Category guide · Software

Best Inventory Management Software in 2026

Inventory, order and warehouse software for sellers, distributors and makers: Zoho Inventory, Cin7, Fishbowl, inFlow, Katana, Sortly, Ordoro, Linnworks, Unleashed and Odoo Inventory.

  • Verified 11 Nov 2026Every profile shows where facts came from
  • Unknowns labelledGaps are stated, never guessed
  • No paid placementNo affiliate links, ratings or reviews
  • Not a rankingAlphabetical by default; fit notes, not scores
Quick answer

What is Inventory Management Software?

Inventory management software tracks stock levels, locations and movements, and manages purchasing, sales orders and fulfilment. Some tools add multichannel listings, warehouse management, landed costs or manufacturing.

Accurate stock data prevents overselling, stockouts and tied-up cash.

This category covers SMB inventory (Zoho Inventory, inFlow, Sortly), multichannel and ecommerce operations (Cin7, Linnworks, Ordoro), distribution (Unleashed), manufacturing (Fishbowl, Katana) and ERP-based inventory (Odoo).

Prices range from free plans to over $1,000 a month, often capped by orders, users or items. The profiles below summarise dated 2026 sources and are research aids, not rankings.

Best by need

Best inventory management software by need.

Shortlists built from what each sourced profile documents, listed alphabetically, not ranked. Open a profile for limits, prices and sources.

Best free inventory management software

5 of 12 profiles document a free plan.

Inventory management software for small businesses

8 of 12 profiles are documented mainly for small and mid-size teams.

Inventory management software for enterprises

2 of 12 profiles are documented for large enterprises.

Directory

Inventory Management Software compared: browse and filter

Search and filters update this list on the page and do not create new URLs, so every profile stays crawlable and linkable.

Quick filters

12 listings

  • Cin7

    Cin7 · Inventory and order management for brands

    Inventory and order management for growing wholesalers and multichannel brands, with Cin7 Core from $349 a month (Standard).

    • Flat monthly
    • Tiered
    • Cloud
    • Multichannel brands
    • Independent sources

    Best for Growing wholesalers and multichannel brands

    Key capabilities
    • Standard
    • Pro
    • Advanced
    • Pricing
    PricingCin7 Core: Standard $349, Pro $599, Advanced $1,199 a month; Cin7 Omni by quote.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Fishbowl

    Fishbowl · Inventory and manufacturing for QuickBooks users

    Inventory and manufacturing software popular with QuickBooks users, with Inventory tiers from $229 a month (Essentials, annual).

    • Flat monthly
    • Annual
    • Cloud or on-prem
    • QuickBooks
    • Independent sources

    Best for QuickBooks-centric warehouse and manufacturing operations

    Key capabilities
    • Essentials
    • Growth
    • Scale
    • Warehouse
    PricingEssentials $229, Growth $429, Scale $729 a month (annual); Advanced Warehouse from $595; Advanced Manufacturing from $675.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • inFlow Inventory

    inFlow · Inventory for B2B and wholesale

    Inventory software for wholesale and B2B teams with unlimited orders, from $99 a month (Lite, annual).

    • Flat monthly
    • Annual
    • Cloud
    • Unlimited orders
    • Independent sources

    Best for Wholesale and B2B teams wanting unlimited order volume

    Key capabilities
    • Lite
    • Core / Pro
    • Max
    • Start Up
    PricingLite $99, Core $299, Pro $499, Max $699 a month (annual); Manufacturing plans from $169.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Katana

    Katana · Cloud MRP for makers

    A cloud manufacturing ERP (MRP) for small manufacturers, with a free plan (30 SKUs) and a custom-priced Advantage plan.

    • Free plan
    • Annual contract
    • Cloud
    • Manufacturing
    • Independent sources

    Best for Small manufacturers and makers

    Key capabilities
    • Free
    • Advantage
    • Legacy
    • SKUs
    PricingFree (30 SKUs, unlimited users); Advantage custom annual contract; older monthly plans discontinued for new customers.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Linnworks

    Linnworks · Multichannel commerce operations

    A multichannel commerce operations platform for high-volume retailers, priced by monthly order volume through quotes.

    • Quote-based
    • By order volume
    • Cloud
    • Multichannel
    • Independent sources

    Best for High-volume multichannel retailers

    Key capabilities
    • SkuVault Core
    • Linnworks Advanced
    • Pricing
    • Listing
    PricingNot published; tiered on monthly orders with overages and a one-time onboarding fee.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Marg ERP 9+

    Marg Compusoft Pvt. Ltd. · Inventory, billing and accounting software for Indian distribution and retail

    An Indian billing, inventory and accounting package used heavily by pharma and FMCG distributors and retailers, sold as perpetual Basic, Silver and Gold licences.

    • Self-hosted option
    • Independent sources

    Best for Pharma and FMCG distributors in India

    Key capabilities
    • Batch and expiry
    • Schemes and rate differences
    • Multi-godown
    • Fast counter billing
    PricingBasic reported at about INR 8,100 one-time (excl. GST).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Odoo Inventory

    Odoo S.A. · Open-source ERP inventory

    Odoo's inventory app, free as a single app with unlimited users, then from about $7.25 per user a month (Standard, annual promo) with other Odoo apps.

    • One app free
    • Per user
    • Cloud or self-hosted
    • Open source ERP
    • Independent sources

    Best for Businesses wanting inventory inside a broader open-source ERP

    Key capabilities
    • One app
    • Standard
    • Custom
    • Hosting
    PricingOne app free; Standard $7.25 per user a month (yearly promo; $11.20 monthly); Custom $10.90 ($17).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Ordoro

    Ordoro · Shipping, inventory and dropshipping

    Ecommerce shipping, inventory and dropshipping software, with shipping free to start and Inventory from $349 a month.

    • Free shipping app
    • Flat monthly
    • Cloud
    • Ecommerce ops
    • Independent sources

    Best for Ecommerce sellers combining shipping, inventory and dropshipping

    Key capabilities
    • Shipping
    • Inventory
    • Dropshipping
    • Multi-carrier shipping
    PricingShipping free to start; Inventory from $349 a month; Dropshipping from $299 a month; bundles by quote.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Sortly

    Sortly · Visual inventory and asset tracking

    A simple visual inventory app for tracking supplies, parts and assets, with a free plan and Advanced at $49 a month ($24 first-year promo).

    • Free plan
    • Flat monthly
    • Cloud + mobile
    • Asset tracking
    • Independent sources

    Best for Teams tracking physical assets, parts and supplies

    Key capabilities
    • Advanced
    • Ultra
    • Premium
    • First year
    PricingFree (100 items); Advanced $49, Ultra $149, Premium $299 a month (50% first-year promotion).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Unicommerce

    Unicommerce eSolutions · E-commerce order, inventory and warehouse management (SaaS)

    An Indian e-commerce operations platform for multichannel orders, inventory and warehouses, with Standard, Professional and Enterprise plans priced after a demo.

    • Cloud
    • Vendor sources

    Best for Indian brands selling on many marketplaces

    Key capabilities
    • Multichannel OMS
    • Quick commerce
    • B2B orders
    • WMS
    PricingQuote after demo.Prices taken from the vendor’s own pricing page
  • Unleashed

    The Access Group · Inventory for distributors and manufacturers

    Inventory management for distributors and importers with landed costs and batch tracking, from $399 a month (Core).

    • Flat monthly
    • Monthly or annual
    • Cloud
    • Distributors
    • Independent sources

    Best for Distributors and importers needing landed costs and batch control

    Key capabilities
    • Core
    • Pro
    • Orders
    • Extra users
    PricingCore $399 a month ($4,389 a year); Pro $729 ($8,019); onboarding $449 to $5,549 one-time.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Zoho Inventory

    Zoho Corporation · Inventory and order management

    Zoho's inventory and order management app with a free plan (50 orders a month) and paid plans from $29 a month (Standard, annual).

    • Free plan
    • Flat monthly
    • Cloud
    • SMB inventory
    • Independent sources

    Best for Small and mid-size sellers, especially Zoho customers

    Key capabilities
    • Standard
    • Premium
    • Plus / Enterprise
    • Extra user
    PricingFree (50 orders); Standard $29, Premium $79, Plus $129, Enterprise $249 a month (annual).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly

Listings are ordered alphabetically by default. They are not ranked, and there are no user ratings or paid placements.

At a glance

Inventory Management Software compared on key criteria.

Summaries come from each profile; open a profile for sources and caveats.

Inventory Management Software compared on Pricing model, Starting price, Free plan, Order limits, Best for
ProductPricing modelStarting priceFree planOrder limitsBest for
Cin7Flat by orders$349/moNo6,000-120,000/yrMultichannel brands
FishbowlFlat by users$229/mo (annual)NoUser-basedQuickBooks manufacturers
inFlow InventoryFlat by members$99/mo (annual)NoUnlimitedB2B wholesale
KatanaFree / annual quoteFree; Advantage quoteYes (30 SKUs)SKU-basedSmall manufacturers
LinnworksQuote by ordersQuoteNoTiered with overagesHigh-volume retail
Odoo InventoryPer user (suite)Free (one app)Yes (one app)None statedERP users
OrdoroFree + modulesFree shipping; $349 inventoryYes (shipping)Plan-basedEcommerce fulfilment
SortlyFlat by items$49/mo ($24 promo)Yes (100 items)Item capsAsset tracking
UnleashedFlat + modules$399/moNo100/mo (upgradable)Distributors
Zoho InventoryFlat by orders$29/mo (annual)Yes (50 orders)500-15,000/moSmall sellers
Key features

Key features and capabilities of Inventory Management Software.

The capabilities that define the category. Not every product offers all of them, and depth varies a lot between entry-level and enterprise tools.

  • Stock tracking

    Real-time quantities by location.

  • Purchase orders

    Reorder from suppliers.

  • Reorder points

    Alerts before stock runs out.

  • Barcode scanning

    Accurate receiving and picking.

  • Multi-location

    Warehouses and stores.

  • Batch and serial tracking

    Traceability.

  • Channel sync

    Update stores and marketplaces.

  • Inventory reports

    Valuation and turnover.

Business use cases

How businesses use Inventory Management Software.

  1. 01

    Replenishment

    Reorder at the right time.

  2. 02

    Multichannel stock

    Avoid oversells.

  3. 03

    Warehouse receiving

    Record deliveries accurately.

  4. 04

    Stock counts

    Cycle counts and audits.

  5. 05

    Traceability

    Track batches and expiry.

Who uses it

Who uses Inventory Management Software and what problems it solves.

Ecommerce sellers

Sync stock across marketplaces and stores.

Wholesalers and distributors

Manage purchasing, landed costs and B2B orders.

Manufacturers

Plan production and materials.

Facilities and trades

Track tools, parts and supplies.

Benefits and business impact

What Inventory Management Software changes in practice.

Practical outcomes teams report when the category is implemented well. Results depend on adoption, data quality and process, so we do not quote percentages.

Fewer stockouts

Timely reorders.

Less excess stock

Better planning.

Accurate records

Scanning reduces errors.

Cash efficiency

Inventory investment controlled.

Evaluation criteria

Features and criteria to evaluate in Inventory Management Software.

01

Volume limits

Orders, SKUs, items or users per plan.

02

Channels

Marketplaces, webstores and B2B portals.

03

Costing

Landed costs, FIFO and margins.

04

Manufacturing

Bills of materials and production.

05

Integrations

Accounting, shipping and ecommerce.

06

Total cost

Onboarding, modules and extra users.

How to choose

How to choose Inventory Management Software: a step-by-step approach.

  1. 1

    Count SKUs and orders

    Include peak season volumes.

  2. 2

    Map locations and channels

    Warehouses, stores and marketplaces.

  3. 3

    List must-have features

    Batch tracking, BOMs, B2B portal.

  4. 4

    Clean product data

    Standardise SKUs before import.

  5. 5

    Pilot with a stocktake

    Reconcile counts in the new system.

  6. 6

    Connect accounting and shipping

    Test end-to-end order flow.

Questions to ask before you buy

  • How does it sync with our sales channels?
  • Does it support batches, serials and expiry?
  • How many locations are included?
  • How does it integrate with accounting?
Common mistakes

Common mistakes when choosing Inventory Management Software.

Ignoring order caps

Peak seasons can exceed plan limits.

Skipping a stocktake

Bad opening balances cause errors.

Choosing ecommerce tools for manufacturing

Production needs BOMs and routing.

Underbudgeting onboarding

Several vendors charge setup fees.

Comparing promo prices

First-year discounts may expire.

Glossary

Inventory Management Software key terms explained.

SKU
Stock keeping unit.
Landed cost
Product cost plus freight, duty and fees.
BOM
Bill of materials for manufactured items.
Reorder point
Stock level that triggers replenishment.
Batch / serial tracking
Tracing items by lot or unique number.
MRP
Material requirements planning.
Head-to-head

Inventory Management Software comparisons.

9 side-by-side comparisons with a feature table, pricing, strengths and limits, and best-fit scenarios. No winner is declared in any of them.

Alternatives guides

Alternatives to popular inventory management software.

Every product in this category has a guide comparing its main alternatives and competitors on pricing, free plan, features and fit.

FAQ

Inventory Management Software questions and answers

What is the best free inventory management software?

5 of the 12 inventory management software profiles here document a free plan: Katana, Odoo Inventory, Ordoro, Sortly and Zoho Inventory. Free plans and tiers usually cap users, records or usage, so check each profile for limits. The list is alphabetical, not a ranking.

What is the best inventory management software for small businesses?

Products documented mainly for small and mid-size teams include Cin7, Fishbowl, inFlow Inventory, Katana, Ordoro, Sortly, Unleashed and Zoho Inventory. Cin7 may suit growing wholesalers and multichannel brands. Fishbowl may suit QuickBooks-centric warehouse and manufacturing operations. inFlow Inventory may suit wholesale and B2B teams wanting unlimited order volume. The best fit depends on your sales or work process and budget, so trial two or three.

Which inventory management software suits large enterprises?

2 profiles are documented for large enterprises: Linnworks and Odoo Inventory. Larger rollouts should also check SSO, permissions, audit logs, data residency and contract terms on each profile.

Where can I find alternatives to a specific inventory tool?

Every product in this category has its own alternatives guide, for example Cin7 alternatives, inFlow Inventory alternatives and Zoho Inventory alternatives. Each guide compares the main competitors on pricing, free plan, features and fit.

What is the best free inventory software?

Zoho Inventory (50 orders), Sortly (100 items), Katana (30 SKUs) and Odoo (one app) have free options. This list is not a ranking.

Cin7 or Unleashed?

Cin7 Core starts at $349 a month for multichannel brands; Unleashed Core at $399 for distributors needing landed costs.

Which inventory software suits manufacturers?

Katana, Fishbowl (Advanced Manufacturing) and Odoo suit manufacturers.

Are Katana's monthly plans still sold?

An August 2026 guide says older monthly plans were discontinued for new customers.

Next step

Narrow your Inventory Management Software shortlist.

Open a profile for sources and pricing, read an alternatives guide, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf is not the answer.

Logos provided by Logo.dev. Product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and appear for identification only; they do not imply endorsement.