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Inventory · head to head

ERPNext vs Shopify Inventory

ERPNext logo

ERPNext

Inventory

Open-source ERP solution for SMEs and growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shopify Inventory logo

Shopify Inventory

Inventory

Inventory management built into Shopify

From
$24/month
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; Shopify Inventory inventory management is integrated into Shopify plans, not a standalone product
  • They diverge on capability: ERPNext covers Accounting, Shopify Inventory covers Stock tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where ERPNext and Shopify Inventory differ
AttributeERPNextShopify Inventory
Starting priceFree$24/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Cloud, WebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20142006

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

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 Shopify Inventory

  • Stock tracking
  • Multi-location inventory
  • Real-time sync
  • Inventory forecasting
  • Barcode scanning
  • CSV imports/exports
  • App ecosystem
  • POS

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ERPNext

  • Enterprise resource planning for small to medium businessesnot Shopify Inventory
  • Accounting and financial managementnot Shopify Inventory
  • Inventory and stock managementnot Shopify Inventory
  • Supply chain managementnot Shopify Inventory

Shopify Inventory

  • Multi-location inventory tracking and managementnot ERPNext
  • Real-time inventory sync across online and physical storesnot ERPNext
  • Order management and fulfillmentnot ERPNext
  • Integration with Shopify's point-of-sale systemnot 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

Shopify Inventory

  • Inventory management is integrated into Shopify plans, not a standalone product
  • POS Pro for advanced retail features costs additional $89/month per location
  • Payment processing fees vary by tier: ranges from 2.9% to 2.5% plus per-transaction fees

Pricing, plan by plan

ERPNext

Free
  • Community EditionFree
  • Frappe Cloud Starter$14/month
  • Frappe Cloud Standard$50/month
  • Frappe Cloud Professional$100/month

Shopify Inventory

$24/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Shopify Inventory review.

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.
ERPNext review

Choose Shopify Inventory if

  • You need stock tracking.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want multi-location inventory.
Shopify Inventory review

Questions people ask

Is ERPNext or Shopify Inventory better?
Neither clearly leads. ERPNext starts at Free and Shopify Inventory at $24/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ERPNext or Shopify Inventory?
ERPNext has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ERPNext and $24/month for Shopify Inventory.
Does ERPNext or Shopify Inventory run on more platforms?
ERPNext runs on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web. Shopify Inventory runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use ERPNext for free?
Yes. ERPNext has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shopify Inventory starts at $24/month.
What is ERPNext best used for?
ERPNext is most often used for enterprise resource planning for small to medium businesses, accounting and financial management, inventory and stock management, supply chain management. Of those, enterprise resource planning for small to medium businesses and accounting and financial management are not what Shopify Inventory is typically brought in for.
What can ERPNext do that Shopify Inventory cannot?
ERPNext covers Accounting, Inventory, Manufacturing, CRM. Shopify Inventory covers Stock tracking, Multi-location inventory, Real-time sync, Inventory forecasting. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ERPNext: Is ERPNext free?

Yes, ERPNext Community Edition is completely free and open source with no hidden paywalls. Everything is available to use, modify, or resell at no cost. Users can also access professional hosting through Frappe Cloud starting at USD$14 per month.

Source
Shopify Inventory: What are Shopify's main pricing tiers and monthly costs?

Shopify offers Basic ($32/month USD), Grow ($92/month), Advanced ($399/month), and Plus (from $2,300/month). Annual billing offers 25% discount on Basic, Grow, and Advanced tiers.

Source
ERPNext: What is Frappe Cloud pricing based on?

Frappe Cloud pricing is compute-based rather than per-user licensing. Costs range from USD$14 to USD$108 per month depending on resource needs. The pricing advantage is that hosting costs do not scale linearly with the number of users, unlike traditional per-seat SaaS models.

Source
Shopify Inventory: Does Shopify offer a free trial or introductory pricing?

Yes. New customers get a 3-day free trial with no credit card required. After the trial, the first 3 months cost $1/month before regular pricing applies.

Source
Shopify Inventory: What payment processing fees does Shopify charge, and do they vary by plan?

Basic plan charges 2.9% plus AED 1.00 per transaction. Grow charges 2.8% plus AED 1.00. Advanced charges 2.7% plus AED 1.00. Plus plan offers the most competitive rates.

Source
Shopify Inventory: How many inventory locations can I create on each Shopify plan?

Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans support 10 inventory locations. Plus plan supports 200 inventory locations for complex, multi-location operations.

Source
Shopify Inventory: What staff account limits apply to each Shopify plan?

Basic plan includes no additional staff accounts. Grow allows up to 5 staff accounts. Advanced allows up to 15 staff accounts. Plus plan offers unlimited staff accounts.

Source
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