Stocky Alternative for Non-POS Pro Shopify Stores: Your Options Before August 2026
Disclosure: I built SimpleStock, one of the apps mentioned below. I’ll tell you when it fits and when it doesn’t. If something else is better for your store, I’ll point you there.
TL;DR
If you used Stocky without paying for POS Pro, you’re in the most exposed position when Stocky dies on August 31, 2026. Shopify’s native inventory replacements all require POS Pro — $89 per location per month. If you’re not paying that, those tools aren’t an option.
That leaves three paths: upgrade to POS Pro, switch to a third-party app, or go manual. This article covers the third-party path in detail and helps you pick the right app for your store size and workflow.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stocky hard shutdown | August 31, 2026 |
| Features already removed | Demand forecasting + stock transfers (July 7, 2025) |
| App Store listing removed | February 2, 2026 (no new installs) |
| POS Pro cost | $89/location/month ($79 billed annually) |
| Native tool requirement | POS Pro — non-subscribers can’t access them |
| Cheapest third-party option | SimpleStock free plan (30 SKUs) or $14.99/month Growth |
Why Non-POS Pro Stores Have the Worst Problem Here
POS Pro is Shopify’s paid tier for point-of-sale operations, priced at $89 per location per month. It includes advanced retail features like staff permissions, exchanges, custom receipts, and — since Shopify bundled Stocky into it — inventory management tools.
When Stocky launched, it was a standalone free app. Shopify later folded it into POS Pro. But many stores that installed Stocky before that change were grandfathered in. They’ve been running Stocky without paying for POS Pro, because they installed it when it was free.
When Stocky shuts down, Shopify’s official guidance points merchants to native inventory tools in Shopify Admin and POS. Those native tools require POS Pro. Grandfathered users lose access to both Stocky and the native replacements simultaneously, unless they start paying $89/location.
For a store with one location paying $89/month just to replicate what used to be free, that’s a real cost increase to absorb. For a store with two or three locations, the math gets worse fast.
This is the group for whom the third-party alternatives matter most.
The Three Paths for Non-POS Pro Stores
Path 1: Upgrade to POS Pro
Cost: $89/location/month (or $79 billed annually)
This makes sense if you also want the POS features — exchanges, staff roles, gift cards, custom printing. If you’re already using Shopify POS in a retail setting and the $89 feels like good value for those features, upgrade.
It does not make sense if you’re paying $89 purely to replace Stocky. At $89/month you can get a third-party app with more inventory features for less money.
Note: even on POS Pro, Shopify’s native tools don’t bring back demand forecasting. That feature was removed from Stocky in July 2025 and isn’t in the native replacement. If forecasting matters to you, you need a third-party app regardless of POS Pro status.
Path 2: Switch to a third-party inventory app
This is the path most non-POS Pro stores should take. Several apps specifically target the Stocky-replacement use case and are priced lower than POS Pro. Comparison is below.
Path 3: Go manual
Shopify Admin gives you basic inventory levels, a low-stock report, and product CSVs. For very small stores — under 30 SKUs, one location, simple product lines — manual tracking with a spreadsheet and Shopify’s built-in reports might be enough. No monthly cost. Significant effort.
This works if you order from one or two suppliers, have low SKU count, and can commit to a weekly manual review. It stops working the moment you need automated alerts.
What Stocky Actually Did (So You Know What You Need to Replace)
Before comparing apps, be honest about which Stocky features you actually used. Stocky had a wide surface area:
| Stocky feature | Who actually used it |
|---|---|
| Dashboard (inventory health, low stock, dead stock) | Almost everyone |
| Reorder point alerts | Common — emails when stock drops below threshold |
| Supplier management (contact info, lead times) | Common |
| Purchase order generation | Power users — creates POs inside the app |
| PO receiving (mark received quantities) | Power users |
| Stock transfers between locations | Multi-location merchants |
| Demand forecasting | Removed July 7, 2025 — no longer available |
If your workflow was “open Stocky, check what’s low, close Stocky, email your supplier,” you’re using the dashboard and alerts. That’s the lightweight end.
If your workflow was “generate a PO in Stocky, send it, receive it in Stocky, reconcile,” you’re using the full PO workflow. That needs a more capable replacement.
Third-Party Stocky Alternatives: Honest Comparison
These are the apps I’d look at if I were migrating from Stocky and not on POS Pro. I’ve organized them by what they’re best at.
SimpleStock
Pricing: Free (30 SKUs) / Growth $14.99/month / Pro $29.99/month. 14-day free trial on Growth.
Built for: Stores that used Stocky mainly for the dashboard and reorder alerts. Single or multi-location. No POS Pro needed.
What it does: Inventory health dashboard (low stock, out of stock, dead stock), reorder alerts based on sales velocity, reorder point (the stock level that triggers an alert) per SKU, vendor lead times, multi-location support, CSV export.
Reorder point — the minimum quantity you want to keep on hand before placing a new order. When stock falls below this number, SimpleStock flags it.
What it doesn’t do: Purchase order generation, PO receiving/reconciliation, stock transfers between locations, cost price tracking, margin reporting, barcode scanning. If any of these were central to your Stocky workflow, this isn’t the right app.
When to pick it: You glanced at Stocky’s dashboard, saw what needed ordering, and handled the actual order outside Stocky. You want that visibility layer replaced without paying $89/month for POS Pro.
When not to pick it: You generated and received purchase orders inside Stocky. You need stock transfers. You have 1,000+ SKUs and complex multi-warehouse operations.
I built this one. Free plan, no card, installs in under 10 minutes.
Prediko
Pricing: $49/month (Starter) / $99/month (Growth) / $349/month (Scale), tiered roughly by GMV.
Built for: Stores where demand forecasting drove ordering decisions — the closest functional replacement for Stocky’s (now-removed) forecasting feature.
What it does: AI-driven replenishment suggestions, purchase order management, supplier management, demand forecasting, inventory analytics. The Starter tier ($49) is usable for most small-to-mid stores.
When to pick it: Forecasting was your main reason to use Stocky, or you want to build toward more data-driven replenishment. Also a solid pick if you want full PO workflows (create, send, receive) and can justify $49/month.
When not to pick it: You’re a small store with simple, predictable reorders and you’d never use the AI suggestions. You’d be paying for forecasting infrastructure you don’t need.
Assisty
Pricing: Starts at $19/month. Higher tiers for larger stores. Check their current pricing page — it moves around.
Built for: Mid-sized stores that want AI-assisted forecasting at a lower entry point than Prediko.
What it does: Inventory analytics, demand forecasting, reorder suggestions, Shopify Plus integrations on upper plans.
When to pick it: You want some forecasting capability but $49/month for Prediko feels steep. The $19 entry tier is genuinely functional for smaller operations.
When not to pick it: You need a proven, stable PO workflow or have complex multi-warehouse requirements. Spend time auditing which tier actually matches your usage before committing — their tier differentiation isn’t always obvious.
Inventory Planner
Pricing: Starts at approximately $249/month. Enterprise pricing above that.
Built for: Teams running inventory operations at scale — $2M+ GMV, multiple warehouses, dedicated inventory staff.
What it does: Advanced demand forecasting, replenishment planning, multi-warehouse management, deep analytics, integrations with 3PLs and ERPs.
When to pick it: You have a full-time inventory manager and the forecasting complexity justifies the price. This is real enterprise software.
When not to pick it: You’re migrating from a free Stocky install and looking for a cost-effective replacement. $249/month for a one-person operation replacing a free app is almost never the right call.
Sumtracker
Pricing: From $49/month.
Built for: Merchants with inventory across multiple Shopify storefronts or external channels (Amazon, eBay, etc.).
What it does: Inventory sync across multiple Shopify stores and external channels, purchase orders, low stock alerts.
When to pick it: You sell on more than one Shopify store, or you need to reconcile inventory between Shopify and another platform.
When not to pick it: Single-store Shopify merchant. You’d be paying for sync infrastructure you’d never use.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| App | Price | PO management | Forecasting | Multi-location | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpleStock | Free / $14.99 / $29.99/mo | No | No | Yes | Dashboard + alert workflow replacers |
| Prediko | $49–$349/mo | Yes | Yes (AI) | Yes | Forecasting-driven operations |
| Assisty | From $19/mo | Partial | Yes | Yes | Budget forecasting entry point |
| Inventory Planner | From ~$249/mo | Yes | Yes (advanced) | Yes | Enterprise / large teams |
| Sumtracker | From $49/mo | Yes | Limited | Yes | Multi-store inventory sync |
| POS Pro (native) | $89/location/mo | Basic | No | Yes | Existing POS Pro retailers |
Decision Matrix: Which App for Which Store
Run through these in order. The first match is probably your answer.
1. Did you generate purchase orders inside Stocky (create PO, send to supplier, receive in Stocky)? Yes → Prediko (starts $49, full PO workflow + forecasting). Or Inventory Planner if you’re at scale and price isn’t a constraint.
2. Was demand forecasting — predicting future inventory needs from sales trends — your core use case? Yes → Prediko. It’s the closest functional replacement for what Stocky had before July 2025. Assisty is a lower-cost option if $49 is too much.
3. Do you sell across more than one Shopify store, or sync inventory with external channels? Yes → Sumtracker.
4. Are you running $2M+ GMV with a team doing inventory planning? Yes → Inventory Planner. The price is high but you’re past the point where anything cheaper fits.
5. Did you mainly use Stocky to glance at what’s low, get alerts, and then handle ordering elsewhere? Yes → SimpleStock. Free plan for 30 SKUs, $14.99 flat for Growth with multi-location. No POS Pro needed.
6. Is your store under 30 SKUs with one location and one or two suppliers? Maybe → Go manual (spreadsheet + Shopify Admin reports) or SimpleStock free plan. Evaluate whether any monthly cost is worth it.
What the Pillar Article Covers That This One Doesn’t
If you want a full step-by-step migration playbook — exporting Stocky data, rebuilding reorder points, running both systems in parallel — the complete Stocky replacement guide covers that in detail. This article is focused on the decision of which app to pick if you’re not on POS Pro. Migration steps are there.
FAQ
Q: I have Stocky installed but I’m not on POS Pro. Will it just stop working on August 31? A: Yes. The full shutdown cuts off API access for all Stocky installs, regardless of POS Pro status. After August 31, 2026, Stocky stops syncing inventory, stops sending alerts, and purchase orders become non-functional.
Q: Can I upgrade to POS Pro just to get the native inventory tools, then downgrade? A: You can upgrade, but POS Pro is a monthly subscription. If you downgrade after, you lose access to the native tools. It’s not a one-time migration path — you’d be paying $89/location every month to keep access.
Q: Does SimpleStock require POS Pro? A: No. SimpleStock works independently of POS Pro. It connects directly to your Shopify store via the standard app API. You don’t need any specific Shopify plan tier beyond a regular Shopify subscription.
Q: Does any third-party app bring back Stocky’s demand forecasting? A: Yes. Prediko and Assisty both offer demand forecasting. Inventory Planner does too at the enterprise tier. SimpleStock does not — it’s alerts-based, not predictive. If forecasting drove your replenishment decisions, Prediko is the closest replacement.
Q: I have 3 locations. How does POS Pro pricing work vs a third-party app? A: POS Pro is $89 per location per month, so 3 locations = $267/month. Most third-party apps charge flat rates regardless of location count. SimpleStock’s Growth plan ($14.99/month) includes all locations. Prediko’s Starter ($49/month) also covers multiple locations. For multi-location stores, third-party apps typically cost significantly less than POS Pro.
Q: Stocky is still working for me right now in May 2026. Do I really need to switch before August? A: Yes. Running a replacement in parallel for 4-6 weeks before cutover is the only reliable way to validate that alerts fire at the right thresholds and supplier data migrated cleanly. Switching the day Stocky dies means no fallback if something breaks.
Q: Is there a free option for replacing Stocky? A: SimpleStock has a free plan covering up to 30 SKUs with no credit card required. If your catalog is larger than 30 SKUs, the Growth plan ($14.99/month) is the lowest-cost paid option among the major alternatives. There is no like-for-like free replacement for Stocky’s PO management features.
Q: What happened to Stocky’s demand forecasting feature? A: It was removed on July 7, 2025, along with stock transfers. This predates the full shutdown. If you relied on forecasting, it’s already been gone for nearly a year. No native Shopify tool has replaced it — only third-party apps like Prediko and Assisty offer it.
Next Step
If you’ve run through the decision matrix and landed on SimpleStock, the fastest move is the free plan: 30 SKUs, no card, installs from the App Store in a few minutes. If your catalog is larger, the 14-day Growth trial costs nothing.
If you’re not sure yet, that’s fine. Read the full migration guide first, export your Stocky data while the app still runs, and make the call before the end of June. August 31 is the hard stop, but waiting until August means no runway to fix anything.
Questions about migrating? Email support@kumostudio.dev — that’s me, and I usually reply within a day.
よくある質問
- Q. I have Stocky installed but I'm not on POS Pro. Will it just stop working on August 31?
- Yes. The full shutdown cuts off API access for all Stocky installs, regardless of POS Pro status. After August 31, 2026, Stocky stops syncing inventory, stops sending alerts, and purchase orders become non-functional.
- Q. Can I upgrade to POS Pro just to get the native inventory tools, then downgrade?
- You can upgrade, but POS Pro is a monthly subscription. If you downgrade after, you lose access to the native tools. It's not a one-time migration path — you'd be paying $89/location every month to keep access.
- Q. Does SimpleStock require POS Pro?
- No. SimpleStock works independently of POS Pro. It connects directly to your Shopify store via the standard app API. You don't need any specific Shopify plan tier beyond a regular Shopify subscription.
- Q. Does any third-party app bring back Stocky's demand forecasting?
- Yes. Prediko and Assisty both offer demand forecasting. Inventory Planner does too at the enterprise tier. SimpleStock does not — it's alerts-based, not predictive. If forecasting drove your replenishment decisions, Prediko is the closest replacement.
- Q. I have 3 locations. How does POS Pro pricing work vs a third-party app?
- POS Pro is $89 per location per month, so 3 locations = $267/month. Most third-party apps charge flat rates regardless of location count. SimpleStock's Growth plan ($14.99/month) includes all locations. Prediko's Starter ($49/month) also covers multiple locations. For multi-location stores, third-party apps typically cost significantly less than POS Pro.
- Q. Stocky is still working for me right now in May 2026. Do I really need to switch before August?
- Yes. Running a replacement in parallel for 4-6 weeks before cutover is the only reliable way to validate that alerts fire at the right thresholds and supplier data migrated cleanly. Switching the day Stocky dies means no fallback if something breaks.
- Q. Is there a free option for replacing Stocky?
- SimpleStock has a free plan covering up to 30 SKUs with no credit card required. If your catalog is larger than 30 SKUs, the Growth plan ($14.99/month) is the lowest-cost paid option among the major alternatives. There is no like-for-like free replacement for Stocky's PO management features.
- Q. What happened to Stocky's demand forecasting feature?
- It was removed on July 7, 2025, along with stock transfers. This predates the full shutdown. If you relied on forecasting, it's already been gone for nearly a year. No native Shopify tool has replaced it — only third-party apps like Prediko and Assisty offer it.