# Carbon vs. M1

> ECI M1 is an established job-shop ERP with a Windows desktop client, a dated interface, quote-based pricing, and AI that hasn't reached M1 yet. Carbon is a modern, open, API-first platform — ERP, MRP, MES and QMS on one model — with a hosted MCP server and pricing in the open.

## Scope & fit

| | Carbon | M1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | ERP + MRP + MES + QMS on one data model | Job-shop / discrete ERP |
| Built for | Discrete make-to-order manufacturers and job shops | Small-to-mid discrete job shops |
| Client | Modern web app | Windows-only desktop client (SQL Server) |

## Capabilities

| | Carbon | M1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quoting, job costing & scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Shop-floor execution (MES) | Yes | Yes |
| Quality (QMS) | Native, on the same model | Native basic; deeper via uniPoint add-on |
| Serial & batch traceability | Full genealogy, built in | Serial; batch/lot & recall noted weak |
| Product configurator (CPQ) | Yes | No |
| 3D CAD / STEP viewer | Built in | Via CADLink add-on |

## Platform & ownership

| | Carbon | M1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deployment | Cloud or self-host | M1 Cloud or on-prem; Windows client |
| Full ownership of the code | Yes — the entire codebase is yours | No — proprietary |
| API coverage | Full backend over REST — every table | REST API; docs gated via partner program |
| AI / agent-ready (MCP) | Hosted MCP over the full backend, available now | Announced for M1, not yet shipped; no MCP |
| ITAR / GovCloud / CMMC | ITAR, GovCloud & CMMC / NIST 800-171 ready | ITAR-compliant cloud option |

## Getting started

| | Carbon | M1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Implementation | Self-serve; live in days | Professional-services-led; ~8–12 weeks |
| Pricing | $40–$100 / user / mo, published | Quote-based; not published |

## Where M1 still fits

M1 is a proven, affordable single-vendor ERP for small and mid job shops that want solid quoting, job costing and scheduling and are comfortable on Windows. Carbon offers the same job-shop loop on a modern, open, web-based platform — with the API and AI story M1 is still building.

## You may be outgrowing M1 if…

- **You're tied to a Windows desktop.** M1's client is a Windows app. Carbon runs in the browser, on any device on the floor.
- **The AI never arrived.** ECI shipped its assistant to other products first; M1's is still 'coming.' Carbon ships a hosted MCP server for agents today.
- **You want a price on the website.** M1 is quote-gated. Carbon publishes per-user pricing and a 30-day free trial.

## Why manufacturers choose Carbon

- **One record, quality included.** M1 covers quoting, job costing and scheduling well, but quality lives in the uniPoint add-on. Carbon keeps ERP, MRP, MES and QMS on one data model, so an inspection writes to the same record as the job it came from.
- **A browser, not a desktop install.** M1 runs a Windows-only desktop client on SQL Server. Carbon is a modern web app your team opens from any machine — nothing to install, image or VPN into, on the floor or off it.
- **Open and API-first.** The entire backend is open over REST and MCP and yours to self-host, with no lock-in. Point Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor at your live data instead of a bundled assistant.
- **A modern web platform.** Start free for 30 days on published, per-user pricing — no sales call, and no reseller required to make a change.

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.