Fishbowl vs. BoxHero
Setup, pricing, and features compared
Fishbowl and BoxHero both track inventory across locations, but they differ in price, setup, and how much they cover. Here’s how they compare.
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Fishbowl is built for growing manufacturers and wholesalers
Fishbowl syncs with QuickBooks Online and Xero, and its higher tiers and Fishbowl Advanced add lot traceability, BOMs, and work orders. Every purchase includes a required implementation package.
BoxHero is simple inventory management for small businesses
BoxHero covers everyday inventory work, including barcoding, low stock alerts, multiple locations, and order management. It’s used across manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, wholesale, and the nonprofit sector.
Why BoxHero over Fishbowl Inventory?
Get started without an implementation project
BoxHero is designed so your team can set it up and learn it without outside help. Import your items from Excel and start tracking the same day.
Fishbowl requires an implementation package with every purchase, including data migration and a training certification that takes 6 to 8 weeks. That depth suits complex operations, but it’s more setup than many smaller teams need.
Lower cost in the first year
Fishbowl Inventory is billed annually, and final pricing for Fishbowl Advanced is set by quote. Every purchase also requires a paid implementation package, which adds to the cost in the first year.
BoxHero’s Business Plan starts at $30 a month per team and includes every premium feature. There’s no implementation fee, and you can try it free with your own items before you pay.
Your whole inventory on your phone
Fishbowl includes mobile barcode scanning, and its higher tiers add picking, receiving, and shipping workflows aimed at warehouse teams.
BoxHero’s iOS and Android apps let you add, find, and move items, scan barcodes, get low stock alerts, and run team inventory counts, with every change synced in real time.
Fishbowl or BoxHero: Which is right for you?
Fishbowl Inventory suits manufacturers and wholesalers that need accounting sync, lot traceability, BOMs, or work orders, and that have time for a guided implementation. Plans are billed annually, and the implementation package costs extra.
BoxHero suits small and mid-sized businesses that want affordable inventory management they can set up themselves, with no implementation package or formal training.
Inventory management without the setup project
BoxHero is inventory software that grows with your business. Whether you run a retail store, manage a warehouse, or track assets across several locations, it gives you the tools to keep stock accurate.
Stay on top of your stock
Learn moreLow Stock Alerts
Set a safety stock level for each item and get notified before you run out, so you have time to reorder. Adjust alerts by location and choose when you receive them.
Learn moreReports
Build reports from your inventory and sales data, from stock value and turnover to profit. Use prebuilt formulas or write your own, filter by location and date range, then export to Excel.
Learn moreBarcoding
Scan with your phone camera or a handheld scanner to add, find, count, and move items. Generate barcodes and print custom labels on any standard or thermal printer.
Learn moreMultiple Locations
Manage inventory across warehouses, stores, and stockrooms, all from one place. See how much you have at each site, and move stock between locations with full tracking history.
Learn morePurchases & Sales
Create purchase and sales orders, then receive or ship them in full or in batches. Send invoices by email or PDF, apply taxes and discounts, and handle returns against the original order.
Learn moreInventory Sharing
Share current stock levels with people outside your team through a private link, no login required on their end. Choose which items and details appear, and keep the rest of your inventory private.
Try BoxHero with your own inventory
Try BoxHero free for 30 days.
Find the right fit for your team
Quick reference
Help GuideFrom getting started to basic concepts, explore our detailed user guide to learn more about BoxHero.
Contact UsHave a question or comment? Reach out to us and we’ll get back to you.
GlossaryLearn about the most important inventory management and accounting terms and acronyms for small businesses.
Manage your inventory from anywhere
Set up items and review reports in your browser, then scan barcodes, record inventory transactions, and get low stock alerts on your phone. Everything stays in sync in real time.
