Software · head to head
Blue Link ERP vs Fishbowl
Blue Link ERP
Software
Enterprise software for wholesale distribution
- From
- $500/month
- Rated
- -
Fishbowl
Software
Manufacturing and warehouse management for QuickBooks
- From
- $4395/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Blue Link ERP no QuickBooks integration; Fishbowl the $229 per month Essentials plan includes only 2 users, Growth at $429 includes 5 and Scale at $729 includes 10, all billed annually
- They diverge on capability: Blue Link ERP covers Distribution management, Fishbowl covers Inventory management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Blue Link ERP and Fishbowl actually diverge.
| Attribute | Blue Link ERP | Fishbowl |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $500/month | $4395/one-time |
| Pricing model | subscription | one-time |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, Cloud |
| Founded | 1992 | 2001 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Blue Link ERP
- Distribution management
- Inventory control
- Order management
- Warehouse management
- Financial management
- QuickBooks
- EDI
- Shipping carriers
Only in Fishbowl
- Inventory management
- Manufacturing
- Work orders
- Barcode scanning
- QuickBooks integration
- QuickBooks Desktop
- QuickBooks Online
- ShipStation
Both cover
- Shopify
- Amazon
- Cloud support
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Blue Link ERP
- Wholesale distributionnot Fishbowl
- Multi-warehouse operationsnot Fishbowl
- B2B commercenot Fishbowl
Fishbowl
- Inventory and SKU tracking for wholesale and distribution businessesnot Blue Link ERP
- Manufacturing bills of materials, MRP, work orders and job costingnot Blue Link ERP
- Warehouse fulfilment, transfer orders and automated reorderingnot Blue Link ERP
- Multichannel selling with synchronised stock levelsnot Blue Link ERP
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Blue Link ERP
- No QuickBooks integration
- Outdated user interface that some users find difficult to navigate
- Requires third-party integrations for sales tax calculation and credit card processing
- Occasional technical issues during peak usage periods such as timeouts and freezing
Fishbowl
- The $229 per month Essentials plan includes only 2 users, Growth at $429 includes 5 and Scale at $729 includes 10, all billed annually
- A paid implementation package is required as part of purchase and covers a 6 to 8 week training certification
- Lot tracking, demand forecasting and compliance documentation require the Scale plan at $729 per month
- Advanced Warehouse from $595 per month and Advanced Manufacturing from $675 per month are quoted on team size and deployment rather than sold at a fixed rate
- Demand forecasting and custom reports are add ons carrying separate fees
- All listed plan prices are billed annually rather than monthly
Pricing, plan by plan
Blue Link ERP
$500/month- Professional$500/month
- Core distribution
- Inventory management
- Order processing
- Enterprise$1000/month
- Multi-warehouse
- EDI integration
- Advanced analytics
Fishbowl
$4395/one-time- Fishbowl Warehouse$4395/one-time
- Inventory tracking
- Order management
- QuickBooks sync
- Fishbowl Manufacturing$5495/one-time
- Work orders
- Bill of materials
- Shop floor control
Which should you pick?
Choose Blue Link ERP if
- You need distribution management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want inventory control.
Choose Fishbowl if
- You need inventory management.
- You work on Windows, Cloud.
- You also want manufacturing.
Questions people ask
- Is Blue Link ERP or Fishbowl better?
- Neither clearly leads. Blue Link ERP starts at $500/month and Fishbowl at $4395/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Blue Link ERP or Fishbowl?
- Blue Link ERP starts at $500/month and Fishbowl at $4395/one-time.
- Does Blue Link ERP or Fishbowl run on more platforms?
- Blue Link ERP runs on Web, iOS, Android. Fishbowl runs on Windows, Cloud.
- What is Blue Link ERP best used for?
- Blue Link ERP is most often used for wholesale distribution, multi-warehouse operations, b2b commerce. Of those, wholesale distribution and multi-warehouse operations are not what Fishbowl is typically brought in for.
- What can Blue Link ERP do that Fishbowl cannot?
- Blue Link ERP covers Distribution management, Inventory control, Order management, Warehouse management. Fishbowl covers Inventory management, Manufacturing, Work orders, Barcode scanning. Both handle Shopify, Amazon, Cloud support, Windows support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Blue Link ERP: Does Blue Link ERP offer a free trial?
Blue Link ERP does not offer a free trial, but prospective customers can request a free demo and access product videos to explore features.
SourceBlue Link ERP: Can Blue Link ERP integrate with QuickBooks?
No. Blue Link ERP does not integrate with QuickBooks, which is a limitation for businesses that use QuickBooks for accounting.
SourceBlue Link ERP: What platforms does Blue Link ERP support?
Blue Link ERP is cloud-based and accessible via web browsers and mobile applications. Native apps are available for both iOS and Android.
SourceBlue Link ERP: What industries does Blue Link ERP serve?
Blue Link ERP is designed for wholesale, distribution, retail, and eCommerce businesses, with specific solutions for apparel, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, construction, and furniture industries.
SourceBlue Link ERP: Does Blue Link ERP require third-party tools for taxes and payments?
Yes. US sales tax calculation requires integration with third-party tools like Zip2Tax or Avalara, and credit card processing requires separate third-party software.
Source