7 Best Inventory ERP Systems 2024 (50 Stock ERPs Rated)

by Chris Von Wilpert, BBusMan • Last updated November 23, 2023

Expert Verified by Leandro Langeani, BBA

First-Person Perspective: We buy, test and review software products based on a 3-step rating methodology and first-hand experienceIf you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our rating methodology and how we make money.

Today there are 93 different inventory ERPs. We spent 70 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to seamlessly keep track of your inventory.

What is the Best Inventory ERP?

  1. NetSuite — best of the best
  2. Zoho Inventory — best for small businesses
  3. Katana — best for manufacturing
  4. Cin7 Orderhive — best for dropshipping
  5. inFlow — best for order management
  6. QuickBooks Enterprise — best for accounting
  7. Lightspeed — best for retail

Our Verdict — Best Of The Best

Price: Custom

NetSuite is a powerful inventory and financial management ERP. We think it’s the best because of its real-time inventory tracking tools, extensive customization options, and seamless ecommerce integrations.

The Best Part:

  • Real-time inventory tracking. NetSuite offers a live view of your stock from all sales channels, helping you avoid stockouts and overstocking.

The Worst Part:

  • It’s pricey for small businesses. NetSuite is one of the priciest ERP solutions in the market. It can also be expensive to keep if you need to hire an expert.

Get it if you want a comprehensive ERP to take control of your inventory and manage your operations on every channel.

I recommend you start with the free product tour.

(free product tour)

Best For

NetSuite is best for growing businesses that want a comprehensive, cloud-based ERP to efficiently manage inventory.

Top Features

  • Multi-location inventory tracking. Monitor stock levels in real-time across all your warehouses, retail locations, and online sales channels, to seamlessly move your inventory around and meet demand.
  • Inventory automation workflows. Save time by triggering automated actions for stock adjustments, re-ordering, and transfers.
  • Smart demand forecasting. Leverage NetSuite’s business intelligence capabilities to generate sales forecasts so you’re never out of stock.
  • Serial and lot number tracing. Track individual items or batches throughout their life cycles to easily call out products, no matter their whereabouts.
  • Efficient cycle counting. Use NetSuite’s embedded cycle counting tool to maintain accurate inventory data at all times.

Pricing

NetSuite offers a single pricing plan:

  • Custom pricing: Monthly plan, for businesses of all sizes that want comprehensive ERP to seamlessly manage their inventory.

Try NetSuite today with a free product tour.

Our Verdict — Best For Small Businesses

Price: Starts at $79/month

Zoho Inventory is a specialized inventory ERP geared towards small and midsize businesses. We think it’s the best for small businesses because of its seamless integration with other native Zoho apps, easy-to-use interface, and intuitive inventory analytics.

The Best Part:

  • Automated order processing. Zoho Inventory can help you create an automated system to streamline packaging, tracking, and payment.

The Worst Part:

  • Limited capabilities. Zoho Inventory, as the name suggests, is mainly focused on inventory management. You’ll need to use third-party tools or integrate native Zoho add-ons for a wider range of ERP features.

Get it if you want a user-friendly inventory ERP to keep your stock levels in check and automate order processing.

I recommend you start with the 14-day free trial, then sign up for the Standard plan at $79/mo.

(14-day free trial)

Best For

Zoho Inventory is best for small businesses that want a user-friendly interface to control stock levels and optimize inventory.

Top Features

  • Seamless Zoho apps integration. Enjoy a match made in heaven between Zoho Inventory and other native Zoho apps such as Zoho CRM, Books, People, etc.
  • Amazing Shopify integration. Sync ecommerce orders, products, and customer data from Shopify with Zoho’s seamless integration.
  • Mobile accessibility. Stay always connected to your inventory ERP using Zoho Inventory’s mobile apps for iOS and Android.
  • Streamlined packaging and shipping. Compare carrier rates, print shipping labels, and generate packing slips for your customers’ orders.
  • Backorder management. Create backorders for out-of-stock items and automatically assign inventory when items are back in stock.

Pricing

Zoho Inventory offers six pricing plans:

  • Free: Free forever, for small businesses that want a basic inventory ERP to manage up to 50 orders per month, for one warehouse and up to two users.
  • Standard: $79/month for small businesses that want a basic inventory ERP to manage up to 1500 orders per month, for up to two warehouses and three users.
  • Professional: $129/month for small businesses that want a powerful inventory ERP to integrate up to two Shopify stores, automate multiple workflows, and set up tracking for up to 7500 orders per month, for up to five warehouses and five users.
  • Premium: $199/month for small businesses that want a comprehensive ERP to seamlessly manage inventory for up to five Shopify stores and 15000 monthly orders, with automation, batch tracking, and team collaboration features, for up to seven warehouses and 10 users.
  • Elite: $299/month for small and midsize businesses that want a robust ERP to manage up to 25000 monthly orders using all Premium features plus advanced multi-currency support, for up to 15 warehouses and 15 users.
  • Ultimate: $399/month for midsize businesses that want a smart ERP with the same limits and features as the Elite plan, plus Zoho Analytics’ business intelligence reporting.

Annual plans provide up to a 25% discount.

Try Zoho Inventory today with a free 14-day trial.

Our Verdict — Best For Manufacturing

Price: Starts at $129/month

Katana is a cutting-edge ERP solution built for manufacturing businesses. We think it’s the best for manufacturing because of its real-time product scheduling, omnichannel order management, and shop floor monitoring app.

The Best Part:

  • Smart production planning. Katana automatically redirects raw materials, staff, and resources to where they’re needed during production.

The Worst Part:

  • Limited advanced features. Katana isn’t the best ERP option for larger enterprises with complex needs and processes.

Get it if you want a smart inventory management ERP to run your manufacturing processes efficiently.

I recommend you start with the 14-day free trial, then sign up for Katana Professional at $7,188/year.

(14-day free trial)

Best For

Katana is best for small and mid-sized manufacturers who want a smart ERP to streamline production planning and inventory management.

Top Features

  • Barcode scanning magic. Use barcodes to quickly identify products, reduce human error, and create a seamless production workflow.
  • E-commerce platform synchronization. Connect your e-commerce to Katana’s native Shopify and WooCommerce integration, or use Zapier to connect to other platforms.
  • Take control of your shop floor. Assign tasks, track time spent, and monitor material usage with Katana’s Shop Floor App.
  • Precise cost tracking. Pinpoint expenses and track your manufacturing costs seamlessly based on your production and bill of materials (BOM).
  • Purchase order scheduling. Stay on top of supplier material orders to keep a full stock and keep your teams and products moving like clockwork.

Pricing

Katana offers four pricing plans:

  • Essential: $129/month for startup manufacturers who want a basic ERP to automate processes and inventory management, for up to three warehouses and 500 monthly orders.
  • Advanced: $349/month for small manufacturers who want a comprehensive ERP to manage complex manufacturing processes and use Katana’s barcode scanning feature, shop floor management mobile app, and expiry date tracker, for unlimited warehouses and up to 5,000 monthly orders.
  • Professional: $799/month for small and mid sized manufacturers who want a robust ERP with all Advanced features plus priority support and onboarding, for unlimited warehouses and up to 25,000 monthly orders.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing, for mid sized and large manufacturers who want a customized ERP to automate processes and manage inventory, for unlimited warehouses and orders.

Annual plans provide up to a 25% discount.

Try Katana today with a free 14-day trial.

Our Top Three Picks

Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:

  1. NetSuite — best of the best
  2. Zoho Inventory — best for small businesses
  3. Katana — best for manufacturing

Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:

Tool

Entry Offer

Pricing

NetSuite

Free product tour

Custom

Zoho Inventory

14-day free trial

Starts at $79/mo

Katana

14-day free trial

Starts at $129/mo

Cin7 Orderhive

15-day free trial

Starts at $125/mo

inFlow

14-day free trial

Starts at $110/mo

QuickBooks Enterprise

30-day free trial

Starts at $135/mo

Lightspeed

14-day free trial

Starts at $89/mo

Here are the top 50 inventory ERPs we considered in this review:

  1. NetSuite
  2. Zoho Inventory
  3. Katana
  4. Cin7 Orderhive
  5. inFlow
  6. QuickBooks Enterprise
  7. Lightspeed 
  8. Upserve
  9. Megaventory
  10. Ordoro
  11. Upserve
  12. Square
  13. Spocket
  14. Acumatica
  15. Syspro
  16. AccountMate
  17. ecomdash
  18. GEP NEXXE
  19. ShipBob
  20. Cova
  21. Ruby Has Fulfillment
  22. Sortly
  23. ManagerPlus
  24. ShipHero
  25. ShippingEasy
  26. Vyapar
  27. HDPOS
  28. Bellwether
  29. Smart Software
  30. eQuipMe
  31. CorelMS
  32. ZarMoney
  33. Busy Accounting Software
  34. RedBook
  35. Medbikri
  36. Medbikri
  37. Simple Invoice System
  38. Book Keeper
  39. Zakup
  40. LiteRetail
  41. RetailGraph
  42. Secura ERP
  43. Intraweb 
  44. Astral
  45. QuickBooks Online
  46. Visual Udyog
  47. Koroi
  48. Unleashed
  49. SalesMate
  50. Blue Link

Which software is best for ERP inventory?

When it comes to ERP inventory management, there are several key players that stand out in the market. Our top three picks are NetSuite, Zoho Inventory, and Katana.

NetSuite is our number-one pick for the best inventory ERP. This comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) system offers robust inventory management tools, real-time tracking, and warehouse management features that help businesses maintain optimal inventory levels. NetSuite provides excellent inventory controls, allowing businesses to manage excess inventory and streamline operations.

Zoho Inventory comes in as our second-best inventory ERP, and we highly recommend it for small businesses. This online inventory management software offers a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of inventory management features. Some of its key features include inventory analysis, serial number tracking, and customer relationship management (CRM) integration. Zoho Inventory's real-time visibility and real-time reporting make it easy for businesses to monitor their inventory levels and make informed decisions. Its integration with other Zoho applications, such as Zoho CRM, Books, and People, makes it a powerful all-in-one solution for small businesses.

Katana takes the third spot on our list and is the best overall inventory ERP for manufacturing businesses. With its strong focus on manufacturing, Katana offers excellent inventory planning, inventory strategies, and inventory management processes tailored to the unique needs of manufacturers. Katana's inventory management solutions are designed to streamline the entire production process, from supply chain management to warehouse management. This cloud-based software is known for its real-time tracking capabilities, making it easy to monitor inventory items and production progress.

What is the most commonly used inventory system?

The most commonly used inventory systems vary depending on the size and industry of the business. However, some leading inventory management software solutions include NetSuite, Zoho Inventory, Katana, SAP, and QuickBooks. It's essential to evaluate the specific needs of your business and choose a system that caters to them.

Which inventory system is better?

Determining which inventory system is better depends on your business's unique needs and circumstances. Our top three picks for best inventory ERPs are NetSuite (best overall), Zoho Inventory (best for small businesses), and Katana (best for manufacturing). NetSuite offers comprehensive inventory controls, real-time visibility, and cloud-based solutions. Zoho Inventory is perfect for small businesses as it provides affordable and user-friendly inventory management tools, while Katana is ideal for manufacturing companies due to its robust inventory planning and optimization features.

Is SAP a good inventory management system?

SAP is a well-established inventory management system that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing inventory operations, supply chain management, warehouse management, and customer relationship management. It's a good choice for medium to large-sized businesses, especially those with complex processes and a need for extensive customization. However, smaller businesses might find it too complex and costly compared to other solutions like Zoho Inventory.

Is QuickBooks an ERP system?

QuickBooks, known for its accounting software, is not an ERP system by itself. However, it does offer inventory management features within its software suite, and it can be integrated with various ERP systems. QuickBooks is popular among small businesses but may not be suitable for larger organizations or those with more complex inventory management needs.

The Bottom Line

To recap, here are the best inventory ERPs to try this year:

  1. NetSuite — best of the best
  2. Zoho Inventory — best for small businesses
  3. Katana — best for manufacturing
  4. Cin7 Orderhive — best for dropshipping
  5. inFlow — best for order management
  6. QuickBooks Enterprise — best for accounting
  7. Lightspeed — best for retail

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