What is a material requirements planning (mrp)?

A method for working out what materials to buy and what to make, and when. It takes demand from orders and forecasts, opens each product's bill of materials, subtracts stock on hand and on order, and lists the shortages with suggested purchase and production orders.

Who uses one?

Owners, plant managers and operations leads at job shops and make-to-stock manufacturers under about 200 staff who want to plan materials and production without buying a full ERP

What does it cost?

Pricing varies. The cheapest provider in our Top 11 starts around $135/mo. See the cheapest providers ranked.

How do I pick one?

Read the full methodology for our 9.4-point scoring framework, then look at the canonical MRPeasy vs Unleashed vs Katana: 11 Best MRP Software for Small Manufacturers 2026. If you want a slice of the ranking by price, fit, or compliance, jump to: cheapest · highest-rated · fastest onboarding.

Source: Top 11 MRPeasy vs Unleashed vs Katana: 11 Best MRP Software for Small Manufacturers 2026, verified October 27, 2026.