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Software · head to head

Fishbowl vs inFlow

Fishbowl logo

Fishbowl

Software

Manufacturing and warehouse management for QuickBooks

From
$4395/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
inFlow logo

inFlow

Software

Inventory software for small to mid-size businesses

From
$129/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only 2 users, Growth at $429 includes 5 and Scale at $729 includes 10, all billed annually; inFlow user interface feels outdated and difficult for new users to navigate
  • They diverge on capability: Fishbowl covers Inventory management, inFlow covers Easy inventory tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fishbowl and inFlow actually diverge.

Attributes where Fishbowl and inFlow differ
AttributeFishbowlinFlow
Starting price$4395/one-time$129/month
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
PlatformsWindows, CloudCloud, Web, Mobile scanning app
Founded20012003

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
  • QuickBooks integration
  • QuickBooks Desktop
  • QuickBooks Online
  • Amazon
  • ShipStation

Only in inFlow

  • Easy inventory tracking
  • Purchase order management
  • Sales order management
  • Low stock alerts
  • Integration with accounting software
  • Email integration
  • Desktop support
  • Web-based support

Both cover

  • Barcode scanning
  • Shopify
  • 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 inFlow
  • Manufacturing bills of materials, MRP, work orders and job costingnot inFlow
  • Warehouse fulfilment, transfer orders and automated reorderingnot inFlow
  • Multichannel selling with synchronised stock levelsnot inFlow

inFlow

  • Simple inventory trackingnot Fishbowl
  • Order managementnot Fishbowl
  • Purchase controlnot Fishbowl
  • Stock alertsnot 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

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

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

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 Fishbowl if

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

Choose inFlow if

  • You need easy inventory tracking.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile scanning app.
  • You also want purchase order management.
inFlow review

Questions people ask

Is Fishbowl or inFlow better?
Neither clearly leads. Fishbowl starts at $4395/one-time and inFlow at $129/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fishbowl or inFlow?
Fishbowl starts at $4395/one-time and inFlow at $129/month.
Does Fishbowl or inFlow run on more platforms?
Fishbowl runs on Windows, Cloud. inFlow runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile scanning app.
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 inFlow is typically brought in for.
What can Fishbowl do that inFlow cannot?
Fishbowl covers Inventory management, Manufacturing, Work orders, QuickBooks integration. inFlow covers Easy inventory tracking, Purchase order management, Sales order management, Low stock alerts. Both handle Barcode scanning, Shopify, 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.

Source
inFlow: 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).

Source
inFlow: 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.

Source
inFlow: Is there a free trial available?

Yes. inFlow offers a free 14-day trial without requiring a credit card.

Source
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