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Inventory Management · head to head

Zoho Inventory vs DEAR Inventory

Zoho Inventory logo

Zoho Inventory

Inventory Management

Complete inventory and order management system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DEAR Inventory logo

DEAR Inventory

Inventory Management

Complete inventory and order management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zoho Inventory has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Zoho Inventory free plan limited to 25 products and 50 orders per month; DEAR Inventory dEAR Inventory is now sold as Cin7 Core with four named tiers (Standard, Pro, Advanced, Omni) but no dollar figures are published, only an ROI calculator
  • They diverge on capability: Zoho Inventory covers Multi-channel selling, DEAR Inventory covers Inventory management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Zoho Inventory and DEAR Inventory actually diverge.

Attributes where Zoho Inventory and DEAR Inventory differ
AttributeZoho InventoryDEAR Inventory
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile app, Cloud-based
Founded19962013

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

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 Zoho Inventory

  • Multi-channel selling
  • Inventory sync
  • Order management
  • Barcode management
  • Email integration
  • Automated workflows
  • Zoho ecosystem

Only in DEAR Inventory

  • Inventory management
  • Manufacturing
  • Sales orders
  • Accounting
  • Xero
  • QuickBooks
  • Shopify
  • Amazon

Both cover

  • Purchase orders
  • Web support
  • Mobile app support
  • Cloud-based support

What people use each for

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

Zoho Inventory

  • Multichannel order managementnot DEAR Inventory
  • Inventory trackingnot DEAR Inventory
  • Fulfillment automationnot DEAR Inventory
  • Supplier managementnot DEAR Inventory

DEAR Inventory

  • Manufacturing managementnot Zoho Inventory
  • Order processingnot Zoho Inventory
  • Stock controlnot Zoho Inventory
  • Financial integrationnot Zoho Inventory

Where each one falls short

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

Zoho Inventory

  • Free plan limited to 25 products and 50 orders per month
  • Advanced automation features require higher-tier plans
  • Limited customization compared to enterprise solutions

DEAR Inventory

  • DEAR Inventory is now sold as Cin7 Core with four named tiers (Standard, Pro, Advanced, Omni) but no dollar figures are published, only an ROI calculator

Pricing, plan by plan

Zoho Inventory

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoho Inventory review.

DEAR Inventory

On request
  • Standard$249/month
    • Core features
    • 5 users
    • Standard support
  • Professional$449/month
    • Advanced manufacturing
    • 10 users
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$849/month
    • Full features
    • Unlimited users
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Zoho Inventory if

  • You need multi-channel selling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want inventory sync.
Zoho Inventory review

Choose DEAR Inventory if

  • You need inventory management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud-based.
  • You also want manufacturing.
DEAR Inventory review

Questions people ask

Is Zoho Inventory or DEAR Inventory better?
Neither clearly leads. Zoho Inventory starts at Free and DEAR Inventory at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Zoho Inventory or DEAR Inventory?
Zoho Inventory has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Zoho Inventory and On request for DEAR Inventory.
Does Zoho Inventory or DEAR Inventory run on more platforms?
Zoho Inventory runs on Web. DEAR Inventory runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud-based.
Can I use Zoho Inventory for free?
Yes. Zoho Inventory has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DEAR Inventory starts at On request.
What is Zoho Inventory best used for?
Zoho Inventory is most often used for multichannel order management, inventory tracking, fulfillment automation, supplier management. Of those, multichannel order management and inventory tracking are not what DEAR Inventory is typically brought in for.
What can Zoho Inventory do that DEAR Inventory cannot?
Zoho Inventory covers Multi-channel selling, Inventory sync, Order management, Barcode management. DEAR Inventory covers Inventory management, Manufacturing, Sales orders, Accounting. Both handle Purchase orders, Web support, Mobile app support, Cloud-based support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zoho Inventory: Does Zoho Inventory have a free tier?

Yes, Zoho Inventory offers a perpetual free plan limited to 25 products and 50 orders per month, ideal for small businesses just starting out.

Source
Zoho Inventory: What sales channels does Zoho Inventory integrate with?

Zoho Inventory integrates with major online marketplaces including Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and WooCommerce, with automatic stock and order syncing across all integrated channels.

Source
Zoho Inventory: Can Zoho Inventory manage multiple locations?

Yes. The free plan supports up to two locations, with paid plans supporting multiple warehouses and locations for larger operations.

Source
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Related pages

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