Software · head to head
ERPNext vs inFlow
ERPNext
Software
Open-source ERP solution for SMEs and growing businesses
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
inFlow
Software
Inventory software for small to mid-size businesses
- From
- $129/month
- Rated
- -
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disclosure obligations on anyone distributing a modified network service built on it; inFlow user interface feels outdated and difficult for new users to navigate
- They diverge on capability: ERPNext covers Accounting, inFlow covers Easy inventory tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ERPNext and inFlow actually diverge.
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
- Accounting
- Inventory
- Manufacturing
- CRM
- Human Resources
- Payment gateways
- Email systems
- Custom extensions
Only in inFlow
- Easy inventory tracking
- Purchase order management
- Sales order management
- Low stock alerts
- Integration with accounting software
- Barcode scanning
- Email integration
- Shopify
Both cover
- Cloud 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 inFlow
- Self hosting a full business management suite without per user licensingnot inFlow
inFlow
- Simple inventory trackingnot ERPNext
- Order managementnot ERPNext
- Purchase controlnot ERPNext
- Stock alertsnot 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
inFlow
- User interface feels outdated and difficult for new users to navigate
- Customization options are limited with flaky screen customization functionality
- Poor performance with large or complex inventories
- Limited supply chain management features; focuses primarily on retail side
- Basic plan has limited reporting options requiring upgrades for more reports
- QuickBooks integration reported as problematic by users
- BOM costing does not automatically update when raw part costs change
- Audit trail limited to name and date, becoming insufficient as companies grow
Pricing, plan by plan
ERPNext
Free- Self-hostedFree
- Open-source
- Full functionality
- Community support
- Cloud Hosted$50/month
- Cloud hosting
- Managed backups
- Email support
inFlow
$129/month- Entrepreneur$129/month
- 2 team members
- 1 integration
- 1,200 sales orders per year
- Small Business$349/month
- 5 team members
- 3 integrations
- 12,000 sales orders per year
- Mid-Size$699/month
- 10 team members
- 5 integrations
- Unlimited sales orders
Which should you pick?
Choose ERPNext if
- You need accounting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web.
- You also want inventory.
Choose inFlow if
- You need easy inventory tracking.
- You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile scanning app.
- You also want purchase order management.
Questions people ask
- Is ERPNext or inFlow better?
- Neither clearly leads. ERPNext starts at Free and inFlow at $129/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ERPNext or inFlow?
- ERPNext has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ERPNext and $129/month for inFlow.
- Does ERPNext or inFlow run on more platforms?
- ERPNext runs on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web. inFlow runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile scanning app.
- Can I use ERPNext for free?
- Yes. ERPNext has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. inFlow starts at $129/month.
- 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 inFlow is typically brought in for.
- What can ERPNext do that inFlow cannot?
- ERPNext covers Accounting, Inventory, Manufacturing, CRM. inFlow covers Easy inventory tracking, Purchase order management, Sales order management, Low stock alerts. Both handle Cloud support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
inFlow: What team member limits does each inFlow plan include?
Entrepreneur plan includes 2 team members (annual billing USD 129/month), Small Business includes 5 team members (USD 349/month), and Mid-Size includes 10 team members (USD 699/month). Additional users cost USD 29-49/month.
SourceinFlow: Does inFlow include manufacturing features?
Yes. inFlow offers separate Manufacturing plans (Startup, Growth, Scale) with assembly and kit creation for product variants, starting at USD 179/month (annual billing).
SourceinFlow: How many integrations does each plan support?
Entrepreneur plan includes 1 integration, Small Business includes 3 integrations, and Mid-Size includes 5 integrations. Enterprise plan supports unlimited integrations.
SourceinFlow: Is there a free trial available?
Yes. inFlow offers a free 14-day trial without requiring a credit card.
Source