The first thing to determine is whether you’ll need to pay a per-user license for your inventory application. Fortunately, the options available for free through open source are both legitimate and robust. Many of them support very large operations, including multi-warehouse setups and parts laboratories.
This article reviews six alternatives worth considering — their intended purpose, the technology used to build each one (the “stack”), licensing terms, and who each is useful for. Some are licensed under the most restrictive terms (AGPL) and others under far less restrictive ones (MIT). License type is called out on every entry because for inventory software the choice of license matters more than usual.
Before we begin, note there are three common uses for an inventory application: tracking stock levels at a store or warehouse, tracking parts in a laboratory or workshop, and tracking assets such as computers and licenses at a company. Each of the applications here tends to focus on one of those areas.
How to choose
When selecting an inventory application, start by looking at the licensing terms. Since most of the options here would be installed on a server and accessed by employees through a web interface, the license can impact what you’re allowed to build. A couple of the tools use the AGPL, which requires you to publish your modifications if you modify the code and run it as a service. For purely internal use that’s a non-issue. If you believe you may eventually package your application for resale, the MIT and LGPL licenses give you room the AGPL does not.
Next, look at the stack. Applications based on PHP/MySQL are typically simple to install, require minimal configuration, and usually run well on inexpensive shared hosting. The Python-based platforms (Django and Frappe) are much larger and offer greater scalability, but require significantly more configuration before deployment. Since all six options are web-based and accessed through a browser, no software needs installing on individual PCs.
Finally, verify when the project was last modified and how often new releases come out. An inventory application that is relied upon heavily should continue to receive updates, so select one that’s still getting development attention.
1. InvenTree — parts tracking done right
For people working with actual physical parts, InvenTree is currently considered the gold standard for tracking parts and stock. Developed in Python/Django, it offers extensive low-level stock control: categorization of items, storage locations, bill-of-materials linking, supplier listings for sourcing, and a comprehensive REST API along with a mobile app for barcode scanning. InvenTree is continually updated and is generally the default recommendation among makers and hardware enthusiasts.
Stack: Python (Django), REST API, mobile app companion.
License: MIT.
Repo: github.com/inventree/InvenTree
Verdict: the best selection for workshops, labs, or small manufacturers tracking real components — and the MIT license gives you the flexibility to extend it however you like.
2. ERPNext — inventory inside a full business system
ERPNext is designed to integrate an entire business process — purchasing, sales, manufacturing, accounting — with stock as one module of the whole. If your organization needs inventory wired into its financial systems, this is essentially a single solution. Based on the Frappe platform, ERPNext is fully mature, supports many types of organizations, and includes a variety of warehouse functions such as batch and serial number tracking and automatic reorder generation.
Stack: Python (Frappe), MariaDB database.
License: GNU GPL v3.
Repo: github.com/frappe/erpnext
Verdict: when inventory is part of your overall business processes rather than an isolated function, ERPNext is an excellent alternative. It takes longer to implement than a standalone application, but you grow into the rest of it.
3. Odoo Community — modular, with room to sell add-ons
Odoo’s Community Edition contains an Inventory app as part of its extensive suite of modules, and it uses an LGPL license — the loosest of the ERPs here. The LGPL lets developers create separate modules on top of the platform and license their own code however they see fit, even closed. The Community Edition has enough functionality for most inventory requirements, though some advanced features live in Odoo’s paid Enterprise edition.
Stack: Python, PostgreSQL database.
License: GNU LGPL v3.
Repo: github.com/odoo/odoo
Verdict: a good choice for developers who anticipate building and selling add-ons, thanks to the LGPL’s relaxed terms. Be aware of the Community vs. Enterprise split when mapping out features.
4. Dolibarr — the easy-to-host SMB option
Dolibarr is the easiest to host on this list. It is a PHP-based ERP/CRM where modules are turned on as needed: stock control, customer ordering, suppliers, billing. Intended for small businesses and freelance workers — something you’ll have working this afternoon, not a platform that needs to be engineered.
Stack: PHP, MySQL/MariaDB (LAMP).
License: GNU GPL v3.
Repo: github.com/Dolibarr/dolibarr
Verdict: best for a small store or a capstone wanting a true, deployable system on standard PHP with minimal setup. Much shallower than ERPNext, but far less ceremonial.
5. Snipe-IT — for IT asset and license tracking
Snipe-IT is a different type of inventory: it tracks a company’s hardware and software assets — who has which laptop, when licenses expire, what’s checked out. If your “inventory” is IT equipment rather than retail merchandise, Snipe-IT was made for it, with a clean Laravel application and very good check-in/check-out flows.
Stack: PHP (Laravel), MySQL.
License: GNU AGPL v3.
Repo: github.com/grokability/snipe-it
Verdict: the correct tool for IT asset tracking, not warehouse inventory. Be aware of the AGPL: fine for internal use, but something to plan around for any hosted product.
6. Part-DB — electronics parts with datasheets
Part-DB is a focused inventory for electronic components. It tracks parts and storage locations, creates barcode labels, and links to datasheets and pricing from suppliers such as Digikey, Mouser, and LCSC. For anyone working at a hardware bench or in an electronics lab, that supplier integration can save many hours.
Stack: PHP (Symfony), web-based.
License: GNU AGPL v3.
Repo: github.com/Part-DB/Part-DB-server
Verdict: an excellent choice for electronics inventory specifically. Like Snipe-IT, the AGPL is acceptable for internal or self-hosted use, but check it before building anything beyond that.
Which one should you pick?
Tracking parts in a laboratory or workshop? InvenTree — and with the MIT license, you keep all doors open.
Inventory as part of running a business? ERPNext if you need the full suite of features; Dolibarr if you simply want to get started quickly on plain PHP.
Going to develop and sell extensions? Odoo Community‘s LGPL gives you the greatest commercial flexibility among the ERPs here.
Is your inventory computer hardware or electronic components? Snipe-IT and Part-DB respectively — each built specifically for its category, each licensed under AGPL.
Whatever you decide to go with, clone it, open the LICENSE file yourself, and look over the latest release before building anything on top of it. If what you sell needs a cash register as much as a stockroom, our roundup of open-source POS systems covers the checkout side, and our retail shop management software guide walks through a PHP build with source code.
Would you rather have a smaller, guided project to study or submit? Our ERP and business management source code and PHP project collections include projects built to run, read, and learn from.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best open-source inventory management software?
The answer isn’t as simple as naming a winner — the best open-source inventory management software depends on your stack. If you’re in parts and manufacturing, InvenTree is likely the best choice. Teams that want inventory inside a full ERP will land on ERPNext or Odoo Community. Smaller businesses may find Dolibarr the easiest to host themselves, while anyone tracking IT assets and licenses will find Snipe-IT the better fit.
Is there a free, open-source inventory system for a small business?
Yes — the applications above are free and open source, and several are lightweight enough to run a single store or warehouse with no fees or subscriptions. When selecting one, review its licensing terms: MIT is the least restrictive, AGPL the most.
Is there a web-based open-source inventory management software?
All six of the applications reviewed in this post are web-based. Each needs to be installed on a server — your own, or inexpensive shared hosting for the PHP-based options. Once installed, users access the application through a web browser, with no client-side installation required.
Where can I download open-source inventory management software for free?
Each application reviewed here has a link to its GitHub repository. Grab the most recent version from the releases tab rather than the main development branch, and read the install docs — most of these projects now offer a pre-configured Docker image that makes initial setup much easier.
Can I self-host these instead of paying a monthly fee?
Self-hosting is available for every application referenced in this post — it’s one of the primary advantages of open source over a paid-per-seat SaaS offering. You get complete control over your data and no recurring costs.
Open-source vs. free inventory software — what’s the difference?
The distinction matters. A “free” application is typically proprietary: you can’t customize or audit the underlying code. An open-source application lets you view, edit, and customize the code as you see fit — far greater freedom, and no lock-in.