Sortly vs Zoho Inventory (2026)
Both offer genuinely useful free plans, but they serve different needs. Sortly is a visual, photo-based inventory tracker designed for simplicity. Zoho Inventory is a full-featured multi-channel inventory management system. This comparison helps you pick the right free starting point.
Choose Sortly if...
You want the simplest possible inventory tool with a visual, photo-based approach. You track assets, equipment, or a small product catalogue (under 100 items). You do not sell on online marketplaces. You want an intuitive mobile app for non-technical staff. You value ease of use over feature depth.
Choose Zoho Inventory if...
You sell on Shopify, Amazon, eBay, or other online marketplaces. You need purchase orders, sales orders, and multi-channel stock sync. You plan to grow beyond 100 items and need a platform that scales. You want integration with accounting software (Zoho Books, QuickBooks). You need composite items or kitting.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Sortly | Zoho Inventory |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100 items, 1 user | 50 orders/mo, 1 user |
| First paid plan | $29/mo (unlimited items) | $29/mo (1,500 orders) |
| Approach | Visual, photo-based | Traditional inventory management |
| Item/order limit (free) | 100 items | 50 orders/month |
| Barcode/QR scanning | QR codes via app | Barcode scanning via app |
| Multi-channel sync | No | Yes (Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy) |
| Purchase orders | No | Yes |
| Sales orders | No | Yes |
| Multi-warehouse | No (single folder view) | Yes (1 on free, 2+ on paid) |
| Custom fields | Yes (key feature) | Yes |
| Low stock alerts | Yes (paid plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| Reporting | Basic | Detailed |
| Mobile app | Excellent (visual focus) | Good (functional) |
| API access | No | Yes |
| Accounting integration | No | Yes (Zoho Books, QuickBooks) |
| G2 rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Best for | Asset tracking, small catalogues | Ecommerce, growing businesses |
Key Differences Explained
Different tools for different problems
Sortly and Zoho Inventory are not direct competitors. Sortly is an item and asset tracking tool with a visual interface. Zoho Inventory is a full inventory management system with order processing, multi-channel sync, and accounting integration. If you need to manage purchase orders, sell on marketplaces, or integrate with accounting software, Zoho is the only choice. If you just need to know where your stuff is, Sortly is simpler and more intuitive.
Free plan comparison
Sortly's free plan allows 100 items with 1 user. Zoho's free plan allows 50 orders per month with 1 user and 1 warehouse. The measurement is different: Sortly limits items, Zoho limits orders. For a small retailer processing 10 orders per week, Zoho's free plan works. For an office manager tracking 80 pieces of equipment, Sortly's free plan works. Choose based on whether you sell things or track things.
Upgrade paths
Both jump to $29/mo for the first paid tier. Sortly's $29/mo Advanced plan removes the 100-item limit but still does not add ecommerce features. Zoho's $29/mo Standard plan jumps to 1,500 orders per month and adds batch tracking, composite items, and a second warehouse. Zoho's upgrade path offers much more additional capability per dollar.
Mobile experience
Sortly's mobile app is its strongest feature. The visual, photo-based interface makes inventory feel like browsing a photo album. Adding items with photos and QR codes takes seconds. Zoho's mobile app is functional but traditional. For field teams, retail staff, or non-technical users, Sortly's app provides a significantly better experience.
Scalability
Zoho Inventory scales from free to $249/mo enterprise with 25,000 orders per month and 15 users. Sortly maxes out at $74/mo with 5 users and no order management. If you expect to grow beyond basic asset tracking into ecommerce or multi-location inventory, starting with Zoho avoids a future migration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Sortly for ecommerce inventory?
Sortly is not designed for ecommerce. It has no marketplace integrations, no order management, and no multi-channel stock sync. If you sell products online, use Zoho Inventory, even the free tier is more capable for ecommerce than Sortly's paid plans.
Is Sortly or Zoho better for asset tracking?
Sortly. Its visual, photo-based approach is purpose-built for tracking assets, equipment, and supplies. The QR code check-in/check-out system works well for lending equipment or tracking company assets across offices. Zoho Inventory can track assets but it is overengineered for that use case.
Which free plan is more generous?
It depends on your use case. Sortly gives you 100 items with full photo and QR support. Zoho gives you 50 orders per month with purchase orders, sales orders, and multi-channel sync. For simple tracking, Sortly's 100 items goes further. For selling products, Zoho's 50 orders per month is more useful.
Can I migrate from Sortly to Zoho later?
Yes, but it requires manual effort. Sortly exports item data as CSV. You can import this into Zoho Inventory and map fields. However, there is no direct integration. If you think you will eventually need Zoho's ecommerce features, start with Zoho's free plan to avoid the migration entirely.