InvenTree vs PartKeepr
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted crm & business apps options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
InvenTree
Open-source inventory and stock management system
VS
PartKeepr
Archived
Inventory management for electronic parts
| Feature | InvenTree | PartKeepr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | CRM & Business Apps | CRM & Business Apps |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,623 | ★ 1,531 |
| First released | 2017 | 2012 |
| Replaces | NetSuite, Fishbowl | NetSuite |
What are InvenTree and PartKeepr?
InvenTree
InvenTree is an open-source inventory management system providing stock control and part tracking. It is designed for manufacturers and offers a powerful REST API.
- Stock and part tracking
- Bill of materials support
- Powerful REST API
- Plugin extensibility
PartKeepr
PartKeepr is an open-source inventory management solution focused on electronic components. It tracks parts, stock levels, storage locations, and distributors.
- Electronic parts inventory
- Storage location tracking
- Distributor and pricing data
- Datasheet attachments
InvenTree vs PartKeepr: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: PartKeepr's repository is archived and no longer developed, while InvenTree is actively maintained. InvenTree is written in Python, while PartKeepr is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for InvenTree versus GPL-3.0 for PartKeepr. PartKeepr is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for InvenTree. PartKeepr is the more established project (first released 2012), while InvenTree arrived in 2017. InvenTree has the considerably larger community, at 7,623 GitHub stars versus 1,531.
Why pick each one
Choose InvenTree if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 7.6k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Choose PartKeepr if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is InvenTree or PartKeepr better?
Neither is universally better. InvenTree has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are InvenTree and PartKeepr free and open-source?
Yes. InvenTree is licensed under MIT and PartKeepr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run InvenTree and PartKeepr with Docker?
InvenTree: yes. PartKeepr: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, InvenTree or PartKeepr?
PartKeepr has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for InvenTree. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.