Alternatives to Sortly

Sortly earns its reputation as one of the more approachable inventory tools for small businesses. The mobile app is clean, the QR code scanning works, and the visual photo-based organization makes it easy for any team member to get started.

But "easy to start" and "built for the long run" are two different things. As businesses scale, the limitations surface: shallow reporting, limited integrations, steep per-user pricing, and no real automation for reordering. Teams that outgrow Sortly often find themselves spending more per month for features that still do not connect to their actual workflows.

This guide covers six Sortly alternatives worth evaluating in 2026. We assessed each tool on ease of use, reordering automation, integration depth, pricing transparency, and fit for different business types, including manufacturers, retailers, and asset-heavy teams.

Quick Comparison

What to Look for in a Sortly Alternative

Sortly is positioned as a general-purpose physical inventory tool. If you are looking for an alternative, it is likely because your team needs something more specific: better automation, deeper integrations, or a system built for how your operation actually works.

Here are the factors that matter most when evaluating alternatives:

• Reordering automation - Manual reordering is where most businesses lose time. Look for tools that trigger purchase orders automatically based on consumption, not ones that just alert you to low stock and expect you to act manually.
• Shop floor and mobile usability - If the people who actually handle inventory refuse to use the software, the data is unreliable and the automation breaks. The interface needs to work for the person at the bin, not just the manager at the desk.
• Integration depth - Does the tool connect to your accounting software, ERP, or e-commerce platform without requiring a full system overhaul? Shallow integrations mean double data entry.
• Pricing as you scale - Sortly's per-user pricing becomes expensive as teams grow. Look for tools with predictable costs at the seat count your business actually needs.
• Fit for your inventory type - Retail stock, manufacturing consumables, IT equipment, and fixed assets each behave differently. A tool designed for one category often handles the others poorly.

1. Arda — Best for Manufacturers Who Need Automated Reordering

Arda is a Kanban-based inventory platform built specifically for manufacturers. Physical cards with QR codes are placed at the reorder point inside each bin. When a worker reaches that card, they scan it. That single action triggers automated replenishment workflows, purchase order generation, and supplier notifications. The worker gets back to work. The system handles everything else.

This approach directly solves the most common failure mode in manufacturing inventory software: shop floor workers who do not engage with the system. Because Arda requires only one action at the point of use, compliance stays high and inventory data stays accurate.

Arda is not a general-purpose inventory app. It is purpose-built for manufacturers who are losing production time to stockouts and manual ordering processes. If that is the problem you are solving, it is the most direct solution on this list.

Key Features

• Physical Kanban cards with QR codes — scannable triggers placed at bin reorder points, no software navigation required at point of use
• Automated purchase order generation — scanning a card initiates ordering workflows, including supplier notifications
• AI-powered quantity recommendations — the Pro plan analyzes consumption data to adjust reorder parameters automatically
• Unlimited items and orders — all plans include unlimited SKUs and orders with no per-item fees
• Multi-card Kanban loops — supports complex replenishment workflows across multiple production stages
• Free $650 Welcome Kit — annual subscribers receive a printer, laminator, barcode scanner, and supplies

Strengths

• Shop floor workers adopt it immediately because the action is physical, not digital
• Incremental setup: start with one bin, scale as you go without disrupting existing workflows
• Proven outcomes across real manufacturing customers: 80% inventory reduction, 90% less time spent ordering, and revenue doubling in under a year
• Fills the gap between spreadsheets and full ERP systems without requiring months of implementation
• Works alongside existing ERPs and accounting tools rather than replacing them

Limitations

• Designed for manufacturing consumables and production inventory, not general retail stock or e-commerce fulfillment
• Integration ecosystem is growing: currently supports Shopify and QuickBooks, with Enterprise-tier custom integrations
• No IoT sensor option for fully hands-free reordering

Pricing

• Growth: $149/seat/month (yearly) or $179/seat/month (monthly)
• Pro: $279/seat/month, includes AI-powered recommendations and multi-card Kanban loops
• Enterprise: $299/seat/month, includes custom integrations and AI-powered workflows
• All plans include unlimited items and unlimited orders
• 7-day free trial available

Start your free trial or book a demo to see Arda in action.

2. inFlow Inventory — Best for SMBs Needing B2B Order Management

inFlow Inventory is a small business inventory platform with strong purchase order and sales order management. It handles the core workflows that product-based businesses need: receiving stock, fulfilling orders, tracking levels across locations, and generating barcodes and labels. Where Sortly is visual and simple, inFlow is structured and process-oriented.

inFlow connects to QuickBooks Online, Xero, Shopify, WooCommerce, eBay, and Etsy, making it a reasonable option for businesses that sell across multiple channels and need inventory to stay in sync with their accounting system.

Key Features

• Real-time inventory tracking across multiple locations
• Purchase orders, sales orders, and basic manufacturing assembly (kitting)
• Built-in barcode generation and label printing
• Integrations with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Shopify, WooCommerce, eBay, and Etsy
• Mobile app for iOS and Android with barcode scanning

Strengths

• Clean integration with popular accounting tools eliminates duplicate data entry
• Handles both purchasing and sales workflows in one platform
• Flat-rate pricing per plan tier makes costs predictable as the team grows
• Dedicated customer success manager included on all plans

Limitations

• Manufacturing features are limited to basic kitting and assembly, not full production scheduling
• Minimum plan starts at $110/month, which is higher than Sortly for comparable team sizes
• Reporting customization is limited compared to full ERP or BI integrations

Pricing

• Entrepreneur: $110/month
• Small Business: $279/month
• Mid-size: $549/month
• Enterprise: $1,319/month
• 14-day free trial available, no credit card required

Further reading: Best Inflow Inventory Alternatives

3. Fishbowl — Best for Manufacturing Businesses on QuickBooks

Fishbowl is one of the most established inventory management platforms for small and mid-sized manufacturers. Its core strength is deep QuickBooks integration: inventory activity, purchase orders, and work orders sync directly with QuickBooks financial records, which eliminates the duplicate entry that plagues businesses trying to manage accounting and inventory in separate systems.

Beyond accounting integration, Fishbowl supports bill of materials, work order tracking, cycle counting, multi-location inventory, and a manufacturing module for businesses with more complex production needs.

Key Features

• Bill of materials and work order management for manufacturing workflows
• Deep QuickBooks and Xero integration with two-way sync
• Barcode scanning, cycle counting, and multi-location tracking
• Purchase orders and vendor management
• Mobile app and support for ecommerce platforms including Shopify, Amazon, and eBay

Strengths

• The QuickBooks integration is the most comprehensive available for manufacturing SMBs
• Handles real manufacturing workflows including BOM, work orders, and assembly
• Strong customer base in manufacturing and warehouse operations

Limitations

• Setup and data migration take significant time, especially when syncing with existing accounting systems
• Interface is less modern than newer tools and has a steeper learning curve
• Pricing scales quickly with additional users and modules, making total costs hard to predict upfront

Pricing

• Starts at $329/month for the cloud-based plan
• On-premise option available as a one-time license
• Custom pricing for enterprise requirements

Further reading: Powerful Alternatives to Fishbowl Inventory

4. Zoho Inventory — Best for Budget-Conscious or Multi-Channel Sellers

Zoho Inventory is the most affordable full-featured Sortly alternative on this list. It includes a free plan with genuine functionality: up to 50 orders per month, one user, and two warehouse locations. For businesses in early stages or with low order volumes, this is a meaningful starting point that Sortly does not match.

Beyond the free tier, Zoho Inventory handles multi-channel order management, barcode tracking, batch and serial number tracking, and purchase order management. For businesses already using Zoho Books or Zoho CRM, it connects into the Zoho ecosystem with minimal additional setup.

Key Features

• Multi-channel sync with Shopify, Amazon, eBay, and Etsy
• Batch and serial number tracking for regulated or high-value inventory
• Purchase order management and warehouse management across multiple locations
• Integration with Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, and other Zoho apps
• Free plan available for small operations

Strengths

• Free plan includes real features, not just a stripped-down trial
• Affordable paid plans make it accessible for growing businesses
• Strong fit for businesses in the Zoho ecosystem that want a unified toolset

Limitations

• Free plan's 50-orders-per-month cap becomes a constraint quickly for active businesses
• Mobile app lacks some features available in the desktop version, with reported performance issues
• Interface can feel dated compared to more modern tools

Pricing

• Free plan: $0/month (50 orders/month, 1 user, 2 locations)
• Standard: $29/month
• Professional: $79/month
• Premium: $129/month
• Enterprise: $249/month
• 14-day free trial on all paid plans

Further reading: Best Zoho Inventory Alternatives

5. Asset Panda — Best for Highly Customizable Asset Tracking

Asset Panda is a no-code asset tracking platform built around flexibility. Unlike Sortly's standardized fields and folder structure, Asset Panda lets organizations define their own workflows, data fields, and status categories without writing any code. This makes it well-suited for organizations with unusual asset types or specific compliance and audit requirements.

One practical advantage over Sortly: Asset Panda offers unlimited users on all plans. For teams with many employees who need view or update access, this eliminates the per-seat cost escalation that makes Sortly increasingly expensive at scale.

Key Features

• Highly customizable data fields, workflows, and status categories with no-code configuration
• Barcode and QR code scanning via mobile app on iOS and Android
• Automated email reports and custom export formats
• Depreciation tracking and audit history
• Unlimited users on all plans

Strengths

• Unlimited users means no penalty for broad organizational access
• Flexibility to track almost any asset type with custom fields and workflows
• Clean mobile scanning experience for field-based or distributed teams

Limitations

• Does not track movable assets with GPS, limiting it to fixed or location-assigned assets
• No built-in alert system; users must actively check the platform for status updates
• Initial setup requires meaningful configuration time to realize the platform's flexibility
• Pricing requires a custom quote, making upfront cost comparison difficult

Pricing

• Custom pricing based on number of assets
• 14-day free trial available

6. EZO — Best for IT and Equipment Asset Management

EZO (formerly EZOfficeInventory) is designed for organizations that need to track equipment across users, manage check-in and check-out workflows, and schedule preventive maintenance. It combines asset tracking, IT asset management, and maintenance planning in one platform, making it a natural fit for IT teams, facilities management, and operations groups that manage shared equipment.

Where Sortly treats all items as equal inventory entries, EZO adds a layer of lifecycle management: who has the asset, when it is due back, what maintenance is scheduled, and what its service history looks like.

Key Features

• Asset check-in and check-out with assignment to employees or locations
• Preventive maintenance scheduling and service history tracking
• Barcode, QR code, and RFID support for asset identification
• Internal request interface for equipment reservations and approvals
• Multi-currency purchase order creation and procurement tracking

Strengths

• Strong lifecycle tracking for equipment that moves between users or locations
• RFID support for organizations running larger, more automated tracking environments
• Centralized dashboard that covers asset status, maintenance, and procurement

Limitations

• Pricing is based on item count, which can make costs harder to predict as asset inventories grow
• Less suitable for consumables or production inventory compared to asset-focused use cases
• Some users report limited advanced functionality for bulk operations

Pricing

• Essential: $40/month (up to 250 items)
• Advanced: $55/month
• Premium: $65/month
• Enterprise: custom pricing

How to Choose the Right Sortly Alternative

The best tool depends on what kind of inventory you manage and what problem you are actually trying to solve.

• If you run a manufacturing operation and need to eliminate stockouts: Arda is the purpose-built answer. It is the only tool on this list designed for the shop floor, with physical Kanban cards that drive real adoption and AI-powered workflows that handle reordering automatically. If you have tried spreadsheets or whiteboards and found they do not scale, Arda is the next step before you need a full ERP.
• If you manage retail, wholesale, or multi-channel inventory: inFlow gives you the most structured order management at a competitive price, while Zoho Inventory is the best budget option, especially if you are already using Zoho apps.
• If your business runs on QuickBooks and has manufacturing workflows: Fishbowl's deep QuickBooks integration and BOM support make it the natural choice, despite the higher starting cost.
• If you need to track fixed assets across a large team: Asset Panda's unlimited-user model and high customizability make it a better value than Sortly at scale, especially for organizations with compliance or audit requirements.
• If you manage equipment check-outs and maintenance schedules: EZO's lifecycle management features go well beyond what Sortly offers, making it the right fit for IT and facilities teams.

For a side-by-side look at how Arda compares to more inventory tools, visit the Arda Comparison Hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sortly still worth it in 2026?

Sortly is a solid choice for very small teams with simple inventory needs and a low item count. Its free plan is genuinely usable for early-stage businesses. But as businesses grow, the per-user pricing becomes expensive, the reporting stays shallow, and the lack of automation leaves teams doing manual work that purpose-built alternatives handle automatically.

What is the cheapest Sortly alternative?

Zoho Inventory has the most accessible paid plans, starting at $29/month, and includes a free plan that supports up to 50 orders per month. EZO starts at $40/month for up to 250 items. Both undercut Sortly's Advanced plan at comparable feature levels.

Which Sortly alternative is best for manufacturers?

Arda is built specifically for manufacturing operations. It combines physical Kanban cards with a digital backend that automates reordering, tracks consumption, and integrates with existing tools. Other tools on this list offer manufacturing features, but none of them are designed from the ground up for the shop floor. Customers using Arda have reported outcomes including 80% inventory reductions and production doubling within months. See real results from manufacturing teams.

Can I migrate my data from Sortly?

Sortly allows you to export your inventory as a CSV file, which most alternatives can import directly. The biggest migration effort is usually reconfiguring custom fields, folder structures, and user permissions in the new system. Tools like inFlow and Zoho Inventory both support CSV imports. Arda's setup process is designed to be incremental: you can start with one bin and one Kanban card without migrating your entire inventory at once.