Nstock vs Katana MRP
Manufacturing inventory software compared: features, pricing, and who each platform actually fits.
Competitor pricing and feature notes reflect published information as of August 2026 — always verify current details on their site.
Katana MRP is one of the most established cloud manufacturing platforms, with strong BOM and production scheduling features. Nstock covers the same manufacturing core — BOMs, lot tracking, production runs — at a lower entry price, with a free tier, AI forecasting, and built-in sales quoting with real-time COGS. Here is an honest look at how they compare.
Want more options? See more Katana alternatives compared for a broader set of alternatives beyond this one-to-one comparison.
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.
A 5-User Cost Example
Say your team is 5 people. Katana's published Core plan is $299/mo flat regardless of headcount — about $59.80 per user per month at 5 users. Nstock's Pro plan, which supports up to 10 team members and includes AI reorder projections and sales quoting with live COGS, is $149/mo — about $29.80 per user per month at that same 5-person team.
Neither platform actually bills per seat, but comparing the flat monthly price against a realistic headcount is an honest way to see what a plan costs your team in practice. At 5 users, Nstock's Pro plan runs roughly half of Katana's Core plan price — before counting Katana's separate warehouse, manufacturing, and traceability add-on modules, which are already included in Nstock's pricing. (Illustrative math based on each platform's published flat-rate plan pricing as of August 2026 — confirm current pricing directly with Katana before budgeting.)
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Nstock | Katana MRP |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Finished goods tracking free forever | Free plan capped at 30 SKUs |
| Bills of materials (multi-level) | Recursive cost rollup through intermediates | |
| Production runs & batch tracking | ||
| Lot traceability & expiry | ||
| Sales quotes with real-time COGS & margin | Buyer never sees internal costs | Quoting available; margin visibility varies by plan |
| AI demand forecasting & reorder suggestions | Planning tools; AI features limited | |
| Barcode cycle counting | Via integrations on some plans | |
| Shopify integration | ||
| Amazon integration (FBA/FBM) | FBM order sync and inventory deduction, FBA order import for reporting; broad self-serve availability rolling out as of July 2026 | Confirm current Amazon connector support directly with Katana (as of July 2026) |
| ShipStation integration | Pulls tracking numbers and shipped status back onto matching orders; no outbound order push yet (as of July 2026) | Confirm current ShipStation connector scope directly with Katana (as of July 2026) |
| Send POs/quotes from your own email domain | Business plan or add-on | |
| Entry price | Free; paid from $49/mo | $299/mo flat; add-ons extra |
Choose Nstock if…
- You are a small or mid-size manufacturer and $299+/mo (before add-on modules) is hard to justify before the system proves itself — Nstock starts free with a 90-day full-featured trial.
- Your sales team quotes wholesale or white-label deals and needs live COGS and margin while quoting.
- You make multi-level products (intermediates with their own SKUs feeding finished goods) and want costs to roll up automatically.
- You want AI-driven depletion forecasts and reorder suggestions included rather than bolted on.
Choose Katana MRP if…
- You need advanced production scheduling across many concurrent work centers — Katana's shop-floor scheduling is more mature.
- You depend on a specific integration in Katana's larger ecosystem (e.g. certain accounting or 3PL connectors).
- You have a dedicated ops team and budget for a heavier platform, and entry price is not a constraint.
Switching from Katana MRP to Nstock
There is no automated connector that pulls data directly out of Katana — moving over means exporting your data and reviewing it before it becomes live inventory in Nstock.
- 1
Export from Katana
Export your products, BOMs, and current stock levels to CSV using Katana's own export tools.
- 2
Import through Nstock's review flow
Upload each CSV to the matching Nstock importer — master products, BOMs, and stock are all matched by column header name, not position, so your existing column order doesn't need to change.
- 3
Review, fix, and commit
Every valid row lands pre-checked and editable in a review table before anything saves. Errors are listed separately by line number, so one bad row never blocks the rest of the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nstock a good Katana MRP alternative?
Yes, for small and mid-size manufacturers. Nstock covers the same manufacturing core — multi-level BOMs, lot tracking, production runs, Shopify sync — with a free tier and paid plans starting around a quarter of Katana's entry price, plus built-in sales quoting with real-time COGS and AI forecasting.
How much cheaper is Nstock than Katana?
Nstock has a free tier and paid plans from $49/mo, while Katana's published Core plan is $299/mo flat, with add-on modules for warehouse management ($149/mo), manufacturing management ($199/mo), and traceability ($249/mo) billed on top (as of August 2026, verify current pricing on their site). Nstock also includes a 90-day full-featured free trial with no card required.
Can I migrate from Katana or spreadsheets to Nstock?
Yes. Nstock supports CSV import for master products, BOMs, stock levels, and suppliers, so you can export your existing data and be running in days. Most teams migrate their top products first and expand from there.
What does Nstock have that Katana does not?
A free tier, sales quotes with live COGS and margin visibility (where buyers see only sell prices), AI-powered inventory projection and reorder suggestions on affordable plans, and the ability to send purchase orders and quotes from your own verified email domain.
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.