Free inventory software can offer small businesses a cost-effective way to manage their stock. But you also get what you pay for. These trackers are typically light on features, so when looking for the right software, make sure it at least supports your current operations — whether you need a mobile inventory app with a barcode scanner, access for multiple employees or low stock alerts.
Here are some of the best free inventory software products and their standout features.
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Starting at
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $39, $99, $159, $299.
on Zoho Inventory’s website
Pros
- Sync inventory across multiple online sales channels. Other integrations include Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online for accounting.
- Free plan includes invoice customization, shipping labels, backorders and item bundling.
- Free barcode, purchase order and shipping label generators.
- Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- Free plan caps users at one, purchase orders at 20 and sales orders at 50.
Zoho Inventory
Best for Overall free inventory software
Best for Overall free inventory software
Starting at
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $39, $99, $159, $299.
on Zoho Inventory’s website
Pros
- Sync inventory across multiple online sales channels. Other integrations include Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online for accounting.
- Free plan includes invoice customization, shipping labels, backorders and item bundling.
- Free barcode, purchase order and shipping label generators.
- Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- Free plan caps users at one, purchase orders at 20 and sales orders at 50.
Starting at
Free plan; $49 Plus plan; $149 Premium plan.
Pros
- Built-in POS system and payment processing; in-house POS hardware available.
- Unlimited items and low stock alerts.
- Weekday live chat and phone support.
- Barcode printing, mobile inventory counting tool, COGS tracking, stock forecasts and reorder recommendations in paid plans.
- Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- Coupons and sale prices don’t sync between Square Online and Square POS.
- Fewer inventory reports than some competitors.
Square POS (inventory feature)
Best for Free retail inventory software
Best for Free retail inventory software
Starting at
Free plan; $49 Plus plan; $149 Premium plan.
Pros
- Built-in POS system and payment processing; in-house POS hardware available.
- Unlimited items and low stock alerts.
- Weekday live chat and phone support.
- Barcode printing, mobile inventory counting tool, COGS tracking, stock forecasts and reorder recommendations in paid plans.
- Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- Coupons and sale prices don’t sync between Square Online and Square POS.
- Fewer inventory reports than some competitors.
Starting at
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $49, $149, $299, custom.
Pros
- Free plan includes an in-app barcode scanner for checking items in and out.
- Mobile app organizes inventory counts by item photo to make them easier to read.
- Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- Free plan doesn’t include low stock alerts and caps item types at 100.
- Must subscribe to Premium plan to integrate with QuickBooks.
- No built-in e-commerce integrations.
Sortly
Best for Free inventory app
Best for Free inventory app
Starting at
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $49, $149, $299, custom.
Pros
- Free plan includes an in-app barcode scanner for checking items in and out.
- Mobile app organizes inventory counts by item photo to make them easier to read.
- Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- Free plan doesn’t include low stock alerts and caps item types at 100.
- Must subscribe to Premium plan to integrate with QuickBooks.
- No built-in e-commerce integrations.
Starting at
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $9, $19, $49, $99, $199, $299.
Pros
- Unlimited locations.
- Free plan includes invoicing, purchase orders, barcoding, shipment tracking and CRM features.
Cons
- Free plan is limited to one user and 100 combined accounts, unique SKUs and orders.
- You’ll need to select the Bronze plan ($19 monthly) or up to integrate with QuickBooks Online, Xero, WooCommerce and Zapier.
- Mobile app for iOS only.
SalesBinder
Best for Tracking inventory across multiple locations
Best for Tracking inventory across multiple locations
Starting at
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $9, $19, $49, $99, $199, $299.
Pros
- Unlimited locations.
- Free plan includes invoicing, purchase orders, barcoding, shipment tracking and CRM features.
Cons
- Free plan is limited to one user and 100 combined accounts, unique SKUs and orders.
- You’ll need to select the Bronze plan ($19 monthly) or up to integrate with QuickBooks Online, Xero, WooCommerce and Zapier.
- Mobile app for iOS only.
Pros
- Unlimited users, items and locations.
- Includes inventory tracking basics, like the ability to enter sales returns and record inventory transfers.
Cons
- Not as feature-rich as some other free options. Reports are limited to inventory transactions and count lists, and there is no integration option, barcode scanning tool or ability to sync online and in-store inventory.
- No phone support.
- No mobile app.
Stockpile by Canvus
Best for Free inventory tracker with unlimited items and users
Best for Free inventory tracker with unlimited items and users
Pros
- Unlimited users, items and locations.
- Includes inventory tracking basics, like the ability to enter sales returns and record inventory transfers.
Cons
- Not as feature-rich as some other free options. Reports are limited to inventory transactions and count lists, and there is no integration option, barcode scanning tool or ability to sync online and in-store inventory.
- No phone support.
- No mobile app.
Starting at
Additional pricing tiers per location (per month): $99, $149.
Promotion
of the Essential or Professional plan.
Pros
- Unlimited number of users, even with the free plan.
- Ability to calculate pour costs and drink profits.
- Cost out up to 10 recipes.
- Access to detailed inventory and purchase reports.
Cons
- Limited to a single restaurant or bar location and only six months of reporting history for the free plan.
- Paid plan is required to access more advanced reporting options as well as priority customer support.
Backbar
Best for Free bar and restaurant inventory management
Best for Free bar and restaurant inventory management
Starting at
Additional pricing tiers per location (per month): $99, $149.
Promotion
of the Essential or Professional plan.
Pros
- Unlimited number of users, even with the free plan.
- Ability to calculate pour costs and drink profits.
- Cost out up to 10 recipes.
- Access to detailed inventory and purchase reports.
Cons
- Limited to a single restaurant or bar location and only six months of reporting history for the free plan.
- Paid plan is required to access more advanced reporting options as well as priority customer support.
Starting at
For use of a single app. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $31.10, $46.80.
Promotion
for the first 12 months.
Pros
- Unlimited users.
- Vast library of directly integrated apps means the software can grow with your business.
- Open-source model encourages regular testing and improvement of the software.
Cons
- Paid plan is required to access the full list of features for most apps and any additional apps.
- Phone support is only available for database emergencies.
Odoo
Best for Free warehouse inventory management
Best for Free warehouse inventory management
Starting at
For use of a single app. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $31.10, $46.80.
Promotion
for the first 12 months.
Pros
- Unlimited users.
- Vast library of directly integrated apps means the software can grow with your business.
- Open-source model encourages regular testing and improvement of the software.
Cons
- Paid plan is required to access the full list of features for most apps and any additional apps.
- Phone support is only available for database emergencies.
Jump to
A closer look at the best free inventory management software
Best for overall free inventory software
Why we picked it: Zoho Inventory’s free plan supports up to 50 sales orders and shipping labels per month, 20 purchase orders per month, one warehouse and one user. These limits scale as you subscribe to higher-tier plans, but the cost of its entry-level paid plan is greater than other providers. The software also integrates with a variety of online marketplaces including Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.
Best for retail inventory software
Best for free inventory app
Why we picked it: Sortly’s inventory management app is easy to navigate and provides a clear overview of how many items you have in stock and their value. Inventory lists incorporate photos to make scrolling less tedious, too. You’ll have to upgrade to the most expensive plan, however, if you want to generate your own barcodes.
Best for tracking inventory across multiple locations
Best for free inventory tracker with unlimited items and users
Why we picked it: With Stockpile’s free inventory management software, you’ll be able to import and add inventory, track stock counts, accept returns and more. The software also supports images and labels for inventory items, as well as transferring inventory from one location to another. Stockpile isn’t ideal for businesses that need advanced reporting or have an online store since it doesn’t include any built-in integrations, but it can be a solid fit if you just want to keep track of a large number of items across physical locations.
Best for free bar and restaurant inventory management
Best for free warehouse inventory management
If you have a need for the full suite of inventory management features and/or any of Odoo’s dozens of other business apps (for finance, sales, marketing, HR and more), then you can choose a paid plan to open your access to the full library of apps that integrate seamlessly.
Best free inventory management software features comparison
|
Zoho Inventory |
Online sales, plus one physical warehouse. |
Accounting and e-commerce. |
Yes. |
Yes. |
|
Square for Retail |
Online and in-store sales across multiple locations. |
Accounting, e-commerce and POS. |
Yes, but must subscribe to paid plan to print barcodes. |
Yes. |
|
Sortly |
Supports multiple physical locations, but there are no built-in e-commerce integrations. |
No. |
Yes, but must subscribe to Ultra plan or higher to generate custom barcodes. |
Yes. |
|
SalesBinder |
Supports unlimited physical locations, but must subscribe to Bronze plan or higher for e-commerce integration. |
Must subscribe to Bronze plan or higher to access integrations for QuickBooks Online, Xero or WooCommerce. |
Yes. |
Yes, but only for iOS. |
|
Stockpile by Canvus |
Supports unlimited physical locations, but there are no built-in e-commerce integrations. |
No. |
No. |
No. |
|
Backbar |
In-store sales; paid plan required for multiple locations. |
POS. |
Yes. |
Yes. |
|
Odoo |
Supports multiple physical locations, though paid plan may be required; paid plan is required to access e-commerce integrations. |
Odoo’s Sales app and Purchase app. |
Yes, but must subscribe to paid plan. |
Yes. |
What is free inventory software?
At a minimum, free inventory software allows you to track how much stock you have on hand at no cost. Some products also track the raw materials or parts needed to produce the finished goods. This is important because inventory is considered an asset that businesses, especially retail ones, trade it for payment. Simple inventory tracking software should let you know which items are running low and help you predict how much stock to buy, so that you can keep up with demand.
Learn more about managing inventory
How to choose free inventory management software
Consider the following factors and weigh them in the context of your business to determine which free inventory software is the right fit for your company’s needs.
Free inventory trackers typically come with fewer features than paid options but typically include a combination of the following: basic reporting, low stock alerts, some digital labeling and scanning capabilities and mobile functionality.
Some free inventory products go above and beyond the basics by offering purchase order management, dropshipping options and item bundling. Make a list of the features that are most important to your business and find simple inventory software that offers at least a majority of them. However, don’t expect to get everything you need for free.
Even plans with many free features come with some limitations. Zoho Inventory’s free plan, for example, puts caps on purchase orders and sales orders. If you know your business will surpass those limits, it’s probably worth subscribing to a paid plan or searching for an alternative.
Free inventory management software can fit into any business’s budget. But if a slightly more expensive inventory tracker saves you time that would otherwise be spent manually tracking your inventory — or prevents costly mistakes in ordering or tracking items — it may be worth the price in the long run.
How many people will need access to your inventory management app? Simple inventory tracking software will often have a small cap, sometimes allowing only a single user.
Be sure to include yourself and anyone filling or counting inventory, and maybe even your accountant. Any inventory management system — free or not — can be useless if the right people don’t have access. Additional users typically come at a cost and might require you to upgrade plans. While Stockpile by Canvus is rudimentary compared with some other free options, the fact that it allows an unlimited number of users is unique.
Last updated on January 2, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
The best free inventory management software for you will depend on what features you need. Do you want to be able to scan items with a handheld device? In that case, a product with a capable mobile app is a must. The software should accommodate enough users, items and locations to cover the entire scope of your business’s operations, too. And don’t forget to make sure it integrates with your existing accounting or POS software.
NerdWallet ranks Zoho Inventory as the best free option because you can use it to send invoice and purchase orders, run inventory reports, access dropshipping options, combine multiple items into a kit, integrate sales channels and more. The variety of payment gateway options is a plus, too.
Methodology
All of NerdWallet’s picks for best free inventory management software track inventory counts, offer basic reporting and include at least two of the following features at no cost:
• The ability to sync inventory from multiple sales channels, whether online, offline or both.
• A mobile app.
• Unlimited users.
• Third-party integrations.
• Barcode scanning.
• Low stock alerts.
• Purchase orders.
Some products, like Stockpile by Canvus, have an especially limited feature set but stand out for supporting things its free competitors typically do not, like unlimited items, users and locations.
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