Inventory management software helps businesses track inventory levels, reduce errors, and streamline operations. Whether you’re managing stock across multiple locations or simply trying to avoid over-ordering, the right inventory system can improve profitability and reduce manual work. But how much should you expect to spend—and what exactly are you paying for?
This guide breaks down the average cost of inventory management software, the factors that influence pricing, and how to calculate ROI based on your business needs. We’ll also show how Sortly compares to other providers and why it’s a cost-effective solution for small businesses, startups, and growing teams.
What’s the average cost of an inventory management system?
Inventory software pricing varies widely depending on functionality, scalability, and how it’s being used. Free plans are available for basic inventory tracking, while enterprise-grade systems might cost hundreds per month or require custom pricing.
Here’s a snapshot of pricing across common inventory management solutions:
| Name | Use Case | Free Plan? | Free Trial? | Pricing |
| Sortly | Inventory tracking, asset tracking, consumable tracking | Yes | Yes | Starting at $24/mo. |
| Zoho Inventory | E-commerce inventory tracking, asset tracking | Yes | Yes | Starting at $39/mo. |
| Asset Panda | Asset tracking | No | Yes | Requires quote |
| InFlow | Inventory tracking, e-commerce, manufacturing, asset tracking | No | Yes | Starting at $110/mo. |
| Odoo Inventory | Inventory tracking, warehouse management, manufacturing | Yes | Yes | Starting at $31.10/mo. per user |
Pricing and plan data as of 6/25/2025
Beyond simply being an affordable option, Sortly is actually a cost-saver for your business. Accurate inventory management cuts down on expensive mistakes like over-ordering (which ties up capital), under-ordering (which causes delays and stoppages), and lost or misplaced equipment. Furthermore, tracking high-value assets and equipment in Sortly allows you to attach warranties and set maintenance reminders, which proactively prevents costly downtime and ensures safe, consistent use. Perhaps most importantly, Sortly is built to scale with your business: managing one location is just as easy as managing a hundred, ensuring that as your inventory control becomes more complex, the platform’s ease of use remains a constant.
What features should you look for in an inventory management system?
When evaluating software solutions, focus on features that help automate workflows, reduce stockouts, and improve forecasting. Here are three essential features to look for in an inventory system:
1. Customizable inventory reports
Look for customizable reports that help you monitor inventory levels, identify overstocking, and track profitability. These reports should support decision-making across supply chain, accounting, and order management functions.
2. Barcode and QR code scanning
Barcode scanning reduces manual entry and speeds up order processing. Mobile devices can often replace traditional barcode scanners, especially with cloud-based apps like Sortly. You can even generate custom labels and track serial numbers without add-on hardware.
3. Inventory alerts
Low stock alerts, expiration warnings, and maintenance reminders can help prevent stockouts and avoid costly equipment downtime. These alerts should be easy to configure and accessible across multi-location setups.
Factors that influence the cost of inventory software
The total cost of inventory software is based on a number of factors and varies widely by provider. Here are a few of the things that can influence the cost of a given inventory system that you may want to consider:
- Feature set: Access to advanced features may only be available on certain plans.
- License fees: Some providers charge per user or per location.
- Setup or implementation costs: Onboarding, training, and data migration may carry additional costs.
- Integration and hardware: Connecting to accounting software, POS systems, or e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Amazon may require APIs or add-ons.
- Support: Premium customer support or dedicated account managers may be billed separately.
This easy, comprehensive guide will help you:
Free Ebook: Getting Started With Inventory Tracking
Calculating the ROI of an inventory management system
The right inventory management system should actually drive revenue—not just be another line item in your budget. If you want to actually calculate the ROI of an effective inventory system, here are a few ways to do so:
Quantify savings from reduced stockouts
Avoiding project delays or stoppages due to equipment or materials being unavailable can dramatically improve productivity and profitability. Use historical data to accurately estimate how often these operational delays occur when assets are untracked—and what those delays cost your business in lost labor hours, missed deadlines, and unexpected material purchases.
Sortly customers often find that our low stock alerts help them stay ahead of inventory gaps and avoid stockouts. One Sortly customer shared: “Sortly was exactly what we needed to transform our business from guessing and manually counting material to being able to track all our supply with very little effort.”
Measure labor efficiency and time savings
Automating inventory tracking and check-in/check-out with Sortly eliminates the hours staff spend on manual updates and searching through spreadsheets. This improved labor efficiency allows your team to dedicate their focus to revenue-driving tasks, significantly increasing overall productivity.
Many users report that the platform simplifies inventory workflows and reduces manual effort. Another Sortly customer noted: “Sortly has assisted us in many ways, including minimizing costs, reducing time needed to manage our inventory, giving us the ability to quickly view our current inventory status, and greatly reducing paperwork.”
Track revenue increases from improved project continuity
Sortly is built to give you the certainty you need before the work starts. Automated low stock alerts and immediate visibility into checked-out assets mean team members will know the status of every item right on their mobile device. By automating the monitoring of consumables and equipment, Sortly shifts your operations from reactive to proactive management.
This is precisely the benefit highlighted by one Sortly customer: “This app saves me time and money by letting me know if an item is running low before I send someone out to a job site without it.”
Get started with Sortly’s cost-effective inventory management system
Sortly is an easy, customizable inventory management solution designed for any size business that needs to track inventory, assets, or materials. With smart features like barcode scanning, low stock alerts, and customizable reports, Sortly helps you streamline business processes and reduce costs—without the complexity of traditional systems.
Explore our plans and see how we compare with other inventory software providers. When you’re ready, you can start a free two-week trial—absolutely free.
