How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- The only tools on this list with published prices: Cin7 Core ($349/month), Fishbowl ($229/month billed annually) and Zoho Inventory (free up to 50 orders a month, paid plans from $29/month).
- Linnworks prices from $449/month on its order-volume tiers; NetSuite, Acumatica, Epicor, Blue Link, AdvancePro and ShipHero are all custom-quoted, so budget a sales process for each.
- Already deep in QuickBooks or Xero? Fishbowl and Cin7 both sync both ways with the accounting ledger, which is the main reason distributors pick them.
- Running your own warehouse with pickers and scanners? ShipHero and Fishbowl are built for the floor; the ERP suites handle the warehouse as one module among many.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Cin7 | Multichannel distributors selling across marketplaces, retail and B2B | $349/month (Core Standard) | No (14-day free trial) |
 Fishbowl | Small to midsize distributors and manufacturers on QuickBooks or Xero | $229/month (Essentials, billed annually) | No |
 Zoho Inventory | Small distributors and wholesalers that need real software at low cost | Free (50 orders/month); $29/month (Standard, billed annually) | Yes (50 orders/month, 1 user, 1 location) |
 Linnworks | High-volume sellers running orders across many channels and warehouses | From $449/month (up to 2,000 orders) | No |
 NetSuite | Distributors ready to run finance, inventory and CRM on one platform | See website (custom quote) | No (free product tour and 3-day test drive offered) |
 Acumatica | Mid-market distributors that want ERP without per-user license pain | See website (custom quote) | No |
 Epicor | Distributors in specific verticals (building supply, auto parts, electrical) | See website (custom quote) | No |
 Blue Link ERP | Small to midsize wholesale distributors in North America | See website (custom quote) | No |
 AdvancePro (APTX) | Growing QuickBooks-based businesses that need warehouse control | See website (custom quote) | No (free trial with no credit card required) |
 ShipHero | Ecommerce brands and 3PLs running their own warehouse operations | See website (custom quote) | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Running a warehouse without the spreadsheet chaos
A distributor lives or dies on three things: knowing what is in stock, getting orders out the door on time, and knowing what it all cost. Spreadsheets stop being enough somewhere around the second warehouse or the hundredth SKU. The ten tools below cover the whole spread of the distribution software market, from a free starter that handles 50 orders a month to full ERP suites that run the entire company. Four of them publish real prices; the rest quote, so plan your evaluation time accordingly.
#1
Cin7
Best for: Multichannel distributors selling across marketplaces, retail and B2B
Visit cin7.com
Starting price$349/month (Core Standard)
Free planNo (14-day free trial)
Cin7 splits its product into two editions: Core for smaller product businesses and Omni for larger operations with complex EDI and 3PL needs. Core Standard at $349 per month covers 5 users and up to 6,000 orders a year, with Pro at $599 and Advanced at $1,199 adding users, integrations and order volume. The vendor's own pricing FAQ confirms the $349 starting point. A 14-day free trial of Core is available.
The honest catch is the jump from Core to Omni. Once you need built-in EDI at scale, 3PL connections or the full enterprise feature set, you leave published pricing behind and enter a quote process. Distributors selling on Shopify, Amazon and wholesale channels at the same time get the most from Cin7, since stock stays synced across every channel. If you only sell through one channel, cheaper tools cover the same ground.
What we like- Published tiered pricing with no sales call required
- Strong multichannel and marketplace integrations
- Built-in EDI and demand forecasting (ForesightAI)
Watch out for- Starting price is high next to entry-level tools
- Cin7 Omni for larger operations is quote-only
- Learning curve reported by reviewers
Starting price$229/month (Essentials, billed annually)
Free planNo
Fishbowl positions itself as the inventory layer that sits on top of QuickBooks or Xero rather than replacing them. Essentials at $229 per month billed annually covers finished-goods inventory for two users; Growth at $429 and Scale at $729 add users and features, while Fishbowl Advanced (Warehouse from $595, Manufacturing from $675 per month) handles multi-warehouse and production operations. The vendor requires an implementation package with every purchase, and that fee is not published.
The honest catch is the fine print around the tiers. The $229 entry tier does not include manufacturing, so work-order and BOM features mean stepping up to Advanced. Ecommerce integrations beyond the included ones cost extra per month. For a distributor whose books already live in QuickBooks, though, the tight accounting sync is the reason Fishbowl keeps winning these deals.
What we like- Deep two-way sync with QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online and Xero
- Real warehouse features (barcode scanning, lot and serial tracking, multi-location)
- Manufacturing modules for light production
Watch out for- Implementation package is required and not priced publicly
- Reporting is basic without paid customization
- Reviewers flag total cost once add-ons stack up
#3
Zoho Inventory
Best for: Small distributors and wholesalers that need real software at low cost
Visit zoho.com
Starting priceFree (50 orders/month); $29/month (Standard, billed annually)
Free planYes (50 orders/month, 1 user, 1 location)
Zoho Inventory is the budget end of this list and the only tool here with a free plan worth using: 50 orders a month, one user, one location, with dropshipping and backordering included. Paid plans run $29 (Standard, 500 orders), $79 (Premium, 3,000 orders), $129 (Plus, 7,500 orders) and $249 (Enterprise, 15,000 orders) per month billed annually. Because pricing is per organization rather than per user, a five-person team pays the same base as a one-person team.
The honest catch is the ceiling. Serial and batch tracking only arrive on Premium, and true warehouse features like bin management and advanced autoscans sit on higher tiers or add-ons. Zoho Inventory suits distributors moving off spreadsheets who need order and stock control now, not a five-year ERP platform. Outgrow it and you migrate, not upgrade.
What we like- Genuine free plan with no time limit
- Per-organization pricing instead of per-user
- Clean upgrade path from $29 to $249 per month
Watch out for- Caps on orders, users and locations push growing businesses up the tiers fast
- Warehouse depth is lighter than Fishbowl or ShipHero
- Advanced warehousing is a paid add-on
#4
Linnworks
Best for: High-volume sellers running orders across many channels and warehouses
Visit linnworks.com
Starting priceFrom $449/month (up to 2,000 orders)
Free planNo
Linnworks targets the same multichannel ground as Cin7 from a different angle: order volume. Plans begin at $449 per month for up to 2,000 orders, and pricing scales with monthly order count rather than users. The platform covers inventory, orders, fulfillment and warehouse management across Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Walmart and more than a hundred other integrations.
The honest catch is opacity past the entry point. Linnworks publishes no full price list, and independent reporting puts one-off implementation between $2,000 and $15,000 depending on complexity. If your order volume is predictable and high, the model can work well; if it spikes seasonally, model the overage fees before signing. Compare directly against Cin7 Core, the one rival here with a fully public price.
What we like- Built for multichannel order volume with 100-plus integrations
- Warehouse management and 3PL features included
- Automation rules engine for repetitive work
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing above the entry tier with no public price list
- Implementation costs reported from $2,000 to $15,000
- Overage fees apply past order limits
#5
NetSuite
Best for: Distributors ready to run finance, inventory and CRM on one platform
Visit netsuite.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo (free product tour and 3-day test drive offered)
NetSuite is the 800-pound option on this list. Oracle publishes no list price: every deal is quoted, with third-party reporting putting small-business deployments around $25,000 to $50,000 a year in subscription plus implementation. What that buys is one system for the general ledger, purchasing, inventory, order management, CRM and SuiteCommerce, with a dedicated WMS module for distributors that need directed putaway, wave picking and cycle counting.
The honest catch is total cost and lock-in. Implementation is a real project measured in months, and the renewal is where costs creep. NetSuite makes sense when the business has outgrown best-of-breed tools and wants one database for everything. If you just need better warehouse control, the lighter tools above deliver it at a fraction of the price and effort.
What we like- True unified ERP: financials, inventory, order management, CRM and ecommerce in one system
- Deep warehouse management module
- Scales from small distributors to global multi-subsidiary operations
Watch out for- No published pricing at all
- Implementations commonly run $25,000 to $150,000-plus
- Renewal increases reported at 5 to 15 percent per year
#6
Acumatica
Best for: Mid-market distributors that want ERP without per-user license pain
Visit acumatica.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
Acumatica's pitch is simple: stop paying per user. Pricing is based on the applications you license and the transaction volume you run, so a 200-person warehouse team with light system usage costs the same as a 20-person team running the same volume. The distribution edition covers inventory, order management, purchasing, and warehouse management with barcode scanning and directed picking.
The honest catch is the partner layer. You buy and implement through a value-added reseller, which means quote quality varies and support runs through the partner. Independent estimates put typical deployments around $1,800 to $5,000 per month. For distributors with many occasional users, the unlimited-user model beats per-seat pricing from NetSuite or Epicor. For small teams, the minimums may exceed what lighter tools charge.
What we like- Unlimited users on every plan, priced by transaction volume instead of seats
- Strong distribution edition with warehouse management
- Open API and large partner network
Watch out for- Pricing is quote-only through partners
- Implementation goes through a VAR, not the vendor
- Report customization often needs development help
#7
Epicor
Best for: Distributors in specific verticals (building supply, auto parts, electrical)
Visit epicor.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
Epicor builds ERP for industries rather than generic business, and distribution is one of its strongest. The Prophet 21 and Eclipse products are purpose-built for wholesale distributors, with functionality like proof of delivery, rebates, and counter sales that generic ERPs bolt on later. The company reports more than 23,000 customers and 2.3 million daily users.
The honest catch is buying it. Everything is quoted, implementations run through partners, and choosing between Epicor's own overlapping products takes guidance. This is a tool for established distributors with complex operations and the budget for a real ERP project, not for a ten-person wholesaler. Get the full fee schedule, including annual uplift terms, in writing before committing.
What we like- Industry-specific editions with deep vertical functionality
- Strong inventory and supply chain planning
- Large installed base in distribution
Watch out for- Fully quote-based pricing with no public numbers
- Implementations are long and consultant-heavy
- The product line is broad enough to confuse buyers
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
Blue Link is a Canadian ERP vendor focused almost entirely on wholesale distributors. The pitch is an all-in-one system: accounting, inventory, order entry, warehouse management with barcode scanning, lot tracking, kitting, and EDI, plus B2B ordering portals and ecommerce integrations. Nearly every customer customizes the system, which the vendor treats as normal rather than exceptional.
The honest catch is geography and scale. Blue Link serves businesses in North America and the Caribbean, so international distributors should look elsewhere. Pricing is quoted per deal, with third-party estimates around $1,000 per month and up. For a North American wholesaler that wants one system and one vendor relationship, it sits between the lightweight tools and the big ERPs on both price and complexity.
What we like- Built specifically for wholesale and distribution, not adapted from generic ERP
- Accounting and inventory in one system
- Heavy customization available for industry-specific needs
Watch out for- Quote-only pricing
- Serves North America and the Caribbean only
- Smaller vendor with a thinner integration marketplace than the big ERPs
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo (free trial with no credit card required)
AdvancePro has sold inventory and order management to QuickBooks users since 2001, and the current site brands the product as APTX while testimonials still reference the AdvancePro name. The feature set covers the distributor basics: purchasing, order management, lot and serial tracking, kitting, barcode scanning, and EDI, with add-on modules for mobile warehouse and multi-company setups.
The honest catch is the rebrand. The site, the product name and the company name do not quite agree yet, so confirm exactly which product and support terms you are buying. Pricing is quoted, and third-party estimates vary widely. For a QuickBooks shop that finds Fishbowl too manufacturing-heavy, AdvancePro is worth a demo; just get the quote and the product roadmap in the same conversation.
What we like- Deep QuickBooks integration with automatic two-way sync
- Warehouse features like barcode scanning and pick, pack, ship
- B2B and B2C portal options for sales reps and customers
Watch out for- No published pricing
- The product is mid-rebrand to APTX, which confuses evaluation
- Smaller vendor with a narrower integration list than Cin7
#10
ShipHero
Best for: Ecommerce brands and 3PLs running their own warehouse operations
Visit shiphero.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
ShipHero is the warehouse-first pick on this list. Where the ERPs treat the warehouse as a module, ShipHero treats it as the whole product: mobile pick and pack, batch picking, dynamic slotting, pack-to-light, and built-in carrier rate shopping across UPS, FedEx, USPS and others. The company says its customers ship over 100 million orders a year through the platform.
The honest catch is the price of that focus. ShipHero publishes no prices and third-party reporting puts plans around $1,995 per month for brands and more for 3PLs, which prices out small distributors. If you run your own warehouse at volume and picking speed is the business, the math can work. If a 3PL handles your fulfillment, you do not need a WMS at all.
What we like- Purpose-built WMS with mobile-first picking and packing
- Rate shopping across carriers built in
- API access and unlimited SKUs on paid plans
Watch out for- Premium pricing (third-party reporting puts plans near $1,995 per month)
- Quote-only with no public price list
- Overkill for distributors that outsource fulfillment
The real cost of distribution software: users, orders and onboarding
The sticker price is never the whole price in this category. Cin7 Core at $349 a month looks straightforward until you count the order-volume caps: Standard covers 6,000 orders a year, and exceeding that pushes you to Pro at $599. Zoho Inventory's $29 plan covers 500 orders a month; a distributor doing 2,000 orders a month lands on Premium at $79. Linnworks prices on order volume by design, so seasonal spikes cost real money.
Then add the one-time costs nobody puts on the pricing page. Fishbowl requires an implementation package with every purchase and does not publish the fee. Linnworks implementations are independently reported at $2,000 to $15,000. NetSuite, Acumatica and Epicor implementations run into five or six figures through partners. When comparing a $229-a-month tool against a quoted ERP, model three years: subscription plus implementation plus the integrations you will inevitably buy.
This market splits into two philosophies. The ERP suites (NetSuite, Acumatica, Epicor, Blue Link) give you one database for finance, purchasing, inventory and sales, and the warehouse is one module among many. The warehouse-first tools (ShipHero, Fishbowl, and to a degree Cin7) start at the loading dock and integrate with your accounting instead of replacing it.
Neither is wrong; they fit different companies. A distributor with 50 office staff and complex financials benefits from one system. A distributor whose competitive edge is pick speed and accuracy benefits from a tool built for the floor. The middle ground, Cin7, Fishbowl and Zoho Inventory, covers most small to midsize distributors without forcing the choice. Decide which company you are before you start demos, because every vendor will happily sell you their philosophy as the only sane one.
How we chose
We started with the categories buyers search: distribution software, wholesale distribution software, warehouse management software and distribution ERP. For each candidate we checked the vendor's own site for published prices, confirmed the official URL by opening the vendor's homepage, and compared features, order and user limits, and company-size fit against public reviews on G2, Capterra and practitioner discussion on Reddit. Where a price could not be verified on the vendor's own page we wrote "See website" rather than guessing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does distribution software cost?
From free to six figures. Zoho Inventory is free up to 50 orders a month and $29 to $249 per month paid. Cin7 Core starts at $349, Fishbowl at $229 and Linnworks from $449 per month. The ERP suites (NetSuite, Acumatica, Epicor, Blue Link) are custom-quoted, with small-business deployments typically starting in the tens of thousands per year including implementation.
What is the difference between distribution software and a WMS?
A warehouse management system (ShipHero here) manages what happens inside the four walls: receiving, putaway, picking, packing and shipping. Distribution software is broader: it adds purchasing, order management, inventory across locations, and usually accounting integration. Many distributors need both functions; whether that means one ERP or a WMS plus accounting integration is the key decision.
Do I need EDI for distribution software?
If you sell to big-box retailers, yes, and it narrows the field fast. Cin7 Omni, NetSuite, Acumatica and Blue Link all handle EDI; among the lighter tools, Cin7 Core's higher tiers and Fishbowl via integrations cover it. Confirm the specific EDI documents your trading partners require before you buy, since "EDI support" varies wildly.
Which distribution software works best with QuickBooks?
Fishbowl and AdvancePro are built around QuickBooks sync, with two-way integration to QuickBooks Desktop and Online. Cin7 and Zoho Inventory also integrate with QuickBooks and Xero. If QuickBooks is your system of record, shortlist the tools that sync both ways automatically rather than through file imports.
Can small distributors use NetSuite or Epicor?
Technically yes, financially usually no. Both vendors sell to smaller companies, but implementation costs and annual subscriptions put them far above tools like Cin7 Core or Fishbowl. A distributor under $5 million in revenue should only consider the big ERPs if it has complex multi-entity or multi-currency needs that the lighter tools cannot handle.
Sources we checked (12)
- https://cin7.com/pricing
- https://fishbowlinventory.com/pricing
- https://zoho.com/us/inventory/pricing/
- https://www.linnworks.com
- https://netsuite.com/
- https://acumatica.com/
- https://epicor.com/
- https://www.bluelinkerp.com
- https://www.advanceprotech.com/
- https://shiphero.com/
- https://www.g2.com/categories/distribution
- https://www.capterra.com/distribution-software/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.