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Alternatives
Katana alternatives for food makers
Katana is strong for production planning on Shopify. If it is more than you need, costs too much, or you need different lot and wholesale features, these are the tools food makers look at.
| Tool | Best for | Lots and batches | Production planning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katana | Production on Shopify | Yes | Strong |
| Craftybase | Small batch makers | Yes | Basic |
| MRPeasy | Small manufacturers | Yes | Strong |
| inFlow | Simple stock | Check plan | Basic |
| Cin7 Core | Wholesale, many channels | Yes | Some |
The short answer
Craftybase fits small batch makers who want cost per batch and lots with little setup. MRPeasy fits small manufacturers planning production with bills of materials and lot tracking. inFlow fits simple stock and purchasing. Cin7 Core fits brands selling wholesale across many channels.
The alternatives
-
Craftybase
Best for small batch makersInventory and manufacturing software built for makers: materials, packaging, batches with lot numbers and cost of goods per batch.
Good fit if- You make in batches from recipes
- You want cost per batch without a spreadsheet
Watch for- Not built for large warehouses
-
MRPeasy
Best for small manufacturersManufacturing software for small producers, with bills of materials, work orders, production planning and lot tracking.
Good fit if- You plan production runs
- You want MRP features without an ERP
Watch for- More setup than a small kitchen needs
-
inFlow
Best for simple stockInventory, purchasing and order tracking for small businesses.
Good fit if- You mostly need stock counts and purchase orders
Watch for- Check whether lot and expiry tracking is in your plan
- Light on production
-
Cin7 Core
Best for wholesale and many channelsInventory and order management across retail, wholesale and marketplaces, with batch tracking.
Good fit if- You sell wholesale and on several channels
- You need B2B ordering tied to stock
Watch for- More than a small maker needs
- Costs more
Want one of these set up for you?
Tell us what you make. We send back a short plan and a price.
How it works
Tell us what you make
What you make and what you use now. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer.
Get a short plan
Keep this, replace that, connect these, and the cost.
We set it up
Setup and migration done for you. You approve before anything goes live.
Run it or hand it off
Take it from there yourself or keep us on for the upkeep.
Questions
What is the best Katana alternative for a small food maker?
Craftybase for most small batch makers. MRPeasy if you plan production runs with bills of materials.
Which alternatives track lots for recalls?
Craftybase, MRPeasy and Cin7 Core all track batches or lots. With inFlow, check that lot tracking is in your plan.
Do any of these make nutrition labels?
No. Use label software like ReciPal or LabelCalc.
Can Madeline's set this up?
Yes. We load materials, recipes and opening stock, connect 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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