Finding the perfect manufacturing software can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. You've likely heard great things about Katana MRP, and for good reason - it's helped countless manufacturers streamline their production processes and boost efficiency. But here's the exciting truth: the manufacturing software landscape is richer and more diverse than ever before, offering incredible opportunities for businesses to find solutions that perfectly match their unique needs.

Whether you're outgrowing your current system, seeking more affordable options, or simply wanting features that better align with your workflow, exploring alternatives opens doors to new possibilities. Maybe you need deeper financial integration, simpler inventory replenishment, or enterprise-scale capabilities that can grow with your ambitious plans.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover 9 powerful alternatives to Katana MRP that can transform how you manage production, inventory, and operations. From comprehensive cloud-based ERPs to brilliantly simple Kanban systems, each option represents a pathway to improved efficiency and business growth. Let's unlock the potential of finding your perfect manufacturing software match.

Quick Comparison: Top 5 Katana MRP Alternatives

Lean and Easy to Implement Alternatives

Sometimes the most powerful solution is the simplest one. These alternatives focus on solving specific problems with elegant, straightforward approaches.

1. Arda

Arda offers a refreshingly simple and visual approach to inventory replenishment by digitizing the proven principles of a physical Kanban system. Instead of complex software on the shop floor, Arda uses physical QR-coded Kanban cards that operators scan with a smartphone to signal the need for more materials. This creates a straightforward, lean process that is incredibly easy to implement and eliminates the need for extensive team training.

Key Features:

• Physical Kanban Card System: Uses durable, QR-coded cards that are placed directly with inventory at their reorder point, creating a clear visual cue.
• Simple Smartphone Scanning: Anyone on the shop floor can scan a card with a smartphone to instantly add that item to a digital order list, no software training required.
• Digital Order Dashboard: While the shop floor remains simple, managers can view a centralized digital dashboard to track requests, approve orders, and analyze replenishment data.
• Visual, Shop-Floor-First Design: The system is built to be intuitive for everyone, relying on visual signals rather than complex computer interfaces.
• Rapid Implementation: A business can be set up and see results in minutes, as there are no complex modules to configure or lengthy training sessions needed.

Strengths:

• Extreme Simplicity: The system has virtually no learning curve, making it incredibly easy for the entire team to adopt and use effectively.
• Fast and Easy to Set Up: Businesses can get the system running in a matter of minutes, providing almost immediate value.
• Partial Implementation Delivers Value: Arda’s Kanban system can be implemented on one single part or line at a time and does not require full rollout across the facility to start delivering value. 
• Shop-Floor Friendly: Eliminates the need for computers or complex software on the production floor, reducing barriers to implementation.
• Focus on Lean Principles: Helps businesses reduce excess inventory and prevent stockouts by ensuring materials are replenished only when needed.
• Responsive support: Outstanding customer support with responsive, knowledgeable representatives

Weaknesses:

• Not a Comprehensive MRP: It is a specialized replenishment tool and does not include features for production planning, BOMs, or scheduling.
• Limited Advanced Analytics: Lacks features for deep historical analysis, demand forecasting, or complex purchasing analytics.
• Best for Consumables: The system is ideally suited for managing consumables and raw materials rather than complex, multi-stage finished goods production.

Best For: Small manufacturers and workshops that need a simple, visual, and effective inventory replenishment system without the complexity of a full MRP.

Pricing: Starting at $149 / month.

Comprehensive Cloud-Based Alternatives

For businesses ready to embrace robust, all-in-one solutions that can scale with their growth, these cloud-based platforms offer the comprehensive features and reliability you need to excel in today's market.

2. Unleashed

Unleashed is a powerful, cloud-based inventory management platform built to give growing manufacturers real-time control and end-to-end visibility over their entire production and supply chain. Born from a need for clear, accurate, and live inventory data, the system is designed to handle the complexities of manufacturing while integrating smoothly with other business tools, making it a central hub for operational management.

Key Features:

• Real-time Inventory Control: Get instant clarity on stock levels with perpetual inventory tracking that updates live as materials are used and goods are produced.
• Bill of Materials (BOM): Manage complex product recipes and assembly instructions in a centralized location, ensuring accurate finished goods costing and component tracking.
• Production Planning: Allocate stock for future assemblies and set minimum reorder points to ensure you can always fulfill new orders without delay.
• Batch and Serial Number Tracking: Maintain end-to-end traceability of components and finished products, simplifying recalls and quality control.
• Purchase Order Management: Automate your purchasing process with alerts for low stock levels and easily create purchase orders to prevent stockouts.

Strengths:

• Exceptional Inventory Visibility: Provides a live, accurate view of all stock across multiple locations, reducing errors and enabling smarter purchasing decisions.
• Powerful Integrations: Connects seamlessly with popular accounting (Xero, QuickBooks), e-commerce (Shopify), and CRM platforms for a unified business solution.
• User-Friendly Interface: The platform is designed to be intuitive, which helps reduce the team's learning curve and accelerates adoption across the business.
• Scalable Design: Built to grow with your business, supporting you from a small workshop to a larger, multi-warehouse enterprise.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Advanced MRP Features: Lacks some advanced manufacturing resource and capacity planning tools found in more comprehensive MRP systems.
• Reporting Customization: While featuring robust reporting, the options for deep customization can be restrictive for businesses with highly specific analytics needs.
• Pricing for Startups: The price point may be a challenge for very small businesses or startups operating with a lean budget.

Best For: Small to medium-sized manufacturers who prioritize real-time inventory control and need strong integration with their existing business tools.

Pricing: Starting at $410 / month.

3. NetSuite

NetSuite is a comprehensive, cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution that provides a single, unified platform for managing an entire manufacturing business. It is designed for complexity and scale, offering robust tools that connect manufacturing processes directly with financials, supply chain, quality management, and CRM in real-time. This eliminates data silos and gives decision-makers a complete view of the business from the shop floor to the top floor.

Key Features:

• Advanced Manufacturing Module: Supports discrete, process, and mixed-mode manufacturing with tools for production scheduling, work order management, and routing.
• Work Order & Assembly Management: Define multi-level bills of materials, create work orders, record assembly builds, and automatically backflush components.
• Shop Floor Control: Capture real-time data directly from the shop floor, including machine performance, production status, and labor tracking.
• Quality Management: Integrate quality control processes throughout the production lifecycle with in-process checks and inspections to maintain high standards.
• Supply Chain Management: Gain a global view of inventory across all locations, including outsourced production, with advanced tools for demand planning and procurement.

Strengths:

• All-in-One Business Solution: Integrates every facet of the business, from manufacturing and inventory to financials and CRM, into one system, providing a single source of truth.
• Exceptional Scalability: Built to support businesses as they grow, making it suitable for mid-market companies all the way up to large enterprises.
• Deep Manufacturing Functionality: Offers highly detailed features for production engineering, cost accounting, and finite capacity planning to manage complex operations.
• Real-Time Business Intelligence: Provides live dashboards and analytics across all departments, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.

Weaknesses:

• High Complexity and Cost: The system's comprehensive nature means a significant total cost of ownership, including licensing, implementation, and customization fees.
• Steep Learning Curve: Requires substantial training and a structured change management process for the team to adopt it effectively.
• Long Implementation Times: Deploying a full ERP of this scale is a lengthy process and can take several months to complete.

Best For: Large enterprises with complex manufacturing processes that need a single, integrated platform to manage all business functions.

Pricing: Not publicly available.

4. Cin7

Cin7 is an integrated inventory management solution that excels at helping manufacturers and product sellers unify their operations across multiple sales channels. Designed for businesses that sell through e-commerce, wholesale, and marketplaces, Cin7 provides the tools to manage complex production processes while ensuring that inventory levels are synchronized everywhere, preventing stockouts and improving fulfillment efficiency.

Key Features:

• Material Requirements Planning (MRP): Integrated MRP capabilities help generate intelligent suggestions for purchasing and production, ensuring you have the right components at the right time.
• Bill of Materials (BOM) Management: Tracks the complete lifecycle of your product recipes, including material flow, revisions, and costs, to maintain control over production.
• Multi-Channel Inventory Sync: Automatically synchronizes stock levels across all sales channels, from your Shopify store to Amazon, eliminating the risk of overselling.
• Shop Floor Control: Offers real-time monitoring of production tasks and team performance, helping to streamline every step from resource allocation to completion.
• Warehouse Management: Provides robust tools for managing warehouse operations, including support for third-party logistics (3PL) integrations to scale fulfillment.

Strengths:

• Unified Multi-Channel Management: Its core strength is synchronizing inventory and orders across diverse sales channels, which is ideal for modern manufacturers.
• Powerful Automation: Automates key workflows like purchase order generation and order fulfillment, which reduces manual work and minimizes errors.
• End-to-End Traceability: Delivers unmatched product traceability by tracking components from procurement through to the final sale.
• Broad Integration Ecosystem: Connects with a wide range of accounting, e-commerce, and shipping applications to create a centralized business hub.

Weaknesses:

• Complex Initial Setup: The system's breadth of features and configuration options can make the initial setup process time-consuming.
• Steep Learning Curve: New users may find the extensive feature set overwhelming at first, requiring a dedicated training period.
• Inconsistent Customer Support: The quality of customer support can be variable, which may be a challenge for teams needing immediate assistance.

Best For: Manufacturers selling across multiple channels who need unified inventory control and automated order management.

Pricing: Starting at $349 / month.

5. Acumatica

Acumatica is a modern, flexible cloud ERP platform designed to adapt to the specific needs of growing manufacturers. Unlike traditional systems, it offers adaptable deployment options (cloud or on-premise) and a unique, resource-based pricing model that doesn't charge by the user. This makes it an exceptionally scalable solution for businesses planning for growth, as they can add users without incurring additional costs.

Key Features:

• Manufacturing Edition: A comprehensive suite of tools supporting various production types, including make-to-stock, make-to-order, and engineer-to-order.
• Bill of Material (BOM) and Routing: Creates detailed production specifications that connect materials, work instructions, and overhead costs directly to manufacturing operations.
• Material Requirements Planning (MRP): A powerful planning tool that helps balance supply and demand to maintain optimal inventory levels and generate production and purchase orders.
• Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS): Enables finite capacity planning based on resource availability, helping you set reliable delivery dates for customers.
• Mobile App and Data Collection: Access your ERP from anywhere and automate data collection with barcode scanning for mobile warehouse and manufacturing tasks.

Strengths:

• Flexible Deployment and Pricing: Offers the freedom to choose between a cloud or on-premise deployment and a growth-friendly pricing model based on resource usage, not user seats.
• High Customization: The platform is highly adaptable and can be configured to match unique business processes without requiring extensive coding knowledge.
• Comprehensive Functionality: Provides deep, integrated functionality across manufacturing, inventory, financials, and CRM in a single unified system.
• Modern and Accessible: A true cloud solution with a user-friendly interface that can be accessed from any device, anywhere.

Weaknesses:

• Implementation Partner Dependency: The quality and success of the implementation heavily rely on the expertise of the third-party partner you choose.
• Overwhelming for Small Businesses: The full suite of ERP features can be too complex for very small manufacturers who only need basic functionality.
• Cluttered Data Entry Interface: Some users report that the interface can feel cluttered during data-intensive tasks, which can slow down workflows.

Best For: Growing manufacturers who need a highly customizable ERP with flexible deployment and pricing options that can scale with their team.

Pricing: Not publicly available.

Solutions for Small to Medium-Sized Manufacturers

These focused solutions are specifically designed to help smaller manufacturers achieve outstanding results without the complexity and cost of enterprise-level systems.

6. MRPeasy

MRPeasy is a cloud-based manufacturing software built from the ground up to be powerful, user-friendly, and affordable for small to medium-sized businesses. It delivers a comprehensive set of MRP tools that cover production, inventory, sales, and procurement without the overwhelming complexity of larger ERP systems. Its intuitive design allows manufacturers with 10 to 200 employees to get organized, optimize their processes, and gain real-time visibility into their entire operation.

Key Features:

• Production Planning and Scheduling: Create and manage manufacturing orders with a realistic production schedule, then dynamically reschedule by dragging and dropping tasks in Gantt charts and calendars.
• Real-time Inventory Management: Get a live overview of your stock, prevent shortages with reorder points, automate inventory transactions, and track lots and serial numbers.
• CRM and Sales Management: Calculate product costs and lead times in just a few clicks, create quotes, and track sales orders from inquiry through to delivery.
• Shop Floor Reporting: A simple interface for line workers (accessible on PC or mobile) allows for real-time reporting from the shop floor, giving managers a live view of production progress.
• Procurement Management: Automatically generate pre-filled purchase orders based on production needs and manage vendor information, pricing, and lead times.

Strengths:

• Exceptional Affordability: Offers transparent, subscription-based pricing that makes powerful MRP functionality accessible for small business budgets.
• Intuitive and Easy to Use: The user-friendly interface is designed for a quick learning curve, allowing teams to become productive with minimal training.
• Comprehensive Small Business Feature Set: Covers all the essential functions a small manufacturer needs, from production and inventory to sales and finance.
• Strong Integration Capabilities: Connects seamlessly with popular tools like QuickBooks, Xero, and Shopify to create a unified business ecosystem.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Customization: May not offer the deep customization options required by businesses with highly unique or complex workflows.
• Advanced Reporting Constraints: The reporting tools, while functional, might not satisfy the needs of data-intensive operations requiring highly detailed analytics.
• Support Resource Limitations: As a self-service focused platform, technical support resources can sometimes be limited during peak periods.

Best For: Small manufacturers seeking comprehensive and affordable MRP functionality without enterprise-level complexity or cost.

Pricing: Starting at $39 / month.

7. Fishbowl

Fishbowl is a comprehensive manufacturing and inventory management software designed to be the perfect operational extension for businesses using QuickBooks. It bridges the gap between accounting and production by adding robust features like work order management, material requirements planning (MRP), and barcoding, transforming QuickBooks into a powerful platform for growing manufacturers and distributors.

Key Features:

• Deep QuickBooks Integration: Offers seamless, real-time synchronization of inventory, sales, and manufacturing data with both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online.
• Manufacturing and Work Orders: Manage the entire production process by creating multi-level bills of materials, issuing work orders, and tracking production steps from start to finish.
• Material Resource Planning (MRP): Provides tools to forecast demand, schedule production, and ensure the right parts are available when and where they are needed.
• Barcode Scanning and WMS: Includes a mobile warehouse management system (WMS) that uses barcode scanning to streamline receiving, picking, packing, and shipping.
• Multi-Location Tracking: Track inventory across multiple warehouses, in-transit, or at third-party logistics (3PL) locations with complete visibility.

Strengths:

• Best-in-Class QuickBooks Integration: Its primary strength is creating a unified system for operations and finance, eliminating double data entry for QuickBooks users.
• Robust Manufacturing Features: Provides a surprisingly deep feature set for small to medium-sized businesses, including advanced BOMs and work order control.
• Flexible Deployment Options: Available as a traditional on-premise solution (Fishbowl Advanced) or a modern cloud-based platform (Fishbowl Drive).
• Comprehensive Business Management: Connects purchasing, manufacturing, warehousing, and sales into a single, predictable workflow.

Weaknesses:

• Outdated User Interface: Some users find the interface of the on-premise version to be dated and less intuitive than modern cloud applications.
• Potential Performance Issues: There have been user reports of slow loading times and performance lags, particularly with large datasets.
• Complexity for Beginners: The breadth of features, while powerful, might be overwhelming for smaller businesses new to dedicated manufacturing software.

Best For: QuickBooks users who need to add powerful inventory, warehousing, and manufacturing capabilities to their existing financial system.

Pricing: Not publicly available.

8. ERPAG

ERPAG is a cloud-based ERP solution that packs comprehensive functionality into a package specifically designed for small and mid-sized businesses. It was created to provide an all-in-one platform that covers everything from sales and purchasing to manufacturing and accounting, all with a strong emphasis on user-friendliness. Its goal is to make powerful business management tools accessible without requiring a dedicated IT team to run them.

Key Features:

• Manufacturing System (MRP): Includes robust material planning tools, multi-level bills of materials, and manufacturing cost tracking to manage production effectively.
• Shop Floor Management: Provides a real-time database of shop floor activity, allowing you to track work-in-progress, completions, and resource usage (workers, machines, materials).
• Robust Inventory Management: Supports detailed inventory tracking with serial numbers, lot numbers, barcodes, and multiple warehouse locations.
• Order Management: Manages the entire order fulfillment process, with support for backordering, multi-currency transactions, and omnichannel sales.
• Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile app for both Android and iOS, allowing for remote management of business processes and barcode scanning with a phone camera.

Strengths:

• All-in-One Functionality: Delivers a complete suite of tools that covers nearly every aspect of a small manufacturing business, reducing the need for multiple applications.
• User-Friendly Interface: The system is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making it a good fit for non-technical team members.
• Affordable and Accessible: Positioned with a budget-friendly price point, making it a very accessible option for small businesses.
• Mobile Accessibility: The integrated mobile app provides great flexibility for managing operations and tracking inventory from anywhere.

Weaknesses:

• Documentation Can Lag: The software is updated frequently, but user manuals and documentation sometimes fall behind the latest releases.
• Time-Consuming Initial Setup: While user-friendly, the initial process of configuring the system for complex operations can be lengthy.
• Inconsistent Customer Support: Some users have reported that customer support response times can be slower than expected during busy periods.

Best For: Small manufacturers who want comprehensive ERP functionality in an affordable, easy-to-use package with a focus on mobile accessibility.

Pricing: Starting at $49 / month.

9. InventoryCloud

Wasp InventoryCloud is a specialized inventory management system designed to bring enterprise-level accuracy and control to small and medium-sized businesses. While not a full MRP system, it excels at its core function: providing real-time, 360-degree visibility of stock levels across multiple locations. It is built around barcode technology to streamline data entry, eliminate manual errors, and give businesses the power to make data-driven decisions about their inventory.

Key Features:

• Real-time Inventory Tracking: Track inventory by a wide range of criteria, including site, location, serial number, lot, and date code, with live updates.
• Barcode and Mobile Integration: Use iOS, Android, or Wasp mobile devices to scan barcodes for receiving, moving, and auditing inventory, ensuring high accuracy.
• Multi-Site Management: Manage and transfer inventory across as many sites or warehouses as you need, with user permissions to control access.
• Customizable Reporting: Build and run detailed reports to analyze inventory levels, transaction history, and purchase order data to make informed decisions.
• Automated Alerts and Reordering: Set up automatic notifications for events like low stock levels or expiring items, and define reorder points to prevent stockouts.

Strengths:

• Superior Real-Time Tracking: Its greatest strength is providing accurate, live inventory data, which helps reduce errors and prevent costly stockouts.
• Ease of Implementation: Known for its straightforward setup process and user-friendly interface, allowing businesses to get up and running quickly.
• Powerful Barcoding: The deep integration with barcode scanning streamlines all inventory-related tasks, from audits to order picking, saving time and improving accuracy.
• Excellent Multi-Location Capabilities: Effectively manages inventory across multiple warehouses and sites from a single, centralized system.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Manufacturing-Specific Features: Focuses primarily on inventory control and lacks the dedicated production planning, BOM, and scheduling features of a true MRP system.
• Occasional Application Downtime: Some users have reported experiencing occasional downtime with the cloud-based application.
• Dated User Interface: The user interface, while functional, could benefit from modernization to improve the overall user experience.

Best For: Small to medium businesses that prioritize deep inventory management and require strong barcode-driven, multi-location tracking capabilities.

Pricing: Starting at $107 / month.

Choosing the Right Alternative to Katana MRP for Your Manufacturing Business 

The manufacturing software landscape offers a solution for every stage of growth, from the lean simplicity of Arda's Kanban system to the all-in-one enterprise power of NetSuite. The key is matching your unique operational needs with the right platform's strengths.

For manufacturers prioritizing simplicity on the shop floor, Arda offers a simple, easy-to-use approach to replenishment that your shopfloor workers will love. If your business runs on QuickBooks, Fishbowl provides a best-in-class integration that transforms your accounting software into an operational powerhouse. Small manufacturers seeking a comprehensive yet affordable solution will find MRPeasy hits the sweet spot, while businesses selling across multiple channels can unify their operations with Cin7.

Remember, the "perfect" software is the one that solves your most pressing challenges while aligning with your budget and team's capabilities. Many of these alternatives offer free trials or personalized demos, use them to get a feel for the platform before committing. Your ideal manufacturing software is out there, ready to help you streamline operations and scale your business.