Best Factory Alternatives in 2026
The top Factory alternatives are JobBOSS², SYSPRO and xTuple ERP: 15 metal fabrication software our editors would look at instead of Factory, in our ranking order.
Factory: Cloud software for coordinating custom jobs from quote through production and delivery. Where it falls short: pricing is sales-led rather than published as plan amounts.
Switching from Factory? For most metal fabrication software buyers the best Factory alternative is JobBOSS², built for job shops needing a broad, connected ERP. On a budget, Tempus Tools starts at $75/user/mo.
Why People Look for a Factory Alternative
- Pricing is sales-led rather than published as plan amounts
- No verified job-costing feature
- No named integrations are specified
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallJobBOSS²8.9
Job shops needing a broad, connected ERP
Visit JobBOSS² - Lowest priceTempus Tools7.1
Paid plans from $75/user/mo
Visit Tempus Tools
All 15 Factory Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forJob shops needing a broad, connected ERP
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.5
A broad cloud ERP connecting quoting, production, inventory, costing, quality, and accounting.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit JobBOSS² -
Best forFabricators needing mature, broad ERP operations
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.5
A mature, broad ERP for fabricators that need finance, inventory and manufacturing control.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit SYSPRO -
Best forSmall and midsize shops wanting flexible ERP
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.5
Flexible ERP for shops that need manufacturing, inventory, order, and finance workflows.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit xTuple -
Best forEstablished shops focused on metal-fabrication quoting
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.5
A focused quoting tool that turns CAD and job information into fabrication estimates.
- Estimating & quoting
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Hexagon -
Best forFabricators wanting estimating through job costing
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.5
A Windows desktop workflow linking RFQ estimates to production and actual job costs.
- Job costing
- Inventory tracking
- Production scheduling
7.9/10★★★★☆Contact ShopData -
Best forShops prioritizing inventory and purchasing control
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.5
A manufacturing ERP with strong inventory and purchasing workflows for multi-facility shops.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit MIE Trak Pro -
Best forFabricators seeking end-to-end shop management
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.5
A broad, modular suite for coordinating fabrication business operations and production.
- Inventory tracking
- Production scheduling
- Estimating & quoting
7.8/10★★★★☆Contact Bystronic -
Best forSmall shops managing core fabrication workflows
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.5
A cloud-based system connecting fabrication estimates, job management and shop-floor workflows.
- Job costing
- Inventory tracking
- Production scheduling
7.7/10★★★★☆Try Fabrication Plan -
Best forSmall shops needing quoting and job tracking
- Better than Factory:
- Editor score 7.6 vs 7.5
A cloud workflow for small and mid-market shops managing quotes through production.
- Job costing
- Inventory tracking
- Production scheduling
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit RanFab -
Best forStructural fabricators using Tekla and Trimble
Connects estimating, production, inventory and shop-floor information for metal fabricators.
- Inventory tracking
- Production scheduling
- Estimating & quoting
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Tekla PowerFab -
Best forProject-based fabricators managing field installation
A cloud ERP linking CAD-based fabrication work with inventory, shipping, and field installation.
- Job costing
- Inventory tracking
- Production scheduling
7.3/10★★★★☆Contact Spectr -
Best forFabricators focused on detailed quote costing
A fabrication-focused estimator for detailed quotes, not production scheduling or inventory.
- Estimating & quoting
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Alma -
Best forShops automating drawing-based quote preparation
Automates drawing-based quotes, with production tools and customer ordering at higher tiers.
- Estimating & quoting
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Tempus Tools -
Best forShops needing scheduling, costing, and transport planning
BFW ERP connects quoting, machine scheduling, costing, inventory, and transport planning.
- Job costing
- Inventory tracking
- Production scheduling
7.0/10★★★★☆Contact L.I.C. -
Best forFabricators streamlining CAD-based quote intake
A focused cloud workspace for CAD-driven intake, estimating, quoting, and awarded-job records.
- Estimating & quoting
6.9/10★★★☆☆Try Paperless Parts
Factory Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Factory?
JobBOSS²: #1 in our Metal Fabrication Software ranking, with an editor score of 8.9 out of 10. A broad cloud ERP connecting quoting, production, inventory, costing, quality, and accounting.
Why do people look for Factory alternatives?
Pricing is sales-led rather than published as plan amounts; No verified job-costing feature; No named integrations are specified.
How do I switch from Factory?
Export your data from Factory (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Factory.
How to Switch from Factory
- Export your data from Factory (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Factory.
Factory vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Paid from | Deployment | Estimating & quoting | Production scheduling | Inventory tracking | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Factory | Cloud | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | |
| 1 | JobBOSS² | 8.9 | |||||
| 2 | SYSPRO | 8.4 | |||||
| 3 | xTuple ERP | 8.2 | |||||
| 4 | RADAN Quoting | Yes | 8.0 | ||||
| 5 | ShopData 360 | On-premise | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 6 | MIE Trak Pro | 7.9 | |||||
| 7 | BySoft Suite | Both | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 8 | Fabrication Plan | Cloud | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 9 | RanFab | Cloud | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 10 | Tekla PowerFab | Cloud | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 11 | Spectr | Cloud | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | ||
| 12 | Almaquote | Both | Yes | No | No | 7.2 | |
| 13 | Tempus Tools | $75/user/mo | Cloud | Yes | 7.1 | ||
| 14 | BFW ERP | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.0 | ||
| 15 | Paperless Parts | Cloud | Yes | 6.9 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update