Buyer's Guide · 2026
How to choose the best import export software for your business in India.
Eight things to check before you buy, a fair comparison of the usual options, and the questions exporters and importers ask us most. Written for Indian SMEs, from the team that builds Eximly.
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8 things the best import export software must do
1. Indian GST, done properly
Export invoices under LUT at zero tax or with IGST paid, CGST/SGST vs IGST on domestic sales, e-invoice IRN through a GST Suvidha Provider, and GSTR-1 / GSTR-3B data you can upload. If a tool treats GST as a single 'tax %' box, it was not built for India.
2. The full export document chain
Quotation, proforma, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, shipping bill and bill of lading should flow from one order. Retyping the buyer, ports and items into every document is where errors start.
3. Imports, not just exports
If you also import, check for purchase orders, bills of entry with the BCD + SWS + IGST cascade, and landed cost that puts duty into stock value while keeping IGST as input credit.
4. Money you are owed, tracked
Export proceeds must be realised within RBI's window. The software should track remittances against invoices, handle bank charges and exchange gain or loss, and keep BRC / eBRC status in one place.
5. Accounts from the same record
Every invoice, bill and payment should post its own journal entry, with stock at weighted-average cost. If documents live in one tool and accounts in another, someone reconciles them by hand every month.
6. Your formats, not theirs
Buyers, banks and customs expect documents in familiar layouts. Look for templates you can change: columns, fields, logo, signature, and an item table that matches your products (sizes, lots, grades).
7. Fair pricing for a small team
Per-company pricing that matches the side of trade you run is usually cheaper than per-user ERP licences plus an implementation partner. A free trial with your own data is the only real test.
8. Security and data ownership
Two-factor login, company-level data separation, an audit trail of who changed what, and a full export of your data whenever you want it.
How the usual options compare
Most Indian exporters choose between three approaches. Here is how they measure up on the checks above.
| What to check | Excel / Word + Tally | Generic ERP | Eximly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export documents (CI, PL, CoO, SB) | Typed by hand per shipment | Usually needs customisation | Generated from the order, in your format |
| GST, LUT and e-invoice | In Tally; documents kept separately | Varies; often via add-ons | Built in: LUT, IGST, IRN via GSP, GSTR JSON |
| Imports, duty and landed cost | Separate sheets | Possible with configuration | Bill of entry duty cascade + landed cost |
| Realisation and BRC tracking | Manual register | Rarely covered | Remittances, FX gain/loss and eBRC status |
| Accounts linked to documents | No: re-entered in Tally | Yes | Yes, auto-posted, with Tally export |
| Time to start | Immediate, but stays manual | Weeks to months | Same day, 30-day free trial |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best import export software in India?
The best one is the one that covers your side of trade end to end: Indian GST and LUT, the export (and import) document chain, realisation tracking and accounts from the same record. Shortlist two or three tools, then run one real shipment through each during the trial. Eximly is built for exactly this and has a 30-day free trial.
Is Tally enough for an exporter?
Tally is good for accounts, but it does not produce commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin or shipping bill data, and it does not track a shipment's documents or realisation. Many exporters keep Tally for their CA and use a trade system for operations; Eximly exports vouchers to Tally for that reason.
Do I need an ERP or export documentation software?
A small or mid-size exporter rarely needs a full ERP implementation. What you need is documents, GST, stock and accounts working from one record. Eximly gives you that without a consultant, and grows into manufacturing, multi-branch GST and approvals when you need them.
Can it file my shipping bill on ICEGATE?
Eximly prepares the shipping bill data and checks it against the omissions customs commonly rejects, so your CHA or you can file without rework. Direct ICEGATE filing depends on your own ICEGATE API access.
How much does import export software cost?
It ranges from free spreadsheets to lakhs for an ERP implementation. Eximly is priced per company by business type (exporter, importer, both, manufacturer-exporter or domestic only), with yearly and monthly plans. See the pricing page for current prices.