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Inventory · head to head

Fishbowl Inventory vs inFlow

Fishbowl Inventory logo

Fishbowl Inventory

Inventory

Manufacturing and warehouse inventory built around QuickBooks

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
inFlow logo

inFlow

Inventory

Inventory software for small to mid-size businesses

From
$129/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Fishbowl Inventory pricing is not published and has historically involved a substantial upfront figure, which surprises buyers expecting SaaS monthly pricing; inFlow user interface feels outdated and difficult for new users to navigate
  • They diverge on capability: Fishbowl Inventory covers QuickBooks and Xero integration, inFlow covers Easy inventory tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fishbowl Inventory and inFlow actually diverge.

Attributes where Fishbowl Inventory and inFlow differ
AttributeFishbowl InventoryinFlow
Starting priceOn request$129/month
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidCloud, Web, Mobile scanning app
FoundedUnknown2003

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Fishbowl Inventory

  • QuickBooks and Xero integration
  • Manufacturing orders
  • Multi-location inventory
  • Purchasing and reorder
  • Order fulfilment

Only in inFlow

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

Both cover

  • Barcode scanning

What people use each for

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

Fishbowl Inventory

  • Small manufacturers who have outgrown QuickBooks inventory but not the accountingnot inFlow
  • Wholesalers needing barcode-driven warehouse operationsnot inFlow
  • Companies wanting inventory control without replacing their finance systemnot inFlow
  • Businesses preferring a perpetual licence to a per-seat subscriptionnot inFlow

inFlow

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

Where each one falls short

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

Fishbowl Inventory

  • Pricing is not published and has historically involved a substantial upfront figure, which surprises buyers expecting SaaS monthly pricing
  • The interface reflects its on-premise origins and looks dated beside cloud-native inventory tools
  • Implementation and data migration are heavier than the marketing implies, and undersized projects are the usual source of complaints
  • The QuickBooks dependency that makes it attractive also caps it: businesses that eventually need real ERP will migrate away
  • Reporting is functional but teams frequently export to a spreadsheet for anything analytical

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 Inventory

On request
  • Fishbowl Drive$undefined/month
    • Cloud-based
    • Inventory tracking
    • Order management
  • Fishbowl Advanced$undefined/month
    • Manufacturing
    • Multi-location
    • Advanced reporting

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 Inventory if

  • You need quickbooks and xero integration.
  • You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want manufacturing orders.
Fishbowl Inventory 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 Inventory or inFlow better?
Neither clearly leads. Fishbowl Inventory starts at On request and inFlow at $129/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fishbowl Inventory or inFlow?
Fishbowl Inventory starts at On request and inFlow at $129/month.
Does Fishbowl Inventory or inFlow run on more platforms?
Fishbowl Inventory runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. inFlow runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile scanning app.
What is Fishbowl Inventory best used for?
Fishbowl Inventory is most often used for small manufacturers who have outgrown quickbooks inventory but not the accounting, wholesalers needing barcode-driven warehouse operations, companies wanting inventory control without replacing their finance system, businesses preferring a perpetual licence to a per-seat subscription. Of those, small manufacturers who have outgrown quickbooks inventory but not the accounting and wholesalers needing barcode-driven warehouse operations are not what inFlow is typically brought in for.
What can Fishbowl Inventory do that inFlow cannot?
Fishbowl Inventory covers QuickBooks and Xero integration, Manufacturing orders, Multi-location inventory, Purchasing and reorder. inFlow covers Easy inventory tracking, Purchase order management, Sales order management, Low stock alerts. Both handle Barcode scanning.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fishbowl Inventory: What does Fishbowl cost?

Not published. It has historically been sold with a significant upfront component rather than a low monthly fee, so budget for a quote well above typical SaaS inventory pricing.

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
Fishbowl Inventory: Do I still need QuickBooks?

Usually yes. Fishbowl handles inventory and manufacturing and posts the financial results into QuickBooks or Xero. It is not an accounting replacement.

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
Fishbowl Inventory: Is it cloud or on-premise?

Both. Fishbowl Drive is the cloud product; Fishbowl Advanced can be hosted or run on your own server, which is why it still appeals to companies avoiding subscriptions.

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
Fishbowl Inventory: Who is it wrong for?

Businesses that need genuine ERP, and businesses small enough that a cloud inventory app at a low monthly cost would do. It sits deliberately between those.

inFlow: Is there a free trial available?

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

Source
Fishbowl Inventory: How hard is implementation?

Harder than a signup. Bills of material and historical stock data need preparation, and companies that treat it as a weekend job are the ones who describe it as difficult afterwards.

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