Production Planning Software Free [better] Jun 2026

For SMEs looking to graduate from spreadsheets, Open Source ERP systems provide the most sustainable path to digital maturity, provided they allocate resources for the technical implementation and maintenance of the system.

Odoo is arguably the most popular open-source ERP.

Alternatively, if you are a maker or freelancer running a small fabrication shop, combined with a spreadsheet will cover 90% of your needs without any cloud subscription headaches. production planning software free

October 2023 Subject: Industrial Engineering / Operations Management / Software Solutions

Source: El-Sayed, A. M. A., et al. "Open-source software for production planning and scheduling: A review." Computers in Industry 104 (2019): 142-155. For SMEs looking to graduate from spreadsheets, Open

For small manufacturers and growing workshops, spreadsheets eventually hit a breaking point. When "simple" tracking turns into a chaotic web of tabs and broken formulas, it’s time to look at dedicated production planning software.

This paper presents a literature review on the use of open-source software for production planning and control. The authors discuss the current trends, challenges, and future directions in this area. While the software is free

Implementing ERPNext or Odoo requires server hosting. While the software is free, hosting (cloud or on-premise) costs money. Furthermore, customization requires technical knowledge of Python/SQL. A business lacking IT staff may find "free" software expensive in terms of time spent on configuration.

A simpler solution aimed at smaller businesses.

When evaluating a "free" tool, ensure it checks these three boxes:

MRPeasy is designed specifically for small manufacturers (10-50 employees). Their free tier is extremely limited but useful for testing.