Limitations of using Shopify for inventory management
Let's examine where merchants need the best inventory management software for Shopify to fill these gaps:
- Manual updates: Staff spend hours updating numbers, inputting SKUs, and tracking stock levels across channels.
- Limited tracking options: Shopify lacks batch tracking, serial number monitoring, and expiry date management.
- Restricted items: Merchants selling regulated products like alcohol or pharmaceuticals need separate systems for compliance.
Furthermore, inventory reporting in Shopify is severely limited. For accurate tracking of your cost of goods sold and profitability, you need a system that tracks and analyses all your product costs – including hidden fees like freight and purchasing.
10 best inventory management software for Shopify
After thoroughly researching the best Shopify inventory management apps, we found 10 tools that stood out above the rest.
The 10 best inventory management software for Shopify:
- Unleashed: Best for real-time inventory management
- QuickBooks Online: Best for small businesses requiring accounting integration
- Stock Sync: Best for multichannel retailers
- SKULabs: Best for warehouse automation
- SellBrite: Best for marketplace sellers
- Zoho Inventory: Best for budget-conscious merchants
- Hextom: Best for dropshippers
- Katana Cloud Inventory: Best for production planning
- Fabrikatör Inventory Assistant: Best for high-volume order processing
- BrightPearl: Best for multi-store management
Note: Where possible, we have included user ratings from Trustpilot for each item in the list below. Reviews on this platform consider both the software's functionality and the reliability of the software provider's customer support services. Where a Trustpilot profile was unavailable or unverified, we have provided user ratings from the software review platform Capterra instead.
1. Unleashed
Rating: 4.9/5 (Trustpilot)
Unleashed is one of the best inventory management software solutions for Shopify users seeking automated stock control and enhanced inventory visibility. It leverages real-time inventory tracking across multiple warehouses and sales channels, providing a centralised and accurate hub for all your sales and inventory data.
In Unleashed, you can monitor stock levels, automate your purchasing workflows, and manage customer orders. Advanced features like batch and serial number tracking, along with barcode integration, help improve traceability across your whole supply chain.
Unleashed also provides optional add-on modules for specific needs, including:
- A customisable B2B ecommerce portal
- Advanced demand planning and forecasting
- Dynamic Business Intelligence tools
Start your 14-day free trial to experience streamlined inventory management across your sales channels.
Pros
- Real-time inventory tracking: Updates inventory levels instantly across warehouses, preventing stockouts.
- Production planning: Manages bills of materials, tracks assembly costs, and schedules production runs.
- Multichannel integration: Syncs inventory across Shopify, Amazon, and eBay seamlessly.
- Native Shopify integration: Managed Shopify integration enables sales and inventory data to sync in real time between both systems.
Cons
- Learning curve: New users need time to master advanced features.
- Mobile app: Limited functionality compared to the desktop version.
- Internet dependent: Requires stable internet connection for all operations.
Pricing
Unleashed pricing starts at £293/month and includes all core features.
2. Stock Sync
Rating: 4.9 (Capterra)
Stock Sync is an automated inventory management platform that connects multiple data sources through CSV, XML, Google Sheets, and APIs. The software streamlines product data migration while offering strong inventory reporting capabilities for Shopify merchants.
Pros
- Real-time synchronisation prevents overselling through automated stock-level updates.
- Multi-platform integration supports seamless data transfer between different supplier sources.
- Advanced scheduling features enable automated updates at customised intervals.
Cons
- The learning curve is steep for merchants with basic inventory needs.
- Missing built-in barcode scanning functionality
- Limited customisation options for reporting templates.
Pricing
Stock Sync offers three pricing tiers: Free (£0/month for 2,000 SKUs), Basic (£3.97/month for 3,000 SKUs), and Pro (£11.91/month for 10,000 SKUs). Each paid plan includes a 14-day free trial.
3. SKULabs
Rating: 4.6 (Capterra)
SKULabs is a multichannel order management platform with barcode scanner integration that synchronises inventory across warehouses and sales channels. The software combines shipping, fulfilment, and stock control features in one mobile-friendly dashboard.
Pros
- The mobile app enables warehouse staff to process orders and update inventory from any location.
- Advanced barcode scanning speeds up picking and packing operations.
- Multi-warehouse management tracks stock levels across different locations in real time.
Cons
- Limited customisation options for reporting templates.
- No built-in accounting features.
- The mobile app lacks offline functionality.
Pricing
SKULabs offers custom pricing based on business requirements. Contact their sales team for a personalised quote that matches their needs, order volume, and warehouse count.
4. SellBrite
Rating: 4.6 (Capterra)
SellBrite is a multichannel warehouse management platform that synchronises inventory across Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Walmart marketplaces. The software centralises product listings, order processing, and stock control through a unified dashboard.
Pros
- One-click bulk listing uploads handle up to 100 products simultaneously.
- Automated inventory syncing prevents overselling through real-time quantity adjustments.
- Custom price rules enable pricing strategies for each sales channel.
Cons
- No integrated shipping label printing capabilities.
- Missing CSV import/export functionality.
- Limited analytics and reporting tools.
Pricing
SellBrite offers four tiers: Forever Free (£0/month for 30 orders), Pro 100 (£15.16/month for 100 orders), Pro 500 (£47.11/month for 500 orders), and Pro 2K (£79.03/month for 2,000 orders).
5. Zoho Inventory
Rating: 4.2 (Trustpilot)
Zoho Inventory is a cloud-based order fulfilment solution that combines stock control and warehouse operations in one platform. The software integrates with multiple Shopify stores, offering automated inventory tracking and management workflows.
Pros
- The free plan supports basic operations with 50 monthly orders and a single warehouse setup.
- Seamless integration with other Zoho apps
- Multi-currency support enables international transactions and reporting.
Cons
- Limited user access with a maximum of 15 users, even on the highest tier.
- Advanced features are restricted to premium plans.
- Missing demand forecasting capabilities.
Pricing
Zoho Inventory offers five tiers: Free (£0/month), Standard (£29/month), Professional (£79/month), Premium (£129/month), and Enterprise (£239/month). Each paid plan includes a 14-day free trial.
6. QuickBooks Online
Rating: 4.5 (Trustpilot)
QuickBooks Online is cloud-based accounting software system that connects multiple sales channels like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify. It allows you to track stock levels and purchase orders, manage inventory reports, and sync sales and inventory with accounting.
While predominantly an accounting system, QuickBooks Online also functions as a basic inventory management tool that can handle up to 20,000 SKUs and 30,000 monthly orders while syncing real-time data across marketplaces.
Pros
- Multi-channel integration streamlines order processing from Shopify, Amazon, and eBay into one dashboard.
- Real-time inventory updates prevent overselling through automated stock-level adjustments.
- Built-in accounting tools track expenses, generate financial reports, and manage payroll seamlessly.
Cons
- Limited functionality for businesses with high volumes of inventory or complex inventory management needs.
- Lacks critical features like serial and batch tracking, demand planning, and bill of materials management.
- A complex invoicing system comes with a steep learning curve.
Pricing
Quickbooks offers four pricing options: Simple Start (£7.31/month), Essentials (£10.78/month), Plus (£15.40/month), and Advanced (£29.26/month). Each plan includes a 30-day free trial.
7. Hextom
Rating: Unavailable
Hextom is a bulk editing tool for production management that modifies multiple products, collections, and customer data simultaneously. The software automates mass updates while maintaining data backups for safe reversions.
Pros
- An advanced filtering system enables editing thousands of products with minimal clicks.
- Scheduled bulk edits automate inventory syncs and product launches.
- An automatic backup system allows quick restoration of previous versions.
Cons
- The free plan limits editing to only ten products per task.
- No multi-user collaboration features.
- Missing advanced inventory forecasting tools.
Pricing
There are four pricing tiers: Free (£ 0/month for ten products/task), Basic (£7.91/month for 500 products/task), Pro (£15.83/month for 5,000 products/task), and Advanced (£39.58/month for 50,000 products/task).
8. Katana Cloud Inventory
Rating: 4.6 (Capterra)
Katana Cloud Inventory is a manufacturing-focused inventory software platform that manages raw materials inventory and production workflows for small to medium-sized manufacturers. The software tracks components, bills of materials, and finished goods while automating supply chain operations.
Pros
- Real-time production floor monitoring updates stock levels instantly across all channels.
- Built-in barcode scanning speeds up material tracking and order fulfilment.
- Manufacturing-specific features support recipe management and batch tracking.
Cons
- Limited customisation options for reporting templates
- The steep learning curve for new users
- Restricted API access on lower-tier plans
Pricing
Katana has three pricing tiers: Starter (£141.66/month for unlimited users, 1 location), Standard (£283.33/month for unlimited users, 3 locations), and Professional (£631.66/month for unlimited users, 10 locations).
9. Fabrikatör Inventory Assistant
Rating: Unavailable
Fabrikatör Inventory Assistant is an automated raw materials inventory platform that streamlines purchase orders and stock management for Shopify stores. The software combines forecasting analytics with supplier management tools to maintain optimal stock levels.
Pros
- Smart forecasting algorithms predict stock needs based on historical sales data.
- Automated purchase order generation saves time on manual reordering.
- Direct supplier integration enables real-time stock-level monitoring.
Cons
- Limited customisation for reporting templates.
- No multi-currency support.
- Complex setup process for new users.
Pricing
Fabrikatör has three plans: Basic (£78.33/month for sales under £39.5k), Growth (£117.91/month for sales £39.5k-£158k), and Scale (£276.91/month for sales £158k-£316k).
10. BrightPearl
Rating: 4.2 (Trustpilot)
BrightPearl is a retail operating system that manages raw materials inventory, warehousing, and supply chains through a centralised platform. The software automates order processing and shipping while forecasting demand for multiple sales channels.
Pros
- The automation engine customises order picking and dropshipping rules.
- Built-in demand planner analyses sales history for accurate stock predictions.
- Multi-store management enables seamless inventory updates across multiple Shopify stores.
Cons
- Higher price point compared to other inventory solutions.
- Complex setup requires dedicated onboarding time.
- Limited customisation for smaller businesses.
Pricing
BrightPearl offers a custom pricing structure tailored for retail and wholesale businesses. The platform promises transparent pricing with clear outlines before signup and unlimited users at no extra cost.
What’s the best inventory management software for Shopify overall?
Unleashed stands out as the best Shopify inventory solution, combining essential features like rolling stock counts, automated purchase orders, and multi-step assembly workflows.
Beyond these core strengths, the platform delivers industry-leading batch tracking, detailed cost analysis, and seamless integration across sales channels. This powerful feature set makes it particularly valuable for growing manufacturing and wholesale businesses – experience it yourself with a free 14-day trial.
