Fishbowl Warehouse vs. TradeGecko

Looking for inventory management software? Here's how Fishbowl Warehouse and TradeGecko stack up.

Mark Hammersley

Mark Hammersley

Last updated 12o July 2020


Fishbowl Warehouse

4.2  Stackupp rating


Pricing from

Price on application

Free Plan?

Trial


Best for

small and medium-sized retailers that are looking for a cost-effective desktop solution with a large feature-set.

TradeGecko

4.0  Stackupp rating


Pricing from

$ 39.00 / month

Free Plan?

Trial


Best for

small and medium-sized businesses that are looking for a good range of features accessible from an intuitive dashboard. Larger retailers will probably need a more powerful solution.

Fishbowl Warehouse or TradeGecko: Which is best?

Can't decide between Fishbowl Warehouse and TradeGecko?

Find the best platform for you with our side by side comparison of Fishbowl Warehouse and TradeGecko. 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 Fishbowl Warehouse right for you?

Fishbowl Warehouse is a popular inventory management solution. A few things set it apart from the majority of its competitors and, depending on what you need, it could be exactly the solution you’re looking for.

It should be stated at the outset that Fishbowl Warehouse is a desktop application. If you prefer cloud-based platforms, then it’s not for you. Equally, Fishbowl offers a separate product for manufacturers called “Fishbowl Manufacturing”, with tools that aren’t included in its inventory-management-focused counterpart.

Fishbowl is also one of the few software developers to offer lifetime licences, instead of working on a subscription model. If you’re looking to minimize costs, you will likely find this appealing. But remember that you will have to pay for support and updates after the first year.

Advantages

  • Excellent set of features and integrations.
  • Cost-effective lifetime software licence.
  • Good customer support.

Drawbacks

  • The app runs on your servers, so you’ll have to take care of backend maintenance.
  • Clunky interface.
  • Limited reporting options.

you’re a small or medium-sized retailer looking for a relatively inexpensive solution with a brilliant set of features. You also need to be happy to run Fishbowl on your own servers.

Is TradeGecko right for you?

TradeGecko is a well-known inventory management solution aimed mainly at small and medium businesses. According to G2, it is a market leader in its category.

The platform has a good set of features, including multi-channel selling, barcode scanning, support for numerous currencies, analytics, automation options (including for reorders), and 24/7 support. The dashboard, which is incredibly intuitive, is ideal for retailers that aren’t technically savvy.

On the downside, TradeGecko does lack some functionality that retailers may consider essential, such as an in-house point-of-sale system and an extensive library of connectors with third-party marketplaces. Furthermore, many features are only available on top-tier plans.

Advantages

  • Intuitive dashboard.
  • Well-priced for smaller retailers.
  • 24/7 customer support.

Drawbacks

  • Heavy reliance on integrations for features, which can incur extra costs.
  • Some essential features are only available on the higher-tier plans.
  • Limited direct setup assistance.

you’re a small or medium-sized business looking for a cost-effective solution that won’t break the bank. If you also require fast support and an easy-to-use interface, then TradeGecko is an excellent option.

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 Fishbowl Warehouse and TradeGecko platforms are to run.

How easy is Fishbowl Warehouse to use?

Rated 3.5/5 for Ease of Use

Fishbowl Warehouse is built with a “traditional” desktop design. The interface has a menu at the top which links to separate dashboards for “Materials”, “Purchases”, “Reports”, and so on.

The interface isn’t as minimal and intuitive as some of its cloud-based alternatives, and there’s definitely a learning curve. That said, it’s not overly complex, and Fishbowl provides ample support, through both onboarding assistants and documentation.

What Fishbowl Warehouse customers are saying...

“The implementer that worked with me did a great job and we got a very personalized experience and a lot of up front training and support.”
“It works. As advertised and better. Some companies embellish the quality and quantity of their features. Not Fishbowl. They do everything they say and more.”
“It’s a little clunky to use, could definitely be a bit more user friendly. There is a bit of a learning curve and does take time to train new employees.”

How easy is TradeGecko to use?

Rated 4.5/5 for Ease of Use

TradeGecko is one of the best platforms we’ve sampled when it comes to ease-of-use.

The login shows a snapshot of your store’s performance, including total sales, costs, and profit. You’ll also see a breakdown of sales by channel. A simple options bar leads you to the dashboards for inventory management, orders, analytics, and so on.

The one downside is that TradeGecko only provides limited help with setup - around two hours on higher-priced plans - although the simplicity of the interface will often mean that more assistance is not needed.

What TradeGecko customers are saying...

“Overall it solves most of the business issues and overall we're happy with the product and with Tradegecko.”
“I really like the software and Customer support is always very helpful in every aspect.”
“I have had a few bumps along the way with Tradegecko, but overall I love it.”
TradeGecko is our winner for ease of use

Fishbowl Warehouse Features

Rated 4.5/5 for Features

Fishbowl Warehouse is one of the most feature-rich solutions we’ve reviewed on Stackupp. It has all the functionality you would expect, including order and delivery management, analytics, automation, an extensive library of integrations, barcode scanning, POS, payment processing, on-site warehouse tracking, and more.

Fishbowl Warehouse was problematic in just a handful of areas. The analytics tools could be improved with more advanced reports. Currently, only limited sales and inventory tracking are possible. And very few integrations with third-party marketplaces, like Etsy, Wish, Walmart, and so on, are included. If any of these things is a make-or-break issue for you, then you’ll probably have to look elsewhere. Finally, keep in mind that Fishbowl offers a separate platform aimed exclusively at manufacturers. The “Warehouse” version alone isn’t suitable for tasks like tracking raw materials, managing parts, organizing stages of production, and so on.

The excellent multi-device compatibility is also worth noting. Fishbowl has built dedicated integrations to enable mobile use on Android, iPhone, and Microsoft Surface. And while it is a desktop app, users can access the platform from any device with the “Fishbowl Anywhere” tool. There’s also the option of “Fishbowl Hosting”, which allows users to store all their files on fully-secure servers. If you opt for this, you’ll still have to install software on your own hard drive but all your data will be looked after.

TradeGecko Features

Rated 3.5/5 for Features

TradeGecko has a relatively large feature set. Some features, such as a native POS system, are lacking, but integrations make up for any shortcomings.

TradeGecko offers an iPad and iPhone app, which can be used to manage orders, scan barcodes, and access your catalog. Unfortunately, an Android app is not available. As a browser-based app, TradeGecko does not have an offline mode.

Support and training are generally very good, and TradeGecko provides a high level of general customer service with 24/7 email tickets. On the “Small Business” plan and above, users have access to a member of the onboarding team to ensure a frictionless setup. The “Premium” and “Pro” plans also have dedicated support managers.

The analytics dashboard includes a standard set of reports, covering sales, orders, and historical performance. Integrations are available to extend the core functionality of the TradeGecko analytics dashboard with features like demand forecasting and data insights.

Finally, TradeGecko prioritizes user privacy and data protection. It’s a fully cloud-hosted solution that runs on Amazon Web Servers (one of the most secure options available). Managers can also take advantage of permissions to restrict team members from accessing areas of the app or seeing certain types of information.

Fishbowl Warehouse is our winner for features

Fishbowl Warehouse Integrations

Rated 4.5/5 for Integrations

Fishbowl doesn’t disappoint on the integrations front. Its library is one of the most comprehensive that we’ve seen, and includes connectors for a range of third-party apps from sales automation to accounting. If we had to find one fault, it would be that there’s only limited support for third-party marketplaces like Etsy and Wish.

Let’s kick off with accounting. Fishbowl is incredibly popular among QuickBooks users, and provides dedicated integrations for both the desktop and online versions. Fishbowl Warehouse is designed to work seamlessly with Quickbooks, filling in many of the functionality gaps that retailers require. Integrations are also available for Xero, Avalara, and Reckon users.

Fishbowl syncs with numerous ecommerce platforms, including Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, 3dcart, Zen Cart, and others. Retailers can also take advantage of marketplace integrations for Amazon and eBay.

So what about shipping? Fishbowl has clearly dedicated a lot of time to building out its shipping tools and provides an extensive array of integrations, with the likes of FedEx, DHL, ShipStation, and UPS covered.

A number of in-house integrations which extend the functionality of the app’s core feature-set are also provided. Even though Fishbowl is a desktop app, “Fishbowl Anywhere” enables users to access the interface using an internet connection from most devices, including Apple and Android phones.

Finally, Fishbowl offers its own POS system, employee time tracking tools, EDI (electronic data interchange), and link-ups for Zoho and Salesforce.

TradeGecko Integrations

Rated 3.5/5 for Integrations

Our opinion of TradeGecko’s integration library was somewhat mixed. What’s on offer is reasonable, but it’s not as extensive as some other inventory management solutions we’ve reviewed.

In terms of ecommerce platforms, TradeGecko is compatible with Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, Amazon, PrestaShop, eBay, BigCommerce, 3dcart, and others. If you’re using a well-known provider, then the likelihood is that you’re good to go.

Beyond this, however, TradeGecko starts to falter a little. The list of integrations with third-party marketplaces is satisfactory but not brilliant. The big players like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Walmart are all covered.

TradeGecko doesn’t have an in-house POS (point of sale) system, so you will need to opt for either Shopify POS or Lightspeed.

A good selection of 3PL, shipping, and EDI integrations are also provided. On the accounting side of things, only Quickbooks and Xero are supported. Finally, users can take advantage of additional reporting integrations to extend the functionality of TradeGecko’s native analytics tools.

If you’re thinking about opting for TradeGecko, make sure you take a look at the integrations library first to ensure that you’ll have access to all the functionality you require. While the level of support for third-party platforms is good, it’s not out of this world.

Fishbowl Warehouse is our winner for integrations

How much do they cost?

Everyone’s favourite topic - pricing. Let's dive in to see if Fishbowl Warehouse or TradeGecko offers better value for money.

How much does Fishbowl Warehouse cost?

Rated 4/5 for Pricing

Evaluating the pricing of Fishbowl Warehouse is a little tricky. It’s one of the few apps that doesn’t operate a subscription or software-as-a-service model, making comparisons with competitors pretty much redundant.

Although Fishbowl does have a high up-front cost - plans start at $4,395 with additional fees for extra users/licenses - once you’ve purchased the software, you own it outright. In the longer-term, this can be significantly more cost-effective than paying a monthly fee.

Just remember that you only get support, training, and updates for one year. You’ll have to pay for a one, two, or three-year package after that.

How much does TradeGecko cost?

Rated 4/5 for Pricing

TradeGecko plans are priced very competitively. The lower-tier options are suitable for smaller retailers, and medium-sized stores will find a lot to like in the “Business” and “Premium” packages.

The downside is that the “Founder” and “Lite” plans, which cost $39/month and $59/month respectively, lack some features that many retailers would consider essential. Only one sales integration is allowed on these plans, for example, and there is no automation on the “Founder” plan. What’s more, demand forecasting and integration with FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) are only available on the “Business” plan, which costs $479/month.

Discounts are available on all plans for an annual subscription.

It's a draw!

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 Fishbowl Warehouse's and TradeGecko's support measure up?

How good is Fishbowl Warehouse support?

Rated 4.5/5 for Help and Support

The help and support package provided by Fishbowl is fairly comprehensive. When you purchase a license, you’ll have access to customer support for one year, after which you’ll need to pay extra, including for software updates.

Support is available via email (6am - 6pm MST), phone (6am - 6pm MST), and online chat (8am - 5pm). It’s possible to make an unlimited amount of phone calls under ten minutes but there is an allowance for calls over ten minutes. Additional support options are also available, such as access to a training assistant for help getting set up.

The documentation and training videos are extensive and straightforward.

How good is TradeGecko support?

Rated 4.5/5 for Help and Support

We were very impressed with the level of customer service offered by TradeGecko. Users on all plans have access to 24/7 email support. An account manager is also assigned to subscribers on the “Small Business”, “Business”, “Premium”, and “Pro” plans. User reviews of customer service are generally very positive.

The one small downside is that onboarding managers only provide limited support - two hours on the “Small Business” plan and four hours on the “Business” plan. That said, the user interface is very easy to use and invariably only requires a minimum of training.

TradeGecko also offers extensive written and video materials. There is no community forum.

It's a draw!

The Bottom Line

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

Fishbowl Warehouse: Our Verdict

Fishbowl Warehouse fills a unique gap in the market. It’s a desktop solution for small and medium-sized retailers that need access to a powerful array of features. Functionality covers everything you would expect and more. Standout features include the extensive library of integrations, multi-device access, and superb customer support.

If you prefer to own your software outright, then Fishbowl Warehouse is a great option. Over time, you will likely save hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars. Just be prepared to handle the backend side of things yourself. Or you can, of course, always opt to store your data on Fishbowl servers instead for an extra cost.

TradeGecko: Our Verdict

Despite a few flaws, TradeGecko is an excellent option for retailers that process between 50 and 5000 orders per month. Although some in-house functionality, such as a point of sale (POS) system is missing, integrations tend to plug up any shortcomings.

You’ll find everything you need in the feature-set, including connectors with third-party marketplaces, warehouse management, manufacturing materials tracking, reporting tools, barcode scanning, automation, multiple language support, and more.

Smaller businesses that need an inexpensive and straightforward solution that doesn’t sacrifice functionality should definitely consider TradeGecko. The superb 24/7customer support is also a big plus.

Larger retailers (in excess of 5000/month), on the other hand, will likely need a more powerful and customizable inventory management platform.

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

Stackupp is reader supported. If you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission.

stackupp.com © 2021 | Privacy Policy