Comparison
ShelfMerge vs Stocky: Which Shopify Inventory Tool Is Right for You?
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the ShelfMerge Research Team
Stocky is a solid tool for merchants who are already on Shopify POS Pro and need purchase order workflows. ShelfMerge is built for a different problem — finding the dead weight inside your catalog before it costs you more money. They don't compete much. Here's an honest breakdown.
At a Glance
| ShelfMerge | Stocky | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — $149/mo | Free (POS Pro required) |
| Focus | Product intelligence | Purchasing & reorder |
| Best for | Any Shopify merchant | POS Pro subscribers |
| Requires Shopify POS Pro |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ShelfMerge | Stocky |
|---|---|---|
| Dead inventory detection— ShelfMerge scores every product; Stocky shows stock levels only | ||
| Catalog health score | ||
| Variant performance analysis— ShelfMerge surfaces zero-sale variants across your catalog | ||
| Product cannibalization detection | ||
| Demand forecasting | ||
| Purchase orders | ||
| Supplier management | ||
| Duplicate / dedup detection | ||
| Weekly health digest email | ||
| Requires Shopify POS Pro— Stocky is only available to POS Pro subscribers ($89/mo) |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Dead inventory detection
Stocky shows you how much stock you have and can forecast reorder points — but it doesn't tell you which products have stopped selling. ShelfMerge classifies every product as thriving, slowing, dying, or dead based on sales velocity, days since last sale, and current stock levels. It also calculates the dollar value of stock that isn't moving.
This matters because merchants often reorder dead products by accident — Stocky's forecasting treats historical sales as a signal, so it may recommend reordering something that was popular six months ago but hasn't sold in 60 days.
Purchase orders and supplier management
This is where Stocky genuinely wins. If your business runs on supplier purchase orders — sending POs, tracking receipts, managing lead times — Stocky handles that workflow cleanly. ShelfMerge has no PO features at all. It's not trying to be a purchasing tool.
Variant performance analysis
Stocky does not surface zero-sale variants. It works at the product level, not variant level. ShelfMerge scans every variant across your entire catalog and flags the ones that have never sold or haven't sold in a set window. For stores with 50+ products across multiple sizes and colors, this is where significant dead stock hides.
Catalog health score
ShelfMerge produces a 0–100 health score updated weekly, combining dead inventory weight, missing images, dead variants, duplicates, and cannibalization severity. Stocky has no equivalent. There's no aggregate catalog health signal in Stocky — you'd need to manually review multiple reports.
Access requirements
Stocky requires Shopify POS Pro, which is $89/month on top of your Shopify plan. If you don't have a physical retail presence, Stocky is not available to you regardless of price. ShelfMerge works on any Shopify store with no POS requirement.
Pricing Comparison
ShelfMerge
- Scan — Free. 100 products, one health report.
- Track — $29/mo. 1,000 products, dead inventory alerts, variant analysis.
- Optimize — $79/mo. 5,000 products, cannibalization detection, exports.
- Agency — $149/mo. Unlimited products, up to 10 stores.
Stocky
- Free — included with Shopify POS Pro ($89/mo)
- Not available without POS Pro subscription
- No standalone pricing tier
Who Should Choose Each Tool
Choose ShelfMerge if:
- You want to know which products are draining cash without moving
- You have variants in your catalog that may never have sold
- You suspect some products are competing with each other for the same buyer
- You don't use Shopify POS or don't have POS Pro
- You want a weekly alert when your catalog health drops
Choose Stocky if:
- You already pay for Shopify POS Pro and want the free add-on
- You need purchase order management and supplier tracking
- Your primary need is knowing when to reorder, not which products to cut
Verdict
Stocky is genuinely good at what it does — but what it does is narrow. It helps you reorder the right amount at the right time. ShelfMerge works on a different problem: finding the products that should be cut, the variants nobody buys, and the listings that are silently cannibalizing your best sellers.
If you're on Shopify POS Pro and need PO workflows, use Stocky. For product-level intelligence — dead stock scoring, variant analysis, health scoring — that's not something Stocky is built for. Use ShelfMerge for that layer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stocky really free?
Stocky is free, but only if you're already paying for Shopify POS Pro, which costs $89/month. If you don't use Shopify POS, Stocky is not available to you.
Does Stocky detect dead inventory?
Stocky offers basic demand forecasting and stock reports, but it does not have a dedicated dead inventory detection engine, health scoring, or variant-level performance analysis.
Can I use both ShelfMerge and Stocky?
Yes. They serve different purposes. Stocky handles purchasing decisions and reorder workflows. ShelfMerge focuses on catalog health, dead inventory, and cannibalization. They don't overlap much.
Does ShelfMerge replace Stocky?
Not completely. ShelfMerge does not generate purchase orders or manage supplier relationships. If you need PO workflow features, keep Stocky. ShelfMerge adds intelligence on top of your existing catalog.
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