Inventory & Warehouse
Know exactly what's in stock, across every channel and every warehouse — in real time.
Stop overselling because inventory didn't sync. Stop counting boxes manually. The right inventory tool gives you real-time visibility across every sales channel and every fulfillment location.
You're probably experiencing this right now
You sold the same SKU on Shopify and Amazon simultaneously because inventory took 30 minutes to sync. Now you're issuing refunds and apologies.
Your inventory data lives in three places: your 3PL's portal, Shopify, and a spreadsheet. None of them agree with each other.
You or your team do manual inventory counts that take entire weekends — and by Monday morning the numbers are already wrong.
Quick Comparison
From SMB inventory sync to enterprise WMS — compare 5 platforms across pricing, complexity, and best-fit scenarios.
| Tool | Cin7 | ShipHero | Extensiv | Skubana | TradeGecko (QuickBooks Commerce) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $349/month (standard plan) No free tier | $1,500/month (billed annually, includes WMS + shipping) No free tier | Custom (typically $500-$2,000/month based on volume) No free tier | Custom (typically $500+/month) No free tier | $85/month (Founder plan, 1 user, 500 orders) No free tier |
| Best For | Brands doing $1M+ annual revenue with multi-channel operations | Brands doing 500+ orders/day who self-fulfill | 3PL warehouses with 5-500+ active brand clients | Brands doing $2M+ annual revenue with multi-channel, multi-warehouse complexity | SMB brands with wholesale + DTC channels seeking affordable inventory control |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.2/5 G2 • 600+ reviews | ⭐ 4.3/5 G2 • 250+ reviews | ⭐ 4.1/5 G2 • 350+ reviews | ⭐ 4.3/5 G2 • 300+ reviews | ⭐ 4.0/5 Capterra • 150+ reviews |
| Setup Time | 2-4 weeks | 2-4 weeks | 4-12 weeks | 2-4 weeks | 1-3 days |
| Platform Support | ShopifyAmazonWooCommerce+5 | ShopifyShopify PlusAmazon+2 | WMS platform — integrates with 200+ ecommerce carts and marketplaces via CartRover | ShopifyShopify PlusAmazon+5 | ShopifyAmazonWooCommerce |
| Visit | Website → | Website → | Website → | Website → | Website → |
Which One Should You Choose?
Whether you manage your own warehouse, use a 3PL, or do both — the right tool depends on who touches your inventory.
You're a scaling brand ($1M+) with multi-channel operations, BOM/kitting, and wholesale alongside DTC
Comprehensive inventory lifecycle, landed cost tracking, EDI support
You self-fulfill 500+ orders/day and need professional warehouse workflows (pick/pack/ship)
Ecommerce-native WMS — not a repurposed industrial system
You're a 3PL warehouse looking for the industry-standard operating system
Multi-client WMS + CartRover integration hub + automated billing
You're an SMB with wholesale + DTC, already using QuickBooks, and want affordable inventory control
Most affordable entry point with B2B wholesale portal
You want unified inventory + orders + profitability analytics in one platform
All-in-one operations with demand forecasting and true COGS
Deep Dive — Full Reviews
Cin7
Connected inventory management for brands managing complex supply chains
Cin7 is a comprehensive inventory management platform that connects your entire product ecosystem — suppliers, warehouses, sales channels, and 3PLs. Unlike simpler tools that only sync stock levels, Cin7 manages the full inventory lifecycle: purchase orders, landed cost tracking, batch/lot/serial tracking, multi-warehouse routing, and B2B wholesale alongside DTC. It's designed for brands that have outgrown spreadsheet-based inventory management.
Key Features
- •Real-time multi-warehouse inventory sync
- •Purchase order management with landed cost tracking
- •Batch, lot, and serial number tracking
- •Bill of materials (BOM) and kitting
- •EDI support for wholesale/retail partners
- +3 more features
Pros
- ✓Comprehensive — covers the full inventory lifecycle, not just sync
- ✓Strong B2B/wholesale features alongside DTC
- ✓Landed cost tracking automatically calculates true COGS
Cons
- ✗Expensive — starts at $349/month, significant jump from free/cheap tools
- ✗Complex setup (expect 2-4 weeks for full implementation)
- ✗Overkill for brands with simple inventory (single warehouse, single channel)
- ✗UI learning curve — more powerful but less intuitive than simpler tools
Best For
- ▶Brands doing $1M+ annual revenue with multi-channel operations
- ▶Companies that manufacture or assemble products (BOM/kitting needs)
- ▶Brands selling both DTC and B2B wholesale with EDI requirements
Not Ideal For
- ▶Pre-revenue or early-stage brands ($349/mo is hard to justify)
- ▶Single-channel, single-warehouse DTC brands (overkill)
- ▶Brands that only use 3PL fulfillment (3PL handles inventory — use ShipStation or a lighter tool)
ShipHero
Ecommerce WMS purpose-built for brands that self-fulfill or operate their own warehouse
ShipHero is a warehouse management system (WMS) designed specifically for ecommerce brands — not repurposed from industrial warehousing. It provides pick/pack/ship workflows optimized for DTC order profiles: many small orders, fast turnaround, and integration with Shopify/Amazon. If you've graduated from your garage to a real warehouse, ShipHero is the tool to bring professionalism to your operations without enterprise complexity.
Key Features
- •Barcode-driven pick/pack/ship workflows
- •Mobile scanner app for warehouse staff
- •Batch and wave picking optimization
- •Returns processing and quality control
- •Cycle counting and inventory reconciliation
- +3 more features
Pros
- ✓Purpose-built for ecommerce — not a repurposed industrial WMS
- ✓Excellent mobile/tablet interface for warehouse floor use
- ✓Integrates deeply with Shopify and major carriers
Cons
- ✗Expensive — requires significant volume to justify ($1,500/mo minimum)
- ✗Designed for self-fulfillment — overkill if you use a 3PL
- ✗Long-term contract required for best pricing
- ✗Implementation requires dedicated ops person for 2-4 weeks
Best For
- ▶Brands doing 500+ orders/day who self-fulfill
- ▶Ecommerce brands transitioning from 'garage' to 'warehouse' operations
- ▶Brands wanting professional WMS without SAP/Oracle-level complexity
Not Ideal For
- ▶Brands using only 3PLs (3PL has their own WMS)
- ▶Very low volume self-fulfillers under 50 orders/day
- ▶Brands wanting a simple inventory tracker (use a spreadsheet or Cin7)
Extensiv
The operating system for 3PL warehouses — WMS + integration hub
Extensiv (formerly 3PL Central) is the leading WMS platform built specifically for third-party logistics providers. It's not for brands — it's for the warehouses that serve brands. Extensiv manages receiving, putaway, pick/pack/ship, billing, and client management for 3PLs. Its Integration Manager (CartRover) connects to 200+ ecommerce platforms, making it the backbone that powers thousands of 3PL warehouses globally.
Key Features
- •Multi-client inventory management (brand-segregated)
- •Receiving, putaway, pick/pack/ship workflows
- •Automated client billing (storage, pick, ship, receiving fees)
- •CartRover integration hub (200+ platform connections)
- •SmartScan mobile barcode scanning
- +3 more features
Pros
- ✓The industry standard WMS for 3PLs — most widely adopted
- ✓CartRover integration hub eliminates custom integration development
- ✓Client portal gives brands self-service visibility
Cons
- ✗Not for brands — this is 3PL software exclusively
- ✗Implementation is complex (4-12 weeks depending on warehouse size)
- ✗Pricing is opaque and scales with volume
- ✗Legacy interface — modernization is ongoing but incomplete
Best For
- ▶3PL warehouses with 5-500+ active brand clients
- ▶Warehouses needing automated client billing at scale
- ▶3PLs looking to upgrade from spreadsheets or QuickBooks-based management
Not Ideal For
- ▶Brands managing their own inventory (use Cin7 or ShipHero)
- ▶Very small 3PLs with 1-3 clients (too expensive and complex)
- ▶Warehouses that don't need ecommerce integrations
Skubana
Unified commerce operations — inventory + orders + analytics for scaling brands
Skubana (part of Extensiv) is an all-in-one operations platform that unifies order management, inventory sync, purchasing, and profitability analytics. While it appears in both the order management and inventory categories, its inventory capabilities deserve separate attention: multi-warehouse real-time sync, demand forecasting for purchase orders, and true landed cost COGS calculations make it a serious inventory management contender for brands scaling past manual processes.
Key Features
- •Multi-warehouse real-time inventory synchronization
- •Demand forecasting for purchase order generation
- •Landed cost tracking for accurate COGS calculation
- •Bundle and kit inventory management
- •Multi-currency inventory valuation
- +2 more features
Pros
- ✓Inventory + orders + analytics in one platform reduces tool sprawl
- ✓Demand forecasting helps prevent both stockouts and overbuying
- ✓True COGS with landed costs gives accurate margin visibility
Cons
- ✗Expensive and requires annual contract
- ✗Setup complexity — not a tool you can set up in an afternoon
- ✗Overkill for brands under $2M annual revenue
- ✗Being owned by Extensiv raises long-term product direction questions
Best For
- ▶Brands doing $2M+ annual revenue with multi-channel, multi-warehouse complexity
- ▶Operations teams that need both inventory control and profitability analytics
- ▶Brands using FBA or WFS alongside their own warehouses or 3PLs
Not Ideal For
- ▶Small brands under $1M revenue (too expensive)
- ▶Single-warehouse operations with simple inventory needs
- ▶Brands that only use 3PLs (3PL handles inventory management)
TradeGecko (QuickBooks Commerce)
Lightweight inventory management for SMB brands with wholesale operations
TradeGecko (acquired by Intuit and rebranded as QuickBooks Commerce) is a SMB-friendly inventory management platform that bridges the gap between spreadsheets and enterprise ERPs. It's particularly strong for brands that sell both B2B wholesale and DTC — with a wholesale portal where retail buyers can place orders, and integration with Shopify/Amazon for DTC sync. Tight QuickBooks integration makes accounting seamless.
Key Features
- •Real-time inventory sync across Shopify and Amazon
- •B2B wholesale portal for retail buyer orders
- •Purchase order and supplier management
- •QuickBooks Online native integration
- •Multi-currency support for international suppliers
- +2 more features
Pros
- ✓Most affordable multi-channel inventory tool in this list ($85/mo entry)
- ✓B2B wholesale portal is a genuine differentiator at this price point
- ✓Native QuickBooks integration eliminates double data entry
Cons
- ✗Acquired by Intuit — product direction uncertain, development slowed
- ✗Limited to 1 user on entry plan (team features cost more)
- ✗Fewer integrations than Cin7 or Skubana
- ✗500 order limit on entry plan is restrictive — upgrade jumps to $199/month
Best For
- ▶SMB brands with wholesale + DTC channels seeking affordable inventory control
- ▶QuickBooks users wanting native inventory integration
- ▶Brands doing 500-5,000 orders/month looking for entry-level multi-channel management
Not Ideal For
- ▶Large enterprises needing advanced supply chain features (use Cin7)
- ▶Brands with complex manufacturing/BOM needs
- ▶DTC-only brands (wholesale portal is key value — don't pay for unused features)
How to Get Inventory Under Control (Without a Full ERP Implementation)
Most inventory problems are process problems that software just exposes. Follow these steps to fix the process AND pick the right tool.
Centralize your inventory truth before automating anything
Designate ONE system as the source of truth for inventory counts. If that's a spreadsheet today, fine — but pick one. The biggest mistake is connecting systems before agreeing on which one is authoritative.
Map your inventory movement — not just levels
Inventory isn't just a number. It moves: receiving → putaway → pick → pack → ship → return → restock. Draw this flow. The tool you pick must support every step your business actually does, not just the sync part.
Set safety stock buffers BEFORE you sync channels
The sync delay between Shopify and Amazon is 5-30 minutes. During that window, both can sell the same unit. Set a safety buffer: when physical stock < X, show 0 online. Start conservative and tighten over time.
Audit your 3PL's inventory reporting — don't blindly trust it
Request a cycle count report from your 3PL monthly. Compare it against what their portal shows. Discrepancies happen more often than you think — and they're YOUR problem, not theirs, when a customer can't get their order.
Pro Tip
If you use a 3PL, the best inventory software in the world won't help if your 3PL doesn't provide accurate, timely data. Choose a 3PL with a modern WMS and API before investing in inventory tools.
3PLs with modern inventory infrastructure
These fulfillment providers use modern WMS platforms with real-time API access — essential for accurate inventory visibility.
Inventory tools are only as good as the warehouse running them
The right 3PL with a modern WMS eliminates most inventory problems before they start.
Browse 3PL Directory →