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Inventory · head to head

Fishbowl Inventory vs Odoo Inventory

Fishbowl Inventory logo

Fishbowl Inventory

Inventory

Manufacturing and warehouse inventory built around QuickBooks

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Odoo Inventory logo

Odoo Inventory

Inventory

Open source inventory management module

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Odoo Inventory has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Odoo Inventory the One App Free plan covers a single app, so using Inventory alongside another Odoo app moves the account onto a paid plan
  • They diverge on capability: Fishbowl Inventory covers QuickBooks and Xero integration, Odoo Inventory covers Inventory management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Fishbowl Inventory and Odoo Inventory differ
AttributeFishbowl InventoryOdoo Inventory
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile app, Cloud/On-premise
FoundedUnknown2005

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 Fishbowl Inventory

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

Only in Odoo Inventory

  • Inventory management
  • Multi-warehouse
  • Automated replenishment
  • Odoo ERP modules
  • E-commerce
  • Manufacturing
  • Accounting
  • Web 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 Odoo Inventory
  • Wholesalers needing barcode-driven warehouse operationsnot Odoo Inventory
  • Companies wanting inventory control without replacing their finance systemnot Odoo Inventory
  • Businesses preferring a perpetual licence to a per-seat subscriptionnot Odoo Inventory

Odoo Inventory

  • Tracking stock across multiple warehouses and locationsnot Fishbowl Inventory
  • Running receipts, deliveries and internal transfersnot Fishbowl Inventory
  • Connecting inventory to Odoo sales, purchasing and manufacturingnot 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

Odoo Inventory

  • The One App Free plan covers a single app, so using Inventory alongside another Odoo app moves the account onto a paid plan
  • The Standard plan at $16.90 per user per month is restricted to Odoo Online hosting
  • Odoo.sh and on premise hosting require the Custom plan at $25.50 per user per month
  • Odoo Studio, multi company management and external API access require the Custom plan
  • Billing is per user, defined as any employee with backend access to create, view or edit documents
  • The advertised discounted rates apply for the first 12 months, after which the list rates of $21.10 and $31.90 per user per month apply

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

Odoo Inventory

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Open source
    • Basic features
    • Community support
  • Standard$20/month
    • Full features
    • Hosting included
    • Email support
  • Custom$40/month
    • Customization
    • Studio access
    • Priority support

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 Odoo Inventory if

  • You need inventory management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud/On-premise.
  • You also want multi-warehouse.
Odoo Inventory review

Questions people ask

Is Fishbowl Inventory or Odoo Inventory better?
Neither clearly leads. Fishbowl Inventory starts at On request and Odoo Inventory at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fishbowl Inventory or Odoo Inventory?
Odoo Inventory has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Fishbowl Inventory and Free for Odoo Inventory.
Does Fishbowl Inventory or Odoo Inventory run on more platforms?
Fishbowl Inventory runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Odoo Inventory runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud/On-premise.
Can I use Odoo Inventory for free?
Yes. Odoo Inventory has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fishbowl Inventory starts at On request.
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 Odoo Inventory is typically brought in for.
What can Fishbowl Inventory do that Odoo Inventory cannot?
Fishbowl Inventory covers QuickBooks and Xero integration, Manufacturing orders, Multi-location inventory, Purchasing and reorder. Odoo Inventory covers Inventory management, Multi-warehouse, Automated replenishment, Odoo ERP modules. 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.

Odoo Inventory: How much does the Odoo Inventory app cost?

The Odoo Inventory app is free, forever, with unlimited users at no cost. Additional costs only apply if you install other applications in the Odoo suite.

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.

Odoo Inventory: Do I need to pay to use Odoo Inventory?

No, Odoo Inventory is completely free with no credit card required to start. The free trial and app remain free indefinitely.

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.

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.

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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