9.8
Editor’s Rating:
Best Overall
inFlow Inventory: Product Details
inFlow Inventory
  • Audit trails that highlight abnormal behaviors
  • Base package includes sales and purchasing
  • Unlimited user accounts to track transaction processing
8.9
Editor’s Rating:
Best for Manufacturers
Fishbowl Inventory: Dashboard
Fishbowl Inventory
  • Competitive pricing; does not require a subscription
  • Integrates with QuickBooks
  • Can function as a light MRP system
8.7
Editor’s Rating:
Best for Retailers
Zoho Inventory: Dashboard
Zoho Inventory
  • Simple interface
  • iOS and Android apps
  • Wide variety of add-ons

Inventory management software extends beyond tracking your warehouse or retail store stock. The best inventory systems recognize combinable parts, sync with supply chain partners for consistent stock availability, and update customers with shipping estimates.

Here’s a rundown of our top picks based on user reviews and our internal review process.

1 inFlow Inventory - Best Overall

Why we chose it: We gave inFlow Inventory a score of 9.8 and the top spot on our list because it provides a full-fledged feature set and ease of use for both small entrepreneurs and full enterprises. While testing inFlow, we noted its UI was quite intuitive. Overall, the software made navigating various tasks and modules simple with a highly visual layout.

inFlow Inventory has customizable fields, allowing businesses to tailor their inventory system precisely to their needs. Additionally, the inclusion of a mobile app compatible with iOS and Android extends its functionality, enabling on-the-go tracking and operations. We also found the system quite scalable for growing businesses, handling up to 10,000 monthly sales orders.

However, we wouldn’t recommend inFlow Inventory for those seeking an on-premise solution. Support for inFlow On-Premise will end on July 31, 2024, after which no licenses will be sold or activated; they will also discontinue support at this time, meaning users will need to switch to the cloud version for updates.

Best Overall:
inFlow Inventory
★★★★★
★★★★★
(4)

inFlow Inventory: Product Details
inFlow Inventory: Sales Order
inFlow Inventory: Purchase Order
inFlow Inventory: Invoice
inFlow Inventory: Inventory Summary
What We Like
Audit trails that highlight abnormal behaviors
Base package includes sales and purchasing
Unlimited user accounts to track transaction processing
What We Don’t Like
Difficult for multiple warehouses
Limited integrations
No lot code tracking
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: $89/month
Client OS: Windows, Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

2 Fishbowl - Best for Manufacturers

Why we chose it: We gave Fishbowl Inventory a score of 8.9 because it offers advanced manufacturing tools. These include sales order management, bill of materials, and shipment tracking, making it a solid choice for manufacturing operations that require detailed part tracking and inventory control.

Fishbowl integrates with QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. The platform was designed to “fill in the gaps” regarding QuickBooks inventory capabilities like barcode scanning. It was one of the first third parties to receive Gold Developer status from Intuit. This status with Intuit gave them key information to remain compatible with all new versions of QuickBooks that continued to roll out over the years.

We like that Fishbowl integrates with EDI software, shipping carriers, and eCommerce solutions like Shopify, Amazon, and Woocommerce. On the other hand, we found the UI slightly dated with Windows-based navigation panes. And you’ll have to manually sync Fishbowl with QuickBooks, so transactions do not post in real time.

Good QuickBooks Integration:
Fishbowl Inventory
★★★★★
★★★★★
(25)

Fishbowl Inventory: Dashboard
Fishbowl Inventory: Item Status
Fishbowl Inventory: Vendor Information
Fishbowl Inventory: Ledgers
Fishbowl Inventory: Calendar
Fishbowl Inventory: Dashboard
Fishbowl Inventory: Part List
Fishbowl Inventory: Purchase Orders & Sales Orders
What We Like
Competitive pricing; does not require a subscription
Integrates with QuickBooks
Can function as a light MRP system
What We Don’t Like
Somewhat steep learning curve
Transactions do not post to QuickBooks in realtime; manual or scheduled sync only
Customizations can lead to difficult support scenarios
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Starting Price: $4,395 (perpetual license)
Client OS: Windows, macOS
Deployment: Cloud or On-Premises

3 Zoho Inventory - Best for Retailers

Why we chose it: Zoho Inventory made our list with a score of 8.7. It offers a free inventory management system designed for growing businesses. Additionally, Zoho Inventory handles stock management and multi-channel order fulfillment, suitable for retailers with various products and sales channels like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify.

We found the free version best for micro online sellers, drop-shippers, retailers, and distributors. Since the solution was built for any size business, various plans are available starting at $39/month billed monthly. The solution is cloud-based and can be accessed by virtually any mobile device with an internet connection. Overall, Zoho Inventory enables retailers to capture leads and prospects, create orders, and manage online marketplaces’ sales channels and inventory levels.

However, if you want to review purchase orders and invoices fully, you’ll need to integrate with Zoho Books for this functionality. Additionally, you’ll need Zoho Commerce for a shopping cart tool and Zoho CRM for comprehensive customer management.

Best for Retailers:
Zoho Inventory

Zoho Inventory: Dashboard
Zoho Inventory: Item Groups
Zoho Inventory: Items
Zoho Inventory: Sales Orders
Zoho Inventory: Packages
Zoho Inventory: Reports
What We Like
Simple interface
iOS and Android apps
Wide variety of add-ons
What We Don’t Like
Limited to 20 orders/labels per month
Only supports FIFO costing
No Bill of Materials, pick lists, or bin ID support
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: Free
Client OS: iOS, Android, Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

4 Cin7 Core - Best for Wholesalers

Why we chose it: We picked Cin7 Core due to its multi-channel selling capabilities. Designed to cater to the needs of wholesalers, retailers, and eCommerce businesses, Cin7 Core integrates with over 450 platforms, including popular eCommerce sites, marketplaces, and accounting software like QuickBooks Online and Xero. This ensures seamless synchronization of stock levels across all sales channels, reducing the risk of overselling and stockouts.

Cin7 Core’s real-time inventory tracking and detailed reporting features offer a full view of your inventory, sales, and supply chain operations. The software also supports batch and serial number tracking, making it ideal for businesses with complex inventory needs. However, we found that the initial setup can be a little complex; fortunately, Cin7 offers onboarding packages, though they come at an added cost.

Best for Wholesalers:
Cin7 Core
★★★★★
★★★★★
(1)

Cin7 Core: Cin7 Core Dashboard
Cin7 Core: Cin7 Core Budgeting
Cin7 Core: Cin7 Core EDI
What We Like
Intuitive user interface with logical navigation
Several different automation options to streamline workflows like eCommerce and order processing
Real-time inventory tracking and order processing
What We Don’t Like
Initial integrations and training can be time-consuming
Accounting only through QuickBooks or Xero
Lacks complex manufacturing functions like traceability and full process support
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Starting Price: $349/month
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

5 Logiwa - Best for 3PL Providers

Why we chose it: Logiwa made our list because it specializes in warehouse management and integrates with over 200 eCommerce platforms, shipment carriers, and ERP systems, useful for managing multi-client or multi-warehouse environments effectively. Specifically, Logiwa is compatible with popular systems like NetSuite and SAP S/4HANA.

We particularly appreciate Logiwa’s carrier management feature, which integrates with multiple shipping carriers, allowing 3PL providers to compare rates effectively. Capturing the tracking number lets you easily create a shipping label. Additionally, the item management feature enables you to edit product information and create unique barcodes for advanced traceability tracking.

The inbound process lets you create purchase orders and receive inventory against these purchases. All of this can be handled via a mobile device hooked up to an industrial scanner that helps speed up the processing of inbound shipments. While testing Logiwa, we found you often have to navigate through several dropdown menus to get to common functions, so it’s not always the most user-friendly.

Best for 3PL Providers:
Logiwa WMS
★★★★★
★★★★★
(4)

Logiwa WMS: Order Picking
Logiwa WMS: Purchase Order Information
Logiwa WMS: Consolidated Inventory Report
Logiwa WMS: Carrier Rate and Label Operations
Logiwa WMS: Order Management
Logiwa WMS: Dashboards
Logiwa WMS: Billing and Contract Management
What We Like
Offers various picking methods such as wave and zone picking
Integrates with over 240 eCommerce, shipping, and accounting platforms
Allows for real-time feedback on worker performance
What We Don’t Like
Limited out of box features–requires personalized support
Unfriendly user interface
Onboarding process is too rapid, making it difficult for users to understand the platform
Overview
Client OS: iOS, Android, Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

6 SOS Inventory - Best for the Food and Beverage Industry

Why we chose it: We picked SOS Inventory as a top choice for the food and beverage industry because it offers advanced lot tracking capabilities, food manufacturing tools, and alert features. The software allows manufacturers to track their products by batches, lots, and expiration dates, enabling effective traceability in case of any recalls or quality issues.

We also like that SOS Inventory provides features like recipe management, nutritional labeling, FDA compliance reporting, and temperature and humidity monitoring. The system can also automatically adjust inventory for shortages, overages, or damaged items.

One drawback is that it isn’t a full-fledged ERP system, so it’s not a great fit for large corporations that need advanced features. However, the system does integrate with QuickBooks Online, making it a suitable choice for industries that want to connect their inventory management data with QuickBooks accounting software.

Best for the Food and Beverage Industry:
SOS Inventory

SOS Inventory: Calendar View
SOS Inventory: Integration with QuickBooks Online
SOS Inventory: Creating an Invoice
SOS Inventory: SOS Inventory Items
SOS Inventory: SOS Inventory Sales Orders
What We Like
Integrates with QuickBooks Online, ShipStation, and Shopify
Affordable pricing for SMBs
Mobile app for warehouse inventory management
What We Don’t Like
Setup can be time-consuming and a bit confusing without support
Only Plus and Pro users can access phone and email support
Overview
Price Range: $
Starting Price: $65/month
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

7 Katana - Best for Small Manufacturers

Why we chose it: We picked Katana Manufacturing ERP as a top inventory management solution for small to mid-sized apparel, electronics, food, and aerospace manufacturers. We particularly like Katana’s ability to provide real-time updates on inventory levels, including on-hand, committed, and expected stock. It also delivers manufacturing-specific capabilities like shop floor control and master planning.

The software features a visual production planning dashboard, simplifying supplier price monitoring and optimizing manufacturing processes to meet job orders. The smart auto-booking engine automatically assigns available materials to orders. We also appreciate the system’s integration with popular eCommerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce, and accounting applications like Xero and QuickBooks Online.

However, Katana lacks a dedicated mobile app. It’s accessible via web browser on the shop floor, which may be a limitation for workers who prefer using an app-based interface.

Best for Small Manufacturers:
Katana MRP
★★★★★
★★★★★
(9)

Katana MRP: Easy and accurate costing
Katana MRP: Unite all your tools
Katana MRP: Real-time inventory control
Katana MRP: Total floor-level control
Katana MRP: Track order fulfillment
Katana MRP: Visual production planning
What We Like
Affordable, transparent pricing
Real-time inventory tracking across locations
Data-driven decision-making support
What We Don’t Like
Only one full-access included in paid plans
Essential plan lacks batch tracking and shop floor operators
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: $179/month
Client OS: Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

8 Ordoro - Best for eCommerce

Why we chose it: Ordoro made our list a top pick for small to medium-sized eCommerce companies focusing on shipping and dropshipping. That’s because it automatically keeps track of inventory levels across various sales channels and sends alerts when stock is low. Additionally, it offers reduced shipping costs through agreements with major carriers like USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL.

Ordoro’s inventory management is robust. It lets you create master products with unique, branded descriptions and images for different sales channels. It supports bundling multiple SKUs into single units for sale and utilizes barcoding to help manage and adjust inventory levels. Ordoro also includes features specifically designed for dropshipping, enabling businesses to forward customer orders to product suppliers.

We also noted that Ordoro is scalable, integrating with platforms like Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and BigCommerce, as well as popular accounting software like QuickBooks. While the basic shipping services are free, advanced inventory management and dropshipping features require paid plans, starting at $299/month for dropshipping and $349/month for inventory.

Best for eCommerce:
Ordoro

Ordoro: Awaiting Fulfillment
Ordoro: Orders Shipped
Ordoro: Products List
What We Like
Has a free plan with unlimited monthly shipping labels
Has wide range of integrations with shopping carts, marketplaces, and shipping carriers
Easy to add new sales channels
What We Don’t Like
Some limitations on carrier integrations based on region
Free version has limited features compared to paid plans
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: Free
Client OS: Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

9 ShipBob - Best for Direct-to-Consumer

Why we chose it: ShipBob is our top pick for direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce businesses, particularly those experiencing rapid growth. One of its key advantages is a strong fulfillment network that offers 2-day shipping to most of the US population. With seamless integrations to online stores, ShipBob automatically processes orders, which are picked, packed, and shipped from strategically located fulfillment centers nationwide.

We demoed ShipBob and found it gives full visibility into your inventory, including levels, movement, and historical data across all fulfillment centers. This lets you monitor your inventory in real-time, analyze past data, and swiftly resolve discrepancies. The dashboard delivers detailed insights into SKU velocity, the number of days remaining inventory will last, and demand forecasting. Additionally, ShipBob allows you to set reorder points and store inventory in multiple fulfillment centers strategically located closer to your customers.

Online user reviews highlight ShipBob’s exceptional service for direct-to-consumer operations. However, some feedback points to areas for improvement in their business-to-business (B2B) services. Reports have surfaced concerning issues with inventory and billing discrepancies. Additionally, ShipBob is noted for effectively managing clients with low SKU counts and those not processing B2B orders from their own warehouses.

Best for Direct-to-Consumer:
ShipBob

ShipBob: Dashboard
ShipBob: Orders
ShipBob: Products
ShipBob: Send Inventory
ShipBob: Contacts
What We Like
Integrates with major eCommerce platforms
International fulfillment services
Facilitates batch order management
What We Don’t Like
No color size matrix for apparel inventory
Complex pricing model
Needs monthly minimum shipment threshold
Overview
Client OS: Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

10 Sortly - Most Affordable Option

Why we chose it: We demoed Sortly and found it intuitive and simple to use. It offers a free plan that supports up to 100 item entries and one user license. Paid plans start at $29/month for 2,000 item entries and two user licenses. Targeted at individuals and small businesses, Sortly offers a cost-effective approach to inventory management without compromising on essential features.

The software enables users to track inventory using pictures, tags, and customizable fields, making it user-friendly. Sortly’s mobile app supports barcode and QR code scanning, facilitating easy item check-ins and check-outs. Additionally, Sortly offers a unique feature that allows for creating visual inventory lists.

During our testing of Sortly, we did find a few drawbacks. For example, the number of custom fields you can add varies by subscription plan. The Ultra plan allows for up to 25 custom fields, while the Enterprise plan has unlimited custom fields but requires a consultation call for pricing.

Most Affordable Option:
Sortly
★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)

Sortly: Items Overview
Sortly: Current Inventory
Sortly: Edit Items
Sortly: Mobile
What We Like
Straightforward and intuitive
Very affordable
Excellent visual interface with customizable colors
What We Don’t Like
May not have all the features or integrations for advanced inventory needs
Limits entries and custom fields by pricing plan
May not be scalable for growing enterprise-level businesses
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: $39/month
Client OS: iOS, Android, Web
Deployment: Cloud or On-Premises

11 Acctivate - Best Integration with QuickBooks

Why we chose it: We believe Acctivate is a suitable option for small companies looking to integrate their QuickBooks data with an inventory management system. Acctivate syncs with QuickBooks Online in real-time and QuickBooks Desktop, offering a two-way sync with no double entry.

The system offers multi-warehouse inventory control, landed cost, barcode scanning, multi-channel sale support, shipping software, and batch processing. The interface is also similar in style to QuickBooks, making it relatively easy to navigate —- but it contains deeper metrics than QuickBooks such as customer account ages, number of invoices, and a timeline view. However, one downfall of Acctivate is that it doesn’t support RFID scanning.

Best Integration with QuickBooks:
Acctivate Inventory Management
★★★★★
★★★★★
(8)

Acctivate Inventory Management: Customer Preview
Acctivate Inventory Management: Customer Timeline
Acctivate Inventory Management: Product Timeline
Acctivate Inventory Management: Product Inventory
Acctivate Inventory Management: Product Manager
Acctivate Inventory Management: Purchase Order Manager
Acctivate Inventory Management: Order Manager
Acctivate Inventory Management: Account Tab
Acctivate Inventory Management: Track and Trace
Acctivate Inventory Management: Sales Order
What We Like
Provides batch tools through the order manager to track process workflows
Integrates directly with QuickBooks for easy data migration
Can handle millions of SKUs for scalability
What We Don’t Like
Does not support RFID scanning
One user must manually sync data for QuickBooks Desktop
Steep learning curve due to high customization amount
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Starting Price: $10,995 (perpetual license)
Client OS: Windows
Deployment: Cloud or On-Premises

What is Inventory Management Software?

Inventory management software (inventory control software) keeps track of all information about the items your company builds, buys, stores, or sells. These systems simplify product pricing and help maintain the most effective stock levels.

Considered to be the key part of a distribution software, inventory management software lets you know exactly what you have on hand and where to find it. A smart inventory control module will also alert you when it’s most advantageous to re-order stock.

Critical business benefits enabled by inventory management systems include:

  • Reduced stock level requirements and lower warehousing costs based on a better understanding of stock movement and inventory items
  • Decreased expenses related to tasks such as picking, packing, kitting, and shipping of inventory based on more intelligent inventory movement management
  • Higher customer satisfaction via visibility to on-hand stock levels and improved ability to set delivery expectations
  • Minimization of theft and loss based on improved visibility of stock counts and movement histories that make forensic inventory loss analysis easier to conduct
Fishbowl Inventory Dashboard
The dashboard in Fishbowl Inventory shows items to be picked, open sales orders, and more.

Features of Inventory Management Software

The features of inventory management software can be broken down into basic features, traceability features, and advanced features.

Basic Inventory Management Software Features

  • Inventory costing: Provides the means of establishing the cost value of inventory for profitability tracking and tax accounting (cost methods include: FIFO, LIFO, average costing, and others).
  • Location tracking: Aids in picking/packing/shipping tasks related to inventory items and helps improve inventory loss prevention
  • Stock count tracking: Provides a record of the on-hand units for each SKU and helps maintain accurate stock levels.

Traceability Inventory Management Software Features

  • Bar-coding: A scanning technology that allows for greater efficiencies in inventory look-up activities compared to systems that require manual part # entry.
  • Serial number tracking: Allows for identification of the particular unit being sold/repaired/built etc.
  • Lot number tracking: Allows for inventory tracking of groups of inventory and is often used for management of inventory that cannot be easily tracked as individual units.
  • RFID tracking: Radio Frequency Identification. Accurately track items via microchips. RFID readers send radio waves and interpret frequencies into inventory data.

Advanced Inventory Management Software Features

  • Kitting: Allows for multiple items to be combined to form another item.
  • Pricing management: Allows for the association of price information with particular SKUs and can be used for more sophisticated pricing tasks, such as determining discount eligibility.
  • Bill of materials: Lists material quantities and assemblies needed to manufacture an end product. Can be referred to as a "manufacturing recipe.”
  • Inventory audit management: Helps reconcile inventory records with actual item stock counts.
  • Color/size matrix: Minimizes the number of records required to track different product combinations that vary by color or size.
  • Landed cost tracking: Looks at all costs associated with acquiring inventory (including shipping, duties, and related fees) to provide more accurate per-product costing.
  • Unit of measure conversion: Handles standard conversions (eg, yards to meters, pounds to kilograms) as well as user-definable ones (pallets to cases), allowing for greater flexibility in item quantity tracking.
  • Catchweight tracking: Provides a means of managing items that are tracked by one unit of measure (for example, packages or cases) but priced on the basis of weight (or another measurement).
  • Back order tracking: Provides the ability to reserve incoming stock to meet the obligations of pending customer orders.
  • Inventory hold management: Reserves existing stock to fill customer orders and helps prevent duplicate inventory promises, which can cause customer satisfaction issues and negatively affect customer retention.
  • Replenishment thresholds (reorder points): Provide a means of systematically specifying the stock count level, which should signal re-order of the inventory item; can be connected with system alert/notification capabilities to ensure that out-of-stock situations do not occur.
  • Quality metrics: Track information about the condition of individual inventory items, which can be used in supplier selection and other inventory-related decisions.
Sortly current inventory
View your current inventory in Sortly.

Benefits of Inventory Management Software

The top benefits of implementing an inventory tracking software include:

Managing Your Products for Sales Success

Maintaining the right amount of stock is critical to meeting customer demands. But it’s not as easy as just having extra stock on hand. Over-purchasing stock can tie up valuable cash resources, incur warehousing expenses, and create losses on items with sell-by restrictions. Inventory management software provides comprehensive control of your products, including pricing lists, item counts, and location tracking.

Maintain Accurate Stock Counts

No matter the size of your company, you need to track inventory and sales accurately to maximize your profitability. When you automate your inventory, you’ll always have an up-to-date item count that lets you quickly determine which products are selling and which are not. By understanding sales trends, you can accurately plan your purchases to lower the costs of storing physical items. Stocking the right items at the right time is one of the main factors in ensuring you are meeting customer demands and enhancing your ability to increase revenues.

Save Time By Automating Inventory Tasks

Inventory management solutions offer a variety of tools for automating time-intensive tasks related to keeping track of stock. Bar-coding and RFID-compatible options are available to allow you to gather individual item information by scanning the item rather than manually keying in data. Additionally, inventory management solutions can store precise information on item locations, so you always know where to find your products and don’t lose time locating stock in your POS system.

inFlow Inventory Product Details
Edit product details in inFlow Inventory.

What Type of Inventory Software Does Your Business Need?

To determine which solutions to look into, you may look at options intended for your size of business:

New Buyers and Small Businesses

Most basic accounting software will have a straightforward inventory tool, primarily for inventory costing and simple stock count tracking. Most small businesses will look to have inventory as a feature included with accounting software or POS systems, rather than purchase an expensive stand-alone.

Existing Users Desiring Functions Beyond Basic Inventory Management

Growing businesses with substantial inventory often seek standalone solutions that integrate with the financial systems they already use for purchase orders. Manufacturers need a bill of materials feature that allows them to replicate lists for goods they frequently produce. Distributors require systems that can track their assets and automatically reorder materials as their stock levels decrease.

Large Companies

Enterprise-level organizations will typically have inventory solutions included in their enterprise resource planning (ERP software) as part of a fully integrated software solution. They may also manage multiple warehouses, in which case a warehouse management system (WMS) may be the better fit for them.

If you’re looking for a more specific piece of inventory software, these related solutions may be worth looking into:

Zoho Inventory Item Groups
Create item groups in Zoho Inventory.

Inventory Management Software Pricing

The cost of inventory management software will depend on the:

  • Number of users
  • Deployment method
  • Number of warehouses
  • Level of inventory being tracked (total SKUs)
  • Any needed implementation or training

The cheapest inventory solutions will usually be add-ons for inexpensive accounting programs such as QuickBooks, with pricing starting at around $500 upfront for purchased solutions or around $40/month for a subscription-based option. Buyers looking at stand-alone inventory systems should expect costs to go up from there, depending on the above criteria.

To figure out an honest price quote for you, software vendors will usually ask the following critical questions:

  • What do you need?
  • How big is your inventory?
  • How many employees do you have?

For example, a simple inventory system designed for managing just a few shelves in a small ice cream shop wouldn’t be suitable for a large company that requires management across five warehouses and handles over 250,000 different SKUs.

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