Katana Review 2025: Features, Pricing & Pros for Manufacturers
Katana is an inventory management software designed to help manufacturers streamline their production processes.
If you run a small to mid-sized operation—think furniture makers or craft breweries—you already know how quickly inventory chaos can drag down growth. Most platforms in this space promise efficiency, but few deliver without the headaches of over-complicated ERPs or clunky workarounds.
In this review, you’ll get a direct look at Katana’s real-world pros and cons, best-fit scenarios, features that matter, and what you can expect to pay.
If you’re looking for an honest perspective on whether Katana aligns with your operation—or if you’re better off elsewhere—read on.
Katana Evaluation Summary
- From $0/month
- Free demo available
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
Katana Overview
In my opinion, Katana is a strong contender for small and mid-sized manufacturers who need real-time inventory tracking without the ERP baggage. The interface is clean, the workflows are logical, and you don’t need a consultant to get up and running.
What sets Katana apart is how it balances automation with simplicity—you get just enough customization to handle real-world production, but not so much that you’re drowning in options.
The integrations with Shopify and QuickBooks are as seamless as advertised, and batch tracking works well for industries with traceability needs.
On the downside, advanced reporting and deep customizations aren’t Katana’s game. If your operation lives or dies by data slicing and dashboard gymnastics, you’ll hit a wall.
Overall, Katana delivers where it counts for operators who value efficiency and clarity over endless configuration.
pros
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Visual production planning streamlines workflow: Clear scheduling tools make it easier to prioritize and adjust on the fly.
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Intuitive interface reduces the learning curve: Your team can manage production without slogging through endless training.
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Real-time inventory tracking keeps you ahead: Stock levels update instantly so you’re not guessing what’s on the shelf.
cons
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Not built for scale: Larger enterprises with complex supply chains will quickly outgrow its capabilities.
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Customization options are light: If your processes are highly specialized, Katana may feel restrictive.
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Reporting is limited: You won’t get the advanced analytics or deep insights some teams rely on.
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Our Review Methodology
How We Test & Score Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final scoring)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final scoring)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final scoring)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final scoring)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Real-time inventory tracking: Katana updates stock levels instantly, giving small businesses accurate visibility without painful manual data entry.
Visual production planning: A drag-and-drop workflow tool that helps operators see bottlenecks before they become sales order delays.
Batch tracking: Trace products from raw material to finished item—essential for food, beverage, or any inventory management system requiring quality control.
Order management: Consolidates sales orders into one interface, making fulfillment faster and reducing errors that often creep in from QuickBooks Online or Shopify imports.
Resource planning: Balances material use and labor capacity so your team isn’t overcommitted—or stuck waiting on parts.
Shop floor control: Gives operators clarity on tasks and timelines, boosting productivity without extra workarounds.
Ease of Use
Katana’s ease of use is one of its strongest selling points.
The interface feels more like a modern ecommerce app than an ERP system, which is exactly what small businesses need. You don’t waste hours digging through menus or memorizing workflows just to move a sales order forward.
The visual production planning board is a standout. It shows you where orders sit, what’s in progress, and what’s at risk of delay—all without requiring a crash course in operations management.
For operators used to clunky MRP systems or endless spreadsheets, this is a breath of fresh air.
Katana also does a solid job of reducing repetitive data entry. Shopify orders sync directly, QuickBooks Online updates cleanly, and the API allows further automation if you need it.
While the system doesn’t have the customization depth of traditional ERP software, it nails usability where it matters: speed, clarity, and simplicity.
Katana Specs
- API
- Barcode Scanning
- Budgeting
- Calendar Management
- Customer Management
- Dashboard
- Data Export
- Data Import
- Data Visualization
- External Integrations
- Forecasting
- Inventory Tracking
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- Order Management
- POS Integration
- Product Catalog
- Purchase Orders
- Reorder Automation
- SAP Integration
- Scheduling
- Shipping Management
- Status Notifications
- Stock Level Monitoring
- Supplier Management
- Third-Party Plugins/Add-Ons
- Warehouse Management
Katana FAQs
Can Katana handle multi-location inventory management?
What is Katana’s overall rating among users?
How is Katana priced—what does it cost in USD?
Is Katana a true SaaS product or more like an ERP?
Are Katana reviews reliable?
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