Is Zoho Inventory really free?

Yes, Zoho Inventory has a free plan, but it is small. At the time of writing, Zoho's pricing page lists it at 50 orders, one user and one location, with composite items, dropshipping and backorders included. Growing sellers usually outgrow it once they need more orders, staff or warehouses.

Zoho Inventory offers a forever-free plan alongside its paid plans. At the time of writing, Zoho's pricing page lists the free plan with 50 orders, one user and one location. Paid plans state their order limits per month; the free plan's listing does not say, so check the current wording. After the 14-day trial ends, Zoho says you can keep using the free plan or move to a paid one.

The free plan includes more than basic stock counts. Zoho lists composite items (kits or bundles built from other items), dropshipment and backordering. You can create items, raise sales and purchase orders, and see stock levels in one place. For a new online seller or a small trader testing a stock system, that is a real working tool, not just a demo.

The limits show up quickly. The pricing page lists no integrations for the free plan, so marketplace and store connections such as Shopify or Amazon, and shipping carrier connections, sit on paid plans. One location means no multi-warehouse transfers. One user means no separate login for a warehouse person or an accountant.

You have outgrown the free plan when you pass the order cap in a busy month, need a second login, run more than one warehouse, or want orders to flow in from a sales channel. At that point a paid plan, or Zoho Inventory as part of Zoho One, is the next step. If you also use Zoho Books, plan the link between the two before you go live so stock and accounts stay in step.

Written by Flowpeak, a Zoho implementation partner. Zoho pricing and features change, so confirm current details on the official Zoho site. Free checklists | Ask us a question