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Fishbowl vs Blue Link ERP

Fishbowl logo

Fishbowl

Software

Manufacturing and warehouse management for QuickBooks

From
$4395/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Blue Link ERP logo

Blue Link ERP

Software

Enterprise software for wholesale distribution

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Fishbowl the $229 per month Essentials plan includes only 2 users, Growth at $429 includes 5 and Scale at $729 includes 10, all billed annually; Blue Link ERP no QuickBooks integration
  • They diverge on capability: Fishbowl covers Inventory management, Blue Link ERP covers Distribution management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fishbowl and Blue Link ERP actually diverge.

Attributes where Fishbowl and Blue Link ERP differ
AttributeFishbowlBlue Link ERP
Starting price$4395/one-time$500/month
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
PlatformsWindows, CloudWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20011992

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Fishbowl

  • Inventory management
  • Manufacturing
  • Work orders
  • Barcode scanning
  • QuickBooks integration
  • QuickBooks Desktop
  • QuickBooks Online
  • ShipStation

Only in Blue Link ERP

  • Distribution management
  • Inventory control
  • Order management
  • Warehouse management
  • Financial management
  • QuickBooks
  • EDI
  • Shipping carriers

Both cover

  • Shopify
  • Amazon
  • Windows support
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

Fishbowl

  • Inventory and SKU tracking for wholesale and distribution businessesnot Blue Link ERP
  • Manufacturing bills of materials, MRP, work orders and job costingnot Blue Link ERP
  • Warehouse fulfilment, transfer orders and automated reorderingnot Blue Link ERP
  • Multichannel selling with synchronised stock levelsnot Blue Link ERP

Blue Link ERP

  • Wholesale distributionnot Fishbowl
  • Multi-warehouse operationsnot Fishbowl
  • B2B commercenot Fishbowl

Where each one falls short

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

Fishbowl

  • The $229 per month Essentials plan includes only 2 users, Growth at $429 includes 5 and Scale at $729 includes 10, all billed annually
  • A paid implementation package is required as part of purchase and covers a 6 to 8 week training certification
  • Lot tracking, demand forecasting and compliance documentation require the Scale plan at $729 per month
  • Advanced Warehouse from $595 per month and Advanced Manufacturing from $675 per month are quoted on team size and deployment rather than sold at a fixed rate
  • Demand forecasting and custom reports are add ons carrying separate fees
  • All listed plan prices are billed annually rather than monthly

Blue Link ERP

  • No QuickBooks integration
  • Outdated user interface that some users find difficult to navigate
  • Requires third-party integrations for sales tax calculation and credit card processing
  • Occasional technical issues during peak usage periods such as timeouts and freezing

Pricing, plan by plan

Fishbowl

$4395/one-time
  • Fishbowl Warehouse$4395/one-time
    • Inventory tracking
    • Order management
    • QuickBooks sync
  • Fishbowl Manufacturing$5495/one-time
    • Work orders
    • Bill of materials
    • Shop floor control

Blue Link ERP

$500/month
  • Professional$500/month
    • Core distribution
    • Inventory management
    • Order processing
  • Enterprise$1000/month
    • Multi-warehouse
    • EDI integration
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Fishbowl if

  • You need inventory management.
  • You work on Windows, Cloud.
  • You also want manufacturing.
Fishbowl review

Choose Blue Link ERP if

  • You need distribution management.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want inventory control.
Blue Link ERP review

Questions people ask

Is Fishbowl or Blue Link ERP better?
Neither clearly leads. Fishbowl starts at $4395/one-time and Blue Link ERP at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fishbowl or Blue Link ERP?
Fishbowl starts at $4395/one-time and Blue Link ERP at $500/month.
Does Fishbowl or Blue Link ERP run on more platforms?
Fishbowl runs on Windows, Cloud. Blue Link ERP runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is Fishbowl best used for?
Fishbowl is most often used for inventory and sku tracking for wholesale and distribution businesses, manufacturing bills of materials, mrp, work orders and job costing, warehouse fulfilment, transfer orders and automated reordering, multichannel selling with synchronised stock levels. Of those, inventory and sku tracking for wholesale and distribution businesses and manufacturing bills of materials, mrp, work orders and job costing are not what Blue Link ERP is typically brought in for.
What can Fishbowl do that Blue Link ERP cannot?
Fishbowl covers Inventory management, Manufacturing, Work orders, Barcode scanning. Blue Link ERP covers Distribution management, Inventory control, Order management, Warehouse management. Both handle Shopify, Amazon, Windows support, Cloud support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blue Link ERP: Does Blue Link ERP offer a free trial?

Blue Link ERP does not offer a free trial, but prospective customers can request a free demo and access product videos to explore features.

Source
Blue Link ERP: Can Blue Link ERP integrate with QuickBooks?

No. Blue Link ERP does not integrate with QuickBooks, which is a limitation for businesses that use QuickBooks for accounting.

Source
Blue Link ERP: What platforms does Blue Link ERP support?

Blue Link ERP is cloud-based and accessible via web browsers and mobile applications. Native apps are available for both iOS and Android.

Source
Blue Link ERP: What industries does Blue Link ERP serve?

Blue Link ERP is designed for wholesale, distribution, retail, and eCommerce businesses, with specific solutions for apparel, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, construction, and furniture industries.

Source
Blue Link ERP: Does Blue Link ERP require third-party tools for taxes and payments?

Yes. US sales tax calculation requires integration with third-party tools like Zip2Tax or Avalara, and credit card processing requires separate third-party software.

Source
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