Softwr

Inventory · head to head

Katana vs Snipe-IT

Katana logo

Katana

Inventory

Smart manufacturing ERP for scaling businesses

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Snipe-IT logo

Snipe-IT

Inventory

Free open source IT asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Snipe-IT has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Katana limited BOM explosion and lead-time offset planning requiring manual work that should be automated; Snipe-IT hosted Basic caps API calls at 120 per minute and Small Business at 240 per minute; unlimited API calls require Dedicated hosting from $2,499.99 per year
  • They diverge on capability: Katana covers Production planning, Snipe-IT covers Asset tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Katana and Snipe-IT actually diverge.

Attributes where Katana and Snipe-IT differ
AttributeKatanaSnipe-IT
Starting price$99/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Cloud/Self-hosted
Founded20152013

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 Katana

  • Production planning
  • Real-time inventory
  • BOM management
  • Shop floor control
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero

Only in Snipe-IT

  • Asset tracking
  • License management
  • Audit logs
  • Check-in/out
  • LDAP
  • SAML
  • API
  • Slack

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Katana

  • Production schedulingnot Snipe-IT
  • Material planningnot Snipe-IT
  • Work order managementnot Snipe-IT
  • Inventory optimizationnot Snipe-IT

Snipe-IT

  • Tracking IT hardware assets and their assignment to staffnot Katana
  • Managing software licences, accessories and consumablesnot Katana
  • Running a self hosted open source asset registernot 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

Snipe-IT

  • Hosted Basic caps API calls at 120 per minute and Small Business at 240 per minute; unlimited API calls require Dedicated hosting from $2,499.99 per year
  • Email support requires the Small Business hosting plan; Basic hosting gets community support only
  • Automated upgrades and server maintenance require the Small Business plan or higher
  • Enhanced LDAP, IP restrictions, a private server and VPN connectivity require Dedicated hosting
  • The self hosted edition is free but support is sold separately
  • Medium and large dedicated hosting is priced by quote

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

Snipe-IT

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited assets
    • Complete asset management functionality
  • Basic Hosting$399.99/year
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited assets
    • SSL certificate
  • Small Business Hosting$999.99/year
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited assets
    • SSL certificate
  • Dedicated Hosting Small$2499.99/year
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited assets
    • Dedicated infrastructure

Which should you pick?

Choose Katana if

  • You need production planning.
  • You also want real-time inventory.
Katana review

Choose Snipe-IT if

  • You need asset tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud/Self-hosted.
  • You also want license management.
Snipe-IT review

Questions people ask

Is Katana or Snipe-IT better?
Neither clearly leads. Katana starts at $99/month and Snipe-IT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Katana or Snipe-IT?
Snipe-IT has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/month for Katana and Free for Snipe-IT.
Does Katana or Snipe-IT run on more platforms?
Katana runs on Web. Snipe-IT runs on Web, Cloud/Self-hosted.
Can I use Snipe-IT for free?
Yes. Snipe-IT has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Katana starts at $99/month.
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 Snipe-IT is typically brought in for.
What can Katana do that Snipe-IT cannot?
Katana covers Production planning, Real-time inventory, BOM management, Shop floor control. Snipe-IT covers Asset tracking, License management, Audit logs, Check-in/out. Both handle Web 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.

Source
Snipe-IT: How much does Snipe-IT cost?

Snipe-IT is free for self-hosted deployment. Hosted plans start at $399.99/year for Basic Hosting ($39.99/month) and range up to $7,500/year for large Dedicated Hosting. Annual plans offer 16% savings versus monthly billing.

Source
Katana: 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.

Source
Snipe-IT: What is included in Snipe-IT hosting plans?

All Snipe-IT hosted plans include unlimited users and unlimited assets. Basic and Small Business plans add SSL certificates, automatic backups, email support, and priority feature requests. Dedicated plans provide dedicated infrastructure.

Source
Katana: 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.

Source
Snipe-IT: Does Snipe-IT offer monthly billing?

Yes, monthly billing is available for hosted plans at 16% premium over annual rates. Basic Hosting is $39.99/month, Small Business is $99.99/month, and Dedicated plans range from $249.99 to $625/month.

Source
Katana: 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.

Source
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