If you are running a small e-commerce business you know keeping track of your stocks, orders, and sales can be a hassle. It is time-consuming and more than that, expensive. Especially if you are starting out. But do not worry, we got you. Free inventory management software can help.
With this e-commerce inventory management software, E-commerce businesses can strike the perfect balance between supply and demand as they:
- help to keep track of their inventory levels
- manage stocks
- automate tasks as necessary
- increase profit
- reduce customer support inquiries.
One of the key benefits is that it can help marketplaces replenish their stocks based on their purchase order histories ensuring they have enough stock according to customers’ demand.
We have come up with lists of free inventory management software for e-commerce businesses and given our honest review.
Criteria for selecting the best free inventory management software for your small e-commerce business
While each inventory management software has its own unique features, Here are the criteria you should consider while selecting an e-commerce business:
- Cost-effectiveness:
Having affordable e-commerce inventory management software increase in profit and value and helps in growth. You do not have to worry about budget or other optional subscriptions.
- Ease of use:
As a business owner, you should always look for software which has easy to navigate, use and understand. It helps you and your team work more efficiently and productively.
- Integration Capabilities:
Integration capabilities are the amongst most important features to look up to. They help different software work together and give accurate information, optimize the supply chain, and help in growth.
- Customer support:
If you are a small e-commerce business owner or just starting out, you must look for Inventory management software with 24/7 customer support. So that you can get help when you’re in need. The vendor should provide self-service options, live chat, call service, email, and social media.
Considering the above criteria, we’ve selected the following 7 free inventory management software for your small e-commerce business.
Bonus app
Top 7 best FREE inventory management software for small e-commerce businesses.
1. Zoho Inventory
Zoho Inventory is one of the best inventory management software for small businesses with tight budgets. It is beginner friendly and offers free orders of up to 50 per month.
It also securely streamlines warehousing, order fulfillment, and reporting for small to midsize businesses.
Zoho inventory integrates from online sales channels like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. It allows E-commerce business owners to track sales across all channels in real-time and get the orders’ status, hence filling up stock as per orders status.
It manages GST billing and generates GST-compliant invoices with appropriate tax rates and GST identification number details, thus saving time and reducing the risk of error in the process.
Other inventory management benefits of Zoho :
Easy Onboarding:
Zoho inventory management is user-friendly, with clear navigation and easy workflow. It provides step-by-step videos, guides, online training, and webinars to help its users run the software more effectively.
Easy management of employees:
E-commerce business owners can track their employees’ data and access it from anywhere with different systems, making communicating with them easy. If your employee terminates in the future, you don’t have to worry about going through different applications and changing passwords so they don’t have access to your data, just deactivate, and you are good to go.
Managing and tracking:
Zoho supports barcode scanning, which allows businesses a fast and accurate way to track their inventory movements.
With Zoho, you can easily integrate Inventory with your e-commerce website or major third-party platforms, such as Amazon, Etsy, or eBay. You can easily manage both online and offline orders.
Warehouse management:
It allows businesses to map their warehouse locations, thus making it easy to transfer stock between warehouses, track movements, and generate insights from this feature.
Limitations of Zoho’s inventory management software:
Although Zoho offers many offers and benefits, it has a few drawbacks
- The customer support calls are only limited to aid users, not the free plan.
- Deciding on features, you need is a bit complicated as users are overwhelmed with the pricing plans.
- The mobile app is slow and not user-friendly.
Zoho Inventory free pricing plan:
At the time of writing this article, Zoho Inventory had a 4.5 rating with a total of 371 reviews. Here’s what a user has to say:
2. ODOO
Odoo inventory management software helps e-commerce businesses track stock levels, monitor product movement and optimize warehouse management.
It is an open-source inventory management software that helps in cost-effectiveness, customization, and continuous innovation.
Odoo has a total of 13000 third-party apps so that users can integrate with other applications and tools.
Oddo has a review of 4.1 out of 5.
Other E-commerce inventory management features include:
Flexibility:
The Oddo Inventory management system can easily manage both single inventory activities and large multi-warehouse operations. It has several modules and features and it lets e-commerce business owners customize their business according to their brand theme and awareness level.
Inventory management:
Odoo enables businesses multiple warehouses and locations. Barcoding and scanning are used to streamline business operations. It is used to transfer stocks between different locations. It also provides a range of analytical reports and inventory valuations to help businesses make informed decisions at every stage of planning.
Easy integration:
It has a hassle-free integration and user-friendly app store that means any non-developer can design, customize and perform his own tasks.
Modular system:
It is a modular system with 30 core modules to choose from. E-commerce business owners can see and add modules as they like. Since Odoo is well integrated with third-party apps, it can seamlessly be used to improve business processes.
Convenient budget:
Many other ERP platforms are on the pricey side, but Odoo being open source can be convenient for e-commerce business owners on tight budgets. You can get access to its license without any cost.
However, it has a few downsides:
- The main drawback of Oddo is the learning curve for beginners which can be very steep and requires extensive training to master its features.
- There is no separate package for smaller or large businesses which can lead to additional costs for custom add-ons.
ODOO inventory has a free pricing plan:
At the time of writing this article, ODOO has a rating of 4.1 and 667 reviews.
Here is what an Oddo user has to say:
3. ABC INVENTORY
ABC inventory management software is best for Repair shops and manufacturing. Unlike Zoho, it provides a lot of features that catered to the needs of manufacturing inventory such as work orders, approvals, repair, and manufacture orders.
For E-commerce businesses looking for global expansion and localization ABC is available in multiple languages and currencies.
It improves user experience and fosters better collaboration and experience, enhancing access for a diverse range of users.
OTHER INVENTORY MANAGEMENT BENEFITS INCLUDE:
Budget-friendly:
One of the biggest perks of ABC inventory is that it is absolutely free for small and midsize Ecommerce businesses with features like unlimited custom fields, 10 custom drop-down lists for extra properties, and 20 levels in the bill of materials(BOM).
Inventory management:
It offers dozens of features that cover various aspects of inventory management beating Zoho, such as work orders, approvals, repair, and maintenance orders.
Warehouse Management:
Unlike other software it allows you to have unlimited warehouses, including location management, create and manage warehouse management, inventory tracking, and integration and automation.
Unlimited Records:
ABC inventory offers one of the best values i.e. no limit on stock items, sales, purchase orders, and warehouse.
While ABC is powerful with its features, it may not be as efficient; below are some limitations;
Limitations
- Unlike Odoo and Zoho inventory, Abc inventory management software is not mobile-friendly.
- It does not provide any integrations as API or CRM as Zoho and Odoo did.
- It has an outdated interface and provides no integration.
- It has next to no customer support.
ABC inventory free pricing plan:
At the time of writing this article, ABC inventory has 4.3 ratings and 3 reviews.
Here is what users of ABC inventory have to say:
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4. inFlow inventory
From integrating barcode scanners at every step of your workflow to preparing custom order shipments, Inflow inventory management software does it all.
inFlow inventory management software has a modern and responsive user interface unlike ABC inventory mentioned above, with high visuals making it easy to navigate.
It has a 14 days free plan. It also offers cloud-based software that starts at $99.
Other benefits include:
Easy integration:
Even if you have never used inventory software before, you can easily learn how to set up this software. It is very easy to navigate and manage.
Inventory features:
It provides inventory features like barcode scanning to track inventory movement, products, sales, reports, and purchasing.
Customer Service:
Customer service is rated top-notch by its consumers. Quick start and troubleshooting guide and chat support are available from 2 pm-4 pm on weekdays.
Scalability:
Offers cloud-based and Windows installation; the mobile app works on iOS and Android devices along with separate inFlow Smart Scanners (built-in laser scanners on Android Smartphones).
Here are some cons you should look into
- inFlow lacks cohesion with top integrations.
- Few to no supply chain management features.
PRICING AND PLANS:
InFlow inventory has a free trial :
At the time of writing this article, inFlow inventory has a rating of 4.6 with a total of 451 reviews.
Here is what a user has to say:
5. Stockpile
Stockpile by Canvus Apps is a cloud-based inventory management software designed to track and manage inventory.
It is a free software best for small and midsize businesses, all you need is a valid email address and you are good to go.
Its most loved feature is that it also allows unlimited users, unlimited items, and unlimited locations all for free.
OTHER INVENTORY MANAGEMENT FEATURES INCLUDE:
eBay integration:
Stockpile provides a clean and simple user-friendly interface making it easy to navigate. It also offers a quick setup process so you can enter your stock levels and locations without any expertise.
Inventory tracking:
Stockpile offers various inventory features to keep track of your inventory. It records inventory at different locations and transactional data and provides reports and analysis.
Stock management:
It offers a great online inventory tracking system. Stock alerts and notifications are provided to ensure timely actions.
Multiple locations:
You can manage inventory through multiple locations and warehouses in the stockpile. This feature allows businesses to track and control different locations, warehouses, stores, and different centers.
Here are a few cons you should keep in mind:
- No barcode and scanning features are available
- No presence of API
- No customer support database
Pricing and plans:
Stockpile is free inventory management software.
At the time of writing this article, Stockpile has a rating of 4.7 and 7 reviews. Here is what a customer has to say:
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6. Skyware inventory
Skyware Inventory is a secure database-driven web application for online inventory tracking and management.
The system automates your daily inventory tasks into one simple software for your business.It is a better alternative as compared to other overpriced software.
They provide features to monitor incoming and outgoing items, view transaction histories, track sales tax, upload related documents, and more.
OTHER INVENTORY MANAGEMENT FEATURES INCLUDE
Easy integration:
Setting up an account is fast and hassle-free, and users have the option to customize their feature set at any stage.
Budget-friendly:
This is free software when used by a single user and $3 for adding more users.
Mobile-friendly:
It is available on desktops, laptop tablets, and phones.
Flexibility:
Skyware software has flexible settings options to streamline the process. It also allows third-party integration.
CONS:
- The range of features is limited.
- No support for barcode scanning.
- Lacks detailed reporting.
Pricing Plans:
Skyware Inventory offers a free pricing plan:
At the time of writing this article, Skyware has 4.2 ratings and 4 reviews.
Here is what a user has to say:
7. Sortly
Sortly is an inventory management tool designed for small businesses, warehouses, and e-commerce stores.
It has barcode scanning capabilities and custom fields.
It offers specialized functionalities to some industries like medicine and healthcare, construction, IT, real estate, school, universities, etc.
OTHER INVENTORY MANAGEMENT BENEFITS:
1. Inventory tracking:
Sortly lets you track suppliers, equipment, product, rentals, and more just from one system. You will never lose track of any product in any location as all purchases are automatically recorded and synced in the cloud.
2. Easy integration:
Sortly is easy to navigate with a lot of albeit features. You do not have any technical knowledge to use it making it hassle-free.
3. Device friendly:
It supports various devices and systems. It can run easily on computers, tablets, and IOS and Android phones.
4. Barcode Scanner:
One of the biggest strengths of Sortly is its QR codes, and the barcode scanner makes it easy to keep track of inventory and your stocks.
CONS:
- Zero integrations are available with other apps or systems.
- It lacks shipping and accounting features.
- There is no option for direct sales to online customers.
PRICING PLANS:
It has a free pricing plan:
At the time of writing this article, sortly has a 4.3 rating and 83 reviews. Here is what a customer has to say:
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BONUS APP
8.Stok.ly
Stock.ly offers a cloud-based inventory management and stock control system for e-commerce businesses selling online and in-store.
It is designed for B2B and B2C businesses selling via telesales, trade counters, and field sales.
E-commerce business owners can have real-time inventory control across their entire business, including stores, eCommerce channels, and warehouses.
OTHER INVENTORY MANAGEMENT BENEFITS INCLUDE
1. Barcode Scanning:
This feature helps in identifying stock locations and improves accuracy and speed on a daily basis.
2. Warehouse Management:
Stock.ly provides a multi-locations warehouse system so items can be stored in multiple locations and barcode scanning can identify stock.
3. Sales Order Management:
Stok.ly offers features and options to process more than 1000s of sales per day. It saves hours on processing orders manually.
4.ePOS:
With multi-user and multi-location, the ePos works online and offline across Windows, Android, and iOS.
Customer Support:
It has good customer support. It provides FAQs, chat, and forums to understand and help its users.
Some cons are:
- There isn’t 24/7 customer support.
- The training resources are limited only to webinars. No live online, no videos, and no documentation making the learning curve slow.
Pricing and plans:
As of writing this article stock.ly has a rating of 4.5 and 28 reviews.
Here is what the users have to say :
Wrapping Up: Free Inventory Management Software
When it comes to inventory management software, having the right set of features is going to be the stepping stone to success in your online e-commerce business. Above we mentioned 7 free inventory software available best for e-commerce, but you have to keep in mind that freedom comes with limitations.
After reading the article it must be clear the features you should look up to; Here are our recommendations.
ZOHO inventory, ODOO inventory, and inFlow inventory are the best free inventory management software for e-commerce available.