Nstock vs Cin7 Core
80% of the power without the enterprise complexity — or the enterprise invoice.
Competitor pricing and feature notes reflect published information as of mid-2026 — always verify current details on their site.
Cin7 Core (formerly DEAR Inventory) is a powerful, enterprise-leaning platform with deep functionality across inventory, manufacturing, and B2B. That power comes with complexity: longer implementations, steeper learning curves, and pricing that starts around $349/mo. Nstock focuses on the manufacturing core — BOMs, lots, production, quoting with live COGS — and is designed for a small team to self-onboard in days.
Not sure whether a dedicated manufacturing tool or a broader ERP is the right category for your operation at all? Our manufacturing ERP vs. dedicated inventory software guide breaks down that decision before you even get to comparing specific vendors.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Nstock | Cin7 Core |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Finished goods tracking free forever | |
| Bills of materials (multi-level) | ||
| Production runs & batch tracking | ||
| Lot traceability & expiry | ||
| Sales quotes with real-time COGS & margin | Buyer never sees internal costs | B2B/quoting features; margin workflow heavier |
| AI demand forecasting & reorder suggestions | Forecasting via add-ons/higher tiers | |
| Self-serve setup (days, not months) | CSV import, guided onboarding | Often needs implementation help |
| Shopify integration | ||
| Send POs/quotes from your own email domain | Business plan or add-on | |
| Entry price | Free; paid from $49/mo | ~$349/mo, 5 users |
Choose Nstock if…
- You are a small or mid-size manufacturer and want to be live in days without an implementation project.
- The $349/mo entry price is more than your operation should pay for the features it will actually use.
- You need manufacturing depth (multi-level BOMs, lots, production, quoting with COGS) more than breadth (B2B portals, POS, EDI).
Choose Cin7 Core if…
- You are a larger operation needing EDI, B2B portals, POS, or 3PL orchestration alongside manufacturing.
- You have dedicated ops staff and budget for a heavier platform and its implementation.
- You need advanced accounting integrations beyond what your current stack requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nstock a simpler alternative to Cin7 Core?
Yes. Cin7 Core is broad and powerful but enterprise-leaning; most small manufacturers use a fraction of it while paying full price and managing the complexity. Nstock covers the manufacturing core — multi-level BOMs, lot tracking, production runs, sales quotes with live COGS — with self-serve setup measured in days.
How much cheaper is Nstock than Cin7?
Cin7 Core starts around $349/mo for 5 users; Nstock has a free tier and paid plans from $49/mo, plus a 90-day full-featured free trial (published pricing as of mid-2026 — verify current pricing on both sites).
When is Cin7 the better choice?
When you genuinely need its breadth: EDI with large retailers, B2B customer portals, POS, or multi-entity operations. If those are on your roadmap soon, Cin7's complexity may be worth it — if not, you are paying for shelf-ware.
Try Nstock Free for 90 Days
Full Business-tier features, no credit card required. Import your products and BOMs via CSV and see your real numbers in days — here's how switching works.