Software · head to head
Katana vs Linnworks
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Katana limited BOM explosion and lead-time offset planning requiring manual work that should be automated; Linnworks custom pricing based on monthly order volume with no transparent public pricing published
- They diverge on capability: Katana covers Production planning, Linnworks covers Inventory sync.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Katana and Linnworks actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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
- Production planning
- Real-time inventory
- BOM management
- Shop floor control
- WooCommerce
- QuickBooks
- Xero
- BigCommerce
Only in Linnworks
- Inventory sync
- Order management
- Shipping automation
- Warehouse management
- Amazon
- eBay
- Magento
- Royal Mail
Both cover
- Shopify
- Web support
- Cloud-based support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Katana
- Production schedulingnot Linnworks
- Material planningnot Linnworks
- Work order managementnot Linnworks
- Inventory optimizationnot Linnworks
Linnworks
- Multi-channel inventory synchronisation across 100+ marketplacesnot Katana
- Order and shipment automationnot Katana
- Warehouse management through add-on modulesnot Katana
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Katana
- Limited BOM explosion and lead-time offset planning requiring manual work that should be automated
- No native invoicing capability, making it standalone without accounting system integration
- Limited native integrations, with heavy reliance on Zapier for non-core tools
- Slow performance with large datasets and high SKU counts
Linnworks
- Custom pricing based on monthly order volume with no transparent public pricing published
- Requires contacting sales team for quote, preventing price comparison before sales engagement
- Onboarding services incur one-time implementation fees calculated based on package selection and internal resources
Pricing, plan by plan
Katana
$99/month- Essential$99/month
- Core inventory management
- Production scheduling
- Stock tracking
- Pro$299/month
- Shop floor control
- API access
- Advanced reporting
Linnworks
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Linnworks review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Linnworks if
- You need inventory sync.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want order management.
Questions people ask
- Is Katana or Linnworks better?
- Neither clearly leads. Katana starts at $99/month and Linnworks at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Katana or Linnworks?
- Katana starts at $99/month and Linnworks at On request.
- Does Katana or Linnworks run on more platforms?
- Katana runs on Web. Linnworks runs on Web, Mobile.
- What is Katana best used for?
- Katana is most often used for production scheduling, material planning, work order management, inventory optimization. Of those, production scheduling and material planning are not what Linnworks is typically brought in for.
- What can Katana do that Linnworks cannot?
- Katana covers Production planning, Real-time inventory, BOM management, Shop floor control. Linnworks covers Inventory sync, Order management, Shipping automation, Warehouse management. Both handle Shopify, Web support, Cloud-based support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Katana: What is Katana's pricing structure?
Katana starts at $99/month for the Essential plan with core MRP features. The Pro plan costs $299/month and adds shop floor control and API access. Add-ons for traceability, manufacturing, and warehouse management cost extra and can reach $747-$1,095 total.
SourceKatana: Does Katana support multi-level bills of materials?
Katana has limited BOM explosion and lead-time offset planning capabilities. Complex multi-level BOMs with sub-assemblies require manual workarounds, which becomes increasingly problematic as SKU count grows.
SourceKatana: Can Katana integrate with my accounting software?
Katana has no native invoicing capability and limited integrations with accounting systems. It is essentially standalone and requires manual data export or Zapier integration for most accounting workflows.
SourceKatana: Does Katana have an offline mode?
No, Katana is a cloud-only solution requiring internet connectivity. There is no built-in offline mode for production floor access without internet.
SourceRelated pages
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