Top Free & Open-Source Inventory Management Software 2025

Last Updated on August 23, 2025 by Dtechunt

In today’s competitive business landscape, efficient inventory management is crucial for businesses of all sizes. The right inventory management software can streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. This comprehensive guide explores the best free and open-source inventory management solutions available in 2025, helping you make an informed decision for your business needs.

Why Choose Open Source Inventory Management Software?

Open source inventory management systems offer several advantages over proprietary alternatives:

Cost-effective: Eliminate expensive licensing fees
Customizable: Modify the code to meet your specific business requirements
Community support: Access a network of developers for troubleshooting and improvements
Transparency: Full visibility into how the software handles your data
No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch solutions if needed

Genuine Free & Open Source Inventory Management Software

InvenTree – Complete Open Source Inventory Management System

InvenTree is a robust open-source inventory management system designed for flexibility and scalability. This powerful solution helps businesses track stock levels, manage parts and components, and streamline ordering processes.

Key Features:

Parts catalog with customizable parameters and hierarchical organization
Stock tracking with location management and movement history
Supplier and manufacturer management
Build management and Bill of Materials (BOM) tracking
Barcode integration for efficient processing
API access for integration with other business systems

InvenTree is completely self-hosted, giving you total control over your inventory data. Its active community continues to improve the platform with regular updates and extensive documentation.

Odoo – Comprehensive Inventory Management Solution

Odoo offers a free Community Edition that includes powerful inventory management capabilities as part of its broader ERP ecosystem. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses looking to integrate inventory management with other operational functions.

Key Features:

Real-time inventory valuation and forecasting
Multi-warehouse management
Barcode scanning for efficient operations
Route planning and automated replenishment
Lot and serial number tracking
Integration with e-commerce platforms

Odoo’s modular approach allows businesses to start with inventory management and seamlessly add other modules (CRM, accounting, manufacturing) as needed. The Community Edition provides essential functionality while the Enterprise Edition offers additional advanced features.

Zoho Inventory – Free Tier for Small Businesses

Zoho Inventory offers a free tier that supports up to 50 orders per month, making it perfect for small businesses and startups. While not fully open-source, this cloud-based solution delivers significant functionality without upfront costs.

Key Features:

Multi-channel inventory management
Order fulfillment and dropshipping
Automated reordering based on minimum stock levels
Integration with major e-commerce platforms
Mobile apps for on-the-go inventory management
Real-time tracking and reporting

Zoho Inventory integrates seamlessly with other Zoho applications, providing a cohesive business management experience. The free tier offers a risk-free entry point, with paid plans available as your business grows.

PartKeepr – Component-Focused Inventory Management

PartKeepr is an open-source solution specifically designed for electronic component management, making it ideal for electronics manufacturers, repair shops, and hobbyists.

Key Features:

Detailed component tracking with technical specifications
Parametric search for finding components quickly
Storage location management with nested categories
Minimum stock level notifications
File attachments for datasheets and documentation
Project management capabilities

PartKeepr’s specialized focus makes it exceptionally effective for businesses dealing with electronic components. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive documentation make implementation straightforward.

Flectra – Feature-Rich Open Source ERP with Inventory Module

Flectra is a powerful open-source ERP system that includes robust inventory management functionality. Based on Odoo, Flectra offers additional features and improvements while maintaining complete compatibility.

Key Features:

Multi-warehouse management with transfer operations
Advanced product tracking with lot, serial, and expiry management
Quality control processes
Drop shipping and cross-docking support
Inventory valuation with multiple costing methods
Customizable reporting and analytics

Flectra’s community edition is completely free and open-source, with optional paid support available. Its modern interface and user-friendly design make it accessible even for non-technical users.

Best Inventory Management Software (Premium Options)

While open-source solutions offer great value, some businesses may require the additional features and support provided by premium inventory management systems. Here are some leading options:

Sortly – Visual Inventory Management

Sortly offers an intuitive, visual approach to inventory management that’s particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses.

Key Features:

QR code and barcode scanning
Custom fields and tags for detailed item tracking
Photo-based inventory with in-app camera functionality
Low stock alerts and notifications
Team collaboration tools
Customizable reports and analytics

Sortly’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to implement without extensive training, allowing teams to start managing inventory efficiently right away. Learn more about effective inventory tracking techniques on DTechUnt.

Cin7 – Omnichannel Inventory Management

Cin7 is a comprehensive inventory and order management system designed for businesses selling across multiple channels.

Key Features:

Integrated POS system
Advanced B2B ordering portal
EDI compliance for retail partnerships
Automated order fulfillment
Production job management
Extensive third-party integrations

Cin7’s ability to unify inventory across physical stores, online marketplaces, and wholesale channels makes it invaluable for growing businesses. Check out our omnichannel retail guide for tips on implementing omnichannel inventory strategies.

Fishbowl – Manufacturing and Warehouse Management

Fishbowl specializes in inventory management solutions for manufacturing and warehouse operations, with deep QuickBooks integration.

Key Features:

Manufacturing resource planning
Advanced work order management
Multi-location inventory tracking
Seamless QuickBooks integration
Barcode generation and scanning
Custom reports and analytics

Fishbowl’s specialized manufacturing features make it ideal for production environments where raw materials are transformed into finished goods. Explore more about manufacturing inventory optimization on our blog.

Katana – Manufacturing-Focused Inventory Management

Katana is specifically designed for small to medium-sized manufacturers, providing real-time inventory and production management.

Key Features:

Visual production scheduling
Real-time inventory control
Material requirements planning
Integration with e-commerce platforms
Purchase order management
Mobile accessibility

Katana’s manufacturing focus allows it to excel at raw material tracking, production scheduling, and finished goods management. Learn about implementing manufacturing inventory systems on DTechUnt.com.

Inflow Inventory – Desktop-Based Solution

Inflow Inventory offers a robust desktop-based inventory management solution with both cloud and on-premise options.

Key Features:

Customizable dashboard and reports
Serial number and batch tracking
Reorder point automation
Customer relationship management
Barcode scanning
Multiple pricing levels

Inflow’s desktop application provides fast performance and works offline, making it suitable for businesses with unreliable internet connectivity. Discover more about choosing the right inventory system on our website.

Choosing the Right Inventory Management Software

When selecting inventory management software, consider these factors:

Business size and complexity: Smaller businesses may be well-served by free open-source solutions, while growing enterprises might need more scalable options.
Specific industry needs: Manufacturing businesses require different features than retail or wholesale operations.
Integration requirements: Consider how the inventory system will connect with your existing business software.
Budget constraints: Open-source options minimize upfront costs but may require technical expertise or custom development.
Growth projections: Choose a solution that can scale with your business over time.

Read our comprehensive inventory software selection guide for your business for more guidance on selecting the perfect inventory management solution.

Conclusion

Effective inventory management is essential for business success in today’s competitive environment. Whether you choose an open-source solution like InvenTree or Odoo or opt for a premium service like Sortly or Katana, the right inventory management software can dramatically improve your operational efficiency.

By carefully assessing your business needs and considering the features of each platform, you can select a solution that streamlines your inventory processes, reduces costs, and supports sustainable growth. Remember that the best system is one that aligns with your specific business requirements and can adapt as your organization evolves.

FAQs:

1) What is open-source inventory management software and why choose it?

Open-source inventory systems provide core stock control, parts management, supplier links, and API access without licensing fees, giving transparency, customization, and no vendor lock‑in for SMEs and growing teams. Community-backed projects like InvenTree and Odoo Community let organizations self-host, extend via plugins/modules, and integrate with existing tools for end‑to‑end operations.

2) Which open-source inventory tools are strong choices in 2025?

InvenTree: Parts catalog, BOM/builds, stock locations, suppliers, barcodes, REST API, and active docs/community.
Odoo Community (Inventory module): Multi-warehouse, reordering rules, variants, serial/lot tracking, and modular ERP extensions.
PartKeepr: Electronics component management with specs, parametric search, and storage locations.
Flectra: Open-source ERP with inventory, lots/serials, multi-warehouse, MRP-friendly flows.

3) How do InvenTree and Odoo Community differ?

InvenTree: Purpose-built for parts/BOM-centric workflows, granular stock locations, builds/kitting, and barcode-first operations, ideal for manufacturing and electronics.
Odoo Community: Broader ERP foundation with inventory tightly linked to sales, purchase, and basic MRP; great when an integrated suite (CRM/accounting/e-commerce) is desired.

4) What core features should be prioritized?

Multi-location/warehouse stock tracking
BOM and build/kit management
Barcode/QR workflows and mobile readiness
Reorder rules, min/max levels, and lead times
Supplier/manufacturer records and purchase integrations
Serial/lot and expiry tracking for traceability
API access for connecting e-commerce, accounting, and MRP

5) Who benefits most from open-source inventory?

Manufacturers and electronics firms needing BOMs, component-level control, and traceability
Multi-warehouse retailers/wholesalers needing replenishment and location transfers
Organizations requiring self-hosting for data residency, compliance, or cost control