12 Best Free Inventory Management Software for 2024

Keeping track of what your business has to sell is important. You don't want to have too much or too little. Managing inventory is all about making sure businesses have the right amount of stuff they need to sell without wasting money on stuff they don't. It's like making sure you have enough cookies to sell but not too many that they go bad.

But, imagine trying to keep track of every single item in a huge warehouse by hand – it would be a total nightmare! That's where inventory management software comes in. The best part? It’s free! So, let's explore a few options.

Best free inventory management software 

Inventory management software is important because it helps businesses predict what they'll need in the future and works smoothly with other systems they use. In short, it keeps things organized, saves money, and helps businesses grow.

The list below contains real user reviews. For context, the vendors that offer a free trial are also considered free. To be included on this list, a solution must offer:

• Intuitive design for easy navigation and quick adoption.
• Customization features to suit specific business needs.
• Comprehensive insights to make informed decisions and optimize inventory management strategies.
• Compatibility with existing systems like accounting and e-commerce platforms.
• Capacity to adapt and grow alongside the business, accommodating increasing inventory demands.
• Strong customer service and technical support to address issues promptly and ensure smooth operations.
• Data protection and confidentiality through robust security measures and compliance with regulations.

* This data was pulled from G2 in February 2024, and the product list is ranked alphabetically. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.

1. Acctivate Inventory Software

Category: Warehouse management software

Acctivate Inventory Software is like a control center for small to mid-sized businesses. It helps manage inventory, sales, and more, replacing old methods like spreadsheets. It's a smart, affordable choice for improving warehouse operations and customer satisfaction.

What users like best:

“I appreciate how seamlessly Acctivate integrates with QuickBooks, streamlining data entry with its sync function. Editing and duplicating inventory products is straightforward, offering flexibility in managing items. The centralized "create" button is a time-saving feature, consolidating all necessary options and steps in one convenient location.”

- Acctivate Inventory Software Review, Allison W.

What users dislike:

"I find it frustrating that accomplishing simple tasks in Acctivate often involves multiple steps. For example, the process of entering a vendor invoice should be more streamlined, rather than divided into three separate parts. Additionally, the practice of each purchase order being its own invoice is inefficient; there should be a solution for combining multiple POs onto the same customer invoice to improve workflow efficiency."

- Acctivate Inventory Software Review, Jackie N.

2. BarTender

Category: Label printing software

BarTender provides user-friendly label designing tools, on-demand printing options, and seamless integration with your business data and systems, ensuring regulatory compliance. Whether you're designing a custom label or utilizing pre-built templates, BarTender guarantees accuracy and compliance in your label design process.

What users like best:

“This software is truly versatile, providing both security and efficiency in label and barcode creation. Its learning curve is minimal, making it easy to grasp its functionalities quickly. The integration generator feature is particularly powerful, allowing for the automation of various tasks and enhancing overall productivity.”

- BarTender Review, Randy B.

What users dislike:

"One area for improvement is setting up easier monitoring capabilities. Currently, we rely on drop file triggers for printing, particularly with CSV files generated by other programs. However, since end users don't interact with the front end, they don't receive error messages if integration stops. I would like a more efficient notification system for when integration halts, as it occasionally does. This would enable proactive measures rather than reactive responses to end-user complaints about functionality issues, which can be challenging for IT to address effectively."

- BarTender Review, Brandon A.

3. Cin7 Core

Category: Warehouse management software

Cin7 Core (formerly DEAR) streamlines inventory management, sales integration, and automation for businesses of all sizes. With centralized operations and seamless integrations, it offers cost-effective solutions to simplify complex processes. While it offers many features in its free trial, advanced functionalities may require upgrading to a paid plan

What users like best:

"Cin7 Core is incredibly user-friendly, with features like easy undo functionality and seamless product uploads. The support team is fast and accurate, providing solutions like identifying BOM issues swiftly. Plus, the ability to access the software from anywhere adds convenience."

- Cin7 Core Review, David O.

What users dislike:

"Cin7 Core lacks some essential functions, like a "search by item SKU" feature. Additionally, the process for canceling back orders is not intuitive and may require assistance from support or extensive familiarity with the system."

- Cin7 Core Review, Ignat Z.

4. EZOfficeInventory

Category: Barcode software

EZOfficeInventory empowers you to streamline procurement processes, coordinate service schedules, and efficiently oversee vendor relationships. Seamlessly track depreciation and generate tailored reports to facilitate strategic decision-making. It's mobile app interface is now accessible to both Android and iOS users. Take advantage of their free trial and discover the difference!

What users like best:

"Our old system was a hassle - no filters, just a long list to scroll through. Imagine searching for manila envelopes and not knowing whether to look under "M" or "E"! And don't get me started on trying to find the right kind of tack. EZOfficeInventory is a game-changer. It's got filters and clear images, making it easy to find what you need, even for those of us with not-so-perfect eyesight."

- EZOfficeInventory Review, Kelsy T.

What users dislike:

"The website lacks API access, connectivity to a comprehensive workspace, and integration with popular cloud storage services such as OneDrive and Google Drive."

- EZOfficeInventory Review, Kirti T.

5. Finale Inventory

Category: Barcode software

Finale Inventory is a user-friendly cloud-based system perfect for growing businesses. It seamlessly integrates with ShipStation and QuickBooks Online, offers kitting features, and supports multi-channel eCommerce. For warehouses, it provides a comprehensive barcode solution without the need for expensive consultants. Finale offers a complete inventory management solution at an affordable price, try it out for free.

What users like best:

"They provide a comprehensive inventory solution with seamless integrations to all the necessary software. Their customer service is exemplary, offering swift assistance from highly knowledgeable representatives who are adept at resolving any issues."

- Finale Inventory Review, Ken S.

What users dislike:

"The inventory management system relies on manual scans that require syncing, leading to questions about its reliability. Reports are basic and lack detailed information, making it challenging to generate certain reports. I recommend creating custom reports from the raw data to address this limitation."

- Finale Inventory Review, Minh T.

6. Fishbowl Inventory

Category: Warehouse management software

Fishbowl Inventory is the perfect inventory, warehousing, and manufacturing solution for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers essential features like inventory management, material requirements planning (MRP), job shop floor control, work order management, manufacturer orders and bills of materials, barcoding, and much more. It can be deployed either on-premise or hosted in the cloud, providing flexibility to suit various business needs. Try it for free!

What users like best:

"Fishbowl Inventory offers great value for its price. It effectively manages our extensive SKU list and intricate part tracking needs. The platform's user-friendly workflow simplifies our operations, and despite the high volume of calls, the tech support team remains exceptionally friendly and supportive, assisting us promptly with any internal issues. Fishbowl Inventory serves as the cornerstone of our daily operations."

- Fishbowl Inventory Review, Adam R.

What users dislike:

"Getting through to customer support via phone can be a lengthy process, sometimes taking up to 2 hours. Mornings typically offer slightly shorter wait times, but later in the day, it becomes more challenging. Additionally, it's important to note that the server software necessitates a user to remain signed in (locked is acceptable). Furthermore, Fishbowl server does not operate as a service, which is crucial to consider for both technical and security requirements within your establishment."

- Fishbowl Inventory Review, Nicholas D.

7. HandiFox Desktop

Category: Barcode software

HandiFox Desktop  is an acclaimed inventory tracking and sales management system renowned for its seamless integration with QuickBooks across mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and ruggedized industrial handhelds. It combines the robustness of desktop functionality with the versatility of mobile devices, offering unparalleled flexibility for office and field operations alike. You can access many of it's basic features in the free trial available. 

What users like best:

"Since 2017, we've relied on Handifox, a reliable software requiring minimal maintenance. As our needs evolved, we've requested and implemented several customizations seamlessly, thanks to the accommodating staff. Whenever urgent support is needed, they're just a phone call away, providing prompt assistance. Handifox's warehouse software efficiently manages inventory, order picking, packing, and invoicing, essential functions for our operations."

- HandiFox Desktop Review, Andy P.

What users dislike:

"Ruslan and the Handifox team have been fantastic at meeting our customization needs. The only remaining request is to remove cost view for employees on the web version. Until then, we're solely using the barcode app on iPads."

- HandiFox Desktop Review, Keily A.

8. Label LIVE

Category: Label printing software

Designing and printing labels becomes effortless with  Label LIVE on macOS or Windows. Their hassle-free download and installation process allows you to start printing labels within minutes. You can easily incorporate complex barcodes, auto-sizing text, and high-quality images. It comes with a free trial that offers access to all valuable features.

What users like best:

"LabelLIVE is essential for our daily operations at the manufacturing plant. Integration was straightforward with detailed website instructions. Customer service promptly addressed all queries, and the software seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Excel for order tracking. Highly recommend it!"

- Label LIVE Review, Ryan W.

What users dislike:

"As a new user, navigating the program, I found some challenges. Firstly, the absence of a "size to template" option made it tricky to center text vertically on labels. Secondly, the lack of a "save as" feature means I have to remember to duplicate labels before making changes for new ones. Lastly, the inability to change font within data fields requires creating separate fields for different font styles, like bold and regular, adding complexity to label design."

- Label LIVE Review, Kim M.

9. Loftware NiceLabel

Category: Label printing software

Loftware NiceLabel stands as a premier global provider of label design software and label management systems. Through the pioneering introduction of the world's first public, multi-tenant cloud-based labeling solution, NiceLabel extends the advantages of professional label management to all, irrespective of company size.

What users like best:

"The standout feature of this product is its ease of use and swift label creation, with seamless integration with the Cloud. What I appreciate most is the availability of pre-defined templates and the ability to save new labels as templates for future use."

- Loftware NiceLabel Review, Arun G.

What users dislike:

"While the cloud-based applications sometimes run slowly and experience rare outages, and the cost is slightly higher compared to competitors, it remains the top labeling product in the industry."

- Loftware NiceLabel Review, Nancy G.

10. QuickBooks Online

Category: Inventory control software

QuickBooks Online is an accounting software package developed and marketed by Intuit. It's products are geared mainly toward small and medium-sized businesses. I helps create invoices, track expenses, accept payments, and manage payroll. You can easily get a 30-day free trial with QuickBooks Online.

What users like best:

"I've grown to rely on and deeply appreciate this solution. It's user-friendly, efficient, and highly reliable since implementation. Its excellent services, including banking integration, financial control, expense tracking, invoicing, receipting, auditing, and more, have made it indispensable. The support it offers further validates its convenience and effectiveness. Overall, it's a seriously convenient solution that I trust and depend on."

- QuickBooks Online Review, Sheena P.

"The software is plagued by usability issues, including sluggish performance, frequent bugs, and cumbersome navigation. Recent updates have made it harder to provide feedback, and the redesigned dashboard complicates tasks by burying essential functions and cluttering the interface with irrelevant information."

- QuickBooks Online Review, Annie K.

11. Webgility

Category: Inventory control software

What users like best:

“After migrating to SERVER 2019, we faced installation issues with SQL server, promptly resolved by a technical team member who also assisted with store and QuickBooks connections. Additionally, they highlighted and guided us on resolving issues with our new server computer.”

- Webgility Review, Ricardo R.

What users dislike:

"While Webgility offers extensive features beyond my basic needs, the price seems steep for my small business. Although the additional perks are valuable, they may not justify the cost for smaller companies like mine. Nevertheless, it's the exceptional service that retains our loyalty to the platform."

- Webgility Review, Rodrigo P.

12. Zoho Inventory

Category: Inventory control software

What users like best:

"It's easy to link prices and costs to sales invoices and purchase bills with Zoho Books integration. This helps track inventory assets and provides a clear list of items with unique references."

- Zoho Inventory Review, Mohammed S.

What users dislike:

"I find that the support and knowledge base in Zoho Inventory is lacking compared to other platforms I've used. Additionally, the reporting features are not as robust as those in the CRM."

- Zoho Inventory Review, Edward O.

Understanding the power of a well-stocked arsenal!

Choosing the right inventory management software is essential for businesses aiming to streamline operations and boost efficiency.

The software options discussed in this article offer a range of features to suit various needs, from tracking inventory to optimizing order fulfillment.

By selecting the best fit for your business, you can enhance visibility, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Evaluate your options carefully to find the perfect match and set your business up for success.

Ready to simplify your company's inventory process? Learn how inventory management can boost efficiency for businesses.