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Fashion · head to head

Backbone PLM vs Shima Seiki

Backbone PLM logo

Backbone PLM

Fashion

Product Lifecycle Management solution for fashion brands

From
$199/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shima Seiki logo

Shima Seiki

Fashion

Knit design and visualization software

From
$250/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Backbone PLM minimum user count requirement of 1-10 for standard tier before enterprise pricing; Shima Seiki the Internet Archive's capture of Shima Seiki's homepage on 29 December 2020 named five distinct product categories, Knitting Machines, Design System/Software, CAD/CAM Systems, Inkjet Printing Machine, and PLM Solutions, all sold via an Inquiry form with no price figure published.
  • They diverge on capability: Backbone PLM covers Product data management, Shima Seiki covers Knit design.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Backbone PLM and Shima Seiki actually diverge.

Attributes where Backbone PLM and Shima Seiki differ
AttributeBackbone PLMShima Seiki
Starting price$199/month$250/month
PlatformsWebWindows
Founded20101962

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Fashion).

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 Backbone PLM

  • Product data management
  • Workflow management
  • Collaboration
  • Reporting
  • CAD systems
  • ERP
  • Email
  • Encryption

Only in Shima Seiki

  • Knit design
  • Stitch pattern creation
  • Color selection
  • Machine control
  • Production planning
  • Visualization
  • Shima Seiki machines
  • CAM systems

Both cover

  • English language support

What people use each for

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

Backbone PLM

  • Fashion tech pack creation and managementnot Shima Seiki
  • Apparel design and product developmentnot Shima Seiki
  • Accessory brand product lifecyclenot Shima Seiki
  • Outdoor gear collaboration and trackingnot Shima Seiki
  • Design agency project managementnot Shima Seiki

Shima Seiki

  • Knit designnot Backbone PLM
  • Machine programmingnot Backbone PLM

Where each one falls short

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

Backbone PLM

  • Minimum user count requirement of 1-10 for standard tier before enterprise pricing
  • Enterprise pricing requires custom quote with no published rates

Shima Seiki

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Shima Seiki's homepage on 29 December 2020 named five distinct product categories, Knitting Machines, Design System/Software, CAD/CAM Systems, Inkjet Printing Machine, and PLM Solutions, all sold via an Inquiry form with no price figure published.

Pricing, plan by plan

Backbone PLM

$199/month
  • Backbone$199/month
    • For teams with 1-10 users
    • Product and component libraries
    • Tech packs
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom pricing for 10+ users
    • Flexible contract options
    • Dedicated support

Shima Seiki

$250/month
  • Essential$250/month
    • Basic design
    • Standard features
  • Professional$500/month
    • Advanced design
    • Integration
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Full solution

Which should you pick?

Choose Backbone PLM if

  • You need product data management.
  • You also want workflow management.
Backbone PLM review

Choose Shima Seiki if

  • You need knit design.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want stitch pattern creation.
Shima Seiki review

Questions people ask

Is Backbone PLM or Shima Seiki better?
Neither clearly leads. Backbone PLM starts at $199/month and Shima Seiki at $250/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Backbone PLM or Shima Seiki?
Backbone PLM starts at $199/month and Shima Seiki at $250/month.
Does Backbone PLM or Shima Seiki run on more platforms?
Backbone PLM runs on Web. Shima Seiki runs on Windows.
What is Backbone PLM best used for?
Backbone PLM is most often used for fashion tech pack creation and management, apparel design and product development, accessory brand product lifecycle, outdoor gear collaboration and tracking. Of those, fashion tech pack creation and management and apparel design and product development are not what Shima Seiki is typically brought in for.
What can Backbone PLM do that Shima Seiki cannot?
Backbone PLM covers Product data management, Workflow management, Collaboration, Reporting. Shima Seiki covers Knit design, Stitch pattern creation, Color selection, Machine control. Both handle English language support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Backbone PLM: How much does Backbone PLM cost for my team?

Backbone PLM costs $199 per user per month for teams with 1-10 users. For teams with 10+ users, custom pricing is available through their sales team.

Source
Backbone PLM: What is included in Backbone PLM pricing?

The base plan includes product and component libraries, tech pack management, Adobe Illustrator plugin, BOM creation, free onboarding and training, and access to customer success.

Source
Backbone PLM: Do I get training with Backbone PLM?

Yes, free onboarding and training is included in the pricing for all plans.

Source
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