Sellbrite vs. Dear Inventory

Looking for inventory management software? Here's how Sellbrite and Dear Inventory stack up.

Mark Hammersley

Mark Hammersley

Last updated 2o July 2020


Sellbrite

3.9  Stackupp rating


Pricing from

$ 19.00 / month

Free Plan?

No


Best for

small and medium-sized retailers.

Dear Inventory

3.8  Stackupp rating


Pricing from

$ 199.00 / month

Free Plan?

Yes


Best for

medium-sized retailers with upwards of five employees. If you’re looking for inventory management software that’s more powerful than a small-business app but not as complex as a fully-fledged enterprise platform, then Dear Inventory could be ideal for you.

Sellbrite or Dear Inventory: Which is best?

Can't decide between Sellbrite and Dear Inventory?

Find the best platform for you with our side by side comparison of Sellbrite and Dear Inventory. See how each platform stacks up across ease of use, features, integrations, support and value for money.

Let the comparison begin. Don't worry, we'll guide you.

Is Sellbrite right for you?

Sellbrite is an inventory management solution aimed at small and medium retailers that need to manage multiple listings on third-party marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, Etsy, etc.

It’s squarely aimed at business-to-consumer retailers so you won’t find any wholesale or manufacturing tools. Equally, enterprise multichannel sellers will benefit from a more powerful solution like Skubana.

For smaller companies, however, it’s a competitively-priced and easy-to-use app with an array of time-saving features. These include one-click marketplace integrations, an intuitive dashboard, and excellent customer service.

Ecomdash is Sellbrite’s main competitor. Overall, we were slightly more impressed with Ecomdash but not by a long stretch. Our advice is to take advantage of the free trial offered by Sellbrite before making a decision to buy.

Advantages

  • Competitively priced.
  • Intuitive dashboard.
  • Excellent customer service.

Drawbacks

  • Lacking some features. Sellbrite doesn’t have POS or barcode scanning functionality, for example.
  • Comparatively limited integrations library.
  • Sellbrite only beats Ecomdash on price on the entry-level plan.

you’re a small or medium-sized multichannel retailer looking for a hassle-free, intuitive solution with great customer support (including onboarding). It’s also a good option for people that fulfill orders with stock from more than one warehouse.

Is Dear Inventory right for you?

Dear Inventory - which brands itself as an ERP or “enterprise resource planning” solution - is a popular inventory management app that caters largely to a client base of medium-sized companies. As far as enterprise solutions go, we found Dear Inventory to be one of the more competitively-priced options on the market.

Retailers have access to everything they’d expect, including inventory, reorder, and delivery tools, third-party integrations, analytics, automations (such as reorder alerts), and syncing across multiple sales channels like eBay and Etsy.

Because Dear Inventory is a solution for stores moving relatively large amounts of stock, it includes a comprehensive package of features for managing manufacturing tasks and multiple warehouses.

Dear Inventory also includes a dedicated POS, payment processor, and API.

Advantages

  • Competitively priced.
  • Excellent and comprehensive set of features.
  • 24/7 customer support.

Drawbacks

  • The dashboard can be overwhelming for inexperienced users.
  • Reporting tools are a little clunky.
  • Help documentation could be better organized.

you’re a medium-sized retailer, wholesaler, or manufacturer that needs an advanced solution that doesn’t come with the hassle and complexities of an enterprise app.

Ease of Use

Our first comparison criteria, ease of use. Why? Because it’s the most important.

Think about it. You don’t want to invest a lot of your precious time setting up an online store and tweaking the design only to find out that it’s a pain in the butt to manage day to day.

We take a look at how simple the Sellbrite and Dear Inventory platforms are to run.

How easy is Sellbrite to use?

Rated 4.5/5 for Ease of Use

Sellbrite excels when it comes to ease of use.

It’s a browser-based app with a straightforward interface. The login page contains an array of analytics widgets, and users can access dedicated pages to manage products, orders, channels, and reports from a navbar across the top of the screen.

Time-saving features like one-click marketplace integrations and listing templates are an added bonus.

What Sellbrite customers are saying...

"The Sellbrite application is extremely user friendly, so easy to navigate and what impressed me the most was the support team behind Sellbrite."
"Easy to use and small learning curve."
"Amazing App! Even better support!"

How easy is Dear Inventory to use?

Rated 4/5 for Ease of Use

While Dear Inventory is generally very easy to use, it does take some getting used to. It’s not so much the interface that’s the issue as the range of options and features. Stock orders, for example, can be set for multiple warehouses and tied to a range of inventory accounts.

With a little familiarization however, you and your team should be up and running smoothly.

What Dear Inventory customers are saying...

“The software can be used "out-of-the-box" after a minimal amount of setup, and can also be used in more complex installations where bespoke software development might be needed.”
“Dear lets us manage the extraordinary combination of materials, compounds and product that we manufacture on a daily basis in a straightforward manner.”
“Our overall experience is positive. It was a little bit of a learning curve, but now that we have it down, I couldn't imagine going back.”
Sellbrite is our winner for ease of use

Sellbrite Features

Rated 3.5/5 for Features

Sellbrite has a comprehensive set of features. With a robust package of inventory, reorder, and delivery tools, most retailers will find everything they need to manage stock effectively. Sellbrite also offers several time-saving extras, including one-click installs, listing templates, and selective stock pushing to set which warehouses are used to fulfill orders.

Users also have access to product variation options (size, colour, etc.), negotiated rates for FedEx, UPS, and USPS, order routing and splitting tools, and an API (on the premium plans).

Unfortunately, some features commonly found in other platforms are missing. There’s no mobile app, for example, and retailers can only access a POS through their ecommerce platform. Barcode scanning is also unsupported. Furthermore, the integrations library is somewhat limited, with the exception of the marketplace connectors.

Training, on the whole, is good, with dedicated onboarding assistance. That said, sessions are limited to 30 minutes on the lowest-priced plan and two hours on the premium plan. There are extensive resource guides and webinars for new users.

Finally, the analytics area is fairly standard, with multichannel sales and inventory reports available.

All in all, there’s nothing major to quibble about in regards to Sellbrite’s feature-kit. Our only complaint is that some features many retailers would consider essential are absent. Make sure to check that Sellbrite offers everything you need before you part with your hard-earned cash.

Dear Inventory Features

Rated 4/5 for Features

Dear Inventory is an entirely cloud-based app, so you won’t have to worry about any technical or maintenance tasks. The platform is fully compliant with GDPR and uses secure servers. Unfortunately, a mobile app isn’t available (either on iPhone or Android), so you can only access the interface via a desktop computer.

In terms of training, Dear Inventory provides extensive documentation and 24/7 customer service. No direct setup support is offered, unlike some other platforms that include a dedicated onboarding manager on higher-tier plans. Still, the solution is relatively easy to use out of the box, so this shouldn’t present a problem in the majority of cases.

The analytics and reporting dashboard is fairly comprehensive. Users have access to a range of reports, covering purchases, sales, inventory, finances, auditing and more. Third-party integrations can be used to extend analytics functionality, which is good for retailers that want to leverage demand forecasting, smart data insights, and other similar data processes.

Dear Inventory automation features are also worth noting. Users have access to a package of time-saving tools to streamline workflows. These include scheduled reports, if-then task automation, notifications and alerts (for both staff and customers), and a dedicated workflow dashboard.

Dear Inventory is our winner for features

Sellbrite Integrations

Rated 3.5/5 for Integrations

Sellbrite scored reasonably well on the integrations front but is outperformed by some close competitors. We felt that Ecomdash, for example, had a more extensive library.

We also disliked that there aren’t any intermediary integrations which extend the native functionality of Sellbrite in terms of linking up with more third-party marketplaces. You can only sync up with the marketplaces that Sellbrite offers. Sometimes, you even have to pay extra for these integrations, as is the case with the Amazon FBA connector.

Another downside is that Quickbooks and Xero aren’t yet supported, which may be a deal-breaker for some retailers. There’s no Zapier integration, either, so you can’t sync Sellbrite up to unsupported apps in your tech stack.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. There’s a good assortment of marketplace integrations, including Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, Google, Sears, and others. In terms of shopping carts, Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce are all supported. Notably, there’s no Magento integration, but this does make sense considering that Sellbrite isn’t an enterprise solution. Finally, ShipStation is available for handling shipping.

It’s not an outstanding selection but it’s by no means shabby. Take the time to review the integrations library before you subscribe to a paid plan. If it contains everything you need, then you won’t have any issues.

Dear Inventory Integrations

Rated 3/5 for Integrations

Our opinion of Dear Inventory’s library of integrations is a little mixed. While it’s good overall, it didn’t blow us away.

First, let’s take a look at the good points. The connectors for Xero, third-party marketplaces, and order fulfillment services have received particularly high praise from users. An integration for Zapier is also available, allowing retailers to sync up with hundreds of apps.

Notably, Dear Inventory has its own in-house POS (point of sale), B2B portal for corporate customers, API, and payments processor. All of these are big pluses for users that don’t want the hassle of managing multiple apps.

In terms of accounting, both Quickbooks and Xero are supported. Shipping connectors include ShipStation, Shippit, and Starshipit. Crossfire EDI provides electronic data exchange functionality.

But while Dear Inventory’s library of integrations is certainly satisfactory, it’s not as extensive as other solutions we’ve reviewed. In particular, the support for ecommerce platforms is lacking. Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce are all supported, but there’s no compatibility with platforms like BigCommerce, PrestaShop, Ecwid, or 3dcart (among others).

Equally, we would have preferred to see more native support for marketing tools like MailChimp and Salesforce, though the Zapier connector does go some way in making up for their absence.

If you’re thinking about opting for Dear Inventory, just make sure that you check the integration library first to make sure it includes what you need.

Sellbrite is our winner for integrations

How much do they cost?

Everyone’s favourite topic - pricing. Let's dive in to see if Sellbrite or Dear Inventory offers better value for money.

How much does Sellbrite cost?

Rated 3.5/5 for Pricing

On the face of it, Sellbrite is one of the best-priced multichannel solutions for smaller retailers. But after doing a little digging, we found there were a few catches.

We’ll start off by saying that Sellbrite is definitely competitively priced. Plans start at $49/month for less than one hundred orders (which is the lowest entry-level price we’ve seen for this type of software) and run all the way to $399/month for up to 10,000 orders.

Sounds good, right? That is until you take into account the “hidden” costs. Adding the FBA integration to your package will set you back an additional $50. Other apps may also incur extra charges. And all your eBay listings will be branded with a “Powered by Sellbrite” badge on the entry-point plan.

So while the pricing is OK, it’s important to keep the bigger picture in mind.

How much does Dear Inventory cost?

Rated 4.5/5 for Pricing

Dear Inventory has a straightforward and competitive custom pricing model. It’s one of the cheaper enterprise-level solutions that we’ve reviewed.

Because it’s aimed squarely at medium-sized retailers, Dear Inventory is a great choice for companies that require advanced functionality without the price-tag of a broad enterprise platform.

Pricing starts at $199/month for five users and a maximum of 100,000 SKUs (product listings). Users can also opt to pay $2189 for a discounted annual subscription. Every additional user costs an extra $50/month.

A free 14-day trial is available on all plans. If you opt for the annual subscription, you’ll get a month for free.

Dear Inventory is our winner for cost

Help and Support

If things go wrong (and they often do) you need to know someone’s there to help get you back on track. So, how does Sellbrite's and Dear Inventory's support measure up?

How good is Sellbrite support?

Rated 4.5/5 for Help and Support

Sellbrite excels when it comes to help and support. If you’re looking for an app with a high-quality customer service package, then you needn’t look any further.

Along with onboarding sessions (included on all plans), users have access to email, live chat and phone (via callback) support, available 8 AM to 5 PM PT Monday to Friday.

Sellbrite also offers extensive documentation and training videos, including regular webinars.

The one slight downside (and we’re being really picky here) is that there isn’t a community of fellow users to consult. Given the speed and quality of the support on offer, however, this shouldn’t be a problem.

How good is Dear Inventory support?

Rated 3.5/5 for Help and Support

Generally speaking, support from Dear Inventory is very good. The majority of users speak highly of the level of customer service, citing friendly staff and quick response times.

Dear Inventory also provides extensive documentation covering all of its features, although we felt it could be slightly better organized.

Despite the quality and 24/7 availability, however, there are a few negatives. Support is only available via support tickets, even on the most expensive plans. Users that prefer to communicate via phone or live-chat might be left feeling frustrated. Finally, Dear Inventory doesn’t offer a dedicated setup manager, which may lengthen the onboarding and implementation period for some retailers.

Sellbrite is our winner for support

The Bottom Line

The final say. Let's wrap up our thoughts on each platform.

Sellbrite: Our Verdict

Sellbrite is very clear about its market positioning. It’s a multichannel solution aimed at small and medium retailers with up to 10,000 monthly product sales. If you fit into this category, then it’s well worth considering. If you’re an enterprise multichannel seller, on the other hand, you will likely need a more powerful solution like Skubana or Brightpearl.

While some features are missing, such as barcode scanning, POS, and accounting integrations, other aspects of the app stand head-and-shoulders above the competition. These include the customer support package, time-saving options like one-click marketplace integrations, and the intuitive dashboard.

If you think it might be the inventory management app for you, take advantage of the 30-day free trial and check out some close competitors like Ecomdash first.

Dear Inventory: Our Verdict

Medium-sized retailers of five employees and up should definitely consider Dear Inventory. It’s an intuitive, powerful solution that provides an array of tools to streamline everything from sales fulfillment to reordering. The feature-set is extensive and includes a POS system, barcode scanning, integrations with third-party tools, analytics, and more.

Wholesalers and manufacturers should also try out Dear Inventory. Trade sellers have access to a dedicated B2B portal for their customers, along with tools for tracking components, assigning materials, and managing multiple warehouses.

Small and independent retailers will likely benefit from a more compact solution, while enterprises may find it too limited. All other companies, however, should definitely take advantage of the free 14-day trial.

Overall, we found Sellbrite to be the better inventory management platform.

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