Buyer’s guide · Inventory management
The best inventory management apps 2026 – 11 tools compared honestly.
From free apps to full ERP: eleven tools compared by the same rules – price, pricing model, data location, batches and tools. Instead of a ranking, you get an answer to the question of which app fits your business.
The short version
There is no best inventory app. There is the right one.
Eight typical situations – and the app that is strongest for each. One click takes you to the profile with prices, strengths and weaknesses.
Materials & tools
The whole team books by phone, offline too, with no per-user licence.
Retail & shipping
Orders, invoices, shipping and a B2B portal around your stock.
Full ERP
Accounting, sales and inventory in one system – with an implementation project.
Trade software
Quotes, invoices and time tracking, with inventory as an add-on.
Assets with NFC
Many users, reservations and NFC tags for assets and tools.
All-Hilti fleet
Locate tools automatically with Bluetooth tags and gateways.
Dental practice
Purchasing with price comparison, inventory built into the ordering platform.
Start for free
Small inventory, few users, a permanently free plan.
App finder
Three questions, and you’ll know which apps to try.
No email address, no form. The recommendation is based on the sourced data of the detailed comparisons.
What do you mainly want to manage?
Should quotes, invoices or accounting live in the same system?
How many people book or take items?
Your shortlist: pure inventory management, no per-user licence
When many people book, the pricing model decides. Neither app charges per person.
Your shortlist: start small without moving later
There are free plans for a few users. Check what happens once the team grows.
Your shortlist: business software – or inventory alongside
If you really want everything in one system, these two are strong. Many businesses, though, combine their invoicing software with a lean inventory tool.
Trade software with quotes, invoices and time tracking, inventory from HERO OS at €119 a month.Profile →
Full ERP with accounting and manufacturing, €24.90 per user, usually with a partner project.Profile →
As inventory alongside your existing software: materials, tools and inspection dates, unlimited users.Profile →
Your shortlist: ERP with inventory
Sales, invoicing and inventory in one system – both licensed per user.
Your shortlist: stock and orders for retail
Both connect your stock with sales channels and accounting software.
Your shortlist: practice supplies
If buying cheaply is the priority, the ordering platforms are strong. If you need batch traceability down to the person and equipment inspections, an inventory system is worth a look.
Free inventory inside the ordering platform, price comparison across 1.8 million offers.Profile →
Price comparison across 200+ suppliers and batch labels for practice software.Profile →
Batches down to the person, expiry dates, equipment inspections and stocktaking by scan with any smartphone.Profile →
Your shortlist: tool fleet
For an all-Hilti fleet, the manufacturer’s solution is hard to beat. With a mixed fleet or consumables as well, things look different.
Guidance, not advice · All figures sourced in the detailed comparisons
Comparison table
Eleven inventory management apps at a glance.
List prices as published by the vendor, no currency conversion. What we can’t verify is marked “not documented” – not “missing”.
| App | Entry price | Users | Trial | Data location | Batches & expiry | Equipment & inspections | Purchasing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | €45 / month, up to 500 items | Unlimited | 14 days, no credit card | Germany | Stock per batch, from Growth | Assignment, maintenance, records | Not offered |
| USA | USD 49 / month, up to 500 items; free plan | 2 / 5 / 8 / 12+ per plan | 14 days, credit card required | USA (Oregon) | Custom field with reminder | Check-in/out, date reminder | Reordering via Amazon Business US |
| Canada | USD 99 / month (Lite, annual) | 2 / 5 / 10 / 20 per plan, extra USD 29 | 14 days, no credit card | Not stated; Microsoft Azure | Add-on USD 39 / month, included in Max | Check-out and return; inspections not documented | Purchase orders to suppliers |
| Belgium | €24.90 per user / month; one app free | Per head; light user €7.90 | Free test environment | Odoo.sh in Europe: Belgium | Lots and serial numbers with expiry dates | Separate maintenance app | Purchase app with supplier prices |
| Germany | ERP Trade €163 per user / month | Per user | 30 days free | Germany | Serial and batch numbers | Not documented | Purchasing and merchandise management in the ERP |
| Germany | Inventory from HERO OS: €119 / month | Office €69, app €22 per licence | 14 days, no credit card | Germany | Not documented | Tools on the planning board; inspections not documented | Wholesale via IDS Connect, DATANORM |
| Germany | €179 / month for 500 objects, annual | Unlimited | 7 days, no credit card | Germany | Not documented | Inspection and maintenance dates with reminders | Not documented |
| USA | Business USD 100 / month; free plan | USD 10 per additional person | 14 days, no credit card | US vendor | Not documented | Reminders for maintenance and calibration | Not documented |
| Liechtenstein | On request; price table from €95 / month | Unlimited | Initial consultation with analysis | Not stated | Not documented | Maintenance, certificates, inspection dates | Not documented |
| Germany · Dental | €29.90 / month + €299 setup | Not stated | Pro not available to test, demo | Germany | Batch documentation | Not documented | 200+ suppliers, marketplace |
| Germany · Dental | Inventory free after registration | Not stated | Free to use | Not stated | Batch and expiry on the product | Not documented | 1.8 million offers, 350 suppliers |
← Swipe the table sideways →
Data as of 28 Sep – 10 Oct 2026 depending on vendor · Sources for every claim in the linked detailed comparison
Often overlooked
It’s not the price that decides – it’s the pricing model.
An entry price of €25 sounds cheaper than €45. Whether it is depends on what the vendor counts: items, heads, or nothing at all.
By items
You pay for how much you manage. Who books doesn’t matter – the whole team gets its own login.
Cheap when many people take items: technicians, nursing staff, shift teams.
By heads
Every person with access costs money. The entry price looks cheap, but the bill grows with everyone who needs to book.
Count everyone who takes items – not just the office.
Free – with a catch
Free plans really exist. You pay with limits: few users, a single app, a single brand, or inventory as an extra to purchasing.
Check what happens when you hit the limit.
* Sortly and inFlow limit the number of users per plan; more users mean a bigger plan or a surcharge.
The apps in detail
Eleven profiles. Strengths and catches, named openly.
Filter by type of solution. Every profile links to the full detailed comparison with all sources.
Wizlabs GmbH · Switzerland · Data in Germany
from €45 / monthup to 500 items · unlimited users
As of October 2026
Scanwiz
Best for businesses where the whole team books materials, tools and inspection dates by phone.
Strengths
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Offline mode in the app, sync afterwards
- Batches down to the person, expiry dates (from Growth)
- Tool check-out, signature and inspection dates on the same item
- AI queries via AI Connect (MCP)
Watch out for
- No sales, no invoicing, no shipping
- No accounting and no ready-made shop connectors
- Batches and reports only from Growth (€145)
- No purchasing marketplace with price comparison
USA · Inventory & assets
from USD 49 / monthup to 500 items · free plan available
As of 28 Sep 2026 · 7 sources
Sortly
Best for small inventories that want to start for free.
Strengths
- Permanently free plan
- Ready-made integrations with QuickBooks Online, Slack and Teams
- Check-in/out with date reminders
Watch out for
- 2 / 5 / 8 / 12+ users per plan
- Servers in the USA (Oregon)
- Trial only with a credit card
- Batches only as a custom field on the item
Germany (Göppingen) · Assets & tools
from €179 / month500 objects · paid annually in advance
As of 10 Oct 2026 · 3 sources
Inventory ONE
Best for asset management with many users, NFC tags and reservations.
Strengths
- Unlimited users
- QR, barcode and NFC via smartphone
- Reservations from the smallest plan, team chat
- Data centres in Germany
Watch out for
- Billed annually in advance
- Only a 7-day trial
- Digital stocktaking only as an add-on in the basic plan
- Offline mode not documented
USA · Tool tracking
from USD 100 / monthincl. 1 admin · USD 10 per person · free plan
As of 10 Oct 2026 · 3 sources
ShareMyToolbox
Best for small tool teams who want GPS on every scan.
Strengths
- Free plan for small teams
- GPS position on scan
- Rental rates and cost history per tool
- Reminders for maintenance and calibration
Watch out for
- Billed per person in US dollars
- The app needs an internet connection
- Not currently marketing to EU customers
Manufacturer solution · Construction & trades
on requestprice table from €95 / month · Ready free
As of 30 Sep 2026 · 6 sources
Hilti ON!Track
Best for businesses with an (almost) all-Hilti fleet that want to locate tools.
Strengths
- Automatic location via Bluetooth tags and gateways
- Free for all-Hilti fleets (Ready edition)
- Maintenance, certificates and inspection dates
Watch out for
- Prices on request only, starts with a consultation
- Consumables only from the Pro edition
- Server location not stated
Canada · Retail & inventory
from USD 99 / monthLite, annual · 2 to 20 users per plan
As of 6 Oct 2026 · 7 sources
inFlow Inventory
Best for retailers with orders, shipping and B2B customers.
Strengths
- Orders, invoices and shipping
- B2B portal for business customers
- Integrations with Shopify, Amazon and QuickBooks
Watch out for
- Users limited per plan, extra USD 29
- Works only with an internet connection
- Batches as an add-on at USD 39 / month
Belgium · ERP & inventory
€24.90 per userper month · one app free
As of 7 Oct 2026 · 10 sources
Odoo Inventory
Best when accounting, sales, manufacturing and inventory should be in one system.
Strengths
- Accounting, sales, manufacturing and web shop in one system
- Light users at €7.90 for scanning
- Lots and serial numbers with expiry dates
- MCP connector from Odoo 20
Watch out for
- Per-head licensing
- Usually implemented with a partner (example from €6,999)
- Offline only for short interruptions
- Odoo.sh in Europe only in Belgium
Germany · Cloud ERP
€163 per userper month · ERP Trade
As of 10 Oct 2026 · 5 sources
weclapp
Best for retail and services looking for a German cloud ERP.
Strengths
- Quotes, orders, invoices and inventory in one system
- Picking, serial and batch numbers
- Data centres in Germany, 30-day trial
Watch out for
- Per-user licensing
- Offline mode not documented
- Equipment and inspections not documented
Germany · Trade software
Inventory from €119 / monthwith HERO OS · office €69, app €22 per licence
As of 9 Oct 2026 · 8 sources
HERO
Best for trade businesses that need quotes, invoices and time tracking.
Strengths
- Quotes, invoices and time tracking in one system
- Wholesale via IDS Connect and DATANORM
- Servers in Germany
Watch out for
- Inventory only from HERO OS
- Licences per office and app user
- Batches, inspections and offline not documented
Germany · Dental & purchasing
€29.90 / monthplus €299 setup
As of 28 Sep 2026 · 11 sources
Wawibox
Best for dental practices that want to compare prices when ordering.
Strengths
- Price comparison across 200+ suppliers
- Low monthly price
- Batch labels for practice software
Watch out for
- Scanning with iPhone and its own labels
- Stocktaking as a count list on a fixed date
- Pro version not available to test, consultation first
Germany · Dental & purchasing
Inventory freeafter registration · ordering platform
As of 30 Sep 2026 · 4 sources
AERA-Online
Best for practices that want to order and store without extra cost.
Strengths
- Free inventory inside the ordering platform
- Price comparison across 1.8 million offers from 350 suppliers
- Batch and expiry date on the stored product
Watch out for
- Scanning with AERA barcodes
- Traceability down to the person not documented
- Stocktaking and server location not documented
What about Excel? The most common starting point – seemingly free until several people book, tools move around and inspection dates come in.
excel vs. appBefore your trial
Six questions every inventory app has to answer.
Whichever app you choose in the end: this is where they differ most in day-to-day use.
Who needs to book?
Count everyone who takes items – not just the office. With per-head licences, this number decides the price.
Do you need batch traceability?
A date field is rarely enough. In a recall, what counts is who received which batch and where the rest is.
What do you scan with?
Dedicated hardware and labels cost time and money. Check whether your team’s phones and manufacturer barcodes are enough.
Is there signal?
Basement, underground car park, job site: without an offline mode the booking waits – or never happens.
Where is the data stored?
Server location and backups belong in your data protection concept, at the latest when items are issued to people.
Can you try it first?
A trial with your own items shows more than any demo. Check whether it requires a credit card.
How we compare
Not neutral. But verifiable.
The same rules apply to every vendor. The full sources with retrieval dates are in the linked detailed comparisons.
Published information only
Vendors’ pricing pages, product pages and help centres. No rumours, no hearsay.
Every claim sourced
64 sources with retrieval dates across the eleven detailed comparisons. You can check everything yourself.
“Not documented”
What we can’t verify, we don’t claim – including that it’s missing.
No ranking
We don’t award places. Each app appears where it is strongest for a particular kind of business.
Other vendors’ strengths
Every profile says openly when the other solution fits better than Scanwiz – price included.
We fix mistakes
One note is enough. We check it, update the page and set a new data date. Send a note
FAQ
Inventory management apps – answered briefly.
Which inventory management app is the best?
It depends on what you manage and who books. For materials and tools with many users, apps without per-head licensing have the edge, such as Scanwiz or Inventory ONE. For retailers with orders and shipping, inFlow is strong; for a full ERP, Odoo or weclapp; for trade businesses with quotes and invoices, HERO. Dental practices focused on purchasing are well served by AERA-Online or Wawibox.
Is there a free inventory management app?
Yes, with limits. Sortly and ShareMyToolbox have free plans for small teams, Odoo is free with exactly one app, Hilti ON!Track is free in the Ready edition for all-Hilti fleets, and AERA-Online offers free inventory inside its ordering platform. Check beforehand what happens when you need more users, more items or a second feature.
Which is cheaper: billing per user or per item?
When many people book, billing by items is usually cheaper because each additional login costs nothing. With few users and very many items, a per-head licence can be cheaper. Count everyone who needs to take items, not just the people in the office.
Which inventory apps work offline?
Scanwiz records bookings and stocktaking offline and syncs them once there is a connection again. Odoo describes its offline mode as a solution for short interruptions. According to the vendors, inFlow and ShareMyToolbox need an internet connection. For the other vendors, an offline mode is not documented in the sources we reviewed.
Which vendors store data in Germany?
According to the sources reviewed: Scanwiz, HERO, weclapp, Inventory ONE and Wawibox. Sortly stores data in the USA; Odoo.sh offers a European location in Belgium. For inFlow, Hilti ON!Track and AERA-Online, the server location is not stated.
Is this comparison neutral?
No. It comes from Scanwiz, so we’re not neutral. That’s why fixed rules apply: only information published by the vendors, every claim sourced in the detailed comparison, “not documented” instead of “missing”, and every vendor profile says openly when it fits better than Scanwiz.
How up to date is the information?
Depending on the vendor, the data dates from 28 September to 10 October 2026 and is shown on every profile. Prices change – the vendor’s current offer is always what counts. If you spot a mistake, let us know: we’ll check it and set a new data date.
Over 250 customers already rely on Scanwiz
The best comparison is the one with your own items.
Try Scanwiz free for 14 days with your own materials, your own tools and your whole team – no credit card. Or let us show you Scanwiz in a personal demo.
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