To find the best warehouse inventory management software (WMS) for small businesses, I evaluated more than 30 providers, grading them against a 32-point scale I developed, which factors in pricing, inventory and warehouse features, ease of use, and real-world user reviews.
Based on my evaluation, I recommend:
- Logiwa: Best overall warehouse inventory management system
- ShipBob: Best for geographical expansion
- NetSuite WMS: Best for mid-sized and large businesses
- Fishbowl: Best for growing WMS needs
- Cin7 Orderhive: Best for manufacturers
- Odoo: Best free warehouse inventory software
- Zoho Inventory: Best for small businesses that need simpler warehouse tools
The best warehouse inventory management software does more than track products as they flow in and out of your warehouse; it should also have low inventory alerts, improve pick-and-pack efficiency, and handle both vendors and shipping. A good WMS for small business, like our recommendations above, provides tools that result in lower error rates, faster fulfillment, happier customers, and greater profits.
Best Warehouse Inventory Management Software Compared
Our Score (out of 5) | Monthly Fee | Inventory Tracking Tools | Walking Path Optimization | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.56 | Call for quote | Excellent | ✓ |
 | 4.24 | Call for quote | Good | Limited |
 | 4.07 | Call for quote | $0-$299 Excellent | ✓ |
 | 3.98 | Starts at $329/month | $0-$299 Excellent | ✓ |
 | 3.94 | $349-$999 | $0-$299 Excellent | ✓ |
 | 3.93 | $0-$37.40 | Good | ✕ |
 | 3.83 | $0-$299 | $0-$299 Excellent | Limited |
The Fit Small Business editorial policy follows strict standards to ensure our best answers are based on accuracy, clarity, authority, objectivity, and accessibility.
I have more than a decade of experience managing several Shopify ecommerce stores and Amazon private label brands that utilize WMS for their inventory and order management, so I factored in my experience in our evaluation while adhering strictly to the Fit Small Business editorial policy.
You can learn more about our evaluation in the methodology section below.
Logiwa: Best Overall & Best for High-volume Fulfillment
Pros
- Walking path optimization
- Best rated by real-world users
- Tier 1 The most sophisticated and most expensive WMS, offering in-system configurations, task management, RFID, automation support, global reach (including measurement conversions), and more. You can expect professional installation, training, and tech support. WMS at a reasonable price
Cons
- Lacks direct POS software integration
- No staff management tools
- Long installation process (up to four weeks
Overview
Who should use it:
Logiwa is best for businesses that have a high volume of fulfillment, from small direct-to-consumer (DTC) businesses to large companies engaged in business-to-consumer (B2C), and business-to-business (B2B) sales.
Why I like it:
During my evaluation, Logiwa stood out for its fulfillment-centric tools and intuitive interface. It also has the highest user ratings among the providers in this list, highlighting its impact on warehouse efficiency.
Logiwa provides the best tools for boosting fulfillment efficiency and smooth integrations with platforms ranging from ecommerce carts to robotics. This makes it perfect for operations aiming to increase productivity, scale quickly, and embrace automation.
Logiwa caters to various business needs through its specialized plan options, solidifying its position as my top pick for the best warehouse inventory management software.
Logiwa requires you to call for a quote, but I found online sources listing the starting price anywhere from $300 to $400.
Logiwa also has separate fees for implementation, which will vary according to your needs. This is typical of most of the Tier 1 WMS systems I reviewed. And unlike Cin7 Orderhive and NetSuite WMS, Logiwa requires a contract agreement.
Logiwa offers five levels of plans, all with custom prices:
- DTC Launch Edition: DTC businesses with online orders
- DTC Growth Edition: High-volume B2C and DTC businesses that run a digital warehouse
- Enterprise Edition: For high-volume DTC and BTC plus B2B fulfillment
- Wholesale DTC Transition: For existing wholesale warehouses that work with DTC fulfillment
- 3PL Accelerations Edition: For new and existing third-party logistics (3PL) and fulfillment networks
- Walking path optimization (improves picking efficiency by up to 30%)
- Specialized picking options (FIFO/FEFO, grouped waves, and more )
- Over 200 native integrations with one-click activation (like Amazon, Shopify, QuickBooks, and 15 shipping tools)
- Open API and EDI capabilities
- Average customer support response time of seven to nine minutes
- 3PL analytics software with shipping, tasks, order aging, inventory levels, labor productivity, and demand forecasting reports
- Performance monitoring to help improve order fulfillment and shipping efficiency
- Inventory optimization based on velocity, volume, fragility, temperature requirements, cross-dock, zone, and more
- Specialized plans for B2C and B2B sales, plus 3PL
- Free robotics connectors
ShipBob: Best for Geographical Expansion
Pros
- Wide, global fulfillment network
- Flexible options for picking methods
- Visual step-by-step packing flows
Cons
- No vendor management features
- Limited mobile app functionality
- Basic walking path optimization tools
Overview
Who should use it:
ShipBob WMS is a versatile choice for small to medium B2C and B2B sellers.
Why I like it:
ShipBob WMS is the same powerful software that the company uses in its own third-party fulfillment centers, which means it brings enterprise-level logistics capabilities to businesses of all sizes.
Its biggest advantage is its ability to help businesses expand their customer base and bring their operations into new geographical areas due to its hybrid warehousing options. This allows companies to leverage ShipBob’s vast network of fulfillment locations in addition to their own. It’s also well-suited for ecommerce and multichannel sellers.
I also like that ShipBob’s products and services are purpose-built for ecommerce sellers, with a robust integration ecosystem—including point-of-sale (POS), marketplace, cart, and shipping platforms—alongside its user-friendly interface and visual tools.
ShipBob does not publish its WMS software pricing, so you must call for a quote. While this makes it hard to gauge its value, ShipBob WMS sets itself apart from other leading WMS solutions by offering unlimited users and warehouse locations with its software.
- Blended fulfillment options to supplement your warehouse network by using any of ShipBob’s 40-plus fulfillment centers around the world
- Smart order routing and carrier selection for optimized shipping
- Open API and app store with more than 75 integrations, including POS software, accounting, ecommerce, shipping, and ERP platforms
- Mobile app with limited WMS features
- Multiple pick options—batch, auto-cluster, custom cluster, and single-order picking—with analysis tools to pick the optimal method
- Visual step-by-step packing flows
- Implementation includes warehouse efficiency and change management consultations
- High-level inventory visibility with image identifiers, location-specific insights, and intelligent cycle counts
- Dedicated account manager for one-on-one support
NetSuite WMS: Best for Mid-sized & Large Businesses
Pros
- Advanced employee management tools
- High-level forecasting and analytics
- Flexible location management
Cons
- More complex than many SMBs might need
- Annual contract mandatory
- Does not integrate with QuickBooks and other common software
Overview
Who should use it:
Oracle NetSuite is best suited for mid-sized to large businesses that require a comprehensive system to manage their day-to-day operations effectively.
Why I like it:
NetSuite WMS stands out by seamlessly integrating detailed warehouse management with broader functionalities that medium and large-scale businesses may need. The pricing structure and need for an annual contract makes it more appropriate for companies that have outgrown smaller, more basic systems and are looking for an integrated solution that can cover more than just warehouse management—like CRM, HR, or capital management.
Its flexible, module-based setup is perfect for complex needs but also suits other businesses focusing on warehouse management alone. The advanced inventory features are customizable and scalable, and highly positive feedback from real-world users on its effectiveness and ease of use makes NetSuite a smart pick.
Beyond its warehouse management system, NetSuite is a complete ERP solution with many modules available—including HR, business intelligence, project management, and capital management platforms.
The total cost of the software depends on multiple factors, including:
- The number and type of NetSuite modules you need
- The size of your company
- Any required customizations
- Implementation scope
- Training and support
- Number of users
- Number of locations
The range of these variables is why you’ll see third-party reports of NetSuite costing up to $100,000 or more.
NetSuite WMS is available as a standalone module, which would provide the lowest-cost option for businesses needing only inventory warehouse management software. A one-year contract is required, and some users report receiving a significant discount for signing multi-year contracts.
- Comprehensive ERP ecosystem
- Flexible location management to enable storefronts or auxiliary storage locations for pick-and-pack
- Walking path optimization
- Flexible picking strategies including wave release and FIFO for multiple- and single-order picking
- Mobile receiving and predefined putaway strategies to best accuracy and efficiency
- Intelligent cycle counting (enabling automated inventory counts without freezing transactions)
- Excellent employee tools, like task management and granular user permissions
- Robotics automations
- Sophisticated analytics and inventory forecasting tools
Fishbowl: Best for Growing Inventory & Warehousing Needs
Pros
- Highly customizable product tags for advanced tracking and traceability
- Labor, manufacturing, and asset management tools
- Built-in POS system
Cons
- Expensive; add-on costs for integrations
- Requires a one-year contract
- Limited reporting capabilities
Overview
Who should use it:
Fishbowl is well-suited for small and mid-sized businesses because of its ease of use and scalable features designed to meet more complex needs, such as managing multiple warehouses and multi-currency transactions.
Businesses that rely on ERP software with limited warehouse management capabilities can particularly benefit from its robust order fulfillment tools like physical warehouses, mobile inventory, third-party logistics (3PL), and dropshipping.
Why I like it:
Fishbowl comes with all the features needed to streamline complex inventory management, order fulfillment, asset tracking, employee management, and more—making it a truly comprehensive option.
I especially like the QuickBooks smart integration for synchronizing inventory activities and accounting records—preventing potential human errors by reducing manual data entry. It also stands out because it offers its own POS system that enables users to sell in person as well as online.
However, a commonly cited drawback is Fishbowl’s reporting capabilities, which lack depth and transparency—something that Odoo and Zoho Inventory provide (and note that they have the cheapest plans among my recommendations). Fishbowl also doesn’t have native features to cover other key business operations, which would require you to seek integrations that cost extra.
Despite these limitations, Fishbowl is still my choice for a warehouse management system software for the growing needs of small and mid-sized businesses.
Fishbowl offers two warehouse solutions, Fishbowl Drive (cloud-based) and Fishbowl Advanced (on-premise).
According to its website, Fishbowl only provides custom quotes to potential clients. Other sources say that plans start at $329 per month or $3,950 per year and higher.
All plans come with two users and one integration, with the option to add more integrations at $49 per month.
- Custom tracking labels (harvest date, icon tag number, country of origin, revision level, and more) that track beyond lot and expiration
- Product kitting, substitution, and variant options
- Robust fulfillment features, including walking path routing
- Vendor management tools
- Production planning and manufacturing tools
- Asset management (know where your equipment is and its availability for use)
- Built-in POS (directly link customer orders to your inventory system)
- Employee management and labor costing features
- More than 50 integrations (accounting, ecommerce, shipping, EDI, CRM, and mobile hardware)
Cin7 Orderhive: Best for Manufacturers
Pros
- Advanced manufacturing tools
- Transparent pricing with free trial
- 700+ integrations including 3PL providers
Cons
- Many features only available as paid add-ons
- Requires annual contract
- Limited customer support
Overview
Who should use it:
Cin7 Orderhive is ideal for businesses that mainly manufacture or sell bundles, assembled goods, or custom-made items. Its comprehensive WMS system appeals to businesses looking to streamline their manufacturing processes and manage inventory and orders.
Why I like it:
What makes Cin7 Orderhive a strong choice is its mid-range pricing paired with extensive functionality across differently tailored plans, striking a balance between affordability and capability. Its unique manufacturing features—such as kitting and labor tracking—come at a moderate price, so it’s best for specialized SMBs that have needs beyond traditional ecommerce and retail models.
While highlighted for its manufacturing features, I also appreciate its excellent standard warehouse management tools, including a wide range of integrations, route optimization, and staff management options. Although support is limited, its initial onboarding assistance and wealth of features make Cin7 Orderhive a compelling option.
Cin7 offers four plan options:
- Standard ($349 per month): Three users, ecommerce integrations, 6,000 sales orders per year, but does not allow enhanced integration speed, over 100,000 SKUs, additional POS registers, or advanced manufacturing tools
- Pro ($599 per month): Six users, four ecommerce integrations, 12,000 sales orders per year
- Advanced (starting at $999 per month): 10 users, six ecommerce integrations, 120,000,000 sales orders per year, automations, advanced warehouse management features
- Omni (custom pricing): Eight users, five ecommerce integrations, unlimited sales
Several of Cin7’s features are only available as paid add-ons, such as co-manufacturing tools, B2B portals, automations, API, machine learning, and others. Some of these add-ons are not allowed with a Standard plan.
- Manufacturing features including kitting, component inventory management, units of measure, and assembly/disassembly analysis
- Employee management tools including job assignments or items that need assembly and performance monitoring
- Path optimization feature reduces walking time by up to 40%
- Batch and expiration tracking
- Several picking types, including tote picking, which tracks items as they are loaded onto trolleys
- Task automations
- Over 700 integrations, including POS, ecommerce, CRM, and accounting platforms
- B2B portal
Odoo: Best Free Warehouse Inventory Management System
Pros
- Free plan for unlimited products, users, and locations
- Flexible put-away and picking strategies
- 42,000 available pre-built integrations
Cons
- Limited customer support
- Most integrations cost extra
- No walking path or smart picking features
Overview
Who should use it:
Odoo’s warehouse management software is ideal for small to medium businesses looking for a cost-effective solution that can scale from simple inventory management to more complex, multi-warehouse operations.
While it may not boast as many dedicated warehouse features as some top-rated WMS systems, its extensive integrations—especially within the Odoo suite—make it a versatile tool for companies aiming to streamline their operations with integrated business applications.
Why I like it:
I like Odoo for its combination of affordability and power. Because it offers a free option, it lowers the barrier for smaller-scale businesses to leverage advanced inventory and warehouse management capabilities.
The system’s strength in inventory forecasting and various delivery options—including in-store pickup—offers flexibility for diverse sales needs.
Although it comes with a learning curve due to its open-source nature (a unique trait for WMS solutions), the trade-off is access to a broad community for support and the ability to customize extensively. The seamless integration with other Odoo products also stands out, providing an economical pathway to a comprehensive business management solution.
Odoo’s plans are priced differently from any other warehouse inventory management software on our list. You get the Inventory software (or any single Odoo app) free. If you want to add other Odoo apps, like POS, websites, CRM, and the like, then you have to pay for a plan. All plans, including the free one, include unlimited online and community support, hosting, and maintenance. You get discounts on the paid plans for your first year.
- One App (Free): Unlimited users, all features for that application
- Standard ($24.90 per user, per month): All applications: Inventory, Sales, Marketing, Sign, Website, Accounting, CRM, Inventory, HR, Project, POS
- Custom ($37.40 per user, per month): All apps plus Odoo Online, Odoo.sh (for developing custom applications), Odoo On-Premise, Odoo Studio, multi-company use, external API
While some of Odoo’s pre-built integrations are free, the majority of them come at a cost. This ranges from just a few dollars to over $1,000, depending on the platform, scope, and added features. For example, the Shopify integration is $431.36.
- Robust free plan with no location or user limits
- Inexpensive to add more Odoo software, like CRM, POS, or ecommerce
- App store with over 44,000 integrations for products throughout the Odoo ecosystem
- Flexible put-away strategies including slow-fast movers, ABC analysis, and cross-docking
- Flexible picking strategies including single, cluster, wave, or batch picking
- Reordering rules help forecast low stock and replenish automatically
- Shipping options include pick up in-store, setting specific shipping options to certain websites, and letting customers choose the delivery method
- Dynamic, real-time reports and custom dashboards
- Tracks warranties, variants, large product counts
Zoho Inventory: Best for Simple Warehouse Needs
Pros
- Free plan
- Handles multiple channels, warehouses, and currencies
- 24/5 customer service
- Highly rated mobile app
Cons
- Lacks return management
- Limited warehouse management features
- No staff management tools
- No forecasting features
Overview
Who should use it:
Zoho Inventory is tailor-made for small businesses that require robust inventory management more than complex warehouse functionalities.
Why I like it:
Zoho’s strong inventory management capabilities make it a top pick for best warehouse inventory management software, including tracking by expiration date, kitting, and automated purchase orders.
Despite scoring lower for its warehouse features, Zoho’s comprehensive inventory tracking and its multitude of integrations, especially for shipping services, offer substantial value for sellers juggling multiple sales channels.
The pricing structure is particularly appealing for small businesses looking to maximize their inventory management without the overhead of more complex warehouse systems. Plus, its cohesive ecosystem and positive user ratings prove its suitability as a cost-effective solution for growing businesses.
Zoho is the cheapest WMS on our list after Odoo (which has a full-featured free option). Zoho also offers a free plan, but the monthly orders and other features are limited.
Paid plans vary by scale, but you can pay to add additional warehouses, users, and Shopify store integrations. Some WMS features, such as barcode generation, vendor management, and granular item tracking, are only available on upper-level paid plans.
- Free: 50 monthly online orders, one warehouse, two users, one Shopify store integration
- Standard ($39 per month): 500 orders, one warehouse, two users, and one Shopify store integration
- Professional ($99 per month): 3,000 online orders, two users, two warehouses, two Shopify store integrations
- Premium ($159 per month): 7,500 online orders, two users, three warehouses, five Shopify store integrations
- Enterprise ($299 per month): 15,000 online orders, seven users, seven warehouses, five Shopify store integrations
- Limited free plan for microbusinesses
- Innovative sales order geometry feature shows packers the optimal placement of objects in the box for the safest packing
- Highly-rated 24/5 phone support
- Extensive integrations, including many ecommerce and shipping platforms
- Mobile app for Android and iOS provides nearly the same functionality as the desktop program
- Highly detailed and customizable reports
- Batch and expiration tracking
- Highly rated mobile app with much of the web app’s functionality
- Automatic reorders
- Other automatic tasks like order confirmations
How to Choose the Best Warehouse Inventory Management Software
When looking for the best warehouse inventory management software, consider your business size and needs first. Consider the tools you need carefully, and get into the nitty-gritty:
- Do you need to locate products by bin, or will the shelf do?
- Do you have a huge number of variants?
- Do you assemble multiple products into packages or are you tracking parts to create a finished product?
- What kind of vendor support do you need—do you have your preferred vendors, or do you want to incorporate a catalog to find the best deals at the time?
In addition to price and tools, look for ease of use and integration capabilities. You will want your WMS to integrate with your accounting, ecommerce, POS, and/or ERP software to avoid having to double-enter information or manually sync, which can lead to delays, mistakes, and losses.
Getting a demo will give you a good idea of the software’s ease of use, but also check third-party review sites like Capterra or G2, which offer reviews from real-world users.
How I Evaluated Warehouse Inventory Management Systems
For evaluating the best warehouse inventory management system for small businesses, I looked at more than 30 providers and scored them using the criteria below.
Pricing: 15% of Score
Pricing transparency is preferred, but I didn’t dock points for custom plans. Instead, I focused on finding options with a free plan or trial, affordable starter packages, and monthly subscriptions over long-term contracts. I also took into account how many users and warehouses each plan covers, along with the level of support during setup.
Inventory Features: 25% of Score
Similar to the evaluation for the best inventory software, I looked for tracking, re-order alerts, mobile tools, and vendor management, including purchase orders. I also gave points for customer relationship management and multichannel inventory management features.
Warehouse Features: 20% of Score
I specifically looked for certain features that set warehouse management solutions apart from basic inventory—shipping options, how detailed locations are (bins as opposed to shelves, for example), and optimization features for packers like walking path optimization. I also looked for tools that help manage staff, like assignments and performance analysis, and integrations with tools that go beyond sales and items.
Ease of Use: 20% of Score
Here, I considered customer support hours, contact or support channels, integrations, training tools, and real-world experiences from customer reviews.
Expert Score: 20% of Score
In this criteria, I relied on my knowledge of inventory and warehouse systems as well as hundreds of hours of research. I considered standout features, value vs price, and my impression of the software’s ease of use. For popularity, I looked at user reviews and statistics on each software company’s current customer base per third-party sources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most common questions I get about warehouse inventory management software.
The best warehouse inventory management software (WMS) does more than track products, it should also be able to do low inventory alerts, improve pick-and-pack efficiency, and handle both vendors and shipping. Logiwa, ShipBob, NetSuite WMS, and Fishbowl are my top picks for the best WMS for small businesses.
If you don’t own a warehouse and you’re not building out a full-scale in-house fulfillment operation, then you may not need a full WMS software. There are excellent inventory management software that can do the job and cost less. In addition, if you are a retailer or own a restaurant, you may find that POS software with a strong inventory module will suit your needs without additional expense.
To keep track of inventory in a warehouse, invest in warehouse inventory control software (WMS). You also need to conduct regular inventory audits, organize and label inventory strategically, and use inventory apps.
Bottom Line
The best warehouse inventory management software will pay for itself in time saved and errors reduced. It not only assists in more efficient pick-and-pack but also offers reports that help you keep up with your inventory and plan for the future. The top WMS software solutions are worth the investment.
I chose Logiwa as the best WMS software. As a Tier 1 WMS, it offers a complete system from ordering products to shipping them out to customers. It offers a free trial and demo, so contact them for more information and a quote.