The Katana Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Katana in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Katana
The Insider’s Guide
Inventory and production software for makers and manufacturers
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among inventory management tools, read from Katana’s own pages.
Made by Katana Technologies OÜ · checked Oct 18, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Katana’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Katana’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 4 of the 11 other inventory management tools we grade
Katana is cloud inventory software for manufacturers and makers who turn materials into finished goods. It tracks raw materials and products across locations, plans production with bills of materials and work orders, handles sales and purchase orders, and traces batches and serial numbers. A free account covers up to 30 SKUs; anything larger is a custom, sales-led Advantage contract.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Katana, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for makers who build their own products
Past that there's no price list, just a quote for a yearly Advantage contract.
- 2
There is a free plan
Free plan for up to 30 SKUs with unlimited users, integrations and locations, every Katana feature and API access. Support is the AI assistant and knowledge base only.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Production planning
Multi-level bills of materials, routings and work orders, with materials assigned to orders and finished goods returned to stock when production ends.
- 5
Live inventory across locations
Stock for products and materials across warehouses, production sites and partner locations, with transfers and a real-time availability planner.
- 6
Batch and serial traceability
Track lot numbers, serial numbers and expiry dates from supplier to customer to answer recalls and audits.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 4 of 11
That is against the other inventory management tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
The plain part of Katana you could make: inventory. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Katana at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- A new free account can use unlimited SKUs for 15 days, no card required
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Katana Technologies OÜ, since 2017
- Category
- Inventory Management
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for makers who build their own products
Katana is built for makers: bills of materials, work orders and batch tracking, with stock kept live across every location and your Shopify or Amazon orders pulling from it. The free plan has every feature but stops at 30 SKUs. Past that there's no price list, just a quote for a yearly Advantage contract.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | A shop with an online store will pass the free plan's 30 SKUs fast, since every variant and material counts. After that it's Advantage, quoted after a scoping call on one yearly contract, so there's no monthly figure to set against other tools. With no published price, it sits in the middle. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free for up to 30 SKUs with every feature, unlimited users and the API, plus 15 days of unlimited SKUs with no card. A real way to try it, but 30 SKUs is a cap most makers will hit, and support on free is the AI assistant only. |
| Features | B | Multi-level bills of materials, routings and work orders, live stock across locations, batch and serial tracking, sales and purchase orders and AI reorder suggestions. That's the whole job for a maker. There are no native phone apps, but the browser warehouse app handles scanning. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record to go by. Before it earns its keep you'll set up materials, bills of materials, routings and locations, and the paid plan comes with guided setup for a reason. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with no native phone apps. It connects to Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, QuickBooks Online, Xero, ShipStation and HubSpot, has an API, and links to Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini over MCP. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Katana is for
- Great if you make your own products and need bills of materials and work orders
- Handy when you sell on Shopify or Amazon and make the stock in-house
- Good for food and cosmetics makers who must trace batches for recalls
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to see a price before booking a sales call
- Tight if you're staying free, as the 30 SKUs count every variant and material
- Not for you if your team wants proper phone apps rather than a browser app
Good to know
Good for
- Small manufacturers that make their own products from raw materials
- Shopify brands that also run production in-house or with co-manufacturers
- Food, cosmetics and other businesses that must trace batches
Worth knowing
- No price is published beyond the free plan: Advantage is quoted after a scoping call and sold as one annual contract.
- The free plan stops at 30 SKUs, counting each product or material variant, and has no live support.
- There are no native phone apps; the warehouse app runs in a mobile browser at wh.katanamrp.com.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
2
plans to choose from
Katana has a free plan.
After that it's Advantage, quoted after a scoping call on one yearly contract, so there's no monthly figure to set against other tools.
Free
$0
Up to 30 SKUs, unlimited users, integrations and inventory locations, all features and API access, with self-serve setup.
Advantage
Custom
Unlimited SKUs on one annual contract that includes guided setup, custom integrations and reports, a success manager and 24/7 live support.
The free plan
Free plan for up to 30 SKUs with unlimited users, integrations and locations, every Katana feature and API access. Support is the AI assistant and knowledge base only.
Trying it first
A new free account can use unlimited SKUs for 15 days, no card required
Read from katanamrp.com on Oct 18, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Inventory and production software for makers and manufacturers. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, inventory, barcode scanning.
There are no native phone apps, but the browser warehouse app handles scanning.
- Production planning
- Multi-level bills of materials, routings and work orders, with materials assigned to orders and finished goods returned to stock when production ends.
- Live inventory across locations
- Stock for products and materials across warehouses, production sites and partner locations, with transfers and a real-time availability planner.
- Batch and serial traceability
- Track lot numbers, serial numbers and expiry dates from supplier to customer to answer recalls and audits.
- Sales and purchase orders
- Orders from Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce and wholesale in one list, purchase orders with landed costs, price lists and multiple currencies.
- Warehouse app and barcode scanning
- A browser-based warehouse app for receiving, picking, packing and stocktakes with a phone camera or a rugged scanner.
- AI replenishment and MCP
- AI purchase-order suggestions based on demand history, and an MCP connection to query and update Katana from Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Shopify
- Amazon
- WooCommerce
- BigCommerce
- QuickBooks Online
- Xero
- ShipStation
- HubSpot
Katana is made by Katana Technologies OÜ, and has been around since 2017.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
4/11
Other inventory management tools it is graded above
Katana's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 4 of the 11 other inventory management tools we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on features (B, above 2 of 11) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 12 inventory management tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Katana’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 2 of 11
- CFree plan and trialAbove 3 of 11
- BFeaturesAbove 2 of 11
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 11
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 11
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Katana you could make: inventory. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
What you could make
- Inventory: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Scanning barcodes with a phone camera or a scanner.
- It plugs into other products, Shopify, Amazon and WooCommerce among them, and has an API.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Katana’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Stocksmith, Fishbowl, Cin7, Unleashed and inFlow
The 5 tools Katana is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Stocksmith
Free trial · from $20/mo
Materials, recipes and costing for makers and small manufacturers.
- Katana has a free plan. Stocksmith does not, though it has a free trial.
- Katana also covers barcode scanning.
- Stocksmith also covers reports and expense tracking.
- 2.0GPA
Fishbowl
From $229/mo
Inventory and manufacturing software built around QuickBooks and Xero.
- Katana has a free plan. Fishbowl does not.
- Only Fishbowl lists Windows, macOS and Android apps.
- 2.4GPA
Cin7
Free trial · from $349/mo
Inventory software for wholesale and multichannel product sellers.
- Katana has a free plan. Cin7 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Cin7 lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.4GPA
Unleashed
Free trial · from $91/mo
Inventory, purchasing and assembly software for wholesalers and makers.
- Katana has a free plan. Unleashed does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Unleashed lists iOS and Android apps.
- Unleashed also covers reports.
- 2.6GPA
inFlow
Free trial · from $99/mo
Inventory, orders and barcoding for wholesalers and small warehouses.
- Katana has a free plan. inFlow does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only inFlow lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- inFlow also covers invoicing and reports.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Katana free?
Katana has a free plan. Free plan for up to 30 SKUs with unlimited users, integrations and locations, every Katana feature and API access.
How much does Katana cost?
Katana lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Katana work on?
Katana is available on Web.
Does Katana have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Katana is listed for Web.
Does Katana have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Katana is listed for Web.
Is Katana open source?
Katana is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
Does Katana have an API?
Yes. Katana offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Katana integrate with?
Katana's listing names Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, QuickBooks Online, Xero, ShipStation and HubSpot.
Does Katana have a free trial?
Yes. A new free account can use unlimited SKUs for 15 days, no card required.
Who makes Katana?
Katana is made by Katana Technologies OÜ. It dates from 2017.
What are the alternatives to Katana?
The closest alternatives to Katana in our directory are Stocksmith, Fishbowl, Cin7, Unleashed and inFlow.
How does Katana compare with other inventory management tools?
Katana's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 4 of the 11 other inventory management tools we grade, and level with 4.
Could I make my own version of Katana?
The plain part of Katana you could make: inventory. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Katana’s own pages on Oct 18, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 18, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Katana's own pages on 18 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Katana Technologies OÜ. Prices change, so check katanamrp.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
2,281
Tools graded, in 73 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
2,281
tools graded
73
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Katana, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/katana
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Katana: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 18, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/katana
Know someone choosing between inventory management tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/katana/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded inventory management tools after Katana, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Inventory Management Insider's GuideEvery one of the 12 inventory management tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Inventory Insider's GuideOnline inventory and order management from Zoho, with a free plan3.4 GPA
- Sortly Insider's GuidePhone-first inventory app for tracking equipment, tools and supplies3.0 GPA
- inFlow Insider's GuideInventory, orders and barcoding for wholesalers and small warehouses2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Katana’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Katana is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Katana Technologies OÜ. Prices and plans change: check katanamrp.com before you buy.