Open QuarterMaster review: the free, open-source, self-hosted inventory management system. Features, modular plugins, self-hosting setup, and alternatives.
Open QuarterMaster is an open-source, self-hosted inventory management system built by Epic Breakfast Productions, with active development on GitHub since 2021. It is built around a modular Core API and a Base Station web frontend, designed to scale from simple household inventory tracking up to warehouse and distribution-center operations.
The project's central idea is that one flexible, extendable system can replace the need for separate inventory tools at different scales, using an optional plugin architecture to add capabilities only when an organization actually needs them.
At its core, OQM tracks what items exist, where they are physically stored, and relevant facts about their quantity or condition, exposed through a Core API and the Base Station frontend for day-to-day navigation and management.
Optional plugins extend the base system with capabilities such as smart-refrigerator integrations, tracking of physical storage mediums like bins or containers, point-of-sale system connections for retail use, and warehouse or order-fulfillment workflow management, letting deployments stay as simple or as sophisticated as needed.
Open QuarterMaster is entirely free and open source, self-hosted with an automated setup script for Debian-based systems, with no licensing fees for the core software or its plugins.
The project sustains itself through voluntary community support, including donation platforms like Patreon and Ko-fi and a branded merchandise shop, rather than through paid subscription tiers or enterprise contracts.
Yes, Open QuarterMaster is completely free and open source. The project accepts voluntary donations via Patreon and Ko-fi but does not charge for the core software.
Yes, there is no official managed hosting or SaaS offering; it is designed to be self-hosted, typically on Debian-based Linux systems using an automated setup script.
It is developed by Epic Breakfast Productions, an independent open-source team, with public development on GitHub since 2021.
Yes, its modular plugin architecture supports warehouse and order-fulfillment workflows in addition to smaller-scale household or small-business use.
The Base Station is the web-based frontend that connects to the Core API, giving users a direct, navigable interface for managing their inventory.
Yes, point-of-sale system connections are available as one of the optional plugins that extend the core inventory system.
Unlike commercial SaaS inventory tools like Sortly or inFlow, Open QuarterMaster is free, open source, and self-hosted, giving organizations full control over their data with no subscription fees.