Fintra vs Katana
Katana runs real-time production planning and shop-floor operations and syncs to QuickBooks or Xero for the books. Fintra is the finance layer - inventory costing, WIP, and the general ledger in one governed system. Here is where each fits.
TL;DR verdict
Katana is a cloud MRP for small and mid-size manufacturers and makers: master planning, production scheduling, live inventory, and shop-floor control, syncing operational data to a separate accounting tool. Fintra is that accounting side - perpetual inventory valuation, BOM cost roll-up, work-order and WIP costing, and the general ledger - posting real journal entries in one governed system.
What Katana does well
- Real-time master planning and production scheduling - material and capacity availability seen live.
- Shop-floor operations: manufacturing orders, operator task tracking, and live inventory.
- Strong e-commerce and channel integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce) plus QuickBooks Online and Xero.
- Purpose-built, visual, and quick to adopt for makers and small manufacturers.
- A good fit for product businesses that sell across online channels and need light MRP.
Where Fintra differs
Katana plans and runs production and hands inventory value to your accounting tool. Fintra owns the accounting: the bill of materials rolls up to a unit cost, a work order moves that cost through WIP to COGS, and perpetual inventory value updates on every transaction - all as real journal entries, so the floor and the books agree without a reconciliation.
What Fintra owns that an MRP hands off
- Weighted-average, standard, and FIFO costing posting real journal entries - a valuation you can defend line by line.
- BOM roll-up, landed-cost capitalization, and standard-vs-actual variances that surface where the quote and the floor diverge.
- Excess-and-obsolete reserves, a PO three-way match, and native AP and AR on the same ledger.
- The broader finance OS: FP&A, payroll, compliance, and governed, hash-chained evidence on every entry.
Side-by-side comparison
| Category | Katana | Fintra |
|---|---|---|
| Production scheduling & master planning | Core strength | Not planning - costing & WIP only |
| Live inventory & shop-floor orders | Real-time, operational | Perpetual valuation posting journal entries |
| Inventory costing method | Tracks value; syncs to accounting | Weighted-avg, standard & FIFO on the ledger |
| General ledger / accounting | Via QuickBooks Online / Xero | Native GL, AP, AR, PO 3-way match |
| E-commerce channel integrations | Shopify, WooCommerce, and more | Not a channel manager |
| Broader finance OS | Not its focus | FP&A, payroll, compliance built in |
| Pricing model | Published subscription tiers | Contact us - scoped per customer |
Who should choose which
- Choose Katana if live production scheduling, master planning, and shop-floor visibility are the core need, especially selling across Shopify or WooCommerce.
- Choose Katana if you want a light, visual MRP that syncs to QuickBooks Online or Xero for the books.
- Choose Fintra if you want inventory costing, WIP, and the general ledger unified - real journal entries, not a sync - with variances and E&O reserves.
- Choose Fintra to consolidate the whole finance back office beyond the shop floor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fintra an MRP like Katana?
No. Fintra does not do master planning, production scheduling, or shop-floor capacity. It is the accounting and costing layer - perpetual valuation, BOM roll-up, WIP costing, the three-way match, and the general ledger. Keep Katana (or your MRP) for operations and connect it to Fintra.
Can Fintra replace the accounting Katana syncs to?
Yes. Fintra has a native general ledger, so costing and WIP post real journal entries in the same system instead of syncing operational data to QuickBooks or Xero. The MRP / inventory connectors are a design-partner / roadmap seam today.
What does Fintra add over Katana for a manufacturer?
Costing you can defend on the balance sheet (weighted-average, standard, or FIFO), landed cost, standard-vs-actual variances, E&O reserves, a PO three-way match, and the broader finance OS - FP&A, payroll, and compliance - all on one governed ledger with evidence on every entry.
How does pricing compare?
Katana uses published subscription tiers. Fintra is modular and scoped per customer on a call - you enable only the modules you actually need.
Stay in the loop
One practical finance briefing a week - new guides, checklists, and benchmarks.
Keep planning in Katana, run the books on Fintra
See perpetual costing, WIP, variances, and E&O reserves posting real journal entries on your numbers - connected to the MRP your floor already runs.
Talk to us