelming. If you're looking to upgrade your MRP or need exploring the manufacturing software landscape, Software Connect is here to help your business determine the right software for your specific needs.

All Products

No products found
Macola Screenshot

Macola

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
Macola has provided software solutions to thousands of small and medium-sized manufacturers and distributors for over 40 years. Our solutions help organizations increase revenue, reduce costs, mitigate risk, improve operational efficiencies, and customer…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$70/user/month
Client OS
Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
ECI M1 Screenshot

ECI M1

★★★★★
★★★★★
(13)
ECI M1 is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, providing total integration and automation of jobs from quoting through invoicing. M1 is a business system designed for small-to-medium manufacturers including job shops, custom, mixed-mode and…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$5,000/month
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Epicor Kinetic Screenshot

Epicor Kinetic

★★★★★
★★★★★
(6)
Kinetic (the new name for Epicor ERP) is the cloud ERP that can help you maximize momentum and profitability. Guided by the need of today’s users, Kinetic is a global enterprise resource planning solution that delivers the choice, flexibility and agility…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$175/user/month
Client OS
Mac, Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
E2 Shop System Screenshot

E2 Shop System

★★★★★
★★★★★
(15)
The E2 Shop System enables shop owners to effectively control all aspects of shop activity, while simultaneously and effectively managing profitability. Whether it’s your front office or shop floor that you’re concerned about, the fully integrated E2 Shop…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$4,995 (perpetual license)
Client OS
Mac, Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Global Shop Solutions ERP Software Screenshot

Global Shop Solutions ERP Software

★★★★★
★★★★★
(4)
Global Shop Solutions simplifies your manufacturing. Global Shop Solutions ERP software provides the applications needed to deliver a quality part on time, every time from quote to cash and everything in between including shop management, scheduling…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Client OS
Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
xTuple Screenshot

xTuple

★★★★★
★★★★★
(4)
xTuple is The TOP ERP for Small to Mid-Sized Manufacturers and Distributors. On-Premises or in the Cloud—xTuple growth solutions power profits. xTuple understand that SMBs need an intuitive, turnkey system that saves them time and money—their Core ERP…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$175/user/month
Client OS
Mac, Windows, Linux
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) Screenshot

Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine)

★★★★★
★★★★★
(4)
Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) is the solution of choice for over 5,000 manufacturers around the world. From repetitive to engineer-to-order, Infor SyteLine enables the processes you need to accelerate production and meet customer demand more…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$25,000/user (perpetual license)
Client OS
Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
SYSPRO Screenshot

SYSPRO

★★★★★
★★★★★
(13)
SYSPRO is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed to simplify business complexity for manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO can be deployed in the cloud, on premise, or through a hybrid model, and is accessed from any device, at anytime…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$199/user/month
Client OS
Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Acumatica Cloud ERP Screenshot

Acumatica Cloud ERP

★★★★★
★★★★★
(19)
Acumatica Cloud ERP provides the best business management solution for transforming your company to thrive in the new digital economy. Through leading-edge technology, best-in-class business functionality, and customer-friendly business practices…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
SAP Business One Screenshot

SAP Business One

★★★★★
★★★★★
(10)
SAP Business One provides comprehensive business management capabilities for small and medium sized companies. This system provides integrated departmental support for finance, sales, supply chain management, production, project management, and production…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$410/user/year
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Smart Manager MOM/MES Screenshot

Smart Manager MOM/MES

★★★★★
★★★★★
(3)
Smart Manager MOM/MES provides material availability and resource utilization for fast, efficient delivery. Once you have determined what you need, you need to make it in the most efficient way while providing your customers with delivery dates they can…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$20,000 (perpetual license)
Client OS
Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Q-INMASS Screenshot
Q-Inmass is a full featured, cloud based ERP system for emerging manufacturers and distributors. They specialize in companies that find themselves in “The Gap”, which is when a company can no longer survive on QuickBooks and spreadsheets, but they don’t…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$50/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Katana Manufacturing ERP Screenshot

Katana Manufacturing ERP

★★★★★
★★★★★
(7)
Katana is a manufacturing ERP to help get inventory control over materials and products in real time. Manage orders, raw materials, finished products, production recipes, manufacturing, sales, and stock. The solution integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$99/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
MRPEasy Screenshot

MRPEasy

★★★★★
★★★★★
(9)
MRPeasy is a cloud-based and user-friendly production planning software for small manufacturers. The tool helps manage production scheduling, inventory, sales, procurement and shop-floor in one place. MRPeasy allows you to select the features plan that…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$49/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Total ETO Screenshot

Total ETO

★★★★★
★★★★★
(6)
Total ETO (formerly Questica ETO) is an ERP and MRP solution designed exclusively for Engineer To Order (ETO) and Custom Design Manufacturers. Featuring a nested BOM for each Job, Integration with CAD systems such as SolidWorks and Inventor, Consolidated…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$85/user/month
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
On-Premises
pc/MRP Screenshot

pc/MRP

★★★★★
★★★★★
(4)
This software would be most advantageous for a small to mid-sized business that wanted to run its entire operation from one software package. The very best feature of the product is its price performance ratio. It would be hard to find a package that will…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$730 (perpetual license)
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
On-Premises
Aptean Process Manufacturing ERP ProcessPro Edition Screenshot

Aptean Process Manufacturing ERP ProcessPro Edition

★★★★★
★★★★★
(19)
Aptean Process Manufacturing ERP ProcessPro Edition offers a robust ERP system with full manufacturing, inventory and financial integration—a complete system from beginning sales order entry through the manufacturing and accounting process. The software…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$100,000 (perpetual license)
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
PlanetTogether Screenshot

PlanetTogether

★★★★★
★★★★★
(1)
PlanetTogether is an advanced planning and schedule platform (APS) for manufacturers to integrate in with their existing ERP software. The software aims to better your supply chain planning through faster delivery, higher efficiency, and accelerated cash…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$250/user/month
Client OS
Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
E-Z-MRP Screenshot

E-Z-MRP

★★★★★
★★★★★
(4)
E-Z-MRP is an integrated manufacturing system that includes all the functions you need to control your manufacturing operations. E-Z-MRP” is designed for small manufacturers — from startup to $20 million. It works just as well in job shop or build to…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$4,900 (perpetual license)
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
On-Premises
Sage X3 Screenshot

Sage X3

★★★★★
★★★★★
(3)
Sage Business Cloud X3 (formerly Sage Business Cloud Enterprise) is the most powerful and flexible business management solution offered by Sage. It empowers mid-sized and larger companies within the manufacturing and distribution industries with the…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$4,500/user (perpetual license)
Client OS
Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises

We searched and searched, but we couldn’t find any products in our database that match your criteria. Perhaps our team of software experts can help? They’d be happy to provide a list of free MRP software recommendations that meet your exact requirements.

Sort by 
Filter by User Rating
Filter by Price Range
Filter by Deployment
Filter by Client OS