Cin7 vs Unleashed Comparison 2026
Which inventory software suits a business like yours? A plain-English comparison for Australian businesses.
Which One Suits Your Business?
Short answer: if you sell through several channels at once (your own online store, Amazon, eBay, shops and wholesale), Cin7 is usually the better fit. If you are mainly a wholesaler or you make your own products, Unleashed is usually the better fit. Kenomont doesn't sell software, so this comparison is independent.
Why: Cin7 is built to keep stock levels in step across Amazon, Shopify, eBay, physical shops and wholesale. Unleashed is built for wholesalers and manufacturers who need strong production planning, bills of materials (the list of parts that go into each product) and accurate stock costing.
Both connect to Xero and MYOB, both handle Australian GST, and both start at similar prices. The right choice depends on how you sell and what you make.
Which One Suits You?
- Choose Cin7 if you sell through several channels at once (your own online store, Amazon, eBay, shops and wholesale) and need stock levels kept in step across all of them.
- Choose Unleashed if you are mainly a wholesaler or make your own products and need production planning, bills of materials and accurate stock costing.
- Price rarely decides it: both start at similar prices, connect to Xero and MYOB, and handle Australian GST.
- Already on Dear Inventory? It is now Cin7 Core, a lighter and more affordable option than the full Cin7 Omni product.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cin7 | Unleashed | Edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | ~$349+/mo (Cin7 Omni) | ~$349+/mo (base plan) | Tie | Similar starting prices; total cost depends on channels, users and modules |
| Multi-channel Selling | Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy | Few built-in channels; relies on add-on connections | Cin7 | Cin7 has far stronger built-in connections to online sales channels |
| Warehouse Management | Built-in warehouse management with pick, pack and ship | Warehouse tracking with bin locations | Cin7 | Cin7 has more warehouse management features |
| B2B Portal | Built-in online ordering portal for trade customers | Trade ordering portal available | Tie | Both have online ordering portals for wholesale customers |
| Manufacturing / BOM | Basic bill of materials and assembly | Detailed bill of materials, production planning, work-in-progress tracking | Unleashed | Unleashed is much stronger for manufacturing |
| Reporting & Analytics | Built-in dashboards and sales reports | Strong reporting with margin analysis | Tie | Both have solid reporting; Unleashed is slightly ahead on cost-of-goods detail |
| POS Integration | Built-in point of sale (Cin7 POS) | No built-in point of sale; connects to Vend/Lightspeed | Cin7 | Cin7 has its own point-of-sale system, so you need fewer extra tools |
| 3PL Integration | Direct connections to 3PLs (outsourced warehouses) | 3PL support through add-on connections | Cin7 | Cin7 connects directly to more outsourced warehouse providers |
| Accounting Integration | Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks | Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks | Tie | Both connect well with the main Australian accounting software |
| E-commerce Integration | Strong: Shopify, Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, Magento | Basic: Shopify and WooCommerce via connectors | Cin7 | Cin7 was built around selling online through many channels from the start |
| EDI | Built-in EDI (electronic ordering) for major retailers | EDI through outside providers | Cin7 | Cin7 has built-in EDI that meets large retailers’ requirements |
| Coping with Growth | Grows well with businesses selling retail and wholesale across many channels | Grows well with wholesalers and manufacturers | Tie | Both handle growth well, for different kinds of business |
Cin7 Pros & Cons
Cin7 Strengths
- Strongest at selling on several channels at once (Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Etsy)
- Built-in point of sale for shops
- Built-in EDI (electronic ordering) for large retailers (Woolworths, Coles, etc.)
- Wide range of connections to outsourced warehouses (3PLs)
- Good for businesses selling across retail, wholesale and online
- Built-in online ordering portal for trade customers
- Stronger automation for online orders, including choosing which warehouse ships each one
- Cin7 Core (formerly Dear Inventory) available as a lighter option
Cin7 Limitations
- Screens can feel cluttered with so many features
- Pricing climbs quickly with add-on channels and modules
- Manufacturing features are basic compared to Unleashed
- Setup can be complicated because it does so much
- Customer support response times can vary
- Takes new users longer to learn
Unleashed Pros & Cons
Unleashed Strengths
- Cleaner, more focused screens for wholesale businesses
- Stronger bill of materials and production planning
- Better work-in-progress tracking for manufacturers
- Works closely with Xero (both started in New Zealand)
- Well-regarded API (the connection other software uses to exchange data) for custom integrations
- Good batch and lot tracking with expiry date management
- Straightforward pricing without hidden channel fees
- Solid stock costing methods (FIFO, weighted average)
Unleashed Limitations
- Few built-in online sales channels (no direct Amazon/eBay)
- No built-in point-of-sale system
- Shopify and WooCommerce rely on add-on connectors
- EDI needs outside tools
- Less suited to businesses with a lot of retail
- Fewer add-on apps than Cin7
Which Platform Suits Your Business?
Retailers (Brick & Mortar + Online)
Key features: Point of sale, Shopify/Amazon sync, warehouse management, order routing
Pure Wholesalers / Distributors
Key features: Stock costing, batch tracking, trade ordering portal, Xero connection
Manufacturers
Key features: Bills of materials, production planning, work-in-progress tracking, lot control
Multi-channel Businesses
Key features: Channel sync, order routing, stock allocation, marketplace management
E-commerce Focused
Key features: Shopify, Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, outsourced warehouse fulfilment
Wholesale + Light Manufacturing
Key features: Bills of materials, production orders, batch tracking, wholesale price levels
What About Dear Inventory (Cin7 Core)?
Dear Inventory was bought by Cin7 in 2022 and renamed Cin7 Core. It is a lighter, more affordable alternative to the full Cin7 Omni product.
- Cin7 Core (ex-Dear) starts at a lower price than Cin7 Omni
- A good option if you need solid stock management without heavy multi-channel features
- Connects to Xero, MYOB, Shopify and WooCommerce
- Simpler to set up and manage than full Cin7 Omni
- Worth considering if Cin7 Omni feels like more than you need but you want to stay with Cin7
- May be merged further into the Cin7 product line, so check Cin7’s latest plans
If you are on Dear Inventory, your system is now Cin7 Core. It is worth checking whether the full Cin7 Omni product or a move to Unleashed makes more sense as you grow.
Related Comparisons & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Help Choosing or Implementing?
We help Australian wholesale, retail and manufacturing businesses choose and set up the right inventory software. Whether you are choosing between Cin7 and Unleashed, moving from an existing system, or connecting it to Xero or MYOB, we can help you get it right the first time.