Tool profile
OpenBOM: cost, fit and limits
OpenBOM is a cloud product lifecycle management service made by OpenBOM that manages bills of materials, CAD files, revisions and engineering change orders for manufacturing teams. It is aimed at small and growing hardware companies, contractors and suppliers that want a multi-tenant SaaS tool without a long implementation project.
What to know first
OpenBOM prices in three layers that a buyer can add up from the page: a per-seat plan, per-seat CAD add-ins for each CAD system, and a data tier based on the number of records. Unlimited read-only users are free, which makes it cheap to share a BOM with suppliers. AI appears as review agents, some live and some on the roadmap, so check which one you need.
OpenBOM at a glance
| Maker | OpenBOM, United States |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | $30 per seat per month billed yearly for Professional Team |
| API access | Yes |
| Category | Best AI Product Lifecycle Management Software in 2026, rank 1 of 10 |
| Website | openbom.com |
Who OpenBOM is best for
SOLIDWORKS and Onshape design teams
The page lists CAD add-ins for SolidWorks, Onshape, Fusion 360, Inventor and others, so engineers can push parts and assemblies into a managed BOM from the design tool they already use.
Companies that share BOMs with suppliers
Unlimited read-only users are free on every plan, and the RFQ and purchase order tools let a buyer send a BOM to suppliers without buying extra seats.
Teams that outgrow spreadsheets
The Professional Team plan covers BOM management, a part catalog, inventory control and import and export, which replaces a shared spreadsheet at a moderate seat price.
Educators and non-commercial users
OpenBOM lists free plans for education, personal and non-commercial use, subject to qualification, which suits labs and student projects. Qualification rules apply.
OpenBOM plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Team | $55 per seat per month, or $30 billed yearly | BOM management, part catalog, inventory control, RFQ and purchase orders, real-time collaboration, import and export and a REST API. |
| Company | $165 per seat per month, or $90 billed yearly | Adds CAD file management and PDM, revision control, change management with ECOs, advanced xBOM views and multi-factor authentication. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Adds SSO, custom integrations, enterprise support and private or custom hosting, quoted individually. Terms are negotiated per customer. |
| Data record tiers | Free to 2,000 records, then $100 per month billed yearly at 5,000 | Tiers rise to 30,000 records at $600 a month billed yearly; above that, contact sales for an unlimited tier. |
Checked November 2026.
What OpenBOM does
- Cloud PDM
- OpenBOM describes cloud product data management that manages CAD files, versions and references and links them to items, BOMs and revisions, without the vault complexity of older systems.
- BOM and xBOM views
- Engineering and manufacturing BOMs are supported in single-level, multi-level, flattened and configured views, which helps teams that keep different structures for design and production. A single part list can serve both sides.
- Change management
- Shared BOM review, tasks, ECO workflows, revision history and approvals come with the Company plan, so a released revision has a record of who approved it.
- Review agents
- The BOM Review and change validation agents are described as available to all customers, and a CAD File Agent for SOLIDWORKS is available to a limited set of selected customers.
- Product Memory
- A connected knowledge layer links files, BOMs, changes and decisions. The page presents it as groundwork for future AI features, so treat it as a direction, not a finished product.
How OpenBOM handles your data
OpenBOM's home page describes a global multi-tenant SaaS platform and shows an AICPA SOC badge with a link to a Security page. The pages we read do not describe encryption, name a cloud provider or region, or say whether customer data is used to train models, so the vendor's policy was not checked for those points. The AI agents and Product Memory are described only by function. Enterprise customers can ask for private or custom hosting and SSO. The pages give two headquarters locations in Massachusetts, Boston and Newton, without explaining the difference. Ask for a security questionnaire before uploading controlled design data.
Where OpenBOM falls short in practice
- CAD add-ins cost extra. Each CAD system adds $25 per seat per month billed yearly, or $45 billed monthly, and requires a Team or Company subscription. A team on two CAD tools should price the add-ins for both.
- Several agents are not live yet. Flow agents for procurement, inventory, ERP and supplier synchronization are on the roadmap, and the CAD File Agent is limited to selected customers. Only the review agents are stated as generally available.
- Security detail is thin. The pages show a SOC badge but no description of controls, hosting or AI data use. Regulated buyers, such as defense suppliers, will need documentation before they can place controlled data in it.
Works with
Alternatives to OpenBOM
OpenBOM: common questions
Can suppliers view an OpenBOM bill of materials without paying?
Yes. The pricing page says unlimited read-only users are free on all plans. Suppliers can therefore review a BOM, though editing needs a paid seat. RFQ and purchase order tools sit in the Professional Team plan. Check which of your suppliers need to edit rather than view.
What counts as a data record in OpenBOM?
The page prices by data record tiers and does not define a record in the text we read, but tiers run from free up to 2,000 records to unlimited. Ask OpenBOM how parts, BOM lines and files count before estimating your tier.
Does OpenBOM have a free trial?
A 14-day free trial is available, and the FAQ says sales can approve an extension. Free plans also exist for education, personal and non-commercial use, subject to qualification, so check eligibility before paying. Ask sales early if the trial window is too short for your evaluation.
Which ERP systems does OpenBOM connect to?
The product page lists QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, Odoo, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Katana MRP and Priority ERP, and the pricing page mentions SAP. ERP integrations are priced as a flat rate per integration, so each connector is quoted separately.
Is OpenBOM suitable for regulated products?
It can hold change records and approvals, but the pages we read name no certification beyond a SOC badge and no validation package. Medical device or defense teams should ask for documentation on controls and audit trails. Also ask how revision history is retained after export.