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Inventory · head to head

Quartzy vs Wasp Barcode

Quartzy logo

Quartzy

Inventory

Lab inventory and ordering software funded by the supply marketplace attached to it

From
$50/month
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: Quartzy the vendor earns margin on supplies bought through its own Shop, so the recommended purchasing path is not necessarily the cheapest one for a university that already holds negotiated supplier contracts.; 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: Quartzy covers Inventory tracking, Wasp Barcode covers Asset tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Quartzy and Wasp Barcode actually diverge.

Attributes where Quartzy and Wasp Barcode differ
AttributeQuartzyWasp Barcode
Starting price$50/month$108/month
Pricing modelPer month by user tierUnknown
PlatformsWeb, 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 Quartzy

  • Inventory tracking
  • Request and approval
  • Quartzy Shop
  • Order tracking
  • Spend reporting
  • PunchOut
  • Vendor catalogues

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.

Quartzy

  • An academic lab of three postdocs replacing a shared freezer spreadsheet that nobody updates after a reagent runs outnot Wasp Barcode
  • A small biotech that wants requests approved by a lab manager before any money is committednot Wasp Barcode
  • A principal investigator tracking consumable spend against separate grant codes for reportingnot Wasp Barcode
  • A growing company standardising ordering across two lab sites so duplicate reagent purchases stopnot Wasp Barcode

Wasp Barcode

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

Where each one falls short

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

Quartzy

  • The vendor earns margin on supplies bought through its own Shop, so the recommended purchasing path is not necessarily the cheapest one for a university that already holds negotiated supplier contracts.
  • Seat limits are tight, at three users on Academia and five on Industry, and exceeding them pushes you into a quoted Enterprise contract rather than a predictable per seat increment.
  • It is not a LIMS: there is no sample workflow, instrument integration, electronic lab notebook or 21 CFR Part 11 audit trail, so a lab moving toward regulated work will need a second system.
  • Prices are billed annually, so the USD 250 Industry plan is a USD 3,000 upfront commitment for a five-person team, which is significant for an early-stage company.
  • Supplier catalogue coverage and pricing accuracy vary by region, and labs outside the United States frequently find their usual distributors missing or their contract pricing not reflected.

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

Quartzy

$50/month
  • Academia$50/month
    • Billed annually
    • Up to 3 users
    • Inventory tracking and request workflow
  • Industry$250/month
    • Billed annually
    • Up to 5 users
    • Everything in Academia
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Quoted pricing
    • Unlimited users
    • PunchOut integration with institutional procurement

Wasp Barcode

$108/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Wasp Barcode review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Quartzy if

  • You need inventory tracking.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want request and approval.
Quartzy 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 Quartzy or Wasp Barcode better?
Neither clearly leads. Quartzy starts at $50/month and Wasp Barcode at $108/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Quartzy or Wasp Barcode?
Quartzy starts at $50/month and Wasp Barcode at $108/month.
Does Quartzy or Wasp Barcode run on more platforms?
Quartzy runs on Web, iOS, Android. Wasp Barcode runs on Web (Cloud), On-Premise.
What is Quartzy best used for?
Quartzy is most often used for an academic lab of three postdocs replacing a shared freezer spreadsheet that nobody updates after a reagent runs out, a small biotech that wants requests approved by a lab manager before any money is committed, a principal investigator tracking consumable spend against separate grant codes for reporting, a growing company standardising ordering across two lab sites so duplicate reagent purchases stop. Of those, an academic lab of three postdocs replacing a shared freezer spreadsheet that nobody updates after a reagent runs out and a small biotech that wants requests approved by a lab manager before any money is committed are not what Wasp Barcode is typically brought in for.
What can Quartzy do that Wasp Barcode cannot?
Quartzy covers Inventory tracking, Request and approval, Quartzy Shop, Order tracking. Wasp Barcode covers Asset tracking, Inventory counts, Location management, Barcode printers. Both handle Barcode scanning.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Quartzy: How much does Quartzy cost?

USD 50 per month billed annually for up to three users on Academia, USD 250 per month for up to five users on Industry, and quoted pricing for unlimited users on Enterprise.

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
Quartzy: Do I have to buy supplies through Quartzy?

No, you can record orders placed elsewhere. But the Shop is how Quartzy earns beyond the subscription, and supplier credits are tied to it.

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
Quartzy: Is Quartzy a LIMS?

No. It handles inventory and purchasing. It does not do sample workflow, instrument data or regulated electronic records.

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
Quartzy: What happens when we exceed the user limit?

You move to Enterprise, which is quoted rather than listed, so budget for a step change rather than an extra seat charge.

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
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
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