The Best PartsBox Alternative for Your Electronics Inventory Management
PartsBox is a powerful online application designed to streamline the management of electronic parts and projects. It excels in inventory tracking, document management for part data (datasheets, PDFs, 3D models), and automated Bill of Materials (BOM) pricing with sophisticated supplier selection. While PartsBox offers a robust set of features, including in-browser barcode scanning and comprehensive build management, users often seek alternatives that better align with their specific needs, budget, or technical environment. This guide explores the top alternatives to PartsBox, helping you find the perfect fit for your electronics production workflow.
Top PartsBox Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a free, open-source solution, a self-hosted option, or a cloud-based platform with specific features, these alternatives offer compelling options for managing your electronic components and projects.
PartKeepr
PartKeepr is an excellent open-source and self-hosted PartsBox alternative for electronic part inventory management. It helps you keep meticulous track of your available parts and assists with re-ordering. Built on PHP, Symfony2, Ext JS, and supporting MySQL Community Edition and PostgreSQL, PartKeepr provides robust inventory management features, making it a highly customizable and cost-effective solution for those who prefer to host their data.
AXT Parts
AXT Parts is a free, self-hosted engineering parts management system developed in PHP. It's designed to track parts and components specifically within an engineering development environment, offering a focused approach to inventory management. For users seeking a lightweight, self-managed solution dedicated to their engineering parts, AXT Parts serves as a viable and free PartsBox alternative.
Aligni
Aligni is a cloud-based software that provides unified PLM and MRP functionalities for engineers, product designers, and manufacturers. While it offers a freemium model, its comprehensive suite of features extends beyond simple inventory management to include product lifecycle and manufacturing management. As a web-based solution, Aligni can be a robust commercial PartsBox alternative for businesses looking for a more integrated and scalable platform.
BOMIST
BOMIST specializes in parts inventory and BOM management specifically for electronics. Available on Mac and Windows, BOMIST offers a Freemium model with various pricing tiers. Its focus on portability and dedicated features for electronics make it a strong PartsBox alternative for users who prioritize a native desktop experience with comprehensive inventory and BOM management capabilities.
OpenBOM (TM)
OpenBOM (TM) is a cloud-based tool designed to create and manage Bill of Materials (BOMs) and Part Catalogs. It emphasizes real-time collaboration with teams and suppliers and offers synchronization capabilities. With a free personal plan available as a web-based platform, OpenBOM (TM) serves as a collaborative and accessible PartsBox alternative, particularly for those focused heavily on BOM creation and sharing.
Parts&Vendors
Parts&Vendors is a commercial Windows-based application that simplifies the documentation of new product designs. It helps users keep item specifications, parts lists, notes, and links to drawing files and web resources organized. Its features, including database management, drawing capabilities, and prototyping support, make it a robust PartsBox alternative for product designers and engineers who need a dedicated desktop solution for design documentation and parts tracking.
Ultimately, the best PartsBox alternative depends on your specific operational needs, whether that's a preference for open-source solutions, self-hosting capabilities, robust cloud integration, or specialized features for BOM and inventory management. Evaluate each option based on its platform, pricing model, and feature set to find the perfect tool to streamline your electronics production and inventory.