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Unleashed vs Cin7: which inventory system is right for your business?
We implement both systems as an independent partner, so we don't mind which one you pick — only that it fits how you buy, make, store and sell.
Unleashed or Cin7 — the short answer
Choose Unleashed if your complexity is production — assemblies and bills of materials, batch and expiry tracking — especially if you run Xero. Choose Cin7 if your complexity is sales channels — retail, eCommerce, marketplaces, wholesale, 3PL and EDI — and you need stock and orders connected across all of them. Both sit alongside Xero or QuickBooks rather than replacing them. The right pick depends on where your operation is hardest to run.
How do Unleashed and Cin7 compare at a glance?
| Unleashed | Cin7 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | NZ-founded cloud inventory and production software that sits alongside your accounting system | Inventory and order platform — Cin7 Core (formerly DEAR Systems) and Cin7 Omni — connecting products, channels, stock locations, orders and warehouses |
| Strongest fit | Manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors who need real-time stock and production control | Multi-channel product sellers spanning retail, eCommerce, marketplaces and wholesale |
| Manufacturing | Assemblies and bills of materials, batch and expiry tracking — core to the product | Assembly and production supported in Cin7 Core; channels remain the centre of gravity |
| Sales channels | eCommerce and B2B integrations (e.g. Shopify, WooCommerce) | The headline strength — retail POS, eCommerce, marketplaces, wholesale, 3PL and EDI |
| Accounting | Connects to Xero (a genuine strength) or QuickBooks | Connects to Xero or QuickBooks |
| Typical size | Small-to-medium product businesses outgrowing spreadsheets or basic inventory | Small-to-medium businesses selling through several channels at once |
| Pricing model | Subscription with tiered plans — cost scales with plan level and users (check the vendor for current figures) | Subscription with tiered plans; Cin7 Core and Cin7 Omni are separate products with their own plans |
When should you choose Unleashed?
You make things
Assemblies and bills of materials let you define what goes into each product, track component stock and see production costs. Batch and expiry tracking suits food, beverage and health products.
You live in Xero
Unleashed's Xero integration is one of its strongest features and a big reason NZ and Australian product businesses pick it — sales, purchases and stock journals flow through automatically.
You wholesale and distribute
Price tiers, B2B ordering and solid purchasing workflows fit wholesale and distribution well — without taking on a full ERP project.
More on how we implement it: Unleashed implementation.
When should you choose Cin7?
You sell everywhere
Retail POS, eCommerce stores, marketplaces and wholesale all feeding one stock and order picture is exactly what Cin7 is built for.
3PL and EDI matter
If you ship through third-party logistics providers or trade with big retailers over EDI, Cin7's connections in that territory are a real differentiator.
One view of every order
Orders from every channel, stock in every location and every warehouse connected in one place — so you stop overselling and stop guessing.
More on how we implement it: Cin7 implementation.
Can you switch from Unleashed to Cin7 (or the other way)?
Yes — it's a migration project, not a flick of a switch
Products, customers, suppliers, price lists, bills of materials and opening stock all move across; transaction history usually stays in the old system for reference. Done properly — test environment first, stock reconciled at cut-over — it's very manageable.
When switching makes sense
Usually because the business changed shape: a manufacturer became a multi-channel brand (toward Cin7), or a channel-heavy seller brought production in-house (toward Unleashed). Switching to escape a bad setup rarely helps — the setup, not the software, is usually the problem.
Whichever way you lean: in our experience, implementation quality decides more of the outcome than the platform choice. A well-implemented second choice beats a badly implemented first choice every time. Talk to us before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Unleashed or Cin7 better for a manufacturer?
Usually Unleashed. Assemblies, bills of materials and batch and expiry tracking are core to how it works, which suits food, beverage and other small-to-medium producers. Cin7 Core does support assembly and production too, so a maker who also sells through many retail and online channels should still weigh both — the deciding factor is whether production or channels is your harder problem.
Is Unleashed or Cin7 better for multi-channel retail?
Usually Cin7. Connecting products, sales channels, stock locations, orders and warehouses is the platform's whole reason for being — retail POS, eCommerce, marketplaces, wholesale, 3PL and EDI. Unleashed connects to eCommerce and B2B channels perfectly well, but channels aren't its centre of gravity the way they are for Cin7.
Do Unleashed and Cin7 both work with Xero?
Yes — both connect to Xero (and QuickBooks), and neither replaces your accounting system. Unleashed's Xero integration is particularly well regarded in New Zealand and Australia, and is one reason it's so widely used here. Either way, sales, purchases and stock journals flow through to your ledger without double entry — provided the integration is mapped correctly at implementation.
Can you help us choose between Unleashed and Cin7?
Yes. We implement both systems as an independent partner, so we have no reason to steer you either way. We scope how you actually buy, make, store and sell, recommend the better fit — and tell you honestly if neither is right. Book a consultation via our contact page and we'll talk it through.
Still weighing Unleashed against Cin7?
Tell us how your operation works — we implement both, so you'll get a straight answer about fit, not a pitch.