Overview: Two Solid Options for Smaller Operations
When shopping for inventory management software, Sortly and inFlow Inventory consistently appear on shortlists for small and mid-sized businesses. Both are well-regarded, actively maintained platforms with barcode support — but they target slightly different users and workflows. This comparison will help you determine which is the better fit.
Sortly at a Glance
Sortly positions itself as a simple, visual inventory tracker suitable for businesses, nonprofits, and even personal use. Its standout trait is its folder-based, photo-first interface — items can have photos attached, making identification intuitive for non-technical users. It works well for:
- Small retailers and boutiques
- Event rental companies
- Nonprofits tracking donated goods
- Facilities and IT asset management
inFlow Inventory at a Glance
inFlow Inventory is a more full-featured operations platform with dedicated tools for purchasing, sales orders, and manufacturing (assembly). It's designed for product-based businesses that need a complete order-to-fulfillment workflow. It suits:
- Wholesale distributors
- Small manufacturers and assemblers
- E-commerce sellers with warehouse operations
- Businesses needing purchase order automation
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Sortly | inFlow Inventory |
|---|---|---|
| Barcode Scanning | Yes (mobile camera & USB) | Yes (mobile, USB, Bluetooth) |
| Barcode Generation | Yes (QR and barcodes) | Yes (Code 128, QR, and more) |
| Purchase Orders | Basic (higher tiers) | Full PO workflow (all paid tiers) |
| Sales Orders | No | Yes |
| Multi-Location | Yes | Yes |
| Manufacturing / Kitting | No | Yes (assembly builds) |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Integrations | Limited (Zapier-based) | QuickBooks, Shopify, Amazon, more |
| Free Plan | Yes (limited SKUs) | 14-day trial only |
Pricing Models
Both platforms use subscription pricing, but their structure differs:
- Sortly offers a free plan (up to 100 entries) and paid plans scaling by entry count and user seats. It's accessible for very small operations getting started.
- inFlow Inventory prices by plan tier (Light, Standard, Plus, Enterprise), each adding more orders per month, users, and integrations. There is no permanent free tier, but the 14-day trial is fully functional.
For exact current pricing, check each vendor's website directly — subscription costs change periodically and vary by billing cycle (monthly vs. annual).
Ease of Use
Sortly has the simpler, more approachable interface. Non-technical staff can be onboarded in under an hour. inFlow has a steeper learning curve due to its broader feature set, but it offers solid documentation and onboarding resources.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose Sortly if you need a lightweight, easy-to-use tracker with good mobile barcode scanning and don't require full order management workflows.
- Choose inFlow Inventory if you manage the full purchase-to-sale cycle, need sales order generation, or do any product assembly. Its deeper feature set pays off quickly for product-based businesses.
The Bottom Line
Neither platform is objectively better — the right choice depends entirely on your workflow complexity. Sortly wins on simplicity; inFlow wins on depth. Try both free trials before making a decision, and involve the staff who'll use the system daily in your evaluation.