Softwr

Manufacturing · head to head

JobBOSS² vs Odoo Inventory

JobBOSS² logo

JobBOSS²

Manufacturing

ECI shop control system formed by merging JobBOSS and E2 Shop System into one product line

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: JobBOSS² the product is a merger of two legacy systems, so existing JobBOSS and E2 customers face a migration and retraining project whose cost is negotiated case by case and is easy to underestimate.; 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: JobBOSS² covers Estimating and quoting, Odoo Inventory covers Inventory management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which JobBOSS² and Odoo Inventory actually diverge.

Attributes where JobBOSS² and Odoo Inventory differ
AttributeJobBOSS²Odoo Inventory
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, WebWeb, Mobile app, Cloud/On-premise
CategoryManufacturingInventory
FoundedUnknown2005

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 JobBOSS²

  • Estimating and quoting
  • Order and job management
  • Shop floor data collection
  • Scheduling
  • Job costing
  • Integrated accounting

Only in Odoo Inventory

  • Inventory management
  • Barcode scanning
  • Multi-warehouse
  • Automated replenishment
  • Odoo ERP modules
  • E-commerce
  • Manufacturing
  • Accounting

What people use each for

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

JobBOSS²

  • A job shop quoting from spreadsheets that wants estimating, routing and costing in one systemnot Odoo Inventory
  • An existing JobBOSS or E2 Shop System customer evaluating whether to migrate or replacenot Odoo Inventory
  • A make to order fabricator that needs accounting inside the manufacturing system rather than alongside itnot Odoo Inventory
  • A shop that wants operator time capture at work centres to make job costing reflect what actually happenednot Odoo Inventory

Odoo Inventory

  • Tracking stock across multiple warehouses and locationsnot JobBOSS²
  • Running receipts, deliveries and internal transfersnot JobBOSS²
  • Connecting inventory to Odoo sales, purchasing and manufacturingnot JobBOSS²

Where each one falls short

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

JobBOSS²

  • The product is a merger of two legacy systems, so existing JobBOSS and E2 customers face a migration and retraining project whose cost is negotiated case by case and is easy to underestimate.
  • ECI is a private equity owned portfolio company with many vertical products, and buyers should read renewal, uplift and support tier terms carefully because the commercial model is built around long term contracted revenue.
  • Machine connectivity is limited, so shop floor data comes from operators clocking in and out rather than from controllers, and any automatic utilisation measurement needs a separate monitoring product.
  • Reporting is rigid compared with a modern system and most shops end up exporting to Excel for anything beyond the supplied reports, which reintroduces the spreadsheets the system was bought to eliminate.
  • The user interface carries its lineage and takes longer to learn than a current generation web application, which matters most for occasional users such as estimators and purchasing staff.

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

JobBOSS²

On request
  • JobBOSS²$undefined/year
    • Quoting through invoicing for job shops
    • Shop floor data collection and scheduling
    • Hosted or on premises deployment

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 JobBOSS² if

  • You need estimating and quoting.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want order and job management.
JobBOSS² 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 barcode scanning.
Odoo Inventory review

Questions people ask

Is JobBOSS² or Odoo Inventory better?
Neither clearly leads. JobBOSS² 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, JobBOSS² or Odoo Inventory?
Odoo Inventory has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for JobBOSS² and Free for Odoo Inventory.
Does JobBOSS² or Odoo Inventory run on more platforms?
JobBOSS² runs on Windows, Web. 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. JobBOSS² starts at On request.
What is JobBOSS² best used for?
JobBOSS² is most often used for a job shop quoting from spreadsheets that wants estimating, routing and costing in one system, an existing jobboss or e2 shop system customer evaluating whether to migrate or replace, a make to order fabricator that needs accounting inside the manufacturing system rather than alongside it, a shop that wants operator time capture at work centres to make job costing reflect what actually happened. Of those, a job shop quoting from spreadsheets that wants estimating, routing and costing in one system and an existing jobboss or e2 shop system customer evaluating whether to migrate or replace are not what Odoo Inventory is typically brought in for.
What can JobBOSS² do that Odoo Inventory cannot?
JobBOSS² covers Estimating and quoting, Order and job management, Shop floor data collection, Scheduling. Odoo Inventory covers Inventory management, Barcode scanning, Multi-warehouse, Automated replenishment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

JobBOSS²: What happened to E2 Shop System?

ECI acquired it and merged it with JobBOSS into the combined JobBOSS² line. Legacy customers are directed towards migration.

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
JobBOSS²: Is it cloud based?

It is offered hosted and on premises. Hosted is not the same as a cloud native architecture, and performance expectations should be set accordingly.

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
JobBOSS²: Does it include accounting?

Yes, accounting is part of the product, which is one of the main reasons small shops choose it over an ERP plus separate finance package.

JobBOSS²: Can it read data from my CNC machines?

Not natively in any meaningful way. Data collection is operator driven, so shops wanting spindle level data buy a monitoring platform alongside it.

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