InvenTree vs Katana

InvenTree is a free, open-source inventory management system for parts management and stock control. It organizes parts into categories and links them with suppliers and supplier items. Users can inspect stock by part, location, or build, serialize stock items, and record test results. The system supports BOM uploads in multiple formats and build management with automatic or manual stock allocation. Other listed functions include purchase and sales orders, stock alerts, reports from custom templates, and a REST API with a native Python binding library. Its Android and iOS app supports barcode-based stock actions, editing part and stock information, and receiving purchase orders. Deployment options include Docker, a single-line installer, FreeBSD AppJail, bare-metal installation, and a DigitalOcean marketplace app. The project describes the software as lightweight and designed for small and medium businesses and hobbyist applications. It provides documentation and public issue tracking; paid support contracts and customizations may be requested. The free MIT-licensed plan supports self-hosted deployment and includes no support or maintenance obligation.

Katana is web-based inventory and order management software with barcode scanning, purchase orders, sales orders and stock alerts. Its permanent Free tier costs nothing, requires no credit card and has no expiry date. Free includes 30 SKUs, unlimited users, unlimited integrations and unlimited inventory locations. Core starts at $299 a month, scales with usage and add-ons, and includes unlimited SKUs, users and integrations with one inventory location. Advantage has no listed price and offers custom integrations, custom dashboards and reports, custom automations and workflows, a dedicated Solutions Engineer, SLA-backed maintenance and regular CSM check-ins. Katana is available on the web, with no mobile apps listed. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia. The tiers create a clear capacity trade-off: Free allows unlimited inventory locations but limits SKUs to 30, while Core removes the SKU limit and provides one location.