Best Open Source Inventory Management Software for Small Business (2026): 7 Tools Compared

Inventory software tracks what you have, where it is and when to reorder. For a small business the right tool depends on what you stock: finished goods for sale, spare parts, or electronic components. These open source options cover each case.

We write for small businesses, freelancers and growing teams, not large enterprises. Every tool below was checked on GitHub for license, archive status and recent activity, and prices are never quoted because they change. Our picks are based on each project's documentation and repository data, not on hands-on benchmarks, so always try a tool with sample data first. This is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice.

Top picks at a glance

• InvenTree: Parts, stock and bills of materials.
• ERPNext: Stock inside a full ERP.
• Dolibarr ERP CRM: Simple stock for small shops.

What to look for in inventory management software for a small business

• Stock levels and locations. Check multi-location support if you have a shop and a store room.
• Reorder alerts. Low-stock alerts or reorder points prevent stock-outs.
• Barcodes and labels. Barcode scanning and label printing speed up counts and picking.
• Links to sales and purchasing. Stock should update when you buy and sell. Otherwise counts drift.
• Project health and license. Choose a project that is not archived, has recent releases and a real open source license. Check the LICENSE file, not just the website.

Comparison table: best open source inventory management software

Stars and update dates are a snapshot from 16 October 2026 and change daily. They show activity, not quality.

The 7 best open source inventory management tools, reviewed

1. InvenTree

Best for: Parts, stock and bills of materials
License: MIT · Stack: Python (Django), React · GitHub: 7,717 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

An open source inventory system with part tracking, stock locations and suppliers. A strong pick for makers, workshops and hardware businesses.

Source on GitHub · Official website

2. ERPNext

Best for: Stock inside a full ERP
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: Python (Frappe), MariaDB · GitHub: 40,232 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

Inventory connected to purchasing, sales and accounting. The best fit when stock levels must drive orders and financial records.

Read our full guide to ERPNext · Source on GitHub · Official website

3. Dolibarr ERP CRM

Best for: Simple stock for small shops
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: PHP, MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL · GitHub: 7,732 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

Stock management inside a modular PHP business app. Easy to host, suitable for small catalogs.

Read our full guide to Dolibarr ERP CRM · Source on GitHub · Official website

4. Odoo Community

Best for: Inventory app in Community
License: LGPL-3.0 (Community edition) · Stack: Python, PostgreSQL · GitHub: 55,072 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

Odoo Community includes an Inventory app with warehouses and stock moves, plus many connected apps. Some advanced features sit in Enterprise.

Read our full guide to Odoo Community · Source on GitHub · Official website

5. AureusERP

Best for: Newer MIT-licensed ERP with inventory
License: MIT · Stack: PHP (Laravel, Filament) · GitHub: 12,073 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

A fast-growing Laravel ERP that lists inventory among its modules. Young, so check maturity before relying on it.

Source on GitHub · Official website

6. Open Source POS

Best for: Retail stock plus point of sale
License: MIT · Stack: PHP (CodeIgniter) · GitHub: 4,443 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

A point of sale system with stock tracking, suited to small shops that sell at a counter.

Source on GitHub · Official website

7. Part-DB

Best for: Electronic components
License: AGPL-3.0 · Stack: PHP (Symfony) · GitHub: 1,801 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

Built to manage electronic parts and components. Ideal for electronics workshops, not for general retail.

Source on GitHub · Official website

Open source vs paid inventory management software

Paid cloud products usually win on polish, mobile apps, automatic bank connections and support. Open source wins on running cost as you grow, data ownership and the freedom to customize. The real cost of open source is hosting, backups, updates and your own time, so count those honestly. Several of these projects also sell hosting or support if you would rather not run a server yourself.

How to choose the best inventory management software

• You make or assemble products: InvenTree.
• Stock must connect to accounting and sales: ERPNext or Dolibarr.
• You run a shop with a till: Open Source POS.
• You stock electronic components: Part-DB.

Mistakes to avoid

Inventory valuation (FIFO, average cost) affects your accounts and taxes, so set it up with your accountant. Test stock counts on a small product group before moving everything.

Where to host it

All of these tools can be self-hosted. A small VPS or a web hosting plan from a provider such as Hostinger is enough to get started with most of them. Check each project's requirements first, and read our security and backup checklist before you add real data.

Related comparisons

• Best Open Source Warehouse Management Software (2026)
• Best Open Source Point of Sale (POS) Software (2026)
• Best Open Source Purchase Order Software for Small Business
• Best Open Source ERP Software for Small Business

All open source business software comparisons

• Accounting
• Bookkeeping
• Billing
• Invoicing
• Payroll
• Inventory Management
• Warehouse Management
• Expense Tracking
• Spend Management
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Cash Flow Management
• Bank Reconciliation
• Purchase Order
• Vendor Management
• Point of Sale (POS)
• Time Tracking
• Quotation & Estimates
• Revenue Recognition
• Financial Reporting
• Asset Management
• Lead Management
• Sales Pipeline
• ERP

Also see our directory of 50 open source CRMs.