Core
$299
/month
- + Unlimited SKUs, users & integrations
- + Sales & purchase order management
- + Real-time inventory planning
- + Barcode scanning & multicurrency
Katana
Cloud-based manufacturing ERP that gives product makers real-time inventory and production control.
ecommerce
Our Score
4.3
Starting at $299 /month
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4.3
RecommendedKatana Score
Ease of Use
4.1
Features
4.2
Value
4.4
Support
4.0
Based on our editorial review across usability, features, value, support, and integrations.
Best For
Small to mid-size manufacturers doing $500K-$20M annual revenueD2C product brands selling through Shopify that need production managementFood and beverage producers needing lot tracking and expiration managementCraft manufacturers and small-batch makers who have outgrown spreadsheetsContract manufacturers juggling multiple client orders simultaneously
Best For
Small to mid-size manufacturers doing $500K-$20M annual revenue
Free Trial
No
Standout Feature
Real-time inventory management across raw materials and finished goods
Track Record
Since 2017
What Problem It Solves
Small manufacturers face a painful gap in software. They outgrow spreadsheet-based inventory tracking as soon as they have more than a handful of raw materials, multiple products, and orders from several channels. But traditional ERP systems require six-figure implementation costs, months of setup, and dedicated IT staff to maintain. Katana solves this by providing real-time inventory management, production planning, and order management in a cloud platform that a small team can set up in a few days. When a customer places an order on Shopify, Katana automatically checks if materials are in stock, reserves them, and schedules production. When raw materials run low, it triggers purchase order suggestions. This eliminates the common small-manufacturer problems of overselling, stockouts, production delays from missing materials, and the chaos of managing operations across disconnected spreadsheets and systems.
Key Features
- Real-time inventory management across raw materials and finished goods
- Visual production scheduling with drag-and-drop floor planning
- Multi-level bill of materials (BOM) with cost tracking
- Native integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Amazon
- Purchase order management with automated reorder points
- Accounting sync with Xero and QuickBooks Online
- Shop floor control with barcode scanning and task assignments
Pros
- + Modern, intuitive interface that manufacturers can learn without IT support
- + Real-time inventory syncing across e-commerce channels and warehouse
- + Purpose-built for small manufacturers, not a dumbed-down enterprise ERP
- + Strong e-commerce integrations that legacy ERPs cannot match
- + Live production scheduling gives real-time visibility into shop floor status
Cons
- - Starting price of $179/month is steep for very small operations
- - Limited capabilities for complex multi-plant or highly regulated manufacturing
- - Reporting and analytics are basic compared to enterprise ERP systems
- - No native CRM or advanced demand forecasting features
Pricing
Core + Manufacturing
$498
/month
- + Everything in Core
- + Manufacturing management add-on
- + Shop floor control
- + Bill of materials
Core + Full Suite
$896
/month
- + Core + all add-ons
- + Inventory traceability & planning
- + Warehouse management
- + Advanced reporting & API
Starting at $299 /month
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Our Verdict
Katana — Recommended
Katana fills an important gap in the manufacturing software market. Traditional ERPs like SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite are designed for large enterprises with dedicated IT teams and implementation budgets in the hundreds of thousands. On the other end, many small manufacturers manage inventory and production in spreadsheets or basic accounting software. Katana sits squarely between these extremes, offering genuine manufacturing resource planning in a modern, intuitive interface that small teams can set up in days rather than months.
The real-time inventory management is Katana's strongest feature. When a Shopify order comes in, Katana automatically checks raw material availability, calculates what can be manufactured, and updates inventory across all channels. The visual production scheduling board gives floor managers a clear view of what needs to be made and when. Bill of materials management handles multi-level BOMs, and the platform tracks costs at every stage of production.
The limitations are mostly around scale and complexity. Katana works well for manufacturers with straightforward production processes, but businesses with complex routing, multi-plant operations, or heavy regulatory compliance needs will find the platform too simplified. Reporting and business intelligence capabilities are basic compared to enterprise ERPs. The pricing has also increased significantly since the early days, with the Starter plan now at $179/month, which puts it out of reach for very small operations. Despite these constraints, for small to mid-size manufacturers doing between $500K and $20M in revenue, Katana represents an excellent balance of capability and usability.
Related Tools
What does Katana cost and what plan should I choose?
Katana offers four plans tailored to different manufacturing scales. The Starter plan at $179/month is designed for basic manufacturing operations with 1 warehouse, covering inventory management, order management, and core production planning. The Standard plan at $359/month adds multi-warehouse support, barcode scanning, and shop floor control, making it the most popular choice for growing manufacturers. The Professional plan at $799/month includes advanced planning, batch and lot tracking, custom workflows, and enhanced reporting for more complex operations. Enterprise plans have custom pricing for large or complex manufacturing environments. All prices reflect annual billing; monthly billing runs approximately 20% higher. A 14-day free trial is available to test the platform with your actual manufacturing data before committing.
How does Katana compare to traditional ERP systems?
Katana is designed for small to mid-size manufacturers who need core ERP functionality without enterprise complexity. Compared to SAP Business One or NetSuite, Katana is dramatically faster to implement (days vs. months), costs a fraction of the price (hundreds vs. thousands per month), and requires no IT team to maintain. The tradeoff is functionality: Katana lacks advanced financial management, complex production routing, multi-plant operations, and deep compliance features that enterprise ERPs offer. Think of Katana as the right 80% of ERP for manufacturers who do not need the other 20%.
Does Katana integrate with my existing tools?
Yes, Katana offers a strong integration ecosystem designed for modern manufacturers. For sales channels, it provides native integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Amazon, automatically syncing orders into the production planning workflow. The Shopify integration is particularly deep, syncing orders, inventory levels, and product variants in real time so your online store always reflects accurate availability. For accounting, Katana connects with Xero and QuickBooks Online, keeping financial records synchronized with manufacturing costs. Shipping logistics are handled through integrations with ShipStation and Shippo. For workflows not covered by native integrations, Katana connects with 3,000+ applications via Zapier and also offers an open API for building custom integrations with proprietary or specialized tools in your manufacturing stack.
Starting at $299 /month
Start 14-Day Free Trial ->
Affiliate link
Start 14-Day Free Trial ->
Affiliate link