The end of Stocky: Preparing your inventory management for the future

Shopify has announced the end of Stocky - an app many merchants use for stock takes, purchase order management and inventory transfers. If your store relies on Stocky you have until Monday 31st August 2026 to find an alternative solution.

Key Dates for Stocky Shutdown

• February 2, 2026: Stocky was removed from the Shopify App Store and if you remove it you will not be able to reinstall it
• August 31, 2026: Stocky will no longer work. You must choose a new solution and migrate before this date.

When it comes to considering a replacement we know there are a lot of options available and that choosing a replacement isn't a five minute process. That's why we've created this guide detailing how you can replace some of Stocky's functionality with Shopify's native options as well as detailing how our own app Stock Takes can support your business with accurate inventory management.

How to Prepare for the Stocky migration

Depending on when you're reading this, you might feel you have all the time to prepare-or, alternatively, you might be in a mild panic. Don't worry, we're here to help. The best thing to do is start preparing now as it can take time to find the right solution for your business, to set up new processes and finally train your team on the new way of doing things.

Firstly, review your current inventory management processes:

• What are you currently using Stocky for?
• Are there any pain points or limitations with your current process?
• Are there any manual workarounds you have in place that you want to eliminate?

Once you have a clear understanding of your current processes and requirements, you can start exploring the options available. There are a lot of inventory management tools out there, so it's important to find one that fits your specific needs and budget. You should also consider the level of support, training and experience of the team behind the application, as this can be critical for ensuring a smooth migration.

Below we will cover some of the key processes that Stocky was used for, assess what Shopify is replacing it with and how you can use it. We will also cover how our own app, Stock Takes by Pimsical, can also help.

We also recommend you read Shopify's own guide on how to migrate from Stocky which provides further details that you will find useful.

Stock takes

Stock takes are a critical part of inventory management, and Stocky provided a useful tool for this. Conducting regular stock takes is important to ensure your inventory records are accurate, and to identify any discrepancies or issues with your inventory throughout the year. Stock takes can be a time-consuming and laborious process, but done well with the right tools, they can be a lot easier and more efficient.

Shopify

Shopify provides Quick Count, a free tool for small stock takes. It's a simple way to count your inventory on Shopify Point of Sale (POS). You can read Shopify's article on "changing inventory quantities" for more details.

It can be added to Shopify POS, enabling staff to click on a product and scan or manually update a quantity. When the count is saved, the inventory quantity will be updated in Shopify. The video below shows how this works.

Quick Count currently only counts On Hand inventory, which covers Available, Unavailable and Committed inventory. It can count up to 1,000 product variants in one session.

Pros:

• Simple
• Free to use
• Can be used on Shopify POS, so staff can do counts on the go
• Inventory levels are updated when the count is saved

Cons:

• Limited to 1,000 product variants
• Only allows you to count one product variant at a time, so it can be time consuming
• No support for multiple staff members counting at the same time, so it can be difficult to coordinate and manage larger stock takes
• Limited reporting capabilities to check for differences between the count and the expected inventory levels in both quantity and price, so it can be difficult to oversee the results of a stock takes, especially at multiple locations.

Stock Takes by Pimsical

Stock Takes was our first app, and it's still our core focus today. We have built a powerful stock take application that is designed to make the stock take process as easy and efficient as possible.

With over 5 million stock take scans completed, it is battle tested and ready for your retail counts. We also provide powerful reporting tools to help you identify discrepancies and understand all the information about your stock. We've got flexible pricing plans to suit different sizes of business, and we also offer a 30 day free trial.

Pros:

• Flexible pricing
• Can be used on Shopify POS, so staff can do counts on the go
• Support for multiple staff members counting at the same time, increasing productivity
• Powerful reporting capabilities to check for differences between the count and the expected inventory levels in both quantity and price, so it can be easier to oversee the results of stock takes
• Can count more than 1,000 product variants in one session, so it can be used for larger stock takes
• Ability to zero out inventory levels when finishing a stock take, which can be useful for end of year stock takes, or if you want to start fresh with your inventory records
• Count specific groups of products such as by vendor or product type, which can be useful for counting specific sections of your inventory, or for counting inventory in stages
• Flexible permissions to control how your team runs stock takes and counts items

Cons:

• Not free, but you can trial the app for 30 days free of charge
• Works with Shopify POS for scanning or manual entry across multiple devices, fitting neatly into your existing POS workflows - though it's not built for desktop scanning

Adjustments

Adjustments are changes to inventory levels made outside of a stock take. These can occur for a variety of reasons including:

• Correcting an error
• Accounting for damaged or lost inventory
• Making adjustments for returns

It's important to have a clear process for making ad hoc adjustments, and to be able to record the reason for the adjustment. If you can't, it will be hard to track and understand why inventory levels have changed.

Shopify

Adjustments outside of a stock take can be done in the Shopify Admin, however there is no current way to record the reason for the adjustment. You can also use the Quick Count app we spoke about earlier, but again there is no way to record the reason for the adjustment.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Can be used in the Shopify Admin or Shopify POS, so any staff member can make adjustments

Cons:

• No method to record the reason for the adjustment

Stock Takes by Pimsical

Stock Takes has a powerful feature that allows you to make ad hoc adjustments to inventory levels, and to record the reason for the adjustment. You can also allow staff to enter a reason for the adjustment. As well as being able to enter a bespoke reason (if allowed) staff members can pick from a predefined list which helps with consistency and reporting.

You can also report on the reason for adjustments which helps identify patterns or issues with your inventory e.g. a high number of adjustments for a specific product or location, which could indicate a wider process problem that needs to be addressed.

Pros:

• Can be used on Shopify POS, so staff can make adjustments on the go
• Ability to record the reason for the adjustment, which can help with tracking and understanding why inventory levels changed.
• Ability to predefine reasons for adjustments, which can help with consistency and reporting
• Reporting on the reason for adjustments, which can help you identify any patterns or issues with your inventory

Cons:

• Not free, but you can trial the app for 30 days free of charge
• Designed to work only with Shopify POS, so it's not designed for use on desktop.

Replenishment Limits (Min/Max)

Replenishment limits (also known as min/max levels) ensure that you always have enough stock on hand to meet customer demand, without overstocking and holding too much stock for your retail store stock room.

Min/max levels allow you to set a minimum and maximum quantity for each product, and then automatically generate transfer orders or purchase orders when inventory levels fall below the defined minimum level. This can help you avoid stockouts and ensure that you always have enough inventory on hand to meet customer demand.

Shopify

Shopify removed the min/max levels feature from Stocky in 2025 and they have yet to provide replacement of this functionality in the Shopify Admin. Currently you need to manually monitor inventory levels and create transfer orders or purchase orders as needed.

Stock Takes by Pimsical

Stock Takes has the ability to set replenishment min/max levels for products at a variant level, allowing you the flexibility to set different levels for variants of the same product. So, you can better stock the correct amount across the size curve.

This can be done via a file upload, managed via our app in the Shopify Admin or via the Stock Takes app on Shopify POS, giving you the flexibility to manage this in the way that works best for you and your team. Once set up you can automatically generate transfer orders or purchase orders when inventory levels fall below the minimum levels. This is similar to the functionality you will be familiar with in Stocky.

Additionally Stock Takes integrates with Shopify Flow allowing you to configure the automatic creation of transfer orders or purchase orders.

Transfer orders

Transfer orders are used to move inventory from one location to another. This is useful for a variety of reasons including:

• Moving inventory from a warehouse to a retail store
• Transferring inventory between different locations to balance stock levels

It's important to have a clear process for creating and managing transfer orders, and to ensure that inventory levels are updated correctly when the transfer is completed.

Shopify

Shopify has a new transfer order system which allows you to create transfer orders in the Shopify Admin and manage the transfer process from start to finish. You can create a transfer order, specify the products and quantities being transferred, and then track the status of the transfer as it progresses.

Once the transfer is completed, inventory levels will be updated automatically. The transfers can also optionally have an origin or destination location, which means they can also be used for other use cases such as receiving inventory from suppliers etc.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Flexible transfers for a variety of use cases, such as moving inventory between locations, or receiving inventory from suppliers
• Inventory levels are updated when the transfer is completed

Cons:

• Requires a POS Pro subscription to manage transfers on Shopify POS, which can be expensive for some businesses
• A basic experience on Shopify POS

Stock Takes by Pimsical

Stock Takes integrates seamlessly with Shopify transfer orders to provide an improved experience for managing transfer orders on Shopify POS. You can view and manage transfer orders from the Shopify Admin, and then use our app to manage the entire transfer process on Shopify POS. This is useful for staff who are responsible for managing transfers, as they can do everything from one place on Shopify POS, rather than having to switch between different applications.

We also provide the ability to set replenishment min/max levels for products, and to automatically create transfer orders when inventory levels fall below the minimum levels. This approach is similar to the functionality you will be used to in Stocky. This helps to ensure you always have enough inventory on hand and avoid stockouts.

Pros:

• Deeply integrated with Shopify transfer orders
• Generate transfer orders automatically based on min/max and stock levels
• Can process transfers on Shopify POS, without requiring a Shopify POS Pro subscription
• Optimized experience for managing transfer orders on Shopify POS, to make it as efficient and easy as possible
• Control over your transfer workflow and how your team processes transfers in store

Cons:

• Not free, but you can trial the app for 30 days free of charge
• Our step by step transfer process can be slower than manually processing transfers

Purchasing and receiving inventory

Purchasing and receiving inventory is core to retail, and Stocky has plenty of features to help. The key is having a clear process so stock levels update correctly every time.

Shopify

Shopify purchase orders have been available in the Shopify Admin for some time, however, Shopify is now recommending that you link Transfers with purchase orders for receiving inventory. This is because transfer orders have more features and functionality than purchase orders, and can be used for a wider range of inventory management tasks.

You can create a transfer order in the Shopify Admin, and then specify the destination location as your warehouse or retail store and leave the origin blank, as the origin needs to be a Shopify location if specified. You can then manage the transfer as normal from start to finish, and inventory levels will be updated automatically when the transfer is completed.

You can also use Shopify purchase orders, however they provide an older and less feature-rich experience.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Flexible transfers for a variety of use cases, such as moving inventory between locations, or receiving inventory from suppliers
• Inventory levels are updated when the transfer is completed

Cons:

• Requires a POS Pro subscription to manage transfers on Shopify POS, which can be expensive for some businesses
• Basic experience on Shopify POS
• Purchase orders provide an older and less feature-rich experience with many manual steps
• Could be confusing to have two different systems for receiving inventory, with the recommended option being transfers rather than purchase orders

Stock Takes by Pimsical

Stock Takes' Purchase Order functionality provides a powerful set of tools for managing the purchasing and receiving inventory process on Shopify POS. You are able to create purchase orders in the app, specify the products and quantities being ordered, and then manage the receiving process on Shopify POS. This can be useful for staff who are responsible for managing purchases and receiving inventory, as they can do everything from one place on Shopify POS, rather than having to switch between different applications.

We also provide the ability to set min/max levels for products and automatically create purchase orders when inventory levels fall below the minimum levels; this is similar to the functionality found in Stocky.

Pros:

• Generate purchase orders automatically based on min/max and stock level
• Can process purchase orders on Shopify POS, without requiring a POS Pro subscription
• Optimized experience for managing purchase orders on Shopify POS, to make it as efficient and easy as possible
• Deeply integrated with Shopify, so you get all the benefits of Shopify's transfer order system, with the added benefits of being able to manage via Shopify POS
• Control over your receiving workflow and how your team processes transfers in store
• Record your financial information for each purchase order, including the cost of the products and any additional costs such as shipping or taxes
• Track invoices and payments for each purchase order

Cons:

• Not free, but you can trial the app for 30 days free of charge
• Our step by step transfer process can be slower than manually processing purchase orders

Act now

The Stocky shutdown deadline is set at August 31st 2026 - it won't be changing. Waiting risks disrupting your inventory flows or worse, picking the wrong Stocky replacement in a rush.

We can help

👉 Start your free trial of Stock Takes by Pimsical and see how it compares to Stocky-no commitment required.

Have questions about migrating from Stocky? Contact our team or email us at [email protected] for support or to book a 30 minute demo call.