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Fashion · head to head

BlueCherry PLM vs OpenBOM

B

BlueCherry PLM

Fashion

Fashion PLM and supply chain solution

From
$350/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenBOM logo

OpenBOM

Manufacturing

Cloud bill of materials and part catalogue management priced per seat, with free read-only users

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenBOM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BlueCherry PLM complex implementation requiring specialized consultant support, with months required for customizations costing thousands of dollars; OpenBOM pricing has three axes, editing seats plus data record count plus per-seat CAD add-ins at $25 to $45 each, so the real annual cost is well above the advertised per-seat figure.
  • They diverge on capability: BlueCherry PLM covers Product management, OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BlueCherry PLM and OpenBOM actually diverge.

Attributes where BlueCherry PLM and OpenBOM differ
AttributeBlueCherry PLMOpenBOM
Starting price$350/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer user per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Browser-basedWeb, Windows, macOS, API
CategoryFashionManufacturing
Founded2012Unknown

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

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 BlueCherry PLM

  • Product management
  • Supplier management
  • Costing
  • Compliance
  • Document control
  • Collaboration
  • e-commerce
  • ERP systems

Only in OpenBOM

  • Multi-level BOMs
  • Part catalogue
  • CAD add-ins
  • Change management
  • Free read-only users
  • REST API

What people use each for

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

BlueCherry PLM

  • Product developmentnot OpenBOM
  • Supplier managementnot OpenBOM

OpenBOM

  • A hardware startup replacing a shared BOM spreadsheet before its first contract manufacturing runnot BlueCherry PLM
  • A contract manufacturer sharing structured BOMs with customers who should see but not edit themnot BlueCherry PLM
  • An electronics team pulling BOMs straight out of Altium and mechanical CAD instead of retyping themnot BlueCherry PLM
  • A small manufacturer that needs part numbering and revision discipline but cannot fund a PLM projectnot BlueCherry PLM

Where each one falls short

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

BlueCherry PLM

  • Complex implementation requiring specialized consultant support, with months required for customizations costing thousands of dollars
  • Limited customization options restrict ability to tailor workflows to specific business processes
  • Custom reporting requires significant effort and is cumbersome to generate

OpenBOM

  • Pricing has three axes, editing seats plus data record count plus per-seat CAD add-ins at $25 to $45 each, so the real annual cost is well above the advertised per-seat figure.
  • Paying yearly nearly halves the seat price, from $55 to $30 and $165 to $90, so monthly billing carries an unusually heavy penalty for teams that want flexibility.
  • Change management, revision control and CAD file management are absent from the entry Team plan, so the cheapest tier is a catalogue rather than a working PLM.
  • It lacks the approval workflows, effectivity dating and audit depth that regulated medical and aerospace suppliers need, so companies pursuing ISO 13485 or AS9100 typically migrate away.
  • Record count is metered separately and a large imported part library can push a small team into a higher data tier without adding a single user.

Pricing, plan by plan

BlueCherry PLM

$350/month
  • Starter$350/month
    • Core PLM
  • Growth$700/month
    • Advanced features
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Full solution

OpenBOM

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 2,000 data records
    • Basic BOM and catalogue management
    • Non-commercial and educational use
  • Professional Team$55/month
    • $30 per seat per month billed yearly
    • BOM management, part catalogue, inventory
    • RFQ and purchase orders
  • Company$165/month
    • $90 per seat per month billed yearly
    • Everything in Team
    • CAD file management and revision control
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Single sign-on
    • Custom integrations
    • Private or custom hosting

Which should you pick?

Choose BlueCherry PLM if

  • You need product management.
  • You work on Web, Browser-based.
  • You also want supplier management.
BlueCherry PLM review

Choose OpenBOM if

  • You need multi-level boms.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, API.
  • You also want part catalogue.
OpenBOM review

Questions people ask

Is BlueCherry PLM or OpenBOM better?
Neither clearly leads. BlueCherry PLM starts at $350/month and OpenBOM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BlueCherry PLM or OpenBOM?
OpenBOM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $350/month for BlueCherry PLM and Free for OpenBOM.
Does BlueCherry PLM or OpenBOM run on more platforms?
BlueCherry PLM runs on Web, Browser-based. OpenBOM runs on Web, Windows, macOS, API.
Can I use OpenBOM for free?
Yes. OpenBOM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BlueCherry PLM starts at $350/month.
What is BlueCherry PLM best used for?
BlueCherry PLM is most often used for product development, supplier management. Of those, product development and supplier management are not what OpenBOM is typically brought in for.
What can BlueCherry PLM do that OpenBOM cannot?
BlueCherry PLM covers Product management, Supplier management, Costing, Compliance. OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs, Part catalogue, CAD add-ins, Change management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BlueCherry PLM: What are the core capabilities of BlueCherry PLM?

BlueCherry Next PLM manages the entire product lifecycle including design, product development, bill of materials (BOM), sourcing, sample approval, and production. It includes an Adobe Illustrator plug-in for designer workflows and integrates with virtual prototyping tools like Browzwear and CLO3D.

Source
OpenBOM: Is OpenBOM free?

There is a genuine free tier limited to 2,000 data records and aimed at non-commercial and educational use. Commercial teams start at $30 per seat per month billed yearly.

BlueCherry PLM: Is BlueCherry cloud-based?

Yes, BlueCherry is a cloud-hosted, web-based platform accessible from any browser on any device without requiring software downloads.

Source
OpenBOM: Do I pay for people who only look at BOMs?

No. Read-only users are unlimited and free on every paid plan, which is the main reason the total cost undercuts seat-for-seat PLM tools.

BlueCherry PLM: Does BlueCherry support compliance documentation?

Yes, BlueCherry can generate and manage CPSIA, GCC and other compliance documentation including factory audits for apparel and footwear products.

Source
OpenBOM: Are the CAD add-ins included?

No. They are $25 per seat per month billed yearly, $45 monthly, and require an active Team or Company subscription.

BlueCherry PLM: What integrations does BlueCherry offer?

BlueCherry integrates with Adobe Illustrator for design submissions, virtual prototyping tools like Browzwear and CLO3D, and offers business intelligence and reporting capabilities.

Source
OpenBOM: Can OpenBOM replace a full PLM?

For a startup, usually yes. For regulated manufacturing needing controlled workflows and full audit trails, no.

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