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Inventory · head to head

DEAR Inventory vs Snipe-IT

DEAR Inventory logo

DEAR Inventory

Inventory

Complete inventory and order management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Snipe-IT logo

Snipe-IT

Inventory

Free open source IT asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Snipe-IT has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DEAR Inventory starting price of $349/month is high for small businesses; Snipe-IT hosted Basic caps API calls at 120 per minute and Small Business at 240 per minute; unlimited API calls require Dedicated hosting from $2,499.99 per year
  • They diverge on capability: DEAR Inventory covers Inventory management, Snipe-IT covers Asset tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DEAR Inventory and Snipe-IT actually diverge.

Attributes where DEAR Inventory and Snipe-IT differ
AttributeDEAR InventorySnipe-IT
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile app, Cloud-basedWeb, Cloud/Self-hosted

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Inventory), founded (2013).

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 Snipe-IT

  • Asset tracking
  • License management
  • Audit logs
  • Check-in/out
  • LDAP
  • SAML
  • API
  • Slack

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

DEAR Inventory

  • Inventory management and trackingnot Snipe-IT
  • E-commerce integration and synchronizationnot Snipe-IT
  • Multi-channel order managementnot Snipe-IT
  • Stock and supply chain managementnot Snipe-IT

Snipe-IT

  • Tracking IT hardware assets and their assignment to staffnot DEAR Inventory
  • Managing software licences, accessories and consumablesnot DEAR Inventory
  • Running a self hosted open source asset registernot 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

Snipe-IT

  • Hosted Basic caps API calls at 120 per minute and Small Business at 240 per minute; unlimited API calls require Dedicated hosting from $2,499.99 per year
  • Email support requires the Small Business hosting plan; Basic hosting gets community support only
  • Automated upgrades and server maintenance require the Small Business plan or higher
  • Enhanced LDAP, IP restrictions, a private server and VPN connectivity require Dedicated hosting
  • The self hosted edition is free but support is sold separately
  • Medium and large dedicated hosting is priced by quote

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

Snipe-IT

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited assets
    • Complete asset management functionality
  • Basic Hosting$399.99/year
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited assets
    • SSL certificate
  • Small Business Hosting$999.99/year
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited assets
    • SSL certificate
  • Dedicated Hosting Small$2499.99/year
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited assets
    • Dedicated infrastructure

Which should you pick?

Choose DEAR Inventory if

  • You need inventory management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud-based.
  • You also want manufacturing.
DEAR Inventory review

Choose Snipe-IT if

  • You need asset tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud/Self-hosted.
  • You also want license management.
Snipe-IT review

Questions people ask

Is DEAR Inventory or Snipe-IT better?
Neither clearly leads. DEAR Inventory starts at On request and Snipe-IT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DEAR Inventory or Snipe-IT?
Snipe-IT has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for DEAR Inventory and Free for Snipe-IT.
Does DEAR Inventory or Snipe-IT run on more platforms?
DEAR Inventory runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud-based. Snipe-IT runs on Web, Cloud/Self-hosted.
Can I use Snipe-IT for free?
Yes. Snipe-IT has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DEAR Inventory starts at On request.
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 Snipe-IT is typically brought in for.
What can DEAR Inventory do that Snipe-IT cannot?
DEAR Inventory covers Inventory management, Manufacturing, Purchase orders, Sales orders. Snipe-IT covers Asset tracking, License management, Audit logs, Check-in/out. Both handle Web support.

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.

Source
Snipe-IT: How much does Snipe-IT cost?

Snipe-IT is free for self-hosted deployment. Hosted plans start at $399.99/year for Basic Hosting ($39.99/month) and range up to $7,500/year for large Dedicated Hosting. Annual plans offer 16% savings versus monthly billing.

Source
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.

Source
Snipe-IT: What is included in Snipe-IT hosting plans?

All Snipe-IT hosted plans include unlimited users and unlimited assets. Basic and Small Business plans add SSL certificates, automatic backups, email support, and priority feature requests. Dedicated plans provide dedicated infrastructure.

Source
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.

Source
Snipe-IT: Does Snipe-IT offer monthly billing?

Yes, monthly billing is available for hosted plans at 16% premium over annual rates. Basic Hosting is $39.99/month, Small Business is $99.99/month, and Dedicated plans range from $249.99 to $625/month.

Source
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.

Source
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