# Carbon vs. Epicor Kinetic

> Epicor Kinetic is a deep, mature manufacturing ERP — and a proprietary one, sold by quote, implemented by partners over months, with on-prem innovation ending in 2028. Carbon matches the manufacturing model on an open, API-first platform you can self-host, with pricing on the website.

## Scope & fit

| | Carbon | Epicor Kinetic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | ERP + MRP + MES + QMS on one data model | Mature mid-market manufacturing ERP |
| Built for | Discrete manufacturers, from prototype to rate production | Mid-to-large discrete / mixed-mode / ETO |
| Architecture | One unified Postgres schema | Modular ERP; tiers + a separate CPQ product |

## Capabilities

| | Carbon | Epicor Kinetic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shop-floor execution (MES) | Yes | Yes |
| Quality (QMS) | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduling & capacity planning | Live; updates as the floor reports | Finite/infinite APS (deep, mature) |
| Product configurator (CPQ) | Built in | Native config; 3D/visual via separate Epicor CPQ |
| 3D CAD / STEP viewer | Built in | Via Epicor CPQ / PLM |
| Serial & batch traceability | Yes | Yes |

## Platform & ownership

| | Carbon | Epicor Kinetic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deployment | Cloud or self-host | Cloud/Azure; on-prem innovation ends ~2028 |
| Full ownership of the code | Yes — the entire codebase is yours | No — proprietary |
| API coverage | Full backend over REST — every table | REST v2 (OData); ERP-shaped, key + auth |
| AI / agent-ready (MCP) | Hosted MCP over the full backend, day one | Prism agents + MCP (new, 2026); cloud-tied |
| ITAR / GovCloud / CMMC | ITAR, GovCloud & CMMC / NIST 800-171 ready | Enterprise-grade, broad |

## Getting started

| | Carbon | Epicor Kinetic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Implementation | Self-serve; live in days | Partner-led; 6–18+ months |
| Pricing | $40–$100 / user / mo, published | Quote-only; base fee + per user |

## Where Epicor still fits

Epicor's manufacturing depth is real — finite-capacity APS, tiered quality, decades of mixed-mode and ETO know-how. For a complex, multi-plant incumbent buyer willing to run a partner-led implementation, it's a defensible choice. Carbon offers the same manufacturing model, open and API-first, without the six-figure rollout or the 2028 on-prem cliff.

## You may be outgrowing Epicor if…

- **You don't want the six-figure rollout.** Kinetic is partner-led over months. Carbon you start yourself, free for 30 days, on published pricing.
- **On-prem is on the clock.** Epicor's on-prem innovation ends around 2028, pushing you to its cloud. Carbon is open-source — self-host it as long as you like.
- **Upgrades fight your customizations.** Customized Kinetic upgrades are painful. Carbon's source is yours, and every capability is an API call.

## Why manufacturers choose Carbon

- **One system instead of a module stack.** Epicor Kinetic is assembled from modules and a separate CPQ product, licensed and configured tier by tier. Carbon ships ERP, MRP, MES, QMS and the configurator on one Postgres schema — nothing to bolt together, nothing to reconcile between modules.
- **Open and API-first.** The whole backend is yours over REST and MCP — every table, not a curated integration surface — and you can self-host with no lock-in. Point the best agents (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor) at your live data instead of a vendor's built-in assistant.
- **Live capacity planning, no APS project.** Epicor's finite scheduling is deep and mature, but standing it up is a configuration effort of its own. Carbon's capacity and demand update the moment the floor reports progress — the plan is live out of the box.
- **Modern and open.** Start free for 30 days on published, per-user pricing with a self-serve rollout — instead of a partner-led implementation and a negotiated quote.

Start a 30-day free trial at https://app.carbon.ms, see pricing at https://carbon.ms/pricing, or read the source at https://github.com/crbnos/carbon.