BOMIST vs Carbon

BOMIST manages inventory and bills of materials for hardware teams and electronics manufacturing. It tracks parts, locations, usage, specifications, datasheets, and stock across multiple locations. Users can revise and compare BOMs, estimate batch costs, and identify missing parts for production. The software can create purchase lists when builds need inventory and combine them into supplier orders. Production tools cover reservations, kit lists, inventory adjustments after production, and customer and sales-order tracking. Supplier pricing and availability integrations include Octopart and distributor APIs such as DigiKey, Mouser, and TME. Data tools include CSV imports, CSV, JSON, HTML, and PDF exports, barcode printing and scanning, and a local REST API. Data remains locally accessible offline, while workspaces can sync through the cloud in real time. BOMIST lists Linux, macOS, and Windows, alongside API and self-hosted options. A free plan is available, as is a 14-day trial. The MAKER plan is $180 a year, billed annually at $15 a month; other paid plan details vary by tier.

Carbon combines ERP, MRP, MES, and QMS functions for manufacturers planning materials, running production, managing quality, and tracking actual costs. Product rules can generate bills of materials, routings, and quoted prices, with revision control and effectivity dates. Shop-floor tools include digital travelers, work instructions, QR and barcode tracking, and finite-capacity scheduling. First articles, nonconformances, CAPAs, and calibrations can be linked to production records, serials, and lots. Carbon is aimed at discrete manufacturers, including makers in defense, aerospace, automotive, medical devices, electronics, robotics, energy, space, semiconductors, and industrial equipment. Integrations include Onshape, SolidWorks, Slack, Jira, QuickBooks, Xero, and others. It provides REST endpoints, webhooks, an MCP server, and typed client generation for several languages. Deployment options include managed cloud, customer cloud accounts, Docker, on-premises, and air-gapped networks; air-gapped deployment is an Enterprise feature. Community includes core functionality under AGPL-3.0. Starter costs $40 a month, billed per user monthly, and a 30-day trial is listed.