Inventory · head to head
DEAR Inventory vs Ignition
DEAR Inventory
Inventory
Complete inventory and order management system
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Ignition
Manufacturing
Industrial automation platform for SCADA, HMI and MES
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: DEAR Inventory starting price of $349/month is high for small businesses; Ignition requires real engineering to implement; it is a platform rather than a finished application
- They diverge on capability: DEAR Inventory covers Inventory management, Ignition covers Unlimited-client licensing.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DEAR Inventory and Ignition actually diverge.
| Attribute | DEAR Inventory | Ignition |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | Per-server licensing with published module pricing; unlimited clients and tags |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile app, Cloud-based | Windows, Linux, macOS, Web |
| Category | Inventory | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 2013 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 DEAR Inventory
- Inventory management
- Manufacturing
- Purchase orders
- Sales orders
- Accounting
- Xero
- QuickBooks
- Shopify
Only in Ignition
- Unlimited-client licensing
- SCADA and HMI
- Historian
- MES modules
- Web-based clients
- Wide PLC support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DEAR Inventory
- Inventory management and trackingnot Ignition
- E-commerce integration and synchronizationnot Ignition
- Multi-channel order managementnot Ignition
- Stock and supply chain managementnot Ignition
Ignition
- Plants where per-tag licensing has made expansion a budget conversationnot DEAR Inventory
- Replacing installed operator terminals with browser-based clientsnot DEAR Inventory
- Connecting plant floor data to SQL and business systemsnot DEAR Inventory
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
DEAR Inventory
- Starting price of $349/month is high for small businesses
- Base plan limited to 6 integrations; additional integrations require separate purchase
- No published details on integration add-on costs
- Redirects to Cin7.com, indicating product has been acquired or rebranded
Ignition
- Requires real engineering to implement; it is a platform rather than a finished application
- Steep learning curve, and Inductive Automation runs its own training programme because of it
- Self-hosted and self-supported by default, so plant IT carries the availability burden
- Module-based pricing means the entry figure is rarely the final one
Pricing, plan by plan
DEAR Inventory
On request- Standard$249/month
- Core features
- 5 users
- Standard support
- Professional$449/month
- Advanced manufacturing
- 10 users
- Priority support
- Enterprise$849/month
- Full features
- Unlimited users
- Dedicated support
Ignition
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Ignition review.
Which should you pick?
Choose DEAR Inventory if
- You need inventory management.
- You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud-based.
- You also want manufacturing.
Choose Ignition if
- You need unlimited-client licensing.
- You work on Windows, Linux, macOS, Web.
- You also want scada and hmi.
Questions people ask
- Is DEAR Inventory or Ignition better?
- Neither clearly leads. DEAR Inventory starts at On request and Ignition at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, DEAR Inventory or Ignition?
- DEAR Inventory starts at On request and Ignition at On request.
- Does DEAR Inventory or Ignition run on more platforms?
- DEAR Inventory runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud-based. Ignition runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, Web.
- What is DEAR Inventory best used for?
- DEAR Inventory is most often used for inventory management and tracking, e-commerce integration and synchronization, multi-channel order management, stock and supply chain management. Of those, inventory management and tracking and e-commerce integration and synchronization are not what Ignition is typically brought in for.
- What can DEAR Inventory do that Ignition cannot?
- DEAR Inventory covers Inventory management, Manufacturing, Purchase orders, Sales orders. Ignition covers Unlimited-client licensing, SCADA and HMI, Historian, MES modules.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
DEAR Inventory: How much does DEAR Inventory cost?
DEAR Inventory (now Cin7) pricing starts at $349 per month for plans that accommodate up to 6 e-commerce and app integrations. Additional integrations are available for purchase.
SourceIgnition: What does Ignition cost?
It publishes per-server module pricing with unlimited clients, tags and connections, so cost does not scale with how many people use it.
DEAR Inventory: Is there a free trial for DEAR Inventory?
Yes, Cin7 (formerly DEAR Inventory) offers a free trial option. Contact the vendor directly or visit their website to start a free trial.
SourceIgnition: Why does unlimited-client licensing matter?
Traditional SCADA is licensed per tag or per screen, which turns adding an operator terminal into a purchase. Ignition removes that ceiling.
DEAR Inventory: What integrations does DEAR Inventory support?
DEAR Inventory base plans include up to 6 e-commerce and app integrations. Additional integrations beyond the base 6 are available but require separate purchase.
SourceIgnition: Is it a finished application?
No, it is a platform. Screens, tags and logic are built for the specific plant, which is real engineering work.
DEAR Inventory: Is DEAR Inventory still available?
DEAR Inventory has been rebranded as Cin7. The Cin7 platform continues to provide inventory management with e-commerce integrations at $349/month starting price.
SourceRelated pages
More on DEAR Inventory
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- Ignition vs Siemens WinCC Unified
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- Ignition vs Yokogawa CENTUM VP
- Ignition vs COPA-DATA zenon
- Ignition vs Litmus Edge
- Ignition vs Kepware Server
- Ignition vs Oden Technologies
- Ignition vs PROGNOST Systems
- Ignition vs 3YOURMIND
- Ignition vs AMFG
- Ignition vs Aras Innovator
- Ignition vs Authentise
- Ignition vs Arena PLM