Two NZ-Built Inventory Platforms, Different Trajectories#
Cin7 and Unleashed are the two dominant ANZ Xero-attached inventory platforms. Both originated in Auckland in the 2010s. Both serve the segment of SMB and lower-mid-market operators who outgrow Xero's native inventory but aren't ready for full ERP. Both were acquired by international owners in 2021.
This comparison covers what actually differs between them, how Cin7's two-product split (Core vs Omni) works, and which fit each one is right for.
The Cin7 Two-Product Story#
Important context before comparing: "Cin7" refers to two distinct products.
Cin7 Core (formerly DEAR Systems). Acquired by Cin7 in 2021, rebranded to Cin7 Core in 2022. Focused on inventory, purchasing, sales orders, and light manufacturing. Strong Xero integration. Competes directly with Unleashed.
Cin7 Omni (formerly just "Cin7"). The multi-channel platform that pre-dates the DEAR acquisition. Deeper POS, retail, and warehouse capability. More expensive and broader-scope than Cin7 Core. Competes with platforms like NetSuite SMB tier and ANZ-built modular ERPs.
For most "Cin7 vs Unleashed" comparisons, the relevant comparison is Cin7 Core vs Unleashed. This article covers both but focuses primarily on the Core comparison.
Headline Positioning#
Cin7 Core (DEAR). Inventory and light-manufacturing platform built for Xero-attached SMBs and growing wholesale/ecommerce operators. Strong multi-channel sales integration (Shopify, Amazon, eBay, retail POS variants). Auckland-built, now Denver-headquartered (Cin7 Inc.).
Unleashed. Xero-attached inventory platform with strong wholesale and light-manufacturing capability. Cleaner UI, lighter feature set, focused on inventory accuracy and purchasing. Auckland-built, now UK-owned (The Access Group).
Pricing — Headline and Real#
| Dimension | Cin7 Core | Unleashed |
|---|---|---|
| Annual licences (typical SMB) | NZ$4,500–12,000 | NZ$4,800–14,000 |
| Implementation | NZ$5,000–25,000 | NZ$3,000–20,000 |
| Public pricing tiers | Standard / Pro / Advanced | Medium / Large / X-Large |
| Per-user fees | NZ$600/year typical (additional users above base) | NZ$500/year typical |
| Users included in base | 5 | 3 |
Both are inexpensive relative to full ERP. Cin7 Core has slightly higher entry-tier pricing; Unleashed has slightly higher per-tier scaling. Total cost over 3 years for a 10-user operation typically lands within 15% of each other.
Multi-Channel Integration#
This is the historic Cin7 strength (especially Cin7 Omni).
Cin7 Core. Strong out-of-the-box marketplace connectors — Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, retail POS variants (Vend / Lightspeed). Channel-aware stock allocation. Multi-store Shopify support.
Cin7 Omni. Even deeper — adds POS hardware integration, retail merchandising, channel-aware pricing, and warehouse management. More expensive and broader-scope.
Unleashed. Strong Xero integration but lighter on marketplace connectors. Shopify and WooCommerce supported; multi-marketplace operators typically use Unleashed via a separate channel aggregator (Lokad, Cloud Commerce Pro, or a custom connector).
The decision point: Heavy multi-channel ecommerce + retail POS → Cin7 (Omni for deeper retail, Core for ecommerce-focused). Wholesale-focused operations on Xero with light marketplace presence → Unleashed is usually cleaner.
Manufacturing Depth#
Cin7 Core. Mature light-manufacturing — multi-level BOMs, work orders, auto-assembly, contract manufacturing. Strong for ANZ DTC brands with light-assembly manufacturing.
Unleashed. Light-manufacturing capability — single-level BOMs in standard, multi-level BOMs in Advanced plan. Strong for simple light manufacturing; less depth than Cin7 Core for complex multi-level operations.
The decision point: Multi-level BOMs and contract manufacturing → Cin7 Core has the edge. Simple light manufacturing or single-level BOMs → either product handles it.
Xero Integration Depth#
Both are Xero-attached platforms; the integration depth is similar.
Cin7 Core. Deep Xero integration — invoices, contacts, items, inventory adjustments, COGS, AR/AP all sync bidirectionally. Handles Xero's tax codes, payment methods, and tracking categories.
Unleashed. Equally deep Xero integration. Cleaner sync workflow with explicit Xero-attached design. Stronger handling of Xero's purchase orders and supplier invoices.
For Xero-attached operators, both products integrate well. Unleashed's heritage as a Xero-first product shows in slightly cleaner Xero-specific workflows; Cin7 Core's broader platform shows in less Xero-specific tightness but more multi-channel depth.
Warehouse Capability#
Cin7 Core. Bin tracking, basic pick lists, simple warehouse workflow. Not a dedicated WMS.
Cin7 Omni. Deeper warehouse capability — pick path optimisation, multi-zone, basic wave picking. Approaching a light WMS.
Unleashed. Basic bin tracking, pick lists, stock takes. Not a dedicated WMS.
For operations needing dedicated WMS capability (scanner-driven picking, wave/zone picking, cycle counting), neither Cin7 Core nor Unleashed are full WMS solutions. Operators typically pair them with a dedicated WMS or step up to a modular ERP with native WMS (OpsUI, NetSuite, MYOB Acumatica).
Ownership and Strategy#
Cin7 (Inc.). Headquartered in Denver since the 2021 Rubicon Technology Partners majority investment. Active product investment, multiple platform additions (Cin7 Core, Cin7 Omni, Cin7 Pay).
Unleashed. Owned by The Access Group (UK) since 2021. Part of a broader Access ERP and finance portfolio. Product development continues but Access strategy emphasises integration with broader Access products over standalone investment.
For ANZ businesses where vendor proximity matters, neither product is now ANZ-owned. Both retain significant ANZ engineering and customer-success presence.
ANZ Partner Landscape#
Cin7 partners in ANZ are typically Xero-adjacent consultancies (Xero implementation specialists, bookkeepers, accountants) plus dedicated Cin7 implementation partners. Strong network.
Unleashed partners similarly Xero-adjacent. Implementation typically lighter than Cin7 because the product surface is narrower.
When Cin7 Core Wins#
- You sell across multiple channels (Shopify, Amazon, eBay, retail POS) and want native marketplace connectors
- Your light manufacturing involves multi-level BOMs or contract manufacturing
- You're a DTC brand with strong ecommerce focus
- You might grow into Cin7 Omni for retail/POS depth later
- You have an existing Cin7 partner or in-house expertise
When Cin7 Omni Wins (vs Core or Unleashed)#
- You're a multi-store retailer with both online and physical retail
- You need integrated POS hardware
- Your warehouse complexity is approaching light WMS
- You're willing to pay more for deeper retail and warehouse depth
When Unleashed Wins#
- You're Xero-first and want the cleanest Xero-attached inventory workflow
- Your operations are primarily wholesale/B2B (less multi-channel emphasis)
- Your manufacturing is single-level or simple multi-level
- You prefer lighter UI and narrower feature scope
- You value Access Group's broader ecosystem (other Access products you might use)
What to Ask Both Vendors#
- Show me the Xero integration depth — specifically how AR/AP, COGS, and inventory adjustments flow.
- Demo my multi-channel scenario — show how stock flows across your specific channels.
- What's the upgrade path as you outgrow inventory-only into broader ERP?
- Show me the manufacturing workflow if light manufacturing is part of your operation.
- What's the partner's last 3 ANZ implementations of your industry shape?
See Also#
For broader context, see What is a WMS?, Xero Inventory Guide, ERP Vendor Landscape 2024, and Inventory Management Module Architecture.