The short answer
Shortlist Stocksmith when material consumption and batch cost are the immediate problem. Shortlist Katana when demand, allocation, production, and delivery need closer coordination. Choose only after the paid configuration explains both stock and cost.
Stocksmith has production scheduling on Business; do not dismiss it by category alone.
Check Katana manufacturing add-ons when comparing total cost.
Label the scope of each costing report before comparing the result.
Stocksmith trial focus
Trace a material-price change through a finished batch and verify the required stock-push behavior.
Katana trial focus
Reconcile a shortage, partial completion, and split shipment in the quoted configuration.
Start with the problem you need to reconcile
Shortlist Stocksmith first if your immediate questions are how much material a batch consumed and what the finished units cost. Shortlist Katana if your immediate questions concern demand, material allocation, open production, and delivery.
Both deserve a workflow trial. Do not assume Stocksmith has no production scheduling: the current Business plan lists it. Do not assume Katana's base price includes all manufacturing functions: its pricing table lists add-ons.
Compare requirements rather than brand labels
| Requirement | Stocksmith: verify | Katana: verify |
|---|---|---|
| Materials and finished stock | Recipes, purchases, batch consumption, and cost adjustments. | Recipes, material allocations, manufacturing movements, and final actual use. |
| Production scheduling | Business currently lists it; demonstrate your routing and capacity constraints. | Demonstrate prioritization and the quoted Manufacturing Management configuration. |
| Store inventory | Unlimited channel connections from Studio; manual Stock Push from Indie; scheduled Auto-Push on Business/Growth. | Your exact channel integration, stock authority, and update behavior. |
| Budget | Compare the dated plan records below, including the stock-push features and order-line allowance the workflow needs. | Compare Core, required add-ons and usage in the dated plan records below; confirm the total in a quote. |
| Hardest proof | Can one material-price change be traced through a finished batch? | Can a shortage, partial completion, and split shipment be reconciled? |
A costing exercise with an answer you can check
For a 20-unit desk-stand batch, use 40 blanks at $2, 80 screws at $0.10, and 20 boxes at $0.50. Materials total $98, or $4.90 per stand. Add one hour of labor at $24 and $18 of allocated overhead: the illustrative full cost is $140, or $7 per stand.
These are invented input values, not product prices or accounting advice. Record which costs the software includes automatically and which require configuration or manual entries. A material-only report of $4.90 and a full-cost report of $7 can both be internally correct if their scope is explicit.
Repeat with one extra scrapped blank. If output stays at 20 units and every other input is unchanged, the example cost rises to $142, or $7.10 each. Then change the next purchase price and inspect the valuation method rather than assuming it is simple averaging.
| Cost scope | 20-unit batch | Per finished stand |
|---|---|---|
| Materials only | 40 × $2 + 80 × $0.10 + 20 × $0.50 = $98 | $4.90 |
| Materials + labor + allocated overhead | $98 + $24 + $18 = $140 | $7.00 |
| Same output with one extra scrapped blank | $140 + $2 = $142 | $7.10 |
A batch cost that can be checked by hand
A repeatable manufacturing trial
This is an original planning exercise, not a report of software we have operated. Use a sandbox with fictional records. Keep the same units, prices, dates, and opening balances in each product, and record the plan tier and settings used.
Make 20 wooden desk stands. Each needs 2 wood blanks, 4 screws, and 1 box. Start with 30 blanks, 100 screws, and 20 boxes. The initial material ceiling is 15 stands. A purchase order for 20 blanks, with only 10 received, brings available material to exactly 20 stands.
Create a sales order for 12 stands and a production job for 20. Complete 8 units, ship 6, then complete the remaining 12. With no scrap or other movements, the ending stock should be 14 finished stands, 0 blanks, 20 screws, and 0 boxes. The sales order still needs 6 stands; the purchase order still needs 10 blanks. These are arithmetic expectations, not verified software outputs.
- Check whether unreceived purchases become available or merely planned. Do not silently count incoming goods as on-hand stock.
- Record when materials are consumed: on start, partial completion, or final completion. Explain any difference between planned and actual usage.
- Save evidence of remaining purchase quantity, finished stock, reserved stock, and the unshipped sales balance. A visually completed job is not enough.
- Repeat with one extra scrapped blank and a revised material cost. Reconcile the stock movement and cost adjustment separately.
A practical decision rule
Choose the system that explains both stock and cost at each checkpoint on the paid plan you will use. If the trial needs repeated spreadsheet repairs, identify whether the cause is bad setup, a missing feature, or a workflow mismatch before committing.
For a brand selling only finished goods, either manufacturing system may be more than the immediate job requires. Our Shopify–Etsy bundle workflow shows a narrower stock-sync evaluation. For the shipping decision, use the fulfillment calculator to compare in-house costs against a written 3PL quote.
Next useful readKatana vs MRPeasy: a small-manufacturer trial Continue with this related evaluation.
Next useful readShopify–Etsy inventory sync with bundles Continue with this related evaluation.
Next useful readIn-house fulfillment vs 3PL calculator Continue with this related evaluation.
Put the decision to work
Tools and practical buying guides
Katana vs MRPeasy: a small-manufacturer trial →
One bill of materials, a partial receipt, a production job, and a split shipment.
Shopify–Etsy inventory sync with bundles →
Map SKUs and test shared components, cancellations, and refunds.
In-house fulfillment vs 3PL calculator →
Compare labor, packaging, storage, returns, and service minimums.
Sources and research scope
Official documentation checked September 20, 2026 by the ArtisanSW Research Desk. This is source-based research with original worked examples and proposed trial scenarios. We have not operated trial accounts or measured vendor performance. Prices and plan boundaries can change.
- Stocksmith materials and costing overview ↗
- Stocksmith pricing and plan requirements ↗
- Stocksmith scheduled stock push ↗
- Katana pricing and feature table ↗
- Katana: partially completing a manufacturing order ↗
Found a discrepancy? info@artisansw.com · Editorial methodology
Keep the terms in view
Products in this guide
Prices are checked against official sources and show the verification date. Currency, billing commitment and usage charges matter; these are not like-for-like total costs.
Studio · per account · Billed monthly
Checked Oct 2, 2026Official pricing ↗The FAQ advertises a lower Pro entry from $20 with one sales channel; its billing qualification needs confirmation and is not promoted as a verified universal minimum. Studio is a named plan, not the cheapest advertised offer. Order lines differ from orders.
Core · per account · Public monthly starting price; confirm configured quote
Checked Oct 2, 2026Official pricing ↗Core excludes some manufacturing/traceability/warehouse capabilities. Usage, locations and onboarding can increase the total; do not compare an add-on price as a standalone subscription.