Best Inventory Management Apps for Shopify (2025)

Shopify's built-in inventory tracking works for simple stores. But as you grow, multiple locations, sales channels, complex products, or high-volume operations, you need more powerful inventory management.

This guide compares the best inventory management apps for Shopify, from basic stock tracking to enterprise-level operations.

Quick Comparison

| App | Best For | Price | Rating | Key Feature | |-----|----------|-------|--------|-------------| | Stocky by Shopify | Growing stores | Free (Plus) | 4.5/5 | Demand forecasting | | SKU IQ | Multi-location | $49-$199/mo | 4.7/5 | Real-time sync | | Katana | Manufacturing | $99-$999/mo | 4.6/5 | Production management | | inFlow | Wholesale/B2B | $89-$439/mo | 4.5/5 | Order management | | Finale Inventory | High volume | $99-$499/mo | 4.4/5 | Barcode/scanning | | Trunk | Multi-channel | $35-$1,299/mo | 4.6/5 | Channel sync | | Stockbot | Basic needs | Free-$10/mo | 4.8/5 | Low stock alerts |

What to Look For

Inventory Accuracy

The core function: knowing what you have, where it is, and when you need more.

Essential features:

• Real-time stock updates
• Multi-location tracking
• Low stock alerts
• Inventory adjustments with reason codes

Multi-Channel Sync

If you sell on multiple platforms (Shopify, Amazon, eBay, wholesale), inventory needs to sync.

What to check:

• Which channels are supported?
• How fast does sync happen?
• Can you allocate inventory by channel?

Demand Forecasting

Predicting what you'll need before you need it.

Look for:

• Sales velocity tracking
• Seasonal adjustment
• Lead time integration
• Suggested reorder quantities

Reporting and Analytics

Visibility into inventory performance.

Key reports:

• Inventory value
• Stock aging
• Turnover rate
• Dead stock identification

Best Inventory Apps by Use Case

For Growing Shopify Stores

Stocky by Shopify

Best for: Shopify Plus merchants wanting integrated inventory management

Price: Free with Shopify Plus

Rating: 4.5/5

Key features:

• Demand forecasting
• Purchase orders
• Stock transfers
• Inventory receiving
• ABC analysis

Pros:

• Native Shopify integration
• Free for Plus merchants
• Good forecasting
• Easy setup

Cons:

• Shopify Plus only
• Limited multi-channel support
• Basic compared to dedicated IMS

Best for: Plus merchants who want forecasting and purchase orders without third-party apps.

Stockbot Inventory Management

Best for: Budget-conscious stores needing basics

Price: Free-$10/mo

Rating: 4.8/5 (2,000+ reviews)

Key features:

• Low stock alerts
• Inventory reports
• Bulk inventory updates
• Sync with multiple locations

Pros:

• Very affordable
• Simple to use
• Good alert system
• Works well for basics

Cons:

• No forecasting
• Limited advanced features
• Basic reporting

Best for: Smaller stores that just need reliable stock alerts and basic tracking.

For Multi-Location Operations

SKU IQ

Best for: Stores with multiple physical locations or warehouses

Price: $49-$199/mo

Rating: 4.7/5 (500+ reviews)

Key features:

• Real-time inventory sync across locations
• POS integration
• Stock transfers
• Barcode scanning
• Location-based alerts

Pros:

• Excellent multi-location support
• Fast sync speed
• Works with multiple POS systems
• Good support

Cons:

• Price increases with volume
• Learning curve for setup
• Some features require higher tiers

Best for: Retail stores with physical locations and POS systems.

For Multi-Channel Selling

Trunk Inventory Management

Best for: Sellers on multiple marketplaces and platforms

Price: $35-$1,299/mo (based on orders)

Rating: 4.6/5 (400+ reviews)

Key features:

• Sync across 35+ channels
• Bundling and kitting
• Automated inventory allocation
• Order routing
• Real-time updates

Pros:

• Broadest channel support
• Fast sync
• Good for high-volume sellers
• Bundling support

Cons:

• Gets expensive at scale
• Interface can be complex
• Setup takes time

Best for: Sellers on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and other marketplaces alongside Shopify.

For Manufacturing and Production

Katana Manufacturing ERP

Best for: Stores that manufacture or assemble products

Price: $99-$999/mo

Rating: 4.6/5 (300+ reviews)

Key features:

• Bill of materials management
• Production scheduling
• Raw material tracking
• Floor-level production
• Cost calculation

Pros:

• Purpose-built for manufacturing
• Excellent production planning
• Good Shopify integration
• Real-time costing

Cons:

• Expensive
• Overkill for non-manufacturers
• Learning curve

Best for: Makers, manufacturers, and stores that assemble products from components.

For Wholesale and B2B

inFlow Inventory

Best for: Wholesale operations with B2B customers

Price: $89-$439/mo

Rating: 4.5/5 (200+ reviews)

Key features:

• B2B ordering
• Purchase orders
• Sales orders
• Barcode scanning
• Reporting

Pros:

• Strong B2B features
• Good order management
• Desktop + mobile apps
• Offline functionality

Cons:

• Shopify integration less smooth
• Can be complex
• Price point is higher

Best for: Wholesale businesses selling B2B alongside DTC Shopify sales.

For High-Volume Operations

Finale Inventory

Best for: High-volume operations needing enterprise features

Price: $99-$499/mo

Rating: 4.4/5 (150+ reviews)

Key features:

• Advanced barcode/scanning
• Serial number tracking
• Lot tracking
• Multi-warehouse
• Audit trails

Pros:

• Enterprise-grade features
• Excellent for compliance
• Strong reporting
• API access

Cons:

• Complex setup
• Expensive
• Steeper learning curve

Best for: Operations with compliance requirements, serialized products, or complex warehouse operations.

Feature Comparison Table

| Feature | Stocky | Stockbot | SKU IQ | Trunk | Katana | inFlow | Finale | |---------|--------|----------|--------|-------|--------|--------|--------| | Multi-location | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Multi-channel | ❌ | ❌ | Limited | ✅ | Limited | Limited | ✅ | | Forecasting | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | | Purchase orders | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Manufacturing | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | | Barcode scanning | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Free plan | Plus only | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |

Shopify-Native vs. Third-Party Apps

Shopify's Built-in Inventory

What Shopify includes natively:

• Basic stock tracking
• Multi-location inventory
• Low stock reports
• Inventory history
• CSV import/export

When it's enough:

• Single channel
• Simple products
• Low to moderate volume
• No forecasting needs

When you need more:

• Multi-channel selling
• Manufacturing/assembly
• High volume with complex operations
• Demand forecasting needs
• Barcode/scanning requirements

Stocky (Shopify Plus)

Shopify Plus merchants get Stocky free, which adds:

• Demand forecasting
• Purchase orders
• Inventory receiving
• Stock transfers

For many Plus merchants, Stocky handles 80% of inventory needs without third-party apps.

Implementation Considerations

Data Migration

Moving to a new inventory system means:

• Exporting current inventory
• Mapping products/SKUs
• Setting initial counts
• Training staff

Tip: Do a full physical inventory count before migrating. Start fresh with accurate numbers.

Integration Testing

Before going live:

• Test purchases and inventory decrements
• Test returns and inventory increments
• Test multi-channel sync (if applicable)
• Test low stock alerts

Staff Training

Inventory systems only work if people use them correctly:

• Train on receiving procedures
• Train on adjustments
• Train on barcode/scanning (if using)
• Document processes

Preventing Overselling

Inventory management apps help prevent overselling, but for high-demand scenarios (flash sales, product drops), you may also need:

Cart Reservation

Apps like Reservit hold inventory when customers add to cart, preventing the scenario where multiple customers cart the last item simultaneously. This is particularly important during:

• Flash sales
• Product launches
• High-traffic events (BFCM)
• Limited edition drops

Inventory management apps track what you have; cart reservation prevents selling what you don't have during high-velocity periods.