Software Comparison
Both platforms offer inventory management for manufacturers and wholesalers. DEAR Inventory is now Cin7 Core after acquisition. Here is an honest comparison to help you choose the right one for your business.
Cloud inventory management built for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors. All core features included in one plan. LineConnect+ production line monitoring (currently in early-access beta) available as an add-on.
Popular inventory and manufacturing platform, especially in ANZ. Rebranded from DEAR Inventory to Cin7 Core after acquisition. Good BOM and production features. Pricing and packaging changed after the Cin7 transition.
A side-by-side look at what each platform offers.
Competitor details are based on publicly available information as at early 2026. Check the vendor's site for current pricing and features.
These are the areas where Frostbyte Pro offers capabilities that DEAR Inventory (Cin7 Core) does not.
Frostbyte Pro offers LineConnect+ (currently in early-access beta), an add-on module that connects directly to your PLC equipment via OPC-UA for real-time production monitoring, OEE dashboards, automated production counting, and PackML machine state tracking. LineConnect+ is priced separately from the base $89.95/user/month plan (3-user minimum). DEAR Inventory (Cin7 Core) has no equivalent native capability, so bridging the factory floor to DEAR means custom API work or third-party middleware.
Frostbyte Pro costs $89.95 NZD per user per month (3-user minimum) with all core inventory features included. There are no tiers and no hidden charges. DEAR Inventory (Cin7 Core) uses a tiered pricing model listed in USD, and NZ businesses carry currency conversion on every invoice. Note: LineConnect+, Frostbyte Pro's production line monitoring module, is available as an additional add-on and is not included in the base price.
Frostbyte Pro is designed to be straightforward to set up and use from day one. Some DEAR Inventory users report that the platform has become more complex after the Cin7 rebrand, with a steeper learning curve and more configuration required. If you value getting up and running quickly without navigating layers of settings, Frostbyte Pro is built with simplicity in mind.
Frostbyte Pro's support team is based in New Zealand and operates on NZ business hours. DEAR Inventory (Cin7 Core) operates globally with support distributed across multiple time zones. When you need help at 9am NZT, you want someone in the same timezone who understands your local business context.
We recommend trialling both platforms before committing. Frostbyte Pro offers a full-featured 14-day trial with no credit card required.
Yes. DEAR Inventory was acquired by Cin7 and rebranded to Cin7 Core. The product is essentially the same platform under a new name, though pricing and packaging have changed since the acquisition. If you are searching for 'DEAR Inventory' you will now be directed to Cin7 Core. Existing DEAR users were migrated to the Cin7 branding.
Yes, particularly for manufacturers and businesses wanting production line monitoring alongside inventory management. Frostbyte Pro offers real-time stock tracking, multi-warehouse management, batch and expiry tracking, purchase and sales order management, BOM management, and production orders, covering the core capabilities DEAR provides. The key differentiator is LineConnect+ (currently in early-access beta), Frostbyte Pro's production line monitoring module, which connects directly to PLC equipment for real-time OEE dashboards and production data. Frostbyte Pro also uses simpler all-inclusive NZD pricing versus DEAR's tiered USD pricing model.
Frostbyte Pro is priced at $89.95 NZD per user per month (3-user minimum) with all core inventory features included in a single plan. There are no tiers and no hidden charges. LineConnect+, our production line monitoring module, is available as an additional add-on with separate pricing. DEAR Inventory (Cin7 Core) uses a tiered pricing structure in USD, and pricing and packaging changed after the Cin7 acquisition. For NZ businesses, Frostbyte Pro's NZD pricing eliminates currency conversion uncertainty and makes budgeting straightforward.
Yes. Frostbyte Pro includes full Bill of Materials (BOM) management with multi-level support, production order creation and tracking, raw material consumption, batch traceability, and wastage tracking, all comparable to DEAR's manufacturing capabilities. DEAR is well-regarded for its BOM and production features. Frostbyte Pro goes further with LineConnect+, which monitors your production lines in real time via PLC integration, providing OEE dashboards and automated production counting that DEAR does not offer natively.
Yes. DEAR Inventory allows you to export your products, customers, suppliers, and transaction history. Frostbyte Pro's import wizard accepts CSV files, so you can map your DEAR exports directly into the system. Our NZ-based support team can assist with data migration if needed. We recommend running a parallel trial period before switching to ensure all your workflows are configured correctly in Frostbyte Pro.
Yes. Both Frostbyte Pro and DEAR Inventory (Cin7 Core) offer strong Xero integrations. Frostbyte Pro pushes invoiced sales orders to Xero as invoices, received purchase orders as bills, and customers and suppliers as contacts, all in one action when you choose to run it. Coming the other way, your existing Xero products, customers and invoices import on demand or on a schedule. It also integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Keap (Infusionsoft). DEAR has a wider integration marketplace overall. If you rely on specific DEAR-only integrations, check whether Frostbyte Pro covers those before switching. For most NZ manufacturers and wholesalers running Xero and one of the major e-commerce platforms, Frostbyte Pro's integration set covers the essentials.
Cin7 is the parent company that acquired DEAR Inventory. See how Frostbyte Pro compares to the full Cin7 platform including Cin7 Omni.
Compare Frostbyte Pro against Unleashed, Cin7, DEAR, Katana, and more.
How does Frostbyte Pro compare to Unleashed Software for inventory management?
BOM management, production orders, batch tracking, and LineConnect+.
Purpose-built for New Zealand with NZD pricing, Xero, and NZ-based support.
Real-time PLC monitoring, OEE dashboards, and PackML state tracking. Currently in early-access beta.
$89.95 NZD per user per month (3-user minimum) with all core features, one price, no tiers. LineConnect+ is additional.
Join businesses across New Zealand who trust Frostbyte Pro to manage their inventory. Start your free 14-day trial today, no credit card required.