Softwr

Inventory · head to head

Fishbowl Inventory vs Wasp Barcode

Fishbowl Inventory logo

Fishbowl Inventory

Inventory

Manufacturing and warehouse inventory built around QuickBooks

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wasp Barcode logo

Wasp Barcode

Inventory

Barcode-based inventory tracking solution

From
$108/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; Wasp Barcode basic tier limited to 1 user (additional users cost 17 USD/month in cloud, 25 USD/month on-premise)
  • They diverge on capability: Fishbowl Inventory covers QuickBooks and Xero integration, Wasp Barcode covers Asset tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fishbowl Inventory and Wasp Barcode actually diverge.

Attributes where Fishbowl Inventory and Wasp Barcode differ
AttributeFishbowl InventoryWasp Barcode
Starting priceOn request$108/month
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb (Cloud), On-Premise
FoundedUnknown1999

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 Wasp Barcode

  • Asset tracking
  • Inventory counts
  • Location management
  • Barcode printers
  • Accounting software
  • CSV import/export
  • Mobile devices
  • 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 Wasp Barcode
  • Wholesalers needing barcode-driven warehouse operationsnot Wasp Barcode
  • Companies wanting inventory control without replacing their finance systemnot Wasp Barcode
  • Businesses preferring a perpetual licence to a per-seat subscriptionnot Wasp Barcode

Wasp Barcode

  • Asset tracking and managementnot Fishbowl Inventory
  • Inventory management for consumables and suppliesnot Fishbowl Inventory
  • RFID-based high-value asset trackingnot Fishbowl Inventory
  • GPS tracking for equipment and vehicles in motionnot Fishbowl Inventory
  • Multi-location asset auditing and monitoringnot Fishbowl Inventory
  • Lost item reduction and recoverynot 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

Wasp Barcode

  • Basic tier limited to 1 user (additional users cost 17 USD/month in cloud, 25 USD/month on-premise)
  • Complete tier limited to 5 users (same additional user costs apply)
  • Enterprise tier pricing not published and requires contacting sales
  • Annual billing required for all plans (no monthly billing option)

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

Wasp Barcode

$108/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Wasp Barcode review.

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 Wasp Barcode if

  • You need asset tracking.
  • You work on Web (Cloud), On-Premise.
  • You also want inventory counts.
Wasp Barcode review

Questions people ask

Is Fishbowl Inventory or Wasp Barcode better?
Neither clearly leads. Fishbowl Inventory starts at On request and Wasp Barcode at $108/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fishbowl Inventory or Wasp Barcode?
Fishbowl Inventory starts at On request and Wasp Barcode at $108/month.
Does Fishbowl Inventory or Wasp Barcode run on more platforms?
Fishbowl Inventory runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Wasp Barcode runs on Web (Cloud), On-Premise.
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 Wasp Barcode is typically brought in for.
What can Fishbowl Inventory do that Wasp Barcode cannot?
Fishbowl Inventory covers QuickBooks and Xero integration, Manufacturing orders, Multi-location inventory, Purchasing and reorder. Wasp Barcode covers Asset tracking, Inventory counts, Location management, Barcode printers. 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.

Wasp Barcode: What support options are available if I encounter issues?

Wasp offers multiple support channels including submitting support tickets, accessing a knowledge base, and phone support at 888-536-7067 for technical assistance.

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.

Wasp Barcode: Does Wasp provide training for new users?

Yes, the company provides "Training Options" and "Software Activation" resources to help users get started with their tracking solutions.

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.

Wasp Barcode: Can I scale Wasp's software as my business grows?

The platform is designed to accommodate growth, allowing you to "Add users, locations, and items as your business grows" without requiring system replacement.

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.

Wasp Barcode: What happens if I need to return hardware or cancel my service?

Wasp maintains a "return policy" and offers a "SaaS Terms of Service" document outlining cancellation and return procedures for services and equipment.

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.

Wasp Barcode: How can I get pricing information for Wasp's solutions?

Customers can request a quote or schedule a free consultation by completing brief forms on the website or contacting sales at 866-547-9277.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Fishbowl Inventory

More on Wasp Barcode

Keep looking

Other head to heads