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ERP · head to head

Katana MRP vs Zycus

Katana MRP logo

Katana MRP

ERP

Smart manufacturing software for scaling brands

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zycus logo

Zycus

ERP

Source-to-pay suite with heavy AI positioning, priced by module and quoted throughout

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Katana MRP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Katana MRP the free plan caps SKUs at 30 after a 15 day unlimited period; Zycus implementations run long and are consultant-led, so the gap between the sales demonstration and a configured live system is measured in quarters, during which the licence is already being paid.
  • They diverge on capability: Katana MRP covers Visual production scheduling, Zycus covers Spend analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Katana MRP and Zycus actually diverge.

Attributes where Katana MRP and Zycus differ
AttributeKatana MRPZycus
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelusage-basedquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud, Web, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2017Unknown

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

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 Katana MRP

  • Visual production scheduling
  • Real-time inventory
  • Bill of materials
  • Purchase orders
  • Shop floor app
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • QuickBooks

Only in Zycus

  • Spend analysis
  • eSourcing
  • Contract management
  • Supplier management
  • Procure-to-pay
  • Invoice processing
  • Merlin AI agents
  • Savings tracking

What people use each for

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

Katana MRP

  • Manufacturing resource planning for small production businessesnot Zycus
  • Tracking live inventory across making, selling and purchasingnot Zycus

Zycus

  • A manufacturer with several ERP instances that cannot answer what it spends with a given supplier group-widenot Katana MRP
  • A procurement function running frequent reverse auctions that needs award scenario optimisation rather than a spreadsheetnot Katana MRP
  • An organisation that priced Coupa and Ariba, found the licence unaffordable, and needs comparable module coveragenot Katana MRP
  • A regulated business needing supplier risk monitoring and contract obligation tracking in one audited systemnot Katana MRP

Where each one falls short

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

Katana MRP

  • The free plan caps SKUs at 30 after a 15 day unlimited period
  • The Core plan starts at $299 a month and includes one location, with more sold as a usage based add on
  • Core is billed per sales order delivered on top of the base price, so cost tracks throughput
  • Manufacturing management, traceability and warehouse management are separate add ons at $199, $249 and $149 a month
  • A full manufacturing setup therefore stacks to well above the headline $299

Zycus

  • Implementations run long and are consultant-led, so the gap between the sales demonstration and a configured live system is measured in quarters, during which the licence is already being paid.
  • The AI capability is marketed well ahead of what is typically enabled in a customer instance, and buyers should insist on seeing agentic features running on their own data before valuing them in a business case.
  • A large share of engineering and support capacity sits in India, so North American and European customers need coverage windows and escalation paths written into the contract rather than assumed.
  • The user interface across modules is inconsistent, reflecting different development eras, which raises training cost and reduces adoption among occasional requisitioners.
  • Pricing is entirely quoted and structured around spend under management, so a business whose spend grows faces increases unrelated to how much it uses the software.

Pricing, plan by plan

Katana MRP

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 30 SKUs (unlimited during 15-day trial)
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited integrations
  • Core$299/month
    • Unlimited SKUs
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited integrations
  • Advantage$null/mo
    • Custom annual contract
    • Everything in Core plus custom integrations
    • Custom dashboards and automations

Zycus

On request
  • Zycus Source-to-Pay$undefined/year
    • Modules licensed individually or as a suite
    • Priced by spend under management, users and modules
    • Annual subscription, multi-year terms common

Which should you pick?

Choose Katana MRP if

  • You need visual production scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want real-time inventory.
Katana MRP review

Choose Zycus if

  • You need spend analysis.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want esourcing.
Zycus review

Questions people ask

Is Katana MRP or Zycus better?
Neither clearly leads. Katana MRP starts at Free and Zycus at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Katana MRP or Zycus?
Katana MRP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Katana MRP and On request for Zycus.
Does Katana MRP or Zycus run on more platforms?
Katana MRP runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile. Zycus runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Katana MRP for free?
Yes. Katana MRP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zycus starts at On request.
What is Katana MRP best used for?
Katana MRP is most often used for manufacturing resource planning for small production businesses, tracking live inventory across making, selling and purchasing. Of those, manufacturing resource planning for small production businesses and tracking live inventory across making, selling and purchasing are not what Zycus is typically brought in for.
What can Katana MRP do that Zycus cannot?
Katana MRP covers Visual production scheduling, Real-time inventory, Bill of materials, Purchase orders. Zycus covers Spend analysis, eSourcing, Contract management, Supplier management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Katana MRP: How much does Katana MRP cost?

Katana offers a free plan with 30 SKUs and all core features. Core plan starts at $299/month for unlimited SKUs and users. Usage-based pricing applies to sales orders delivered and additional locations beyond the 1 included. Add-ons like Manufacturing Management cost $199/month.

Source
Zycus: Is it cheaper than Coupa or Ariba?

Usually on licence, and that price gap is the most common reason organisations shortlist it. Compare total cost including implementation, where the gap narrows.

Katana MRP: How does Katana charge for multiple locations?

Core plan includes 1 location. Additional locations beyond the included location are charged separately with per-unit costs decreasing at higher volumes. Exact pricing for additional locations is calculated based on scale.

Source
Zycus: Which module is strongest?

Spend analysis. Classifying dirty purchase data across multiple ERPs is where Zycus consistently performs well against alternatives.

Katana MRP: What are the manufacturing add-on costs for Katana?

Katana charges $199/month for Manufacturing Management, $249/month for Traceability, and $149/month for Warehouse Management add-ons. Onboarding package costs $2,000 but is included with Core plan.

Source
Zycus: How long is an implementation?

Plan for several quarters for a multi-module deployment. Phase it so one module delivers value before the rest go live.

Zycus: What about support coverage?

Much of the delivery and support organisation is in India. Get the coverage hours, response times and escalation route into the contract explicitly.

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