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Inventory · head to head

ABC Inventory vs Brightpearl

A

ABC Inventory

Inventory

Free inventory software for Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Brightpearl logo

Brightpearl

Inventory

Retail operating system for omnichannel commerce

From
$499/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ABC Inventory has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ABC Inventory the free ABC Inventory edition is single user only; multi-user access requires the paid commercial Almyta Control System upgrade, per the vendor's own page as captured by the Internet Archive on 20 November 2024; Brightpearl no pricing is published, and every quote is described as a bespoke setup
  • They diverge on capability: ABC Inventory covers Inventory tracking, Brightpearl covers Order management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ABC Inventory and Brightpearl actually diverge.

Attributes where ABC Inventory and Brightpearl differ
AttributeABC InventoryBrightpearl
Starting priceFree$499/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows DesktopCloud, Web
Founded19952007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Inventory).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ABC Inventory

  • Inventory tracking
  • Purchase orders
  • Sales orders
  • Multi-location
  • Excel export
  • Barcode printing
  • Label printing
  • Windows Desktop support

Only in Brightpearl

  • Order management
  • Inventory management
  • Warehouse management
  • Retail accounting
  • POS integration
  • Shopify
  • Amazon
  • eBay

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ABC Inventory

  • Desktop inventorynot Brightpearl
  • Order managementnot Brightpearl
  • Purchasingnot Brightpearl
  • Stock controlnot Brightpearl

Brightpearl

  • Retail operations management across inventory, orders and accountingnot ABC Inventory
  • Connecting ecommerce and wholesale channels to fulfilmentnot ABC Inventory

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ABC Inventory

  • The free ABC Inventory edition is single user only; multi-user access requires the paid commercial Almyta Control System upgrade, per the vendor's own page as captured by the Internet Archive on 20 November 2024
  • The free licence excludes phone, email and online support, per the same capture of 20 November 2024

Brightpearl

  • No pricing is published, and every quote is described as a bespoke setup
  • Cost is driven by business size rather than by a stated unit, so nothing can be estimated before contacting sales
  • The vendor frames cost as a percentage of revenue, which means the bill grows with turnover rather than with usage

Pricing, plan by plan

ABC Inventory

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full features
    • Single user
    • Basic support
  • Network$199/month
    • Multi-user
    • Network access
    • Priority support

Brightpearl

$499/month
  • Core$499/month
    • Order management
    • Inventory management
    • Basic accounting
  • Professional$999/month
    • Unlimited channels
    • Warehouse management
    • Advanced reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose ABC Inventory if

  • You need inventory tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows Desktop.
  • You also want purchase orders.
ABC Inventory review

Choose Brightpearl if

  • You need order management.
  • You work on Cloud, Web.
  • You also want inventory management.
Brightpearl review

Questions people ask

Is ABC Inventory or Brightpearl better?
Neither clearly leads. ABC Inventory starts at Free and Brightpearl at $499/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ABC Inventory or Brightpearl?
ABC Inventory has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ABC Inventory and $499/month for Brightpearl.
Does ABC Inventory or Brightpearl run on more platforms?
ABC Inventory runs on Windows Desktop. Brightpearl runs on Cloud, Web.
Can I use ABC Inventory for free?
Yes. ABC Inventory has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Brightpearl starts at $499/month.
What is ABC Inventory best used for?
ABC Inventory is most often used for desktop inventory, order management, purchasing, stock control. Of those, desktop inventory and order management are not what Brightpearl is typically brought in for.
What can ABC Inventory do that Brightpearl cannot?
ABC Inventory covers Inventory tracking, Purchase orders, Sales orders, Multi-location. Brightpearl covers Order management, Inventory management, Warehouse management, Retail accounting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Brightpearl: Why does Brightpearl use custom pricing instead of fixed subscription tiers?

Brightpearl states 'One size never fits all. That's why we build a bespoke set-up for every customer with simple, tailored pricing so you never pay for more than you need.' Pricing is tailored to individual business needs.

Source
Brightpearl: Do I have to pay extra for additional users?

No. Unlimited users are always included with Brightpearl at no extra cost, regardless of how many people use the system.

Source
Brightpearl: How does Brightpearl pricing scale as my business grows?

Brightpearl pricing scales to become a smaller percentage of your revenue as you grow. The company states 'The bigger you grow, the better the value' in their pricing model.

Source
Brightpearl: Is there a free trial available?

No free trial or freemium option is mentioned on the pricing page. Interested customers are asked to book a 1-1 demo with retail experts to receive a custom pricing quote.

Source
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