Häufig gestellte Fragen
What are the best alternatives to JTL-Wawi?
The most frequently mentioned alternatives include Plentymarkets (today PlentyONE), Xentral, Weclapp, Pickware and microtech, which differ significantly in architecture and focus. For integrated accounting, Weclapp and Xentral are well suited as cloud-native ERP systems, while Pickware is deeply integrated into Shopware and Plentymarkets plays to its strength in multichannel selling across many marketplaces. microtech positions its büro+ as a merchandise management system with industry depth for mid-sized businesses and online retail. Which solution fits depends on the sales model, the shop platform and the need for integrated financial accounting, which is why a comparison based on your own processes makes sense.
Why do retailers switch from JTL-Wawi to an alternative?
JTL-Wawi is primarily a merchandise management system and not a fully fledged ERP solution with integrated financial accounting or comprehensive production control, so many retailers have to connect a separate accounting package. In addition, JTL-Wawi is a Windows application and requires a Microsoft SQL Server, which entails server operation, updates and hosting effort. Anyone working on macOS or Linux can only use the software via RDP or cloud hosting. With stronger growth, the desire for true SaaS operation or the need for end-to-end integrated processes, retailers therefore look for more comprehensive or cloud-native systems.
What is the best cloud alternative to JTL-Wawi?
Xentral and Weclapp in particular are regarded as cloud-native alternatives with integrated accounting; they require no in-house server operation and come with automatic updates. Plentymarkets, or PlentyONE, is an established cloud multichannel platform that, according to the vendor, natively connects more than 150 sales channels and marketplaces, making it suitable for retailers with many channels. The pricing models differ considerably: Weclapp charges per user per month, while Xentral prices by order volume with unlimited users. Which variant is cheaper therefore depends on team size and order quantity.
Can I keep JTL-Wawi and just add an ERP or an accounting package?
That is possible in principle, as many retailers couple JTL-Wawi via interfaces with a separate accounting solution such as Lexware or a DATEV connection. This route can make sense if the existing merchandise management system is well established and only individual functions are missing. In the long run, however, maintaining several separate systems often leads to duplicate data entry, reconciliation effort and sources of error at the interfaces. An integrated ERP solution in which merchandise management and financial accounting share one database is therefore usually more efficient and lower-maintenance as volumes grow.
Which alternative suits Shopware retailers?
For retailers running their shop on Shopware, Pickware is often the most obvious choice, as it is a merchandise management system integrated directly and deeply into Shopware, covering warehouse, shipping and point of sale as one coherent package. This removes the need for additional middleware between shop and merchandise management, which simplifies data maintenance. Those who need integrated ERP functions beyond the shop, such as accounting or multiple sales channels, will also find solid Shopware connections in Xentral and Weclapp. The decision depends on whether the focus is on pure Shopware depth or on a broader ERP scope.
How much effort is switching from JTL-Wawi to another solution?
A system switch is a project that needs planning, typically taking between roughly two and eight weeks including a test phase, depending on data volume and complexity. From JTL-Wawi, master data such as items, variants, customers, suppliers, stock levels and the order history can be exported as CSV via the JTL-Ameise import/export tool and then imported into the target system. The effort increases above all through data preparation, field mapping and individual customisations that have grown in the legacy system. A thorough inventory beforehand and parallel test operation before go-live reduce the risk of data loss or process interruptions.
What does JTL-Wawi cost and how does that change the choice of an alternative?
The basic version JTL Start is still free, but JTL switched its pricing model to four editions on 1 April 2026: Start (free), Advanced (around 99 euros per month on an annual subscription, 119 euros with monthly payment), Pro (around 329 to 369 euros per month) and Enterprise on request only. In the free Start edition, some local shop connectors such as WooCommerce or PrestaShop are no longer usable and require at least Advanced. Since cloud alternatives such as Weclapp (per user per month) or Xentral (by order volume) also incur ongoing fees, you should compare total costs including hosting, add-on modules and the accounting connection over several years. These figures can change, so a reliable calculation should be based on the vendors' current information.