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Software · head to head

ERPNext vs DEAR Inventory

E

ERPNext

Software

Open-source ERP solution for SMEs and growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DEAR Inventory logo

DEAR Inventory

Software

Complete inventory and order management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ERPNext has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ERPNext the software is AGPL-3.0 licensed, which imposes source disclosure obligations on anyone distributing a modified network service built on it; DEAR Inventory dEAR Inventory is now sold as Cin7 Core with four named tiers (Standard, Pro, Advanced, Omni) but no dollar figures are published, only an ROI calculator
  • They diverge on capability: ERPNext covers Inventory, DEAR Inventory covers Inventory management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ERPNext and DEAR Inventory actually diverge.

Attributes where ERPNext and DEAR Inventory differ
AttributeERPNextDEAR Inventory
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Cloud, WebWeb, Mobile app, Cloud-based
Founded20142013

Identical on both: 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 ERPNext

  • Inventory
  • CRM
  • Human Resources
  • Payment gateways
  • Email systems
  • Custom extensions
  • Third-party APIs
  • User role management

Only in DEAR Inventory

  • Inventory management
  • Purchase orders
  • Sales orders
  • Xero
  • QuickBooks
  • Shopify
  • Amazon
  • eBay

Both cover

  • Accounting
  • Manufacturing
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ERPNext

  • Open source ERP covering accounting, inventory, manufacturing and HRnot DEAR Inventory
  • Self hosting a full business management suite without per user licensingnot DEAR Inventory

DEAR Inventory

  • Manufacturing managementnot ERPNext
  • Order processingnot ERPNext
  • Stock controlnot ERPNext
  • Financial integrationnot ERPNext

Where each one falls short

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

ERPNext

  • The software is AGPL-3.0 licensed, which imposes source disclosure obligations on anyone distributing a modified network service built on it
  • Managed hosting is priced per site and per server rather than per user, so a small team running several sites pays more than a large team on one
  • Dedicated server isolation and stronger reliability guarantees start at $125 a month
  • Self hosting is free but places upgrades, backups and availability entirely on the operator

DEAR Inventory

  • DEAR Inventory is now sold as Cin7 Core with four named tiers (Standard, Pro, Advanced, Omni) but no dollar figures are published, only an ROI calculator

Pricing, plan by plan

ERPNext

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Open-source
    • Full functionality
    • Community support
  • Cloud Hosted$50/month
    • Cloud hosting
    • Managed backups
    • Email support

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

Which should you pick?

Choose ERPNext if

  • You need inventory.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web.
  • You also want crm.
ERPNext review

Choose DEAR Inventory if

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

Questions people ask

Is ERPNext or DEAR Inventory better?
Neither clearly leads. ERPNext starts at Free and DEAR Inventory at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ERPNext or DEAR Inventory?
ERPNext has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ERPNext and On request for DEAR Inventory.
Does ERPNext or DEAR Inventory run on more platforms?
ERPNext runs on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web. DEAR Inventory runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud-based.
Can I use ERPNext for free?
Yes. ERPNext has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DEAR Inventory starts at On request.
What is ERPNext best used for?
ERPNext is most often used for open source erp covering accounting, inventory, manufacturing and hr, self hosting a full business management suite without per user licensing. Of those, open source erp covering accounting, inventory, manufacturing and hr and self hosting a full business management suite without per user licensing are not what DEAR Inventory is typically brought in for.
What can ERPNext do that DEAR Inventory cannot?
ERPNext covers Inventory, CRM, Human Resources, Payment gateways. DEAR Inventory covers Inventory management, Purchase orders, Sales orders, Xero. Both handle Accounting, Manufacturing, Web support.
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