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Free Katana alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

3 of the 6 Katana alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). Sortly, Zoho Inventory and ERPNext rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Sortly logoSortlyFree plan + paid$24 a month, billed annually ($288/yr)NoWeb, iOS, Android7 of 757.5
2Zoho Inventory logoZoho InventoryFree plan + paid—NoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 455.9
3ERPNext logoERPNextOpen source—YesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 452.6
  1. Sortly logo

    1. SortlyTop pick

    Best for: Small teams tracking stock, tools or equipment from their phones

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Katana

    Lighter phone-first item tracking if you don't need production planning.

    Pros

    • Very easy to set up with photos and folders
    • Barcode and QR scanning with a phone camera
    • Free plan for up to 100 items

    Cons

    • Paid plans are priced by item count, which grows fast
    • Purchase orders only on higher plans
    • No sales-channel or marketplace order syncing
    Visit Sortly Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Sortly a good Katana alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, up to 100 unique items
    Checked Nov 8, 2026sortly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days on all paid plans
    Checked Nov 8, 2026sortly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Barcode scanning
    In-app with a smartphone
    Checked Nov 8, 2026sortly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Check-in/check-out
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026sortly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $24 a month, billed annually ($288/yr)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026sortly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Ultra plan
    $74 a month, billed annually ($888/yr)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026sortly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plan
    $149 a month, billed annually ($1,788/yr)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026sortly.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Zoho Inventory logo

    2. Zoho Inventory

    Best for: Small multichannel sellers who want stock synced with Amazon, Shopify and their accounting

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    55.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from Katana

    Cheaper inventory and order management with a free plan and Zoho Books integration.

    Pros

    • Free plan for very small sellers
    • Syncs stock with Amazon, Etsy, Shopify and WooCommerce
    • Works closely with Zoho Books and also QuickBooks and Xero

    Cons

    • Order caps on each plan push busy sellers to higher tiers
    • Serial, batch and barcode features need Premium or above
    • Limited manufacturing features compared with Cin7 or Katana
    Visit Zoho Inventory Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zoho Inventory a good Katana alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    50 orders/month, 1 user
    Checked Nov 8, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Marketplace sync
    Amazon, Etsy
    Checked Nov 8, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Accounting integrations
    Zoho Books, Xero, QuickBooks Online
    Checked Nov 8, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Shipping
    UPS to 200 countries from inside the app
    Checked Nov 8, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. ERPNext logo

    3. ERPNext

    Best for: Small and mid-sized companies that want accounting tied to inventory and operations without licence fees

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    52.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Katana

    Open-source ERP with full manufacturing and accounting that you can self-host for free.

    Pros

    • All modules free under GPL-3.0
    • Accounting shares one database with stock, sales and HR
    • Choice of self-hosting or managed Frappe Cloud

    Cons

    • Overkill for freelancers and very small businesses
    • Implementation takes time or a partner
    • Fewer accountants know it than mainstream tools
    Visit ERPNext Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is ERPNext a good Katana alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free and open source; you pay for hosting
    Checked Nov 8, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Managed hosting
    From $5/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Current version
    v16
    Checked Nov 8, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)