Artisanal Solutions / Guides / Craftybase vs Katana for Food Makers

Comparison

Craftybase vs Katana for food makers

Two inventory tools food makers compare when the spreadsheet stops working. Both track materials, batches and lots. Craftybase is built for small makers; Katana is built for production planning as you grow.

Get a plan and a priceSee the picks

Updated November 2026 by the Madeline's team, who set these tools up for makers and farms.

Craftybase vs Katana
5In view
6On track
0Needs you
CraftybaseKatana
Best for Small batch makers Growing production
Batches and lots Yes Yes
Cost per batch Yes Yes
Production planning Basic Strong
Setup effort Lighter Heavier
Features and pricing change; check each vendor before you buy.

The short answer

Choose Craftybase if you make in batches from recipes and want cost per batch and lot records without a lot of setup. Choose Katana if you plan production runs from incoming orders across shared materials and sell mostly through Shopify.

Side by side

  1. Craftybase

    Best for small batch makers

    Inventory and manufacturing software built for makers. It tracks raw materials, packaging and finished goods, records batches with lot numbers and calculates cost of goods per batch.

    Good fit if
    • You make products from recipes in batches
    • You want cost per batch without a spreadsheet
    • You sell on Shopify, Etsy or Square
    Watch for
    • Not built for large warehouse operations
    • Wholesale ordering needs a separate tool

  2. Katana

    Best for growing production

    Manufacturing software for brands moving from a kitchen to production runs. It plans production from orders, tracks batches and materials and connects closely with Shopify.

    Good fit if
    • You plan runs from incoming orders
    • Several products share materials
    • You sell mostly through Shopify
    Watch for
    • More setup than a small maker needs
    • Costs more than maker-focused tools

Want one of these set up for you?

Tell us what you make. We send back a short plan and a price.

Get a plan and a price

How it works

  1. Tell us what you make

    What you make and what you use now. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer.

  2. Get a short plan

    Keep this, replace that, connect these, and the cost.

  3. We set it up

    Setup and migration done for you. You approve before anything goes live.

  4. Run it or hand it off

    Take it from there yourself or keep us on for the upkeep.

Questions

Is Craftybase or Katana better for a small food business?

Craftybase for most small makers. Katana once you are planning production runs from orders and managing shared materials.

Do both track lot numbers for recalls?

Yes. Both record batches and lots so you can trace which orders a batch went into.

Will either produce a nutrition label?

No. Use label software such as ReciPal or LabelCalc for nutrition panels.

Can Madeline's set this up for me?

Yes. We load materials, recipes and opening stock, connect your sales channels and set up lot numbering.

Get a plan and a price

Tell us what you make and what you use today. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer. We reply by email with what we would keep, what we would change and what it costs.

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