WatchDealerInventory alternative: Kigu
WatchDealerInventory is a feature-rich UK platform with a B2B marketplace and live auctions. Kigu is a leaner, WhatsApp-native back office with a free plan and transparent pricing.
TL;DR
WatchDealerInventory is an established UK platform (publicly priced at £120/month, or £96/month billed annually) serving 100+ dealers, with inventory management, a B2B marketplace, live trade auctions, a consignor-portal add-on, and channel publishing to Shopify/eBay/Chrono24 listed as coming soon. Kigu is a lighter-weight, WhatsApp-native system of record with AI extraction, true P&L across 30 currencies, a free plan and $59/month Pro. Choose WatchDealerInventory for marketplace/auction depth; choose Kigu for WhatsApp capture, simplicity and price.
WatchDealerInventory is one of the more fully featured platforms in the space; Kigu deliberately does less, but does the WhatsApp-and-P&L core deeply and cheaply.
What WatchDealerInventory does well
It offers inventory management with audit trails, condition and ownership tracking (owned, consigned, part-exchange), and runs a B2B marketplace with live trade auctions; channel publishing to Shopify, eBay and Chrono24 is listed as coming soon (as of May 2026). A consignor portal is available as an add-on. Pricing is published — around £120/month, or £96/month on annual billing, with paid add-ons for extra users, storage and the consignor portal. For dealers who want marketplace and auction features in one place, that breadth is compelling.
Where Kigu is different
- WhatsApp ingestion + AI extraction is built in — turning dealer-group chatter into structured inventory.
- A genuine free plan (up to 50 items) plus a single $59/month Pro plan — no per-user, per-portal or per-storage add-ons.
- 30-currency P&L for cross-border trading.
- 9-language interface.
Different shapes of product
WatchDealerInventory is a broad marketplace-and-inventory suite; Kigu is a focused back office. Pick based on whether you need the marketplace/auction layer or value simplicity and WhatsApp capture.
WatchDealerInventory vs Kigu at a glance
| Capability | Kigu | WatchDealerInventory |
|---|---|---|
| Native WhatsApp AI ingestion | Yes — built in | Not publicly listed |
| Inventory + ownership tracking | Yes (owned & consigned) | Yes (owned, consigned, part-exchange) |
| Marketplace listing | CSV import (incl. Chrono24) | Channel publishing (listed as coming soon) |
| B2B marketplace + live auctions | No | Yes |
| Consignor portal | No (manage consignors in-app) | Yes (paid add-on) |
| True P&L after fees | Yes | Not publicly detailed |
| Multi-currency | 30 currencies | Not publicly detailed |
| Published pricing | Free tier + $59/mo Pro | £120/mo (£96/mo annual) + add-ons |
Comparison reflects publicly available information as of May 2026. Vendors change features and pricing — verify current details on the vendor's website before deciding.
When to choose each
Choose Kigu if…
- You trade heavily in WhatsApp groups and want AI capture.
- You want a free plan or a single, lower flat price.
- You trade across currencies and want unified P&L.
- You don't need a B2B marketplace or auctions.
Choose WatchDealerInventory if…
- You want a built-in B2B marketplace and live trade auctions.
- You need a customer-facing consignor portal.
- Audit trails and part-exchange ownership tracking matter to you.
Frequently asked questions
How does pricing compare?
WatchDealerInventory publishes pricing around £120/month (£96/month billed annually), with add-ons for extra users, storage and a consignor portal. Kigu has a free plan and a single $59/month Pro plan with no per-user add-ons.
Does Kigu have a B2B marketplace or auctions?
No. Those are strengths of WatchDealerInventory. Kigu focuses on private inventory, WhatsApp capture and P&L rather than a trading marketplace.
Can Kigu handle consignment?
Yes, you manage consigned pieces and consignors inside the app, though there is no separate customer-facing consignor portal. See our consignment use-case page.
Is Kigu UK-friendly?
Yes — multi-currency including GBP, and content on UK VAT margin scheme considerations. Always confirm tax treatment with a professional.
See why dealers compare WatchDealerInventory with Kigu
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