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Ekos Alternatives

Brewery & Distillery Management
Visit Ekos
PlanMonthlyAnnual
PlusMost popular$429.00/mo$5,148.00/yr
Standard$249.00/mo$2,988.00/yr

Verdict

Ekos Standard at $249 per brewery monthly + Plus at $429 is fair for active mid-volume craft breweries depending on inventory + production + sales + accounting. Solo + 1-tank nano-breweries over-buy. Where alternatives win: Beer30 ships production + recipe + lab depth at $199-$349, Orchestrated Beer bundles SAP-stack alignment at $595-$995, BrewLogix covers budget-tier brewery + taproom POS at $179-$329, and Crafter offers Microsoft Dynamics-based brewery ERP at $295-$595.

By Subrupt EditorialPublished Reviewed

Brewery and distillery management splits cleanly by brewery size. Solo and 1-tank nano-breweries need affordable production, recipe, and sales tools. Mid-volume craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries layer on inventory, accounting, and taproom POS. Enterprise multi-location craft and regional breweries need roster, custom workflows, and APIs.

Ekos dominates the mid-volume craft brewery, cidery, and distillery segment with the broadest installed base. Beer30 (5th Ingredient) competes on production, recipe, and lab tracking depth. Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware) leads SAP Business One brewery ERP. BrewLogix serves the budget-tier brewery + taproom POS segment. Crafter (Encompass) leads Microsoft Dynamics-based brewery ERP.

On cost, a 5,000-barrel craft brewery pays roughly $2,988/year on Ekos Standard versus $2,388 on Beer30, $7,140 on Orchestrated Beer, $2,148 on BrewLogix, and $3,540 on Crafter. The 1-3.4x spread tracks inventory + production + sales depth, recipe + lab depth, SAP-stack alignment, budget-tier brewery + taproom POS, and Microsoft Dynamics-based ERP.

Quick map by brewery type. Solo + 1-tank nano budget: BrewLogix at $179/brewery. Production + recipe + lab: Beer30. SAP-stack mid-volume: Orchestrated Beer. Microsoft Dynamics ERP: Crafter. Mid-volume craft + Ekos stack: stay with Ekos. Multi-location + APIs: Ekos Plus + Orchestrated Beer Plus.

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Quick pick by use case

If you only have thirty seconds, find your situation below and skip to that pick.

If your differentiation is production + recipe + lab tracking depthBeer30 (5th Ingredient)Beer30 (5th Ingredient) Standard at custom $199 per brewery monthly + Plus at $349 ships brewery production + recipe + inventory + quality control + lab tracking + brewer logs tighter than Ekos for production + recipe + lab-led ops.If your enterprise rollout aligns with the SAP Business One stackOrchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware)Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware) Standard at custom $595 per brewery monthly + Plus at $995 ships SAP Business One brewery ERP + production + accounting + inventory + CRM tighter than Ekos for SAP-stack-aligned enterprise breweries.If you are a solo + 1-tank nano-brewery wanting taproom POS bundled with budget-tier opsBrewLogixBrewLogix Standard at custom $179 per brewery monthly + Plus at $329 ships brewery + taproom POS + inventory + recipe + production + sales tracking at the cheapest credible budget-tier brewery pricing.If your IT stack is built on Microsoft DynamicsCrafter (Encompass)Crafter (Encompass) Standard at custom $295 per brewery monthly + Plus at $595 ships Microsoft Dynamics-based brewery ERP + production + inventory + accounting + CRM for breweries with Microsoft-stack IT alignment.

At a glance: Ekos alternatives

Quick comparison across pricing floor, best fit, and switching effort. Tap a row to jump to the full pick.

Our picks for Ekos alternatives

#1

Beer30 (5th Ingredient)

Medium switching effort

Best for production + recipe + lab depth

Try Beer30 (5th Ingredient)

Beer30 (5th Ingredient) Standard at custom $199 per brewery monthly covers brewery production + recipe + inventory + quality control + lab tracking + brewer logs + standard support. Plus at $349 per brewery adds advanced reporting + APIs + ERP integration + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support. Where Ekos focuses on inventory + production + sales + accounting bundled, Beer30 leads on production + recipe + lab tracking depth: detailed brewer logs, lab quality control workflows (yeast cell counts, dissolved oxygen, gravity tracking), and recipe versioning tuned for brewers prioritising production + lab discipline. For mid-volume craft breweries whose primary efficiency gain is production + recipe + lab depth, Beer30 beats Ekos on production workflow fit. The trade vs Ekos: weaker Ekos-equivalent accounting integration depth, smaller installed base outside production-led brewers, less mature taproom POS integration.

Strengths

  • +Production + recipe + lab tracking depth
  • +$199 + $349 per brewery predictable tiers
  • +Plus adds APIs + ERP integration
  • +Strong fit for production + recipe + lab-led brewers

Trade-offs

  • −Weaker Ekos-equivalent accounting integration
  • −Smaller installed base outside production-led brewers
  • −Less mature taproom POS integration
Standard
Custom ~$199/brewery/mo
Plus
Custom ~$349/brewery/mo with APIs + ERP
Heritage
5th Ingredient-owned
Strength
Production + recipe + lab
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at 5thingredient.com (typically a 30-60 minute walk-through plus custom pricing).
  2. Migrate Ekos production + recipe + inventory + lab history via Beer30 onboarding.
  3. Configure Beer30 production + recipe + inventory + lab + brewer logs workflow.
  4. Train brewers + lab staff on Beer30 UI vs Ekos.
  5. Cancel Ekos once Beer30 covers full production + recipe + inventory + lab cycle for one quarter.

Not for: Pass on Beer30 if your value driver is Ekos's accounting integration + sales + inventory bundled depth; Ekos Standard + Plus fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $199.00/mo

#2

Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware)

High switching effort

Best for SAP-stack alignment

Try Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware)

Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware) Standard at custom $595 per brewery monthly covers SAP Business One brewery ERP + production + accounting + inventory + CRM + standard support. Plus at $995 per brewery adds advanced reporting + APIs + integrations + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support. Where Ekos + Beer30 + BrewLogix focus on standalone brewery management, Orchestrated Beer is built on SAP Business One: enterprise ERP foundation, deep accounting + financials, and multi-location consolidation tuned for enterprise craft + regional breweries needing SAP-stack alignment. For enterprise multi-location craft + regional breweries with SAP-stack IT alignment, Orchestrated Beer beats Ekos on SAP-stack integration depth. The trade vs Ekos: 2.4-2.3x higher entry cost, weaker Ekos-equivalent mid-volume entry economics, less mature SMB-craft installed base.

Strengths

  • +SAP Business One brewery ERP
  • +$595 + $995 per brewery predictable tiers
  • +Plus adds APIs + multi-location + custom workflows
  • +Strong fit for SAP-stack-aligned enterprise breweries

Trade-offs

  • −2.3-2.4x higher entry cost vs Ekos
  • −Weaker Ekos-equivalent mid-volume entry
  • −Less mature SMB-craft installed base
Standard
Custom ~$595/brewery/mo
Plus
Custom ~$995/brewery/mo with APIs + multi-location
Heritage
OrchestraSoftware-owned + SAP B1-based
Strength
SAP Business One brewery ERP
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at orchestrated.com (typically a 60-90 minute walk-through plus custom pricing).
  2. Plan a 6-12 month enterprise rollout; pilot Orchestrated Beer on 1 location first.
  3. Migrate Ekos production + accounting + inventory + sales + CRM history via Orchestrated onboarding.
  4. Configure Orchestrated Beer SAP B1 ERP + production + accounting + inventory + CRM workflow.
  5. Cancel Ekos once Orchestrated Beer covers full production + accounting + inventory + sales cycle for one quarter.

Not for: Orchestrated Beer is suboptimal for mid-volume craft brewers valuing Ekos's mid-market entry + brewery-specific bundled depth; Ekos Standard + Plus fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $595.00/mo

#3

BrewLogix

Low switching effort

Best for budget-tier brewery + taproom POS

Try BrewLogix

BrewLogix Standard at custom $179 per brewery monthly covers brewery + taproom POS + inventory + recipe + production + sales tracking + standard support. Plus at $329 per brewery adds advanced reporting + APIs + integrations + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support. Where Ekos Standard at $249 is the entry tier with broader accounting integration, BrewLogix Standard at $179 ships parity scope (inventory + recipe + production + sales) at 28% lower entry cost while bundling taproom POS in Standard. For solo + 1-tank nano-breweries + 1-2 taproom operations where per-brewery cost + taproom POS bundle are the primary constraints, BrewLogix beats Ekos on entry economics + taproom POS bundle. The trade vs Ekos: weaker Ekos-equivalent accounting integration depth, smaller installed base, less mature multi-location enterprise consolidation.

Strengths

  • +$179 Standard (vs Ekos $249)
  • +Bundled brewery + taproom POS + inventory + recipe
  • +Plus adds APIs + multi-location + custom workflows
  • +Strong fit for solo + 1-tank nano + 1-2 taproom

Trade-offs

  • −Weaker Ekos-equivalent accounting integration
  • −Smaller installed base
  • −Less mature multi-location enterprise consolidation
Standard
Custom ~$179/brewery/mo
Plus
Custom ~$329/brewery/mo with APIs + multi-location
Differentiator
Budget-tier brewery + taproom POS
Strength
Solo + nano + taproom budget
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at brewlogix.com (typically a 30-60 minute walk-through plus custom pricing).
  2. Migrate Ekos production + recipe + inventory + sales + taproom history via BrewLogix onboarding.
  3. Configure BrewLogix brewery + taproom POS + inventory + recipe + production workflow.
  4. Train brewers + taproom staff on BrewLogix UI vs Ekos.
  5. Cancel Ekos once BrewLogix covers full production + recipe + inventory + sales + taproom cycle for one quarter.

Not for: BrewLogix falls short for mid-volume craft breweries depending on Ekos's accounting integration + multi-location depth; Ekos Standard + Plus fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $179.00/mo

#4

Crafter (Encompass)

High switching effort

Best for Microsoft Dynamics-based brewery ERP

Try Crafter (Encompass)

Crafter (Encompass) Standard at custom $295 per brewery monthly covers Microsoft Dynamics-based brewery ERP + production + inventory + accounting + CRM + standard support. Plus at $595 per brewery adds advanced reporting + APIs + integrations + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support. Where Ekos + Beer30 + BrewLogix are standalone brewery platforms and Orchestrated Beer is SAP-stack-aligned, Crafter is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365: enterprise ERP foundation, deep Microsoft Office + Power BI integration, and multi-location consolidation tuned for breweries with Microsoft-stack IT alignment. For breweries with Microsoft-stack IT alignment (Microsoft 365 + Power BI + Azure), Crafter beats Ekos on Microsoft-stack integration depth. The trade vs Ekos: 1.2-1.4x higher entry cost, weaker Ekos-equivalent brewery-specific bundled depth, less mature SMB-craft installed base.

Strengths

  • +Microsoft Dynamics-based brewery ERP
  • +$295 + $595 per brewery predictable tiers
  • +Plus adds APIs + multi-location + custom workflows
  • +Strong fit for Microsoft-stack-aligned breweries

Trade-offs

  • −1.2-1.4x higher entry cost vs Ekos
  • −Weaker Ekos-equivalent brewery-specific depth
  • −Less mature SMB-craft installed base
Standard
Custom ~$295/brewery/mo
Plus
Custom ~$595/brewery/mo with APIs + multi-location
Heritage
Encompass-owned + Microsoft Dynamics-based
Strength
Microsoft Dynamics brewery ERP
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at encompass8.com (typically a 60-90 minute walk-through plus custom pricing).
  2. Plan a 4-6 month rollout; pilot Crafter on 1 location first.
  3. Migrate Ekos production + inventory + accounting + CRM history via Crafter onboarding.
  4. Configure Crafter Microsoft Dynamics brewery ERP + production + inventory + accounting workflow.
  5. Cancel Ekos once Crafter covers full production + inventory + accounting + CRM cycle for one quarter.

Not for: Crafter is suboptimal for SMB-craft breweries valuing Ekos's brewery-specific bundled + mid-market entry depth; Ekos Standard + Plus fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $295.00/mo

When to stay with Ekos

Stay with Ekos if your brewery + cidery + distillery ops live on its inventory + production + sales + accounting flow, your QuickBooks + integrations are well-tuned, or your multi-location rollout includes APIs + custom workflows. The picks below cover Beer30 for production + recipe + lab depth, Orchestrated Beer for SAP-stack alignment, BrewLogix for budget-tier brewery + taproom POS, and Crafter for Microsoft Dynamics-based brewery ERP.

4 Alternatives to Ekos

Beer30 (5th Ingredient)

Beer30 (5th Ingredient) starts at $199.00/mo vs Ekos Plus at $429.00/mo

From $199.00/mo

Save $230.00/mo ($2,760.00/yr)

Switch to Beer30 (5th Ingredient)
Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware)

Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware) from $595.00/mo

From $595.00/mo

Switch to Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware)
BrewLogix

BrewLogix starts at $179.00/mo vs Ekos Plus at $429.00/mo

From $179.00/mo

Save $250.00/mo ($3,000.00/yr)

Switch to BrewLogix
Crafter (Encompass)

Crafter (Encompass) starts at $295.00/mo vs Ekos Plus at $429.00/mo

From $295.00/mo

Save $134.00/mo ($1,608.00/yr)

Switch to Crafter (Encompass)

Price Comparison

Compared against Ekos Plus ($429.00/mo)

Continue your research

Beer30 (5th Ingredient) alternativesOrchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware) alternativesBrewLogix alternatives

How we picked

We compared brewery + distillery management platforms across the solo nano through enterprise multi-location segment on per-brewery pricing, inventory + production + sales depth, accounting integration, recipe + lab tracking, taproom POS, and ERP-stack alignment (SAP, Microsoft Dynamics).

We weighted predictable per-brewery pricing, bundled vs add-on pricing model, and brewery-stage fit (solo nano, mid-volume craft, enterprise multi-location). Pricing pulled from each vendor's site or sales conversations on the review date. Last refreshed 2026-04-30.

Update history1 update
  • Initial published version with 4 picks.

Frequently asked questions about Ekos alternatives

What is Ekos pricing?

Ekos Standard at custom $249 per brewery monthly covers brewery + cidery + distillery ERP + inventory + production + sales + accounting + standard support. Plus at custom $429 per brewery adds advanced reporting + APIs + integrations + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support.

Is there a free brewery management tool?

No vendor in this segment offers a permanent free tier; Ekos + Beer30 + Orchestrated Beer + BrewLogix + Crafter all require paid tiers. Vendors typically offer 14-30 day trials but no free perpetual tier.

Which platform leads on production + recipe + lab depth?

Beer30 (5th Ingredient) is engineered for production + recipe + lab tracking depth. Standard at $199 per brewery monthly + Plus at $349 are canonical for mid-volume craft breweries prioritising detailed brewer logs + lab quality control workflows + recipe versioning.

What replaces Ekos for SAP-stack alignment?

Orchestrated Beer (OrchestraSoftware) Standard at $595 per brewery monthly + Plus at $995 are canonical for enterprise multi-location craft + regional breweries with SAP Business One stack alignment + deep accounting + financials + multi-location consolidation.

Which platform fits solo + 1-tank nano-breweries with taproom POS?

BrewLogix Standard at $179 per brewery monthly + Plus at $329 are canonical for solo + 1-tank nano-breweries + 1-2 taproom operations where per-brewery cost + taproom POS bundle are the primary constraints. BrewLogix ships parity scope at 28% lower entry cost vs Ekos Standard.

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About the author: Subrupt Editorial

The team behind subrupt.com. We track subscriptions, surface cheaper alternatives, and publish comparisons where the score formula is on the page so you can recompute it yourself. We do not claim 30,000 hours of testing. What we claim is live pricing from our database, a transparent composite score, and honest savings math against a category baseline.

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