Independent guideAll prices in AUD

Best Inventory Management for Small Business in Australia (2026)

The best inventory software for most Australian small businesses is Zoho Inventory, which has a free starter plan and $43 a month after, with strong multi-channel support. inFlow is the best mid-range pick at $180 a month, Unleashed the strongest for native Xero integration, and Cin7 Core the most all-in-one.

Independent guide by MerchantCompare. Prices last checked . How we compare

Our top picks for small business

1Best overall and best value
Zoho Inventory logo

Zoho Inventory

4.1Free / $43/mo (Standard)

Zoho Inventory is the standout for a small business: a genuinely free starter plan, $43 a month beyond it, and solid multi-channel selling. It is especially strong if you already use Zoho Books for accounting.

  • Free starter plan, $43/mo Standard
  • Multi-channel inventory built in
  • Tight fit with the Zoho ecosystem

Watch out: Less depth than the manufacturing-focused platforms if you build products.

2Best mid-range
inFlow Inventory logo

inFlow Inventory

4.1$180/mo (Entrepreneur)

inFlow gives small to mid-sized businesses real inventory power, with assembly and a B2B portal, at predictable per-plan pricing from $180 a month. A step up from the entry tools without enterprise cost.

  • Assembly and B2B portal features
  • Predictable per-plan pricing from $180/mo
  • Good for small-to-mid operations

Watch out: Dearer than Zoho if you only need basic stock control.

3Best for Xero users
Unleashed logo

Unleashed

4.3$449/mo (Core)

Unleashed is built for product-based Australian and New Zealand SMBs, with native Xero integration and local support. The right call if your books are in Xero and you want tight inventory sync.

  • Native Xero integration
  • AU/NZ-built with local support
  • Strong for product-based SMBs

Watch out: Entry pricing is higher at $449/mo for the Core plan.

4Best all-in-one
Cin7 Core logo

Cin7 Core

4.2$486/mo (Standard)

Cin7 Core combines inventory, purchasing and manufacturing in one platform, suited to a multi-channel small business that wants everything in one place rather than several connected tools.

  • Inventory, purchasing and manufacturing together
  • Strong multi-channel support
  • One platform to manage

Watch out: At $486/mo Standard it is the priciest entry point here.

Compare the picks at your numbers

Enter your business details to see what each option would cost you. Prices are live from our database and shown in Australian dollars.

4 Providers
Zoho Inventory
inFlow Inventory
Unleashed
Cin7 Core
Est. Cost /mo (AUD)$384/moCheapest$486/mo$449/mo$486/mo
Costs & Pricing
Pricing modelPer-org tiered (orders/users)Per-org with user-based tiersPer-org with user-based tiersPer-org with user-based tiers
Entry price /moFree / $43/mo (Standard)$180/mo (Entrepreneur)$449/mo (Core)$486/mo (Standard)
Users included1 (Free), 2 (Standard/Pro/Premium), 7 (Enterprise)2 (Entrepreneur), 5 (Small Biz), 10 (Mid-Size)3 (Core), 5 (Pro)5 (Standard), 10 (Pro), 15 (Advanced)
Per-warehouse fee$15.58/mo per extra locationIncludedIncludedIncluded
ContractNoNoNoNo
Inventory & Channels
Multi-channel syncYesYes (Small Biz+)YesYes
Multi-warehouseYes (Professional+)Yes (Mid-Size+)YesYes
Accounting integrationZoho Books (native)QuickBooks, XeroXero, QBO, MYOBXero, MYOB, QuickBooks, Sage
E-commerce integrationShopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerceShopify, WooCommerce, AmazonShopify, WooCommerce, MagentoShopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Amazon
Purchase ordersYesYesYesYes
SKUs allowedVaries by planLimited by plan tierUnlimitedUnlimited
Barcode scanningYesYesYesYes
Manufacturing & Operations
Manufacturing / BOMNoYes (assembly)YesYes (strong)
Batch / expiry trackingYesYesYesYes
Stock forecastingLimitedLimitedYes (add-on)Yes
POS integrationLimitedLimitedLightspeed (Vend), SquareCin7 POS, Lightspeed
ReportingYesYesYesYes
Mobile appYesYesYesYes
SupportBusiness hours AU + onlineBusiness hours + emailBusiness hours AU + onlineBusiness hours + online
Estimates based on $15,000/mo volume. Best-in-row cells are highlighted in emerald. Rates can change without notice, confirm current pricing with the provider before signing on.How we calculate fees

Inventory software earns its keep when stock, orders and purchasing get too complex for spreadsheets, but a small business can easily overpay for a platform built for manufacturers or enterprises. The job is to match the tool to your actual complexity: a multi-channel seller, a maker building products, and a simple reseller all need different things. Below are our ranked picks, then a live calculator to cost each at your team size.

How we chose

Small businesses weigh inventory software on cost and fit first. We ranked on whether there is an affordable or free entry point, how well it syncs across sales channels, whether it integrates with the accounting software you already use (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks), and whether it covers manufacturing if you build products. Pricing is live from our database in Australian dollars.

What small businesses should prioritise

Match the platform to your complexity, and do not pay for manufacturing or enterprise features you will not use. A reseller moving stock across a couple of channels is well served by an affordable multi-channel tool like Zoho Inventory. A business that assembles or builds products needs assembly and bills of materials, which points higher up the range. The second priority is accounting integration, since inventory that does not flow into your books creates double entry.

Watch the price jumps

Inventory pricing climbs steeply: from free or tens of dollars a month at the entry level to several hundred for the all-in-one platforms. The gap between Zoho Inventory ($43) and Cin7 Core ($486) is large, so be honest about which features you genuinely need. Starting affordable and moving up as you grow is usually wiser than buying capability ahead of need.

The verdict

For most Australian small businesses, Zoho Inventory is the best pick and best value, free to start and cheap beyond it, with the multi-channel basics covered. Choose inFlow for a predictable mid-range step up, Unleashed if your accounting is in Xero and you want native sync, and Cin7 Core if you want inventory, purchasing and manufacturing in a single all-in-one platform. Use the calculator above to cost each at your team size.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best inventory software for a small business in Australia?

Zoho Inventory is the best overall for most small businesses: it has a free starter plan, costs $43 a month beyond it, and handles multi-channel selling well. inFlow is a strong mid-range step up, and Unleashed is best if your accounting is in Xero.

Is there free inventory management software?

Yes. Zoho Inventory has a genuinely free starter plan that suits a small business with modest order volumes, especially Zoho Books users. Beyond the free tier it is $43 a month. Most other inventory platforms start in the hundreds of dollars per month.

Which inventory software integrates with Xero?

Unleashed offers native Xero integration and is built for Australian and New Zealand product businesses. Cin7 Core, Zoho Inventory and several others also integrate with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks. If Xero sync is your priority, Unleashed is the strongest fit.

How much does inventory software cost for a small business?

It ranges widely. Zoho Inventory is free to start then $43 a month, inFlow from $180, Katana around $417, Unleashed $449, and Cin7 Core $486. The right level depends on your channels and whether you manufacture. The calculator above costs each at your team size.

How does MerchantCompare choose the best inventory management for small business?

We are independent and not owned by any provider. Our picks weigh price, features and Australian fit for small business, using live pricing from our database, last checked 31 May 2026. The comparison table lets you estimate each option at your own numbers. See How we compare for our full method.

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