SKU Compass vs Stocky: The Honest Comparison for Multi-Channel Brands (2026)
Stocky was the default for Shopify-only brands — but Shopify is discontinuing it (App Store removal February 2026, full shutdown August 31, 2026). If you’re on Stocky, you need a replacement. Here’s the honest comparison and where multi-channel brands should land.
⚠️ Stocky is being discontinued — you need a replacement
Shopify is sunsetting Stocky and folding inventory features into Shopify Admin. The timeline: some forecasting features were removed in July 2025, the app was pulled from the Shopify App Store on February 2, 2026 (you can no longer install or re-install it), and it stops working entirely on August 31, 2026.
Before anything else: export your Stocky data — purchase orders, stocktakes, and especially supplier records (suppliers can’t be exported automatically and won’t carry over). Don’t panic-uninstall; once it’s gone you can’t reinstall it. Then choose a replacement that fits your brand shape.
Quick Answer
Because Stocky is shutting down, every Stocky user needs a destination. If you’re 100% Shopify with under ~500 SKUs, single-supplier, and not adding Amazon, Shopify’s native inventory management (in Shopify Admin) is the free baseline Shopify is migrating Stocky users onto — start there.
If you’ve outgrown simple, the move usually comes down to four needs: (1) Amazon FBA forecasting Stocky never did, (2) multi-supplier-per-SKU modeling, (3) Amazon AWD upstream tracking + per-FNSKU 2026 fee math, (4) a human inventory analyst alongside the software. SKU Compass covers all four. Inventory Planner by Sage is a genuinely multi-channel option covering 1-3. Cin7 / Inflow / DEAR cover 2 but are heavier inventory-ERP shapes that take longer to set up.
What Stocky was (and what’s replacing it)
Stocky was Shopify’s first-party inventory management add-on, bundled with Shopify POS Pro. It did demand forecasting, purchase order management, and stock transfers between Shopify locations. As of February 2026 it’s no longer available to install, and it shuts down completely on August 31, 2026 — Shopify is moving inventory capabilities directly into Shopify Admin, which is the native replacement for simple Shopify-only needs.
What Stocky is good at: Shopify-native demand forecasting that respects Shopify’s own data (variant-level sales velocity, SKU mappings, location-level stock). Tight UI integration into the Shopify admin. Free or near-free if you’re already on Shopify Plus.
What Stocky doesn’t do: Amazon FBA forecasting (no SP-API integration). Amazon AWD tracking. Walmart WFS. TikTok Shop. Multi-supplier-per-SKU PO modeling. FIFO COGS reporting at the granularity a CFO wants. Per-FNSKU 2026 Amazon fee math (181-day aged surcharge, FNSKU low-inventory fee). Managed-service tier with a human analyst.
The Stocky model assumes Shopify is your inventory operating system. The moment Shopify is one of several places your inventory lives or sells from, Stocky becomes incomplete.
What to weigh when choosing your Stocky replacement
Since you have to move off Stocky regardless, these four needs decide how far past the free Shopify-native baseline you should look. The more that apply, the more you need a dedicated multi-channel tool.
You added (or are adding) Amazon FBA
Stocky doesn’t connect to Amazon SP-API. Once you have FBA inventory, Stocky’s forecast is missing half (or more) of your demand picture. Combining Shopify forecasts with Amazon spreadsheets defeats the point of having forecasting software.
This is the #1 reason brands leave Stocky. If you’re still 100% Shopify, this isn’t your reason — keep going.
Multi-supplier complexity broke the SKU model
Stocky models one supplier per SKU. For brands sourcing the same SKU from 2-3 different suppliers (different lead times, different costs, different MOQs depending on quantity), Stocky’s PO recommendations stop matching your real ops. You start placing POs manually with notes the system can’t see.
Mid-market brands with 500+ SKUs almost always have this — different sizes from different factories, secondary suppliers for surge demand, drop-ship vendors for long-tail SKUs. Stocky was built before this was the norm.
Need Amazon AWD + 2026 FBA fee math
If you’re using Amazon AWD as upstream bulk storage feeding FBA, you need a tool that reconciles AWD stock, FBA inbound, and FBA sellable in one forecast. Stocky doesn’t do AWD. The 2026 Amazon fee changes (per-FNSKU low-inventory fee at 28 days, aged inventory surcharge at 181 days, 3.5% fuel surcharge) require per-FNSKU forecasting — Stocky’s variant-level model doesn’t quite map.
Want a human analyst, not just software
Stocky is software-only. For brands at $5M-$50M ARR with limited internal supply chain expertise, software-alone is sometimes a gap. If you’re spending 4+ hours/week interpreting Stocky’s forecasts and you’d rather pay someone to do it for you and just review recommendations, that’s a managed-service ask. Stocky doesn’t offer it.
If none of those four apply — Shopify’s native inventory is your free baseline.
For a 100% Shopify brand under ~500 SKUs, single-supplier-per-SKU, with simple demand, you don’t need a heavyweight paid tool. Shopify’s built-in inventory management — where Shopify is migrating Stocky users — covers the core job for free. Move there, and only step up to a paid tool once one of the four needs above becomes real.
The mistake under a deadline is over-buying. Match the tool to your actual shape, not the panic.
The honest alternative ranking (if you’re moving)
If one or more reasons apply, here’s how the alternatives stack up for the mid-market multi-channel brand profile.
🏆 SKU Compass — best for multi-channel + managed service
Native Amazon FBA + AWD, Shopify, Walmart WFS, ShipStation. Per-FNSKU reorder points matching the 2026 fee structure. Multi-supplier-per-SKU PO modeling. Optional Partner tier (+$1,997/mo on top of usage) adds a human inventory analyst reviewing your restocks weekly. Built by a former 3PL operator. From $79/mo, 30-day free trial.
Where it wins: multi-channel-native, AWD upstream, 2026 fee math built in, managed-service tier. Direct fit for all four “leave Stocky” reasons.
Where it doesn’t fit: overkill if you’re 100% Shopify-only — Inventory Planner is the cleaner fit there.
Inventory Planner (by Sage) — Shopify-first multi-channel
Shopify-native (started as a Shopify app, mature). Multi-channel via integrations to Amazon, Walmart, others. Strong demand-planning and P&L depth. Sage backing means it’s not going away. $99-1,000+/mo depending on SKU count and integrations.
Where it wins: Shopify-first brands adding Amazon as secondary, established product with Sage stability.
Where it doesn’t fit: AWD and 2026 fee math are bolt-on rather than native, setup is heavier (2-3 weeks), no managed-service tier, pricing climbs fast with SKU count.
Cin7 / Inflow / DEAR — inventory ERP shape
Heavier inventory ERPs that include forecasting as a feature alongside warehouse management, B2B order entry, manufacturing/BOM, and accounting integrations. Right answer if you have wholesale/retail B2B operations alongside ecommerce. Wrong answer if you just need forecasting — too much tool, longer setup (4-8 weeks), more expensive per active feature you actually use.
Where it wins: brands with B2B + manufacturing complexity that need a single ERP.
Where it doesn’t fit: pure-ecommerce brands. The forecasting layer alone isn’t strong enough to justify the ERP weight.
Prediko / Fabrikator / Sumtracker — newer Shopify-first tools
Newer-generation Shopify forecasting tools with cleaner UX than Stocky and varying degrees of multi-channel support. Prediko is plug-and-play for Shopify. Fabrikator does multi-channel via integrations. Sumtracker handles multi-channel including Etsy and eBay. Strong for sub-$5M Shopify-primary brands; thinner for mid-market multi-channel.
Capability matrix
The features that matter when you’re choosing a Stocky alternative for a multi-channel mid-market operation.
| Feature | Stocky | SKU Compass | Inventory Planner | Cin7/Inflow | Prediko |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify forecasting (native) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Amazon FBA forecasting | No | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial |
| Walmart WFS native | No | Yes | Partial | No | No |
| Amazon AWD upstream tracking | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Per-FNSKU 2026 fee math | No | Yes | Partial | No | Partial |
| Multi-supplier per SKU | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Human analyst (managed service) | No | Partner tier+ | No | No | No |
| FIFO COGS | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Setup time (typical) | 1 week | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-8 weeks | 3-5 days |
| Starting price | Discontinued Aug 2026 | From $79/mo | ~$99/mo | ~$300/mo | ~$99/mo |
The 5-question decision framework
Skip the spec sheets. Answer these and the right tool surfaces itself.
Will you sell on Amazon FBA within 12 months?
Yes → Stocky is out. Choose between SKU Compass (multi-channel native) or Inventory Planner (Shopify-first multi-channel).
No → Shopify’s native inventory tools likely suffice. Move to Q2.
Do you source the same SKU from multiple suppliers?
Yes → Stocky’s single-supplier-per-SKU model breaks. SKU Compass, Inventory Planner, or Cin7/Inflow handle multi-supplier.
No → Shopify’s native inventory likely fits. Move to Q3.
Are you using Amazon AWD or planning to?
Yes → only SKU Compass tracks AWD natively. Others treat it as a separate bucket without unified math.
No → continue.
Do you want software-only or software + a human analyst?
Software-only → all tools qualify.
Software + analyst → only SKU Compass’s Partner tier (+$1,997/mo on top of usage) includes a human reviewing your restocks. Everyone else is software-only.
What’s your monthly software budget for inventory specifically?
$0-50/mo → Shopify’s native inventory (free) or Prediko entry.
$80-300/mo → SKU Compass Self-Serve (from $79/mo), Inventory Planner entry, or Prediko mid.
$300+/mo with multi-channel → SKU Compass at higher order volume or Inventory Planner.
$1,000+/mo with managed service → SKU Compass Partner / Full Service tier.
The honest switching cost
The tool comparison is the easy part. The expensive part is the migration. Realistic numbers from brands who’ve moved off Stocky:
- API reconnection (Shopify, Amazon SP-API, Walmart): 1 hour
- Re-establishing supplier records, lead times, MOQs: 1-2 weeks
- Running parallel forecasts on both tools to validate: 2 weeks minimum
- Total operational attention: 2-4 weeks
This is why, if none of the four needs apply, Shopify’s free native inventory tools are the right landing spot rather than a heavyweight paid tool. The move off Stocky is unavoidable now — but a simple Shopify-only brand shouldn’t over-buy to make it.
What we’re not telling you
We’re SKU Compass — we obviously want you to switch to us. We’ve tried to be honest about where each alternative wins because the failure mode for this content is overpromising and watching customers churn out at month 4.
The truth: SKU Compass beats Stocky clearly if you’re multi-channel + multi-supplier, want managed service, or care about Amazon AWD. It doesn’t beat Inventory Planner if Shopify is genuinely your primary and only channel. It doesn’t beat Cin7 if you have heavy B2B + manufacturing complexity. Pick the tool that fits your operation, not the one with the loudest comparison post.
If SKU Compass is your shortlist pick
Start with the 30-day trial. We’ll connect Shopify + Amazon FBA + AWD + Walmart WFS during onboarding (about a week). Run parallel forecasts for two weeks against your current Stocky output to validate. If the numbers don’t beat what you’re getting today, walk — no contract.
If the multi-channel + AWD math wins, transition. We can also pair you with the Partner-tier managed-service analyst during migration so you’re not learning the tool and re-tuning rules at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Stocky for multi-channel sellers?
SKU Compass is the most direct multi-channel alternative — native support for Amazon FBA, Amazon AWD, Shopify, and Walmart WFS in a single forecast, with per-FNSKU reorder points matched to the 2026 fee structure. Inventory Planner is the alternative if Shopify is your primary channel and Amazon is secondary. Stocky itself is Shopify-only.
Is Stocky being discontinued?
Yes. Shopify removed Stocky from the App Store on February 2, 2026 (it can no longer be installed) and shuts it down entirely on August 31, 2026, folding inventory into Shopify Admin. Every Stocky user needs a replacement before then. For simple Shopify-only needs, Shopify’s native inventory management is the free baseline; for multi-channel, multi-supplier, AWD/2026 fee math, or a human analyst, a dedicated tool like SKU Compass is the better fit.
How long does it take to switch from Stocky to a new inventory tool?
Realistically 2-4 weeks of operational attention. API reconnection takes about an hour. Re-establishing supplier records, lead times, and safety stock policies takes 1-2 weeks. Running parallel forecasts on both tools for at least 2 weeks before fully cutting over is the only way to validate the new tool produces equal or better numbers on your data.
Is Inventory Planner better than Stocky?
Inventory Planner has Amazon, Walmart, and other integrations Stocky lacked, plus deeper demand-planning and P&L — and unlike Stocky, it’s actively supported. With Stocky being discontinued, the real comparison is between Shopify’s native inventory (free, simple, Shopify-only) and a paid tool like Inventory Planner or SKU Compass once you need multi-channel depth.
What’s the difference between SKU Compass and Inventory Planner?
SKU Compass is multi-channel-native with Amazon AWD upstream tracking and a managed-service tier (Partner tier adds a human analyst for +$1,997/mo on top of usage). Inventory Planner is Shopify-first with Amazon as a secondary integration and is software-only. SKU Compass wins for Amazon-heavy multi-channel and for brands wanting a human analyst. Inventory Planner wins for Shopify-primary brands with mature P&L needs. See the full SKU Compass vs Inventory Planner comparison.
Does SKU Compass handle multi-supplier sourcing per SKU?
Yes — multi-supplier-per-SKU is native. Each SKU can have multiple suppliers with different lead times, costs, MOQs, and surge-capacity tags. The PO recommendation engine factors all of them based on which combination minimizes cost and lead-time risk for each reorder cycle. Stocky does not do this.
Can I run Stocky and SKU Compass in parallel during migration?
Yes — and you should. Running parallel forecasts for at least two weeks before cutting over is the only way to validate that the new tool produces accurate numbers on your specific catalog and sales patterns. The cost is two subscription bills for a month. The benefit is catching any forecasting gap before it costs you a stockout. Every brand we’ve migrated has run parallel for 2-3 weeks; none have regretted it.