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Fishbowl vs Katana

Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.

Inventory and manufacturing.

Manufacturing ERP for SMBs.

The verdict

Both Fishbowl and Katana are credible inventory management tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.

Fishbowl — Inventory and manufacturing.

Choose Katana if you'd rather have a lower starting price (from $179/mo), a longer free trial (14 days) and a higher overall rating (4.5/5). Manufacturing ERP for SMBs.

Fishbowl vs Katana: side by side

DimensionFishbowlKatana
Starting priceCustomFrom $179/moWinner
Free planNoNo
Free trial14 daysWinner
Pricing modelSubscriptionSubscription
Best forSmb Manufacturers, WholesalersManufacturers, Makers
PlatformsWeb, WindowsWeb, Api
Rating4.1/54.5/5Winner

Fishbowl key facts

Vendor
Fishbowl
Pricing
Subscription — Custom
Free tier
No
Platforms
Web, Windows
Best for
Smb Manufacturers, Wholesalers
Editor rating
4.1 / 5
Founded
2001
Headquarters
Orem, UT, USA

Katana key facts

Vendor
Katana
Pricing
Subscription — From $179/mo
Free tier
Free trial (14 days)
Platforms
Web, Api
Best for
Manufacturers, Makers
Editor rating
4.5 / 5
Founded
2017
Headquarters
Tallinn, Estonia

Frequently asked questions

Is Fishbowl better than Katana?

Neither is universally better — Katana edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.

Is Fishbowl or Katana cheaper?

Katana is the more affordable of the two to get started, at from $179/mo. Fishbowl starts at custom; Katana starts at from $179/mo.

Can Fishbowl replace Katana?

Yes for most teams — both are inventory management tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.