inFlow vs.
Katana MRP
Which should you use for orders or manufacturing work?
Manufacturing and MRP software isn’t something you shop for often. So the inFlow team made this page to show you why you might use inFlow over Katana, or vice versa.
inFlow Inventory vs. Katana MRP
A feature table of inFlow and Katana can look pretty similar at first glance.
inFlow Inventory
Features
Inventory and orders
Barcode support
Pick, pack, ship
Manufacturing and BOMs
Routing
B2B Portal
Ecommerce integrations
Accounting integrations
inFlow API
Platforms
Web app
Windows app
Android
iPhone
Support
Included onboarding
Email
Chat
Callback
Learning Center
Trials
Free 14-day trial
Price and users
Starts at $138/month for 2 users + Manufacturing, paid annually
Katana MRP
Features
Inventory and orders
Barcode support
Pick, pack, ship
Manufacturing
Routing
—
Ecommerce integrations
Accounting integrations
Katana API
Platforms
Web app
—
—
—
Support
Paid onboarding
Email
Chat
–
Knowledge base
Trials
Request a demo
Price and users
Starts at $179/month for unlimited users, paid annually
Try inFlow for free.
Unlimited features for 14 days.
Why would I use inFlow over Katana?
Tables can’t tell you everything, so here’s why you might prefer inFlow Inventory.
inFlow can assemble multiple products on a single order
Both inFlow and Katana support the concept of manufacture orders (MOs) to build products from raw materials. But if you have a complex product that requires several stages of assembly, inFlow can handle multiple sub-assemblies on one MO. This lets you see everything in one place and track progress easily.
In contrast, sub-assemblies in Katana must be split into their own separate manufacturing orders.
inFlow scales simply for sales
inFlow and Katana plans include a set number of sales orders.
If you exceed the included orders in inFlow, you’ll pay a nominal fee for the extra orders.
However, Katana also places annual limits on gross merchandise value. So if you sell a lot ot high value products or deal in very high volume, your Katana plan may cost you more and more over time.
inFlow is equally great on web and mobile
Katana offers special Shop Floor and Warehouse web apps, but they’re only available on certain plans. On the other hand, inFlow offers dedicated Android and iPhone app available on every plan.
inFlow’s mobile apps also help you get more done out of the box, allowing you to take purchases or sales from start to finish—including buying and printing shipping labels.
inFlow includes onboarding time
Katana’s lowest-tier plan does not offer any onboarding, and its higher tier plans require a mandatory onboarding fee.
Each inFlow plan includes at least two free hours of one-on-one onboarding. Higher tier plans include more hours, and you can purchase additional training on an hourly basis.
In addition to this, every inFlow customer has their own Customer Success Manager to help with training and account assistance (something only offered on Katana’s highest-end plans).
Why would I use Katana over inFlow?
Katana has more robust support for batches, expiry dates, and variants.
You need batches and expiration dates
Although inFlow and Katana are well matched in terms of overall functionality, currently only Katana supports batches and expiration dates. If you need this kind of functionality due to your work or industry, then Katana may be the better fit for you.
You need a lot of variants for e-commerce
And while both Katana and inFlow offer unlimited SKUs and products, Katana has more extensive support for product variants, which are common in retail clothing, where the same product can be offered in multiple colors and sizes.
How should you decide between inFlow and Katana?
Katana is a good candidate for e-commerce manufacturers that need batch numbers, handle a lot of variants, or need to track expiration dates. However, its pricing model may not suit high-value or high-volume businesses.
inFlow takes the hassle out of inventory and manufacturing not just with great features, but with great customer service and support. Simple, scaleable pricing make it easy to understand which plan you should choose to best grow your business.
Start your free 14-day trial
No setup fees. No contracts. Money back guarantee.
