Softwr

Fashion · head to head

Centric PLM vs OpenBOM

Centric PLM logo

Centric PLM

Fashion

Product lifecycle management for fashion and retail

From
On request
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: Centric PLM no public pricing available on website; 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: Centric PLM covers Product data 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 Centric PLM and OpenBOM actually diverge.

Attributes where Centric PLM and OpenBOM differ
AttributeCentric PLMOpenBOM
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer user per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, ApiWeb, Windows, macOS, API
CategoryFashionManufacturing
Founded2004Unknown

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 Centric PLM

  • Product data management
  • Bill of materials
  • Tech pack creation
  • Sample management
  • Supplier collaboration
  • Quality management
  • Cost management
  • Calendar & milestones

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.

Centric PLM

  • Product lifecycle management for fashion and apparelnot OpenBOM
  • Merchandise financial planning and assortment alignmentnot OpenBOM
  • Pricing automation and inventory allocationnot OpenBOM
  • Competitive and market intelligence for product decisionsnot OpenBOM
  • Visual collaboration on line plans through Visual Boardsnot OpenBOM

OpenBOM

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

Where each one falls short

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

Centric PLM

  • No public pricing available on website
  • Pricing requires demo request or direct contact
  • Enterprise solutions with custom pricing
  • 20,000+ brands indicates complex, high-touch sales model

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

Centric PLM

On request
  • Professional$undefined/month
    • Core PLM functionality
    • Specification management
    • BOM management
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Advanced analytics
    • Multi-site support
  • Enterprise Plus$undefined/month
    • Everything in Enterprise
    • AI-powered insights
    • 3D integration

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 Centric PLM if

  • You need product data management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want bill of materials.
Centric 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 Centric PLM or OpenBOM better?
Neither clearly leads. Centric PLM starts at On request and OpenBOM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Centric PLM or OpenBOM?
OpenBOM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Centric PLM and Free for OpenBOM.
Does Centric PLM or OpenBOM run on more platforms?
Centric PLM runs on Web, Mobile, Api. 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. Centric PLM starts at On request.
What is Centric PLM best used for?
Centric PLM is most often used for product lifecycle management for fashion and apparel, merchandise financial planning and assortment alignment, pricing automation and inventory allocation, competitive and market intelligence for product decisions. Of those, product lifecycle management for fashion and apparel and merchandise financial planning and assortment alignment are not what OpenBOM is typically brought in for.
What can Centric PLM do that OpenBOM cannot?
Centric PLM covers Product data management, Bill of materials, Tech pack creation, Sample management. OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs, Part catalogue, CAD add-ins, Change management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Centric PLM: How much does Centric PLM cost?

Centric Software does not publish pricing on their website. Pricing is customized based on organizational needs. To obtain pricing, you must request a demo or contact their sales team directly.

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.

Centric PLM: What companies use Centric PLM?

Centric Software serves 20,000+ brands across 60+ countries, indicating enterprise-scale implementations with custom pricing models.

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.

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.

OpenBOM: Can OpenBOM replace a full PLM?

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

Share

Related pages

More on Centric PLM

More on OpenBOM

Keep looking

Other head to heads