Recommended Free Tools
The best inventory management software depends on what you are trying to control: online orders, warehouse stock, raw materials, tools, or equipment. A small seller may need barcode scanning and purchase orders for less than $30 per month, while a manufacturer may need bills of materials and production planning at a much higher cost.
For most small businesses, Zoho Inventory is the strongest value. Cin7 Core is better for larger multichannel wholesalers, Katana for manufacturing, inFlow for distribution and fulfillment, and Sortly for visual equipment and asset tracking.
Best inventory management software compared
| Software | Best for | Starting price | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Inventory | Small businesses, online sellers, purchasing, and basic warehouse control | Free; paid plans from $29/month annually | Advanced tracking and warehouse features vary by plan |
| Cin7 Core | Growing wholesalers, distributors, and multichannel businesses | $349/month | Expensive for small operations |
| Katana Cloud Inventory | Small and midsize manufacturers | Free; Core from $299/month | Usage, locations, and add-ons can raise the bill |
| inFlow Inventory | Wholesale distribution, field service, and fulfillment | From $129/month annually | Sales-order limits and paid add-ons apply |
| Sortly | Tools, equipment, supplies, job sites, and visual asset tracking | Free; Advanced displays $49/month monthly | Limits are based on unique items, not total units |
Prices below are U.S. list prices checked on August 8, 2026. Taxes, usage charges, add-ons, and promotional pricing can change the real cost.
1. Zoho Inventory: best overall for small businesses
Zoho Inventory offers the best balance of price and inventory features for many small businesses. It covers purchase orders, purchase receiving, transfer orders, picklists, bin locations, backorders, dropshipments, packages, shipping, composite items, barcode scanning, reporting, webhooks, and custom functions.
#1 Best Overall
- Larger battery enables longer continuous usage and twice the stand-by time. With the unique battery indicator light showing the remaining battery level, no more Low Battery Anxiety.
- The curved handle is extended and widened. With specially designed smooth and flat trigger for a better grip.
- The orange anti shock silicone protective cover can prevent scratches and friction even when dropped from up to 6.56 feet. IP54 technology protects the wireless barcode scanner from dust.
- Plug and play with the USB receiver or the USB cable, no driver installation needed. Easy and quick to set up. Wireless transmission distance reaches up to 328 ft. in barrier free environment.
- Supports almost all 1D Barcodes: Febraban Bank Code, Codabar, Code 11, Code93, MSI, Code 128, EAN-128, Code 39, EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A, ISBN, Industrial 25, Interleaved 25, Standard 25, Matrix. Reads damaged, fuzzy, reflective and smudged barcodes.
Its annual-billing tiers are:
| Plan | Price | Orders per month | Users | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50 | 1 | 1 |
| Standard | $29/month | 500 | 3 | 2 |
| Premium | $79/month | 3,000 | 5 | 4 |
| Plus | $129/month | 7,500 | 10 | 6 |
| Enterprise | $249/month | 15,000 | 10 | 10 |
The Standard plan is a particularly practical starting point: $348 per year before taxes for three users, two locations, and up to 500 orders per month. Paid plans include a 14-day trial.
What to check before choosing Zoho
Serial-number tracking, batch tracking, stock counting, barcode generation, and advanced warehouse tools are not uniformly available at every tier. The current pricing matrix should take precedence over older help articles that refer to a “Professional” plan; current plan names use “Premium.”
To configure inventory tracking, use Settings → Module Settings → Items → Advanced Inventory Tracking. To enable serial numbers, go to Settings → Preferences → Items → Serial Number Tracking → Save. When creating an item, open Items, enable Track Inventory, and select Serial numbers, Batch, or None.
There are also two operational details worth understanding:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- An item can use serial-number tracking or batch tracking, but not both.
- Zoho separates Physical Stock from Accounting Stock. Purchase receipts and shipments change physical stock, while bills and invoices change accounting stock. A standalone invoice can therefore affect accounting stock without changing physical stock until the order is shipped.
Zoho can allow transactions with missing serial or batch details when tracking is not mandatory. It then shows a warning and provides a Missing Advanced Inventory Tracking Details report. Physical and accounting stock are handled separately, so businesses should understand which stock mode their workflows use rather than assume that every transaction changes both stock figures.
Rank #2
- Plug and play, This laser handheld barcode scanner has simple installation with any USB port and Ideal for businesses, shops and warehouse operations. Its function is unbeatable and easy to use, design is stylish
- Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux; works with Word, Excel, Novell, and all common software
- Scanning Speed: 200 scans per second. Scanning angle: Inclination angle 55°, Elevation angle 65°. Operational Light Source:Visible Laser 650-670nm.
- Decode Capability: Code11, Code39, Code93, Code32, Code128, Coda Bar, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, ISBN/ISSN, JAN.EAN/UPC Add-on2/5 MSI/Plessey, Telepen and China Postal Code,Interleaved 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Matrix 2 of 5, etc ; 300 configurable options for prefix, suffix and termination strings, support turn on/off the beep.
- Color: Black. Dimensions: 3.6 x 2.6 x 6.1 inches. Type of Cable: 2M or 6ft straight cable. Shock: 1.5m drop on concrete surface. Regulatory Approvals: FCC CE.
2. Cin7 Core: best for multichannel wholesale operations
Cin7 Core is designed for businesses that have outgrown a basic stock spreadsheet and need inventory across multiple sales channels, warehouses, and integrations. It is a better fit for distributors and established product businesses than for a new side hustle.
| Plan | Monthly price | Users | E-commerce/app integrations | Annual sales orders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $349 | 5 | 2 | 6,000 |
| Pro | $599 | 10 | 4 | 24,000 |
| Advanced | $999 | 15 | 6 | 120,000 |
| Omni | Custom | Custom | Customizable | Custom |
All listed plans include unlimited inventory locations, but additional integrations can cost extra. Pro adds material requirements planning, while Advanced adds advanced warehouse management.
The financial dividing line is clear: Cin7 Core’s public entry price is $349 per month, or $4,188 per year before taxes. That may be reasonable when inventory errors affect a sizable wholesale operation, but it is difficult to justify for a small catalog with one sales channel.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →3. Katana Cloud Inventory: best for manufacturing
Katana is the most appropriate choice in this group for businesses that turn materials into finished products. Its manufacturing focus includes bills of materials, purchasing, production, and inventory in one system.
Katana’s public pricing currently shows a free plan, Core from $299 per month, and Advantage with custom pricing. Core includes unlimited SKUs, users, and integrations. Advantage adds custom integrations, dashboards, automations, a dedicated Solutions Engineer, and SLA-backed maintenance.
Rank #3
- Continuous Usage All Day: The EY-H2 USB barcode scanner is designed to always be ready for the next scan, which significantly reduces downtime and repair costs; it shortens checkout lines, improves customer service, and boosts business productivity
- Plug and Play: Eyoyo wired barcode scanner is connected via a USB cable, with no need to install any driver or software; It offers effortless connection and is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux; Seamlessly works with Quickbook, Word, Excel, Novell, and all common software
- Supports Multiple 1D/2D Barcodes: Eyoyo QR code scanner scan with most 1D 2D barcodes with ease; 1D Barcodes: EAN, UPC, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, UCC/EAN 128, Codabar, Interleaved 2 of 5, ITF-6, ITF-14, ISBN, ISSN, MSI-Plessey, GS1 Databar, Code 11, Industrial 25, Matrix 2 of 5, etc. 2D Barcodes: QR, DataMatrix, PDF417, and so on
- Supports Screen Scanning: The Eyoyo 2D scanner is capable of reading barcodes from smartphone screens, such as mobile coupons, digital wallets, and digital loyalty cards; Before scanning, simply turn your screen brightness to the maximum
- Sturdy Anti-Shock and Durable Design: The Eyoyo 2D barcode scanner features an ergonomic design made of high-quality ABS, enabling it to withstand repeated drops from 5 ft/1.5 m high onto the concrete ground; The durable plastic material ensures a long service life
The free plan is not unlimited. It allows 30 SKUs across three inventory locations. Katana counts active products and material variants, and its help documentation says archived items are included in the SKU calculation. After reaching 30 SKUs, a 15-day grace period begins. Once that period ends, access is blocked until items are deleted or the account is upgraded.
To upgrade, click Upgrade to remove item limits in the top banner, open the Subscription page, select a paid plan, choose monthly or annual billing, and review the add-ons. Add-ons are selected by default during the upgrade flow, so deselect anything you do not need before continuing to billing.
Do not rely on older articles saying Katana starts at $99 per month. The current public pricing page lists Core from $299 per month.
4. inFlow Inventory: best for wholesale distribution and fulfillment
inFlow combines stock management with sales, purchasing, and pick-pack-ship workflows. It is a sensible candidate for distributors, field-service companies, and businesses that need fulfillment controls without moving immediately to a larger enterprise platform.
Product-level starting prices are:
- inFlow Inventory: from $129 per month when billed annually.
- inFlow Manufacturing: from $179 per month when billed annually.
- inFlow Stockroom: from $99 per month when billed annually.
The Inventory product supports real-time stock across locations, sales and purchasing, fulfillment, and more than 95 integrations. Manufacturing adds assembly, bills of materials, labor and material costs, and buildability calculations.
Budget carefully around order allowances. The Entrepreneur Inventory tier includes 1,200 sales orders per year, or 100 per month. Small Business includes 12,000 per year, or 1,000 per month. Mid-Size includes unlimited sales orders. Orders above the allowance cost $0.20 each.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #4
- Widely Compatible: Bluetooth Barcode Scanner for iPhone iPad Android Tablet PC, Support HID / SPP / BLE mode via bluetooth, Work with Windows XP/7/8/10, Mac OS, Windows Mobile, Android OS, iOS, Linux.
- Strong Recognition Ability: With the 2500 pixels high-resolution CCD sensor Engine, Rapidly decodes all 1D and stacked barcodes (including ISBN book), even worn, damaged or tightly spaced codes. Scan 1D codes directly from paper or screen, such as a computer monitor, smartphone, or tablet, or scan through glass surfaces, plastic shrink wrap, a CCD scanner is likely the best way to go.
- Automatic Scanning: NT-1228bc barcode scanner have three scanning modes: manual trigger mode, continuous scanning mode and auto-sensing scanning mode. In addition, there is a storage mode. Storage mode can be used when you are out of range of Bluetooth and wireless connectivity. Supports storage of up to 100,000 barcodes. Note: Before use, you need to scan the corresponding setting barcode on the manual.
- 2600mAh Battery Upgraded: Continuous scanning up to 200,000 times on a full charge. After a full charge the scanner can be used for one month at least, even in warehouses and at pos checkout counters where scanners are frequently used. In libraries and hospitals it can be used even longer.
- Programmable Configuration: Add custom prefixes/ suffixes, delete characters, Add keyboard keys/ combinations (terminator TAB, CR&LF, Home etc.), Enable or disable the barcode type as you want. Buzzer can be set to mute to allow for a quiet operation.(Note: It does not work with square POS / Divalto / DoorDash / Lightspeed POS system)
Some capabilities are separate add-ons, including production management, serial numbers, API access, advanced access rights, and Stockroom. Annual billing is advertised as 20% cheaper than monthly billing, and the trial lasts 14 days without requiring a credit card.
5. Sortly: best for visual inventory and asset tracking
Sortly is a strong fit when the inventory is equipment, tools, supplies, or job-site assets rather than thousands of e-commerce orders. Its visual approach uses photos and mobile access, with barcode and QR scanning, low-stock alerts, purchase orders, pick lists, stock counts, offline mobile access, activity history, and reports.
Sortly’s unique-item limits are:
| Plan level | Unique items | Displayed price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 100 | $0 |
| Advanced | 500 | $49/month monthly; $24/month for the first annual year |
| Ultra | 2,000 | $149/month monthly; $74/month for the first annual year |
| Premium | 5,000 | Higher tier |
| Enterprise | 10,000+ | Custom or higher tier |
The important distinction is that Sortly counts unique items, not physical quantity. Ten identical hammers count as one unique item if they share the same Sortly ID. But red, blue, and black versions—or separate sizes—can count as separate items. A catalog with many variants can therefore hit the limit much sooner than its unit count suggests.
The annual prices shown for Advanced and Ultra are promotional first-year prices. The 50% annual discount applies to the first year for new customers; after that, the annual discount becomes 20%. Compare the regular monthly price with the renewal price before treating the promotional amount as an ongoing cost.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How to choose inventory software without overspending
- Count orders, not just products. A low SKU count does not help if you process more orders than the plan allows. Check monthly and annual order limits, including overage charges.
- List every location. Include warehouses, stores, vehicles, job sites, and third-party fulfillment locations. A cheap plan can become unsuitable if it only supports one location.
- Separate units, SKUs, and variants. Sortly limits unique items, while other products may limit orders, locations, users, or active SKUs. Size and color variants can materially change the cost.
- Decide whether you need serial or batch tracking. Serial numbers are useful for individually identified equipment. Batch numbers are more appropriate for grouped products such as food, cosmetics, or manufactured lots.
- Price integrations and add-ons. Cin7 Core charges for additional integrations; inFlow lists paid add-ons; Katana’s upgrade flow can add selected extras. Include these charges in the annual software budget.
- Test the physical workflow. During a trial, receive a purchase order, move stock between locations, scan a barcode, pick an order, ship it, and process a return. The software must fit the warehouse routine, not merely look good in a feature list.
What inventory software should cost a small business
For basic stock control, a free plan can be enough if one person manages one location and the order limit is realistic. Zoho’s $29-per-month Standard plan is the lowest-cost full-featured starting point in this shortlist. It costs $348 per year before taxes and provides substantially more room than its free tier.
Best Value
- CCD Image Scanning Technology - NetumScan 1D barcode reader is equiped with advanced CCD sensor, which can quick capture 1D codes from paper and screen, including CODE128, UPC/EAN Add on 2 or 5, that can read even deformed barcodes, i.e. smudged, damaged, fuzzy, reflective barcodes, etc. Reading faster and more accurate than laser scanner.
- Sturdy Anti-shock and Durable Design - Ergonomic design with high-quality ABS making it can support withstand repeated drops from 2m high to the concrete ground, durable to use. Durable plastic material guarantees long service life.
- Three scanning mode - Key trigger mode + Auto-induction mode + Continuous Mode. There is no need to pull the trigger in auto-sensing mode and continuous scanning. Sometimes the self-sensing scanning function is in the inactive stage, please contact us and be at your service at any time.
- Supported 1D Bar Code - 1D Decode Capability: UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, ISSN, ISBN, Code 128, GS1-128, Code39, Code93,Code32, Code11, UCC/EAN128, Interleaved 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Codabar(NW-7), MSI, Plessey, RSS, China Post, etc.
- Widely Use Range - This NetumScan Handheld USB barcode scanner can be used in supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouse, library, bookstore, drugstore, retail shop for file management, inventory tracking and POS(point of sale), etc.
At $99 to $179 per month, inFlow may make sense when fulfillment or manufacturing workflows save enough staff time to cover the subscription. Katana Core at $299 per month and Cin7 Core at $349 per month require a stronger business case. Those systems are priced for operational complexity, not simply for maintaining a product list.
Sortly can be inexpensive for tools and equipment, but its unique-item rules make it important to model variants before signing up. The right comparison is not just the advertised monthly price; it is the cost of the plan that supports your users, locations, order volume, integrations, and tracking requirements.
FAQ
What is the best inventory management software for a small business?
Zoho Inventory is the best general-purpose choice for many small businesses because its paid plans start at $29 per month when billed annually and include purchasing, orders, locations, barcode workflows, and reporting. The free plan may be sufficient for one user, one location, and up to 50 orders per month.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIs free inventory management software really free?
Free plans do not mean unlimited inventory. Zoho limits orders, users, and locations; Katana limits SKUs and locations; and Sortly limits unique items. Check the specific limit that matches your business before relying on a free tier.
What is the best inventory software for manufacturing?
Katana Cloud Inventory is the strongest manufacturing-focused option in this comparison because it combines bills of materials, production, purchasing, and inventory. Its current public paid pricing starts at $299 per month, not the outdated $99 figure sometimes shown in older articles.
What is the difference between Sortly and Zoho Inventory?
Sortly is primarily visual inventory and asset-tracking software for tools, equipment, supplies, and job sites. Zoho Inventory is better suited to sales orders, purchasing, warehouses, shipping, and multichannel product businesses. Sortly limits unique items, while Zoho’s tiers emphasize order volume, users, and locations.
The Bottom Line
Choose Zoho Inventory if you need affordable, general-purpose inventory control for a small business. Start with the free plan only if its 50-order, one-user, one-location limits fit your operation; otherwise, the $29-per-month annual Standard plan is the more practical entry point.
Choose Cin7 Core for established multichannel wholesale operations, Katana for manufacturing, inFlow for distribution and fulfillment, and Sortly for visual tracking of equipment and supplies. Before buying, calculate the full annual cost of users, locations, order volume, integrations, add-ons, and renewal pricing—not just the headline subscription.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
