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SDS HQ vs. SDS Manager, Chemwatch, and VelocityEHS: the sourced comparison.

Every third-party price and feature on this page was read from the vendor’s own website on the date shown beside it, with a link to the source. Where a vendor does not publish something, we say so instead of guessing. SDS HQ’s column comes from the same numbers the app bills from.

WHO EACH IS FOR

SDS HQ

SDS management and authoring for U.S. workplaces, priced by location — never by sheet count or viewers.

MARKET

Single shops to multi-location companies. The library is free up to 200 SDSs; authoring is $79 per SDS on every plan.

PRICING

Published: Free $0 · Starter $19 per month · Multi-Site $49 per month (+$10 per extra location). Annual billing is two months free.

SOURCE · SDSHQ.COM/PRICING

SDS Manager

Low-cost SDS management, priced by how many sheets you store.

MARKET

Small and mid-size workplaces. Also sells SDS authoring (ExactSDS), supplier-side SDS distribution, and an EHS suite.

PRICING

Metered by SDS count and billed annually. At 100 SDSs: Basic $19, Premium $39, Pro $59 per month; at 400 SDSs: $31, $89, and $134. A free plan covers up to 200 SDSs, and there is a 30-day trial without a card.1

VERIFIED SEP 3, 2026 · 2 SOURCES

Chemwatch

An enterprise chemicals-management suite from a 30-year Australian vendor.

MARKET

Large and multinational organizations: SDS management, chemical registers and manifests, risk assessment, labeling, and authoring, sold by quote.

PRICING

Quote-based. The site offers "Request a Demo" and a free trial; no price list is published.3

VERIFIED SEP 3, 2026 · 4 SOURCES

VelocityEHSformerly MSDSonline

An enterprise EHS platform whose chemical-management module grew out of MSDSonline.

MARKET

Mid-size to enterprise organizations: SDS management, chemical inventory, secondary labeling, and regulatory reporting, sold through demos and quotes.

PRICING

Quote-based — "Get a demo"; no public price list. A free 5-day SDS trial is offered.7

VERIFIED SEP 3, 2026 · 2 SOURCES
PRICE AT A GLANCE

What a library of a given size costs per month.

List prices in U.S. dollars, as published on each vendor’s site on the dates in the sources list. SDS HQ is not metered by SDS count.

SDSs IN YOUR LIBRARY
SDS HQ
SOURCE · /PRICING
SDS Manager
AS OF SEP 3, 2026
Chemwatch
AS OF SEP 3, 2026
VelocityEHS
AS OF SEP 3, 2026
100 SDSs
$0 · Free planUp to 200 SDSs. Starter, $19/mo, adds QR codes and labels.
Basic $19 · Premium $391per month, billed annually
Quote-based4Backpack Limited is free for fewer than 50 SDSs.
Quote-based7Free 5-day SDS trial.
200 SDSs
$0 · Free planUp to 200 SDSs. Starter, $19/mo, adds QR codes and labels.
Basic $23 · Premium $561per month, billed annually
Quote-based3
Quote-based7
400 SDSs
$19/mo · StarterUnlimited SDSs; $190/yr billed annually.
Basic $31 · Premium $891per month, billed annually
Quote-based3
Quote-based7
800 SDSs
$19/mo · StarterUnlimited SDSs; $190/yr billed annually.
Basic $45 · Premium $1471per month, billed annually
Quote-based3
Quote-based7
1,000 SDSs
$19/mo · StarterUnlimited SDSs; $190/yr billed annually.
Basic $51 · Premium $1721per month, billed annually
Quote-based3
Quote-based7

SDS Manager tiers: Basic is login access; Premium is the first tier with QR-code library access and automatic revision alerts. SDS HQ Starter includes QR codes and container labels; billed annually it is $190 per year.

FEATURE BY FEATURE

What each one does — including what SDS HQ doesn’t.

Numbered markers point to the source each third-party cell was read from. “Not published” means the vendor’s pages we read don’t say.

FEATURE
SDS HQ
SOURCE · THE APP + /PRICING
SDS Manager
AS OF SEP 3, 2026
Chemwatch
AS OF SEP 3, 2026
VelocityEHS
AS OF SEP 3, 2026
200 SDSs · 1 location · unlimited viewers · no card
200 SDSs · one admin user · default location only2No QR access, container labels, or revision alerts on Free.
Backpack Limited: up to 50 SDSs4Free for organizations with fewer than 50 SDSs.
7Free 5-day SDS trial only.
Published list prices
$0 · $19 · $49 per month, on the pricing page.
1Tiered by SDS count; shown billed annually.
3Quote-based: "Request a Demo".
7Quote-based: "Get a demo".
What the price scales with
Locations — never SDS count or viewers
Number of SDSs in the library1
Not published3
Not published7
Starter, $19 per month.
1Every tier is sized by SDS count, from 100 to 100,000.
Not published3
Not published7
Reading a sheet never costs a seat, on any plan.
2Priced by SDS count, not users; the Free tier has one admin user.
Not published3
Not published8Worker access through the mobile app; pricing not published.
QR generation from Starter; scanning is always free.
1QR-code library access from Premium.
PARTIAL5D-Gen labels can carry QR codes (GoldFFX); no-login access not described on the pages we read.
7QR codes and mobile SDS access.
From Starter; a quick-reference label that supplements the shipped GHS label.
1"Secondary Container Labeling (GHS) with QR Code" from Basic.
5D-Gen label templates (GoldFFX).
7GHS secondary labeling.
Printable binder PDF (cover + table of contents)
US Letter, with a dated cover and page-numbered contents.
2"One-click PDF with index page", including on Free.
Not published4"Options for offline access and hardcopies" mentioned; format not described.
PARTIAL8Location-based digital binders; print options not described on the pages we read.
Part of the compliance dashboard on Multi-Site. State lists: NJ, PA, MA, RI, MN (3,295 substances). A missing flag is not proof of absence.
PARTIAL1"Alert for hazardous products" on the Pro tier; list coverage not published.
Not published5Regulatory content is part of the suite; U.S. list coverage not itemized on the pages we read.
7Cross-checks against "100+ global regulatory lists, including REACH, EPA, and RoHS".
Automatic alerts when a supplier revises a sheet
Uploaded sheets show their printed revision date and age; no automatic monitoring.
1"Automatic alerts for new revisions" from Premium.
5Sheets "regularly updated by our web crawlers", with comparison reports (GoldFFX).
8"Auto-Updating SDS Library".
Vendor SDS database / sourcing on your behalf
You upload your own supplier PDFs, one at a time or in bulk; SDS HQ reads and files them.
1"Assistance in building your initial SDS inventory" from Premium.
4Collection described as "over 150M SDS".
7"8M+ searchable SDS documents"; SDS Library Build service.
Native mobile app with offline access
Web app; share links and QR codes open in any phone browser.
1iOS/Android app for offline access, from Premium.
PARTIAL4"Options for offline access" (Backpack); app details not on the pages we read.
8Mobile app, online or offline.
Chemical inventory with quantities
1"Track chemical Usage & Disposal" on Pro.
5Chemical registers and manifests (GoldFFX).
7Container-level chemical inventory.
Risk assessments
1Pro tier.
5One-page risk assessments (GoldFFX).
Not published7Not on the chemical-management pages we read.
ATE additivity, concentration cutoffs and SCLs, summation; 4,186 ECHA Annex VI entries; an audit-trail calculation on every result.
Not published1ExactSDS authoring is offered; the classification method is not described on the pricing page.
Not published6GoSDS authoring is offered; the method is not described on the pages we read.
Not published7SDS authoring is offered as a service.
$79 per SDSUpdates to that sheet free; PDF + Word export and version history included.
$199 per SDS pay-as-you-go1One edit included; annual bundles from $1,499 per year for 15 SDSs.
Not published6GoSDS is pay-as-you-go; no price is published.
Not published7Authoring is a quoted service.
Authored-SDS jurisdictions
U.S. OSHA HCS 2024 only
Not published1Not on the pages we read.
PARTIAL5Global platform ("123+ Countries Supported"); authored-SDS jurisdictions not itemized on the pages we read.
Not published7Not on the pages we read.
Automatic revision numbers with frozen dates; a "Modified since Rev N" flag when a draft drifts.
Not published1Not on the pages we read.
Not published6Not on the pages we read.
Not published7Not on the pages we read.
Multi-Site plan: 5 included · +$10/site
1"Organize SDS by location" from Premium; custom pricing for many sites.
4Folders per physical site (Backpack).
8Location-based SDS binders.
yes noPARTIAL with a noteNot published the vendor’s pages don’t say
SDS HQ VS SDS MANAGER

SDS HQ vs SDS Manager

Low-cost SDS management, priced by how many sheets you store. Small and mid-size workplaces. Also sells SDS authoring (ExactSDS), supplier-side SDS distribution, and an EHS suite.

Pricing model: Metered by SDS count and billed annually. At 100 SDSs: Basic $19, Premium $39, Pro $59 per month; at 400 SDSs: $31, $89, and $134. A free plan covers up to 200 SDSs, and there is a 30-day trial without a card.1

SDS authoring: $199 per SDS pay-as-you-go, one edit included; annual bundles from $199 per year (1–4 SDSs) and $1,499 per year (15 SDSs).1

WHEN SDS MANAGER IS THE BETTER FIT

  • You want to be told automatically when a supplier revises a sheet, rather than checking revision dates yourself.
  • Your crew needs an offline mobile app on the floor.
  • You want chemical usage and disposal tracking, or risk assessments, in the same tool.

Where SDS Manager does more

  • Automatic alerts when a supplier publishes a new SDS revision, from the Premium tier.1
  • An iOS/Android app with offline access, from the Premium tier.1
  • Help building your initial SDS inventory, from the Premium tier.1
  • Risk assessment, hazardous-product alerts, chemical usage and disposal tracking, and reports with XLS export, on the Pro tier.1

WHEN SDS HQ IS

  • Your library is past 200 sheets and you would rather not pay per hundred — Starter is $19 per month for unlimited SDSs.
  • You make your own products and need an SDS classified from its composition, with the math shown — $79 per sheet, updates included.
  • You want QR codes and container labels on the first paid tier, and reading to stay free for everyone.
VERIFIED SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 · 2 SOURCES · SEE SOURCES & DATES
SDS HQ VS CHEMWATCH

SDS HQ vs Chemwatch

An enterprise chemicals-management suite from a 30-year Australian vendor. Large and multinational organizations: SDS management, chemical registers and manifests, risk assessment, labeling, and authoring, sold by quote.

Pricing model: Quote-based. The site offers "Request a Demo" and a free trial; no price list is published.3

SDS authoring: Pay-as-you-go online authoring ("author your own SDS in 8 simple steps"); no price is published.6

WHEN CHEMWATCH IS THE BETTER FIT

  • You are a large or multinational organization that wants one suite for SDSs, chemical registers, manifests, and risk assessments.
  • You need SDSs and labels in many languages and jurisdictions.
  • You want a vendor-maintained SDS collection kept current for you.

Where Chemwatch does more

  • A vendor-maintained SDS collection described as over 150 million sheets, with updates found by web crawlers and shown in comparison reports.5
  • Chemical registers and manifests with quantities, storage limits, and placarding reports.5
  • One-page risk assessments pre-populated from SDS data.5
  • D-Gen label templates in 49 languages, including QR and other barcodes.5
  • An interface available in 49 languages, with eLearning support in several.4

WHEN SDS HQ IS

  • You want a published price and a free plan you can start today, without a sales call.
  • You run a U.S. workplace that needs a searchable library, QR access, container labels, and a binder — not a full EHS suite.
  • You make your own products and want an SDS authored for $79, with every hazard call explained.
VERIFIED SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 · 4 SOURCES · SEE SOURCES & DATES
SDS HQ VS VELOCITYEHS

SDS HQ vs VelocityEHS (formerly MSDSonline)

An enterprise EHS platform whose chemical-management module grew out of MSDSonline. Mid-size to enterprise organizations: SDS management, chemical inventory, secondary labeling, and regulatory reporting, sold through demos and quotes.

Pricing model: Quote-based — "Get a demo"; no public price list. A free 5-day SDS trial is offered.7

SDS authoring: Offered as a service; price not published.7

WHEN VELOCITYEHS IS THE BETTER FIT

  • You want a large vendor-maintained SDS library that is kept current for you.
  • You need container-level chemical inventory and Tier II reporting in the same platform.
  • You already run other VelocityEHS modules and want chemicals inside the same system.

Where VelocityEHS does more

  • A vendor-maintained library described as 8M+ searchable SDS documents, with 20K+ new and updated sheets added weekly.7
  • An auto-updating SDS library, so sheets stay current without re-uploading.8
  • Mobile access to SDSs online or offline.8
  • Container-level chemical inventory and Tier II reporting.7
  • Ingredient indexing against 100+ regulatory lists, including REACH, EPA, and RoHS.7
  • 24/7 emergency response services.7

WHEN SDS HQ IS

  • You want a price you can see and a free tier you can start today.
  • You want unlimited free viewers and QR access without a seat count or a contract.
  • You author your own products’ SDSs and want the classification math shown, at $79 per sheet.
VERIFIED SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 · 2 SOURCES · SEE SOURCES & DATES
AUTHOR AN SDS
$79per SDS
NO SUBSCRIPTION · UPDATES INCLUDED

Authoring, priced side by side.

SDS HQ$79 per SDS on every plan. Updates to that sheet are free; PDF and Word export and version history are included. Output is built to the U.S. OSHA standard (HCS 2024) only.
SDS ManagerExactSDS pay-as-you-go: $199 per SDS pay-as-you-go, one edit included; annual bundles from $199 per year (1–4 SDSs) and $1,499 per year (15 SDSs).1
ChemwatchGoSDS: Pay-as-you-go online authoring ("author your own SDS in 8 simple steps"); no price is published.6
VelocityEHSSDS authoring service: Offered as a service; price not published.7
FAQ

Questions people ask while comparing.

Q-01How was this comparison made?

We read each vendor’s public website on the dates shown in the sources list, recorded prices and wording as published, and linked every third-party claim to its source. Where a vendor does not publish something, the table says "Not published" instead of guessing. The SDS HQ column is generated from the same plan and price constants the app bills from.

Q-02What do these tools do that SDS HQ does not?

Automatic alerts when a supplier revises a sheet, a vendor-maintained SDS database or sourcing service, a native mobile app with offline access, chemical inventory with quantities, and risk assessments. SDS HQ also authors SDSs for the U.S. OSHA standard only. The feature table marks each of these plainly.

Q-03Who is SDS HQ for?

U.S. workplaces that need to keep, share, and — if they make products — author Safety Data Sheets under OSHA HazCom: from a single shop on the Free plan to multi-location companies on Multi-Site ($49 per month). See pricing

Q-04Something here is wrong or out of date.

Email info@sdshq.com with the line you mean and the current figure. We re-check the source, correct the page, and update the "claims last reviewed" date.

ABOUT SDS MANAGER

Q-05Is SDS HQ cheaper than SDS Manager?

It depends on how many SDSs you keep and which features you need. At 100 SDSs, SDS Manager's Basic plan is $19 per month billed annually, and SDS HQ's Free plan is $0 for up to 200 SDSs. Above 200 SDSs, SDS HQ Starter is $19 per month for unlimited sheets, while SDS Manager's price rises with sheet count — $31 per month for Basic at 400 SDSs. QR-code access to the library starts at SDS Manager's Premium tier ($39 per month at 100 SDSs) and at SDS HQ's Starter tier ($19). Prices as published on the vendors' sites on September 3, 2026.

Q-06Does SDS HQ alert me when a supplier updates an SDS, like SDS Manager does?

No. SDS HQ shows each uploaded sheet’s printed revision date and how old it is, but it does not monitor suppliers for new revisions. SDS Manager includes automatic revision alerts from its Premium tier.

Q-07How does SDS HQ authoring compare with ExactSDS?

SDS HQ authors an SDS for $79, with updates to that sheet included and PDF and Word export. ExactSDS lists $199 per SDS pay-as-you-go with one edit included, or annual bundles starting at $199 per year for one to four SDSs. SDS HQ authors to the U.S. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2024) only.

ABOUT CHEMWATCH

Q-08Does Chemwatch publish its prices?

Not on its website as of September 3, 2026. The site offers demo requests and a free trial, and its Backpack Limited edition is free for organizations with fewer than 50 SDSs. SDS HQ publishes its prices: Free up to 200 SDSs, Starter $19 per month, Multi-Site $49 per month.

Q-09Can I author an SDS with Chemwatch instead of SDS HQ?

Chemwatch offers GoSDS, a pay-as-you-go online authoring tool; its price is not published. SDS HQ authors an SDS for $79 with updates included, for the U.S. OSHA standard only.

ABOUT VELOCITYEHS

Q-10Is SDS HQ an alternative to MSDSonline?

For a U.S. workplace that needs a searchable SDS library, no-login worker access with QR codes, container labels, a printable binder, and a regulatory watchlist — yes, starting at $0. SDS HQ is not an EHS platform: it has no chemical inventory, no incident management, and no automatic supplier monitoring.

Q-11Does VelocityEHS publish prices?

Not on its website as of September 3, 2026. It offers demos and a free 5-day SDS trial.

SOURCES & DATES
  1. SDS Manager — pricing page (SDS Management and SDS Authoring tabs) — read September 3, 2026 · archived copyPrices render in the browser from an SDS-count selector; figures were recorded with the selector at 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1,000 SDSs. All are shown "Billed Annually".
  2. SDS Manager — free plan page — read September 3, 2026 · archived copy
  3. Chemwatch — home page — read September 3, 2026 · archived copyOn this date the home page said the site was being rebuilt; its product, services, and about pages returned 404.
  4. Chemwatch — Backpack Limited product page (archived copy) — read September 3, 2026 · archived copyThe live page returned 404 on this date; facts were read from the Wayback Machine capture of April 17, 2026.
  5. Chemwatch — GoldFFX product page (archived copy) — read September 3, 2026 · archived copyThe live page returned 404 on this date; facts were read from the Wayback Machine capture of March 11, 2026.
  6. Chemwatch — GoSDS start page — read September 3, 2026 · archived copy
  7. VelocityEHS — chemical management solutions page — read September 3, 2026 · archived copy
  8. VelocityEHS — SDS management page — read September 3, 2026 · archived copy

SDS Manager, ExactSDS, Chemwatch, GoldFFX, GoSDS, VelocityEHS, and MSDSonline are trademarks of their respective owners, used here only to identify their products. SDS HQ is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them. List prices are in U.S. dollars; promotions, negotiated rates, and taxes vary. Claims last reviewed September 3, 2026.

See something out of date? Email info@sdshq.com with the line and the current figure — we re-check the source and correct the page.

RELATED

Start with the free library. Upgrade when you need to.

Up to 200 SDSs, unlimited viewers, no card. Starter is $19 a month when you want QR codes and labels; authoring is $79 per sheet on any plan.