The Best Inventory Apps of 2023

Choosing a good mobile inventory tracker makes it easier to manage your products on the go. We’ve narrowed it down to the top five apps on the market.
Best overall
Sortly
Sortly
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
Starting from
$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Built-in barcode scanner
  • pro
    Intuitive and easy to use controls
Best software tie-in
InFlow
inFlow Inventory
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
Starting from
$89.00/mo.
  • pro
    Phone barcode scanner
  • pro
    App easily tracks sales orders
Best for scaling
Zoho
Zoho Inventory
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Starting from
$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Built-in barcode scanning
  • pro
    Highly customizable plans
Best for Square users
Square
Square
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Starting from
$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Free with any Square account
  • pro
    Easy to use app
Best mobile sales
Inventory Now
Inventory Now
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8
Starting from
$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Built-in barcode scanning
  • pro
    Summary view to see inventory

Data as of 3/15/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure.

Here's the bottom line: Sortly has the most features at the most reasonable price—that's why it's our top pick.

Inventory management software is an essential tool for running your business. But not all companies do business from a single location. Warehouse managers, sales representatives, and owners of mobile businesses need a way to manage inventory while on the go.

If your business falls into one of these categories, getting an inventory system with a user-friendly mobile app makes a lot of sense. With a richly featured mobile app for inventory tracking, you can scan incoming and outgoing products, check stock levels, generate sales and purchase orders, and more—all from your smartphone. Plus, Sortly and inFlow Inventory, our top two choices, combine the flexibility of an app with the power of a full cloud-based inventory management system.

The only question is: Which mobile apps are best for inventory tracking? Here are our top five picks.

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Mobile apps only
While many inventory management platforms offer apps for desktop and laptop computers, we want to clarify that this review will focus exclusively on the best inventory tracking apps for tablets and smartphones. That way, we can provide the best advice for business owners looking to manage their inventory on the go.

Top inventory apps at a glance

When analyzing the options for mobile inventory tracking solutions, we focused on the features we thought would be most helpful for employees who need inventory management on the go.

To that end, we primarily compared each app’s barcode scanning, warehouse management, and sales functionality. We also considered a couple of more advanced inventory management features, like item kitting and reporting.

Here’s how our top five apps stack up:

Top inventory tracker apps compared

App
Starting Price
Built-in barcode scanning
Multiple warehouses
Sales, invoices, and receipts
Item kitting
Reporting features
Get App
$0.00/mo.
Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon No  Dark

No

Icon No  Dark

No

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

$89.00/mo.
Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon No  Dark

No

Icon No  Dark

No

$0.00/mo.
Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

$0.00/mo.
Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon No  Dark

No

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

$0.00/mo.
Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon Yes  Dark

Yes

Icon No  Dark

No

Data as of 3/15/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

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Sortly: Best overall inventory management app

Sortly
Sortly
Sortly
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
Starts at
$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Trusted by top brands nationwide
  • pro
    Offline mode available

Data as of 3/15/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

All of the options on our list include the features most commonly used by inventory managers on the go. But Sortly goes a step further, offering features that no other apps have.

For starters, Sortly includes an offline mode, which allows you to scan incoming and outgoing items even when your smartphone can’t find a signal. Once you come back online, all your offline activity syncs with your account for seamless inventory tracking company-wide.

We also like that Sortly doesn’t just offer barcode scanning—it also supports QR codes. That gives your company more flexibility to choose the scanning method that works best for your business.

Price

When you consider that Sortly is basically a full-featured inventory control system, it’s plans are very reasonably priced:

  • Free ($0/mo.): Up to 100 transaction entries per month
  • Advanced ($29/mo. or $348/yr.): Up to 2,000 transaction entries per month
  • Ultra ($59/mo. or $708/yr.): Up to 10,000 transaction entries
  • Enterprise (Get a quote): Unlimited transaction entries

Considering all the features you get for under $120 per month, we think Sortly’s a pretty great deal.

Pros
pro Easily upload existing inventory list
pro Organize inventory folders by type, location, and other categories
pro In-app barcode scanner
Cons
con Backup function lacking features
con Customer service sometimes slow to respond to email

inFlow Inventory: Best tie-in app for full-service inventory software

inFlow Inventory
InFlow
inFlow Inventory
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
Starts at
$89.00/mo.
  • pro
    Mobile features that go with your software
  • pro
    Comes with desktop features of a complete inventory management platform

Data as of 3/15/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

As much as we like the options we’ve included on this list, the fact is that mobile-only software is more limited in the features available. A mobile interface just isn’t capable of offering all the features and customization you could enjoy on a desktop computer or laptop.

If you need an inventory management software with a little more oomph that can still offer easy-to-use mobile functions, we think inFlow Inventory may be the best pick for your business.

With inFlow Inventory, you get the desktop features of a complete inventory management platform—including team management, vendor and customer tracking, and order management. In addition, inFlow’s mobile app allows you to use a built-in barcode reader to scan items, adjust stock levels, and create new sales orders and purchase orders from anywhere.

Price

People often think that you can use the inFlow Inventory app completely free, but that’s not 100% true. Yes, the app itself is free. And yes, inFlow does offer a free service option (inFlow On-Premise). But the free plan only includes local software, meaning you can’t access it from your mobile device.

To use the inFlow Inventory app, you’ll need to sign up for a paid subscription. inFlow offers three plans:

  • Entrepreneur ($89/mo.): 1 inventory location, up to 100 orders per month
  • Small Business ($219/mo.): Unlimited inventory locations, up to 1,000 orders per month
  • Mid-Size ($439/mo.): Unlimited orders per month
Pros
pro Fulfill orders from your phone
pro Track Inventory and orders across multiple warehouses
pro Live-chat, email, and phone support
Cons
con Limits on number of sales per month depending on plan
con No API integrations

Zoho Inventory: Best for scaling

Zoho Inventory
Zoho
Zoho Inventory
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Starts at
$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Expiration date tracking for perishables
  • pro
    Cloud-based platform

Data as of 3/15/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Zoho Inventory is a robust inventory management system that can provide an excellent solution for businesses that are looking to scale. This is due to its vast array of features and customizable plan options.

The software offers features such as order and inventory management, purchase and sales order tracking, and real-time inventory tracking, which can help businesses to streamline their operations and improve their efficiency. With Zoho Inventory, businesses can manage their inventory across multiple warehouses, set reorder points, and track stock movement in real-time, allowing them to make informed decisions and optimize their inventory levels.

Zoho is also great for integrations. The software seamlessly integrates with other Zoho apps such as Zoho Books and Zoho CRM, as well as third-party apps like Shopify, Amazon, and eBay.

Price

Zoho's inventory software is reasonably priced and has a free cloud-based option, as well as a free mobile app on every plan for accessibility. Zoho also allows for customizable plan options alongside it's four paid plans— with each plan growing in orders and shipping labels permitted per month. Although upgrading plans to achieve unlimited orders may be a drawback, it ensures that inventory costs do not outweigh profits. Plus, Zoho goes so far as to allow you to add-on additional users ($2.50) or warehouses ($8.00) to whichever plan you're on.

Pros
pro Highly customizable inventory system
pro Built-in barcoding support
pro Lots of integrations
Cons
con Poor onboarding support
con Glitchy third-party integrations

Square: Best for Square users

Square
Square
Square
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Starts at
$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Free with any Square account
  • pro
    Easy to use

Data as of 3/15/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Square Inventory is an ideal inventory management solution for businesses that use Square's POS system. Since Square Inventory seamlessly integrates with Square's POS system, businesses can easily sync their sales data and inventory levels, allowing for real-time inventory tracking. This integration helps businesses to reduce errors in inventory management and avoid overselling, which can be a significant problem for businesses that operate with a small inventory.

Square Inventory offers features such as low-stock alerts, reorder reminders, and real-time inventory updates. But it doesn't have a ton of advanced features—there are no invoicing or manufacturing features and very limited warehousing features. The software's user-friendly interface and intuitive design, however, make it easy for businesses to set up and manage their inventory without requiring extensive training or technical expertise. 

So if you're a Square user and have a business that doesn't have a super complicated supply chain, Square can provide you with a simple inventory solution.

Price

With Square, basic inventory management features are included for free with a Square account, but a Square POS system or free Square for Retail plan is necessary for the full range of inventory management tools. While the Square for Retail Plus plan is affordable at $60 per month, additional transaction fees for payment processing, along with any POS hardware costs, should be considered.

Pros
pro Comes with a free online store
pro Accessible and easy to use interface
pro Free with any Square account
Cons
con Limited warehousing features
con Zero invoicing features

Inventory Now: Best app for on-the-go sales

Inventory Now
Inventory Now
Inventory Now
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Starts at
$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Make the sale from anywhere with mobile POS features
  • pro
    Mobile receipt generation

Data as of 3/15/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

If you run a mobile business (like a food truck or pop-up store) or attend a lot of trade shows, Inventory Now may be the inventory app you need.

Inventory Now pairs with PayPal Here to essentially replace your business’s point-of-sale (POS) system. This gives you the ability to generate sales orders as you make your sale, as well as process payment for the order and set the order fulfillment process into motion immediately—all from your Android or iOS mobile device. You can also use this feature to process customer payments without investing in an expensive POS register.

Inventory Now software also supports item kitting (allowing you to group items together for bundles) and built-in barcode scanning. You can even generate UPC and SKU numbers within the app for use in barcode generation.

Price

If your business sells fewer than 20 inventory items, you can use Inventory Now for free. Otherwise, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan. Inventory Now offers three plan options:

  • Personal ($7/mo. or $60/yr.): Unlimited items, access on up to 3 devices
  • Professional ($14/mo. or $144/yr.): Access on up to 10 devices, checkout with Square
  • Enterprise ($99+/mo., billed annually): Dedicated servers, custom features, phone support

Keep in mind that the Enterprise plan starts at $99 per month, but the exact price will depend on the custom features you need.

Pros
pro Detailed inventory lifecycle tracking
pro Add product to registry by scanning from your phone
pro Add subcategories and notes to inventory items
Cons
con Poorly designed website
con Limited features

The takeaway

Inventory apps like Sortly, Inventory Now, Zoho, and Square are effective platforms for managing your physical inventory—even when you’re away from your warehouse. These options deliver easy, on-the-go sales features, built-in barcode readers, and many of the basic tools needed to track your inventory on the go.

inFlow Inventory is another promising app if your business needs more in-depth inventory management features. It syncs up with your inFlow account so you can still get order management and supply chain management features, in addition to many of the mobile features offered by the other apps on our list.

To find out more about desktop and laptop-based apps, check out our guide to the best inventory management software options.

Related Content

Sell products your way

Ordoro offers everything you need to sell your products online or in person.

  • Get total control over your inventory
  • Align your business strategy with your stock management
  • Maintain vendor and customer relationships

Inventory tracking app FAQ

There are actually hundreds of apps to help you keep track of your inventory. Some (like the majority of the apps on our list) operate as mobile-based inventory trackers, meaning they don’t sync up with other inventory management systems. Other apps act as a mobile extension to your inventory management system, complementing their parent software. Both options are effective ways to track and manage your inventory on the go.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive inventory management tool that can track your inventory items, orders, and supply chain efficiency, we think Cin7 is the best option. But if you’re looking for a more scaled-back, mobile solution, we prefer the Sortly app for iOS and Android devices.

How can I keep track of my inventory for free?

If you’re looking for a mobile app that can help you track your inventory for free on your iOS or Android device, Sortly, Inventory Now, On Shelf, and Stock Control all offer a $0 per month starting price. The only trick is these platforms limit the number of items you can manage on a free plan.

Alternatively, you could try a free, desktop-based inventory control platform. Our favorite free inventory management software is inFlow On-Premise, but Zoho Inventory and PartKeepr are close contenders.

Another free option is to simply track your inventory manually using Google Sheets, Excel, or other software. These options may not be available on your mobile device, but they should work well nonetheless if your business has only basic inventory needs.

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Managing inventory in Excel

Want to learn more about how to manage your inventory in an Excel spreadsheet? Check out our guide to Excel inventory management or download our free inventory management spreadsheet template to get started.

How is inventory tracked?

Inventory tracking, at its core, is pretty simple. When new items come in, you update your inventory levels and make a note of where the products are being stored. When an item is moved, you update the item’s location in your inventory management system. When items are sold, you subtract those items from your inventory levels.

The biggest trick with inventory tracking is ensuring that you’re staying on top of things and updating your inventory frequently and accurately. Inventory management software can be helpful since it offers more opportunities for automation (like automatically deducting sold items from your inventory), which reduces error. But you definitely can track your inventory manually if needed.

Methodology

We looked through dozens of inventory management brands to find the best ones with mobile apps. After comparing pricing, features, and usability, we ranked them here.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Courtenay Stevens
Written by
Courtenay Stevens
Courtenay cut her teeth (and occasionally her tongue) on the world of business when she was eight years old, licking envelopes to help her dad mail calendars to his clients. Ever since, she has fostered a passion for entrepreneurship, which makes small business one of her favorite topics to write about. When Courtenay isn’t writing, she enjoys podcasting about pop culture and attempting to keep up with her hellspawn (aka children).
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