Aphleios vs Cin7 Core vs Unleashed: UK Inventory Software Compared 2026

Written by Calvin Lo, Founder of Aphelios Software | July 2026 | 10 min read

Choosing the right inventory management software is one of the most critical decisions a UK business can make. The wrong choice leads to wasted money, lost stock, frustrated staff, and missed sales. The right choice gives you real-time visibility, streamlined operations, and the confidence to grow.

In this in-depth comparison, we look at three popular inventory software options available to UK businesses in 2026: Aphleios, Cin7 Core, and Unleashed. Each platform has its strengths, but they target very different business sizes and budgets. By the end of this guide, you will know exactly which platform is the right fit for your needs.

Understanding the Three Platforms

Cin7 Core

Cin7 Core (formerly DEAR Systems) is a comprehensive inventory and order management platform aimed at mid-sized businesses. It is well-known for its manufacturing features, multi-channel sales capabilities, and deep integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Amazon. Cin7 Core typically costs around £299 per month or more, making it a premium option suited to businesses with established revenue streams and complex inventory needs.

The platform offers strong bill of materials (BOM) functionality, production management, and warehouse management features. It integrates with major accounting platforms including Xero and QuickBooks, and supports multiple sales channels from a single inventory pool. However, its interface can feel overwhelming for smaller businesses, and the pricing puts it out of reach for many sole traders and startups.

Unleashed

Unleashed is a cloud-based inventory management platform focused on wholesale, distribution, and B2B businesses. It excels at purchase order management, supplier relationships, and bulk order processing. Pricing starts at around £279 per month, placing it in a similar price bracket to Cin7 Core.

Unleashed is a solid choice for businesses that buy in bulk from suppliers and sell to other businesses. It provides good stock visibility across multiple warehouses and integrates with accounting platforms like Xero and QuickBooks. However, Unleashed does not include a built-in POS system, invoicing engine, or CRM. Businesses using Unleashed often need to purchase additional software to handle these functions, which increases total cost of ownership.

Aphleios

Aphleios is an all-in-one business management platform designed specifically for UK small businesses and SMEs. It combines inventory management, POS, CRM, invoicing, and Stripe payment integration into a single, affordable platform. Pricing starts from £0 with a free plan, making it dramatically more affordable than both Cin7 Core and Unleashed.

Where Cin7 Core and Unleashed focus narrowly on inventory and require additional tools for POS, customer management, and billing, Aphleios provides everything in one place. This means lower total cost, fewer integrations to manage, and a simpler daily workflow for business owners and their teams. Aphleios is built mobile-first, so it works beautifully on phones, tablets, and desktops.

Feature Comparison Table

The table below provides a direct side-by-side comparison of the key features that matter most to UK businesses evaluating inventory software in 2026.

Pricing Breakdown: What You Actually Pay

Pricing is often the deciding factor for UK SMEs. Let us look at the real cost of each platform over a 12-month period.

Cin7 Core Pricing

Cin7 Core starts at approximately £299 per month on the Standard plan. The Advanced plan, which includes features like advanced warehousing and manufacturing, can cost significantly more. Over 12 months, a basic Cin7 Core subscription costs at least £3,588. If you need additional integrations or support tiers, this number increases further. Cin7 Core also charges per user in some plans, so growing teams face escalating costs.

Unleashed Pricing

Unleashed pricing begins at around £279 per month for the Small Business plan. The Medium and Large plans add features like multiple warehouses and advanced reporting but push the price higher. Over 12 months, the base plan costs approximately £3,348. Like Cin7 Core, Unleashed does not include POS, CRM, or invoicing, so you will likely need to budget for additional software subscriptions on top.

Aphleios Pricing

Aphleios offers a genuinely free plan that includes the full platform: inventory, POS, barcode scanning, CRM, invoicing, and Stripe integration. The only difference between plans is the number of users and locations: paid plans simply increase those limits at a fraction of the cost of the alternatives. Because Aphleios includes everything out of the box, there is no need to purchase additional tools.

Inventory Management: How Each Platform Compares

All three platforms provide solid inventory management as their core function. However, the depth and focus differ.

Real-Time Stock Tracking

Cin7 Core and Unleashed both offer excellent real-time stock tracking across multiple warehouses and locations. Aphleios also provides real-time inventory visibility with automatic stock deduction at the point of sale, making it ideal for businesses that sell in-person and need instant accuracy.

Purchase Orders and Supplier Management

Unleashed excels in this area with robust purchase order workflows and supplier performance tracking. Cin7 Core also handles purchase orders well. Aphleios includes purchase order management and supplier tracking, giving small businesses the tools they need without the complexity they do not.

Manufacturing and Bill of Materials

If manufacturing is a core part of your operation, Cin7 Core is the strongest choice here. Its BOM and production management features are genuinely advanced. Unleashed offers basic manufacturing support. Aphleios provides straightforward inventory tracking that works well for most retail, wholesale, and service-based businesses.

POS and Payment Processing

This is where Aphleios pulls significantly ahead. Cin7 Core offers a basic POS module, but it is not its primary focus. Unleashed does not include POS at all, meaning you need to connect a separate system like Square or Shopify POS. Aphleios includes a built-in Stripe-powered POS that handles card payments, QR code payments, and online transactions seamlessly. For businesses that sell face-to-face, this is a major advantage.

CRM and Customer Management

Neither Cin7 Core nor Unleashed includes a built-in CRM. If you want to track customer interactions, manage leads, or run loyalty programs, you need to integrate a third-party CRM tool and pay for it separately. Aphleios includes a full CRM system with customer profiles, interaction history, deal pipelines, and segmentation. For small businesses that want to build relationships with their customers without juggling multiple subscriptions, this is a significant differentiator.

Invoicing and Accounting

Both Cin7 Core and Unleashed rely on external accounting software like Xero or QuickBooks for invoicing. This means additional subscription costs and the complexity of keeping two systems synchronised. Aphleios includes built-in invoicing that generates professional invoices directly from sales orders and stock movements. For businesses that want a single source of truth for their finances, Aphleios eliminates the need for a separate accounting subscription in many cases.

Ease of Use and Setup

Cin7 Core and Unleashed are powerful platforms, but they come with a steeper learning curve. Setup can take days or weeks, and staff training is often required. Both platforms are designed for mid-sized operations with dedicated operations teams.

Aphleios takes a different approach. It is designed to be simple enough for a sole trader to set up in minutes, yet powerful enough to support growing teams. The mobile-first design means it works on any device without installation, and the clean interface reduces the time needed for staff onboarding.

UK Hosting and Data Compliance

Data residency matters for UK businesses, particularly those handling customer data under UK GDPR. Aphleios is hosted in UK data centres, ensuring your data stays within the UK. Cin7 Core and Unleashed are hosted on global cloud infrastructure. While both comply with data protection regulations, businesses that prioritise UK data residency may prefer Aphleios.

Who Should Choose Each Platform?

Total Cost of Ownership Comparison

One of the most important factors when comparing inventory software is the total cost of ownership, not just the headline subscription price. When you factor in the additional tools you need alongside Cin7 Core or Unleashed, the picture changes significantly.

Migration and Onboarding

Moving to a new inventory platform can feel daunting. Both Cin7 Core and Unleashed offer onboarding support, though this sometimes comes at an additional cost and can take weeks to fully complete. Aphleios is designed for fast onboarding. Most businesses can import their existing product lists, set up their POS, and start processing sales within a single afternoon. The simplicity of the platform means less time configuring and more time selling.

Scaling With Your Business

Cin7 Core and Unleashed are both well-suited to businesses that are already established and growing rapidly. Their advanced features support complex supply chains and high-volume operations. Aphleios is designed to grow with you from day one. Start with the free plan when you are small, and upgrade as your needs expand, without ever needing to migrate to a completely different platform.

Final Verdict

Cin7 Core is a powerful platform for mid-sized businesses with manufacturing and multi-channel needs, but its £299 per month price tag makes it impractical for smaller operations. Unleashed is a strong choice for wholesale and B2B businesses at a similar price point, but the lack of POS, CRM, and invoicing means you end up paying for multiple tools.

For the vast majority of UK small businesses and SMEs in 2026, Aphleios offers the best value. You get inventory management, POS, CRM, invoicing, and Stripe integration in one affordable, easy-to-use platform backed by UK-based hosting and support.

If you are currently paying hundreds of pounds per month for inventory software plus additional tools, it is worth exploring whether Aphleios can replace those tools while saving you money. The free plan means there is zero risk in trying it.