Best Inventory Management Software of 2026

Here's what we'll cover:

What you need to know about inventory management software

What is inventory management software?

Essential features of inventory management software

Benefits and competitive advantages of using inventory management software

How to choose the best inventory management software for your business

Software related to inventory management

More resources for your inventory management journey

What you need to know about inventory management software

Inventory management software automates inventory management tasks—it tracks stock levels, manages customer orders, and forecasts product demand on behalf of businesses, so they can save time and money and maintain balanced stock levels. In the past year, Software Advice advisors spoke with 1,446 inventory management buyers to help match them with the right tool. [1]

Here’s a quick overview of the inventory management software market: we list 886 vendors on our site, and we’ve published over 6,700 verified user reviews for those products in the past year alone. [2] This kind of software is essential for any business that produces, sells, rents, stores, or otherwise uses physical products and materials, but there are many different subtypes of inventory management software that are specialized to specific use cases. The tool you select will depend in large part on the type of business you run and the kinds of stock you manage. 

Cost will also help determine which product you should choose. When priced at a flat monthly rate, inventory management software ranges in price from $92 per month for entry-level tools to up to $2,250 per month for higher-end tools. Some inventory management software is priced on a per-user per-month basis, which can range from $18 per user per month on the low end to up to $150 per user per month for high-end products. Many vendors offer free products or free trials of paid subscription plans. [3]

First-time buyers should start their search for inventory management software with a budget in mind, as well as an idea of the number of user seats they’ll need, specific use cases, and integration requirements. Align stakeholders on the following list of critical pre-purchase questions to ensure you find the right tool:

• How many physical storage locations do we need this software to support?

• What kinds of stock does this tool need to manage? Are they perishable goods, non-perishables, finished materials, raw materials, or rental stock?

• Do end users find this software easy to use?

• Does this tool integrate well with our existing software for accounting, point-of-sale, eCommerce, CRM, or ERP?

• Is this software cloud-based, or will we need to store data on our own servers? 

Because there are so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know where to get started when browsing for inventory management software. This guide is designed to support you during the process by telling you what you need to know about this software and how to choose the right product for your business, including what features to look for, costs to keep in mind, and tips for the implementation phase. It also provides some expert tips from Software Advice advisors Saul Sanchez and Bryan Dengler, who have nearly 10 years of combined experience helping software buyers find the right tools. Scheduling a consultation is easy—reach out to our advisors here. 

What is inventory management software?

Inventory management software is designed to track and manage items through various stages along the supply chain. Features include stock level management, inventory item categorization, sales order and purchase order tracking, barcode scanning, and automatic reorder point purchasing.

Retail businesses can typically use scaled-down systems focused on maintaining perpetual inventory data and inventory levels, whereas businesses with complex supply chains often use the inventory management functionality built into ERP systems or with strong warehouse management integrations.

Depending on the complexity of your asset tracking and physical inventory needs, you may require features to support multiple sales channels, multiple warehouse management, and a mobile app. We'll get into more detail below.

Essential features of inventory management software

All products categorized as inventory management software include three core features: inventory optimization, inventory tracking, and product identification. Common features of this category that also come with most tools include inventory control, barcode scanning, order management, and analytics. Most tools also come with mobile access, and some include eCommerce management or warehouse management functionality. We analyzed thousands of reviews and spoke to nearly 1,500 software buyers in the past year to give you insight into which features real inventory management software users deem the most critical. 

Core inventory management software features

Common inventory management software features

Benefits and competitive advantages of using inventory management software

Saul Sanchez is a Software Advice advisor who has helped hundreds of software buyers find tools for inventory management, ERP, and MRP. Based on his conversations with buyers, one of the biggest challenges that businesses face when they use outdated or manual methods of tracking inventory is a lack of real-time visibility into stock levels, which makes it hard to know how much stock they’re using and when to reorder it. Inventory management software automatically tracks inventory as it moves in and out of storage, and alerts users when stock is low, so businesses can avoid stockouts and production bottlenecks. 

“With Excel spreadsheets, you don't really have a live count of what’s going into production,” says Sanchez. “[These businesses] don't know how much inventory is going into their products or they just want to get a better overall account of the amount of inventory going into the product. They want to be alerted when their inventory levels are low. that way, they can plan efficiently for their next project.” 

In addition to providing real-time stock levels, inventory management software benefits businesses in other ways:

• Support during a growth phase: Dedicated inventory management software saves you time and money by handling the manual work of tracking the flow of inventory for you. It can more easily take on increases in inventory volume or transactions than a person or team of people can, often for no or little added cost. This flexibility means this software can grow with you as your business grows. 

• Time-saving automation: Manually tracking inventory can be tedious. Automated stock level tracking takes human error and guesswork out of the equation. 

• Forecasting future demand: Inventory management software helps you determine how much stock to order based on product data. This helps businesses avoid the costly issue of being under- or over-stocked and gives insight into the frequency at which products are being used or purchased. 

The benefits of inventory management software compound when you integrate it with other tools, such as those for accounting, manufacturing, eCommerce management, or retail point of sale.

How to choose the best inventory management software for your business

1. Define your requirements

Before buying an inventory management tool, you need to identify what your business needs. Here’s what to keep in mind as you narrow your search down to your best options.

Know your inventory and desired use cases

Bryan Dengler is another Software Advice advisor who has been helping buyers find the right tools in the inventory management, warehouse management, and manufacturing industries. He encourages buyers to consider how the type of inventory they work with will determine the use cases they want their new software purchases to satisfy. “One thing that I always try to drill down on with people is the kind of inventory they’re looking to track,” says Dengler. “Are we talking raw materials that you're using for production, or maybe inventory that you're using internally for maintenance? Do you need the software to track inventory through production? Or is it internal inventory for things like spare parts?” With that information, buyers can narrow in on tools that support specific types of inventory, or look for fuller solutions that support multiple use cases. 

Know your needs around automation, integrations, and security

The level of automation and security varies among inventory management tools and can impact pricing. Your business may want to consider products with cutting-edge AI-powered features, or you may find better options at a lower price point that offer less automation. Similarly, how your new software stores data determines how much you’ll pay, how easily you can integrate it with other tools, and how that data is protected.

Cloud-based inventory management software can be accessed online and offers remote access, subscription pricing, provider-managed updates, easy scalability, and integration with other cloud apps. On-premise software is installed locally and requires significant upfront investment, user-managed maintenance, greater customization, and more control over security. Each suits different needs based on budget, IT resources, and scalability.

Consider the full cost of adoption

When purchasing software, it’s important to find a tool that fits within your budget, provides support for future growth phases, and has all the features and functionality you need. Your budget should include the initial cost of adopting the software, plus common long-term costs, like upgrade fees, maintenance fees, or data storage fees. 

Ease of use is an overlooked factor that often adds cost in the long term. You need to select a tool that’s easy enough to learn that it doesn’t impact end users’ work to the extent that it costs your business too much time and money in the onboarding phase and beyond. Choose a user-friendly tool that you’re likely to stick with, from a vendor that provides responsive customer support, and you can save yourself some money and headaches over time. 

2. Make a shortlist

As you browse our catalog of 886 inventory management products, put together a shortlist of 2-3 products and vendors that would be a good fit for your business, based on the requirements you identified in step 1. Here are a few strategies for creating your shortlist. 

Get qualified help from an advisor

Software Advice advisors like Saul Sanchez and Bryan Dengler have experience helping hundreds of businesses find inventory management solutions that support their unique needs and budgets. For advice from experts like them, you can chat online with us right now or schedule a phone call. During your conversation, these advisors can help you identify a shortlist of options that align with your requirements. 

Check out the leading inventory management tools

Want to do some of your own research before speaking with an advisor? Explore our inventory management FrontRunners report. This is a list of products that have earned top user ratings. 

To be eligible for consideration, products must:

• Have at least 20 unique user reviews from the last 24 months

• Be a stand-alone WMS product

• Offer these core features: inventory management, order management, and receiving

Check out our full methodology for a more detailed understanding of how we compiled the FrontRunners list. 

3. Select your best option

Once you’ve put together a shortlist, it’s time to get in touch with vendors to learn more about your top options through demos and free trials. 

Schedule vendor demos 

Demo sessions allow you to see how software works and get personalized information about pricing, features, technical support, and training resources. You should ask the following questions during these demo sessions:

• What kind of customer support do you offer?

• How frequently do you update your software?

• What customizations do you offer in your subscription plans? 

• How do you protect customer data?  

Be sure to include end users at your business in the demo sessions, so they can give their opinion on how user-friendly the software seems before you buy it and learn the hard way. 

Be sure to engage all the vendors on your shortlist so you can get the full picture of your options. 

Take advantage of free trials 

Free trials are the best way to try out each product on your shortlist and can protect you from making a disastrous purchase of a tool that turns out to be buggy or not user-friendly. Involve end users and your IT team in free trials so you can get the most helpful feedback. 

Don’t hesitate to make a final decision

Our research shows that software buyers are most satisfied with their purchases when they spend no more than three months evaluating their options. [4] Don’t drag out your deliberations—once you’ve identified a solid option through demos and free trials, go ahead and make your purchase decision so you can start reaping the tool’s benefits. 

4. Make the most of your new inventory management software

Once you’ve purchased your software, it’s time to implement it. Here are some tips for getting your new software up and running smoothly:

Train your team

To maximize the potential of your inventory management software, provide thorough training for your team. Conduct hands-on sessions and offer resources like videos and guides. Remember that even user-friendly products require an adjustment period.

Migrate data the right way

Clean and organize your existing inventory data before you migrate it to the new tool. Transferring inaccurate data makes implementation unnecessarily confusing and time-consuming. 

Integrate with existing processes

Integration involves more than just connecting systems; it requires aligning the new tool with your team's workflows. Assign responsibilities for tasks related to the software, establish communication guidelines, and customize features to enhance efficiency without complicating current processes.

Measure success

Begin tracking metrics like customer satisfaction, fill rate, and inventory accuracy right after implementation. Regularly review these KPIs to assess whether the new tool is boosting efficiency. You know your new tool is working if it’s helping you prevent stockouts and overstock, notifying you consistently when stock is low, and helping you forecast demand. 

You should also source feedback from end users and promptly address any bottlenecks concerning ease of use or further training needs. 

For more help with the implementation stage, check out our five-step guide to a successful software implementation.

Software related to inventory management

Depending on the size and complexity of their business, some buyers may need to look beyond inventory management tools to broad, integrated suites of software designed to manage multiple other areas of operation, including employees, production, supply chain, safety, suppliers, and accounting. Other buyers, such as those with direct-to-consumer retail businesses, may want more point-of-sale or eCommerce management functionality in addition to inventory management.

If this sounds like you, consider checking out these other software categories:

• Material requirements planning (MRP) software: This software helps businesses calculate the materials or components required for manufacturing processes. It is used to track inventory levels of materials, components, and products that should be kept in stock in order to fulfill production and meet demand.

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software: This software integrates all of an organization's departments and functions into a single system. These systems handle processes including manufacturing, logistics, distribution, inventory, shipping, invoicing, and accounting. ERP applications can also control business-side functions, including sales, billing, and human resources management. 

• eCommerce management software: eCommerce software enables businesses to conduct transactions for goods and services wholly or partially over the Internet. Typical features for eCommerce applications include online shopping carts, product cataloging, customer accounts, order tracking, and website management. eCommerce solutions often provide integration tools for inventory control, customer relationship management, and payment processing. eCommerce software is related to order management software and point of sale software.

• Supply chain management software: This software automates the entire supply chain lifecycle, from raw material management to delivery of finished goods to the consumer. These applications allow for organization-wide order processing, transportation, and warehouse management along with planning and forecasting functionalities. Supply chain management software provides for efficient operation through the distribution and synchronization of this key data across multiple locations.

• Warehouse management software: This software helps streamline the movement, tracking, and storage of materials throughout the warehouse. This type of software often includes inventory management, shipment tracking, and barcode scanning. These solutions are typically used by manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies to optimize supply chain operations. Warehouse Management software is related to Distribution software, Logistics software, and Inventory software. 

More resources for your inventory management journey

• 4 Key Asset Tracking Software Features and Top Products That Offer Them

• Economic Concerns, Talent Shortages, and Cybersecurity Are Top Challenges for SMB Supply Chains

• 5 Top-Rated AI Ecommerce Tools

• Cloud ERP vs. On-Premise ERP: What’s the Difference?

• 5 Top-Rated Manufacturing Software for Small Business

About our contributors

Author

Molly Burke is a senior analyst and writer for Software Advice. She covers customer experience and marketing in the retail and restaurant industries, with a focus on how emerging technology is transforming the way everyday people shop. Her research helps business owners make software investment decisions that will help them navigate the ever-shifting retail landscape.

Molly’s research and analysis is informed by more than 120,000 authentic user reviews on Software Advice and nearly 8,000 interactions between Software Advice software advisors and retail software buyers. Molly also regularly analyzes market sentiment by conducting surveys of retail and restaurant leaders, as well as consumers, so she can provide the most up-to-date and helpful information to small and midsize businesses purchasing software or services.

Her insights on generative AI, social media, and other tech trends have been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, BBC, CNBC, Forbes, and the Financial Times, among other publications.

Editor

Caroline Rousseau is a content editor at Software Advice. A former content analyst, Caroline has, for the past five years, built, written and edited research reports about technological trends, opportunities, and challenges with a SMB audience in mind. Her content has been featured in French Tier 1 media including Le Monde, L’Express and Le Figaro, among other publications.

Her previous experience as a graphic designer, translator and LQA specialist in various industries converged into a skill set that allows her to create compelling content about today’s business matters. Caroline’s personal interests include literature and art and she has a passion for Albert Camus, graphic novels and drawing.

Advisors

Bryan Dengler is a senior advisor. He joined Software Advice in 2022, and is based in Austin, TX.

As part of the software advisor team, Bryan helps professionals from a wide range of industries who are seeking accounting, project management, manufacturing, learning management, and supply chain software. He provides a shortlist of personalized technology recommendations based on budget, business goals, and other specific needs.

Bryan’s favorite part of being a software advisor is knowing he’s made a valuable difference in a buyer’s life with each advising session he holds.

Saul Sanchez is a senior advisor. He joined Software Advice in 2019 and is based in Austin, TX.

Saul works directly with small-business leaders to connect them with best fit software providers. He assesses the technology needs of small businesses seeking a wide variety of software, including business intelligence, inventory management, manufacturing, and supply chain tools. Through one-to-one conversations, Saul provides a shortlist of potential matches.

His favorite part of being a software advisor is experiencing a buyer’s relief when they discover how much time and energy he’s saved them by helping narrow down the list of many possible options on the mar

Sources

• Software Advice advisor call notes: Findings are based on data from telephonic conversations that Software Advice’s advisor team had with small-to-midsize businesses seeking inventory management software. For this report, we analyzed phone interactions from the past year as of the production date. Read the complete methodology.

• Software Advice reviews data: Software Advice reviews are collected from verified users for individual software products. For this report, we analyzed reviews from the past year as of the production date. Read the complete methodology.

• Software Advice software pricing data: Only products with publicly available pricing information and qualified software products within the category, as of the production date, are included in the pricing analysis. Read the complete methodology.

• Software Advice’s 2025 Tech Trends Survey was conducted online in August 2024 among 3,500 respondents in the U.S. (n=700), U.K. (n=350), Canada (n=350), Australia (n=350), France (n=350), India (n=350), Germany (n=350), Brazil (n=350), and Japan (n=350), at businesses across multiple industries and company sizes (five or more employees). The survey was designed to understand the timeline, organizational challenges, adoption & budget, vendor research behaviors, ROI expectations, and satisfaction levels for software buyers. Respondents were screened to ensure their involvement in business software purchasing decisions.