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 July 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.
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 | 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.
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 like traceability and warehouse management running $149-$249/mo each (as of July 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.