Researched comparison
Best Inventory Management Software for Shopify Apparel Brands in 2026
Prediko is our top pick for most Shopify apparel brands, because it forecasts demand at variant level, turns forecasts into purchase orders, and starts at $49 a month for stores under $100k in annual GMV, per Prediko pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026. Cin7 Core is stronger once wholesale joins the operation.
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Top picks at a glance
Ranked in order. Each row names what the pick is best for, with no score attached.
- Prediko fits brands whose main cost is buying the wrong size and colour mix.
- Cin7 Core and Katana cost far more, from $349 and $299 a month, and earn it only when wholesale or production work joins the stock job.
- Zoho Inventory and Trunk keep entry cost low, at $29 and $35 a month, but both price by orders per month.
- Inventory Planner by Sage is quote only, so compare its quote against a year of Prediko or Cin7 first.
Compare the picks side by side
Comparison
Comparison at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Standout feature | Price range | Free plan/trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prediko | Forecasting size and colour demand | Forecast linked to buying table and POs | $49/month | 14 day free trial |
| Cin7 Core | Multichannel brands with wholesale | Inventory, orders and warehouse in one system | $349/month | 14 day free trial |
| Katana | Brands that make their own product | Production planning and bills of materials | Free, Core from $299/month | Free plan, 30 SKU cap |
| Inventory Planner by Sage | Central buying teams | Forecasting and replenishment planning | Quote only | Demo and interactive tour |
| Zoho Inventory | Small brands at low cost | Free plan, low per organisation pricing | Free, paid from $29/month billed annually | Free plan, 14 day trial |
| Trunk | Syncing stock across channels | Real time sync between matching SKUs | $35/month | 14 day free trial |
Scroll sideways to see the full table on a small screen.
How we choose
How we choose
Our full method is on how we score. We considered 14 inventory tools and shortlisted 6 an apparel brand can run without an enterprise project. We checked vendor pricing pages, help docs, plan limits and Shopify App Store listings between 28 Oct and 2 Nov 2026. This is a researched comparison, not our own product test. Quote only means the vendor pricing page publishes no figure.
Apparel changes the test: each style sits in a size run and several colours, so variant count and sell through by size matter more than a stock total. We stated caps and add on fees in each section, because they decide the real bill at peak.
Criteria and weights for this category:
- Fit for apparel inventory and purchasing: 30 percent
- Forecasting and replenishment at variant level, from vendor docs: 25 percent
- Total cost at typical volume, including caps and add ons: 20 percent
- Integrations with Shopify, accounting and warehouse tools: 15 percent
- Reporting, stock counts and support terms: 10 percent
Pick this if: size level stockouts and dead stock in slow colours both show up in your numbers, and you track sell through weekly.
Prediko
Best for Shopify brands whose buying decisions are the weak point.
Prediko forecasts demand, raises buying alerts and manages purchase orders in one Shopify first app, per Prediko pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026. Plans include unlimited users, SKUs and purchase orders, per the same page. Variant level forecasting is the point: a dress selling through in medium and black but stalling in red needs a two variant reorder, not a blanket top up.
Pros:
- Starts at $49 a month under $100k GMV
- Forecast, buying table and purchase order sit in one workflow
Cons:
- Price is set by GMV: $119 a month at $100k to $500k GMV and $199 a month at $500k to $2m GMV, per its pricing page
- Raw materials forecasting and bills of materials are a paid add on at $20, per the same pricing page
- It plans and purchases, but does not run a warehouse or wholesale orders
Price: From $49/month for stores under $100k in annual GMV, rising by GMV band, Prediko pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: Brands whose pain is warehouse picking, wholesale or channel sync.
Unique element: Its pricing page includes a dedicated customer success manager and full API access on the plan shown.
Pick this if: reorder meetings run on gut feel, and size stockouts cost you sales monthly.
Cin7 Core
Best for brands selling Shopify plus wholesale or marketplaces, who need one stock record.
Cin7 Core covers products, purchase orders, order management, warehouse work and reporting in one system, per Cin7 pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026. Standard includes 5 users, unlimited inventory locations and assembly with bills of materials and kits, per the same page.
Pros:
- Unlimited inventory locations, suiting stock at a warehouse, stores and a 3PL
- Wholesale and supplier records sit beside Shopify stock in one system
Cons:
- Standard caps sale orders at 6,000 a year and allows only 2 ecommerce and app integrations, per Cin7 pricing checked 2 Nov 2026
- ForesightAI forecasting and material requirements planning are add ons on Standard
- Advanced warehouse management, point of sale and the B2B portal cost extra or are absent on Standard
Price: From $349/month for Standard, $599/month for Pro and $1,199/month for Advanced. Cin7 Omni is quote only. Cin7 pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: Single channel brands with no wholesale arm. Prediko or Zoho costs a tenth of the fee.
Unique element: Cin7 Core lets you set up to 10 price points per product through price tiers, per Cin7 help docs.
Pick this if: channels and warehouses disagree on stock, and you need one record system.
Katana
Best for brands that make or assemble product themselves, and need raw materials and finished stock in one view.
Katana pairs live inventory with production planning, bills of materials and purchase and sales orders, and connects to Shopify, per Katana pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Pros:
- Free plan lets a very small maker start at no cost, with production planning included
- Unlimited users on paid plans, so staff do not each add a seat fee
Cons:
- Free plan is capped at 30 SKUs and Shopify only ecommerce, per Katana pricing checked 2 Nov 2026
- Core includes 1 inventory location, with extra locations billed separately and sales orders billed by usage, so $299 is not the final bill
- Traceability, warehouse and manufacturing management are separate add ons, with published examples at $149 to $249 a month each, per Katana pricing checked 2 Nov 2026
Price: Free plan capped at 30 SKUs. Core from $299/month, plus usage based sales order charges and add ons. Advantage is quote only. Katana pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: Brands that buy finished garments and hold no raw materials. Prediko or Zoho does the job for less.
Unique element: Katana offers an optional $2,000 implementation package on Free and Core plans, per its pricing page.
Pick this if: your stock problem starts on the production floor.
Inventory Planner by Sage
Best for larger brands that plan buying centrally and want forecasting depth over a published price.
Inventory Planner by Sage sells forecasting, planning and purchasing recommendations. Its pricing page states that pricing is based on the volume of inventory you manage, with unlimited users at no extra cost, per Inventory Planner pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026. That suits a buying team planning across stores and channels from one forecast.
Pros:
- Unlimited users at no extra cost, per its pricing page, fitting buying teams
- Forecasting and replenishment planning are the whole product, not an add on
Cons:
- Quote only: its pricing page publishes no figure and asks you to request pricing, per Inventory Planner pricing checked 2 Nov 2026, so budgeting needs a sales call
- Price turns on inventory volume, so a growing range raises the quote
- It is a planning tool, not a warehouse, order or point of sale system
Price: Quote only. No monthly price is published on Inventory Planner pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: Brands that want a price today and a self serve start. Prediko publishes its bands and starts at $49 a month.
Unique element: Its pricing page stories include a brand setting availability across more than 20 stores.
Pick this if: you run a buying team and plan across stores and channels.
Zoho Inventory
Best for small brands that need stock and orders handled properly at the lowest published cost.
Zoho Inventory covers inventory tracking, sales and purchase orders and multi location stock, with a free plan and tiers priced per organisation, per Zoho Inventory pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026. Purchase orders are recorded, stock arrives against them, and orders draw the same count down.
Pros:
- Free plan covers 50 orders a month for 1 user at 1 location
- Standard at $29 a month billed annually is the lowest paid entry price here
Cons:
- Order caps are the plan: Standard stops at 500 orders a month, the free plan at 50, per Zoho Inventory pricing checked 2 Nov 2026, so a strong month can force a tier jump mid season
- Serial and batch tracking sit on higher tiers, not on Standard
- Multi currency transactions for each contact sit on Enterprise at $249 a month billed annually, per its pricing comparison
Price: Free plan. Paid from $29/month billed annually for Standard, rising to $249/month billed annually for Enterprise. Monthly billing costs more. Zoho Inventory pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: Brands that live on forecasting by size and colour. Prediko and Inventory Planner plan the buy; Zoho manages stock and orders.
Unique element: Zoho sells set price add ons beside its tiers, including extra users, order blocks and locations.
Pick this if: you need stock discipline now and your volume fits the caps.
Trunk
Best for brands whose only problem is one stock count shown differently across channels.
Trunk syncs stock levels in real time between matching SKUs across channels, per Trunk Shopify App Store listing, checked 2 Nov 2026. A size 10 sold on a marketplace at noon should stop being sellable on Shopify at noon. Pro adds bundles and duplicate SKU sync, per the same listing.
Pros:
- Essential starts at $35 a month for real time sync across unlimited sales channels
- 14 day free trial with paid plan access, per its listing, so a real sales week can run first
Cons:
- Essential is priced by orders: $35 covers up to 100 orders a month, then $45 for 101 to 200, $59 for 201 to 400 and $89 for 401 to 800, per Trunk Shopify App Store listing checked 2 Nov 2026
- Bundling, kitting and duplicate SKU syncing sit on Pro from $39 a month, not Essential, per the same listing
- Trunk does not forecast demand or raise purchase orders, so buying problems need another tool
Price: From $35/month for Essential and $39/month for Pro, both for up to 100 orders a month, rising with order volume. Trunk Shopify App Store listing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: Single channel brands. Shopify already holds your count.
Unique element: Trunk counts only orders, not stock level changes, toward its pricing tiers, per its help centre pricing notes.
Pick this if: overselling across channels is your weekly headache.
Questions buyers ask first
Which inventory tool is cheapest for a small apparel brand?
Zoho Inventory is cheapest to run properly, with a free plan for 50 orders a month and Standard at $29 a month billed annually for 500 orders. Trunk at $35 and Prediko at $49 do different jobs: sync and buying plans. Cheapest counts only once the job matches.
How many variants should you count before you choose?
Count variants first. Multiply styles by sizes by colours, then add lengths, fits and widths. This size and colour variant count planning table shows which limit each range shape hits first.
| Example range | Styles | Sizes | Colours | Variant SKUs | First limit that bites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter capsule | 5 | 5 | 2 | 50 | Katana free cap of 30 SKUs already passed |
| Small boutique range | 20 | 6 | 3 | 360 | Order caps matter: Zoho Standard covers 500 orders a month |
| Mid size seasonal range | 60 | 7 | 4 | 1,680 | GMV band sets Prediko price; check Cin7 integration slots |
| Large range | 200 | 8 | 5 | 8,000 | Central planning pays: quote based or Cin7 Core Pro |
| Footwear with widths | 40 | 11 | 3 | 1,320 plus widths | Size level forecasting beats total units |
The limit type must match your shape. A brand with 1,680 SKUs and 400 orders a month is fine on order priced tools and strained on a 30 SKU free plan. A brand with 200 SKUs and 6,000 orders a month has the opposite problem.
Which tool best plans a seasonal apparel buy?
Prediko for most Shopify brands, and Inventory Planner by Sage for larger buying teams. A seasonal buy needs a variant forecast, stock on order, and a purchase order that follows from both. Prediko joins those steps from $49 a month. Inventory Planner adds depth for multi store ranges, but cost needs a quote. Cin7 charges forecasting as an add on on entry plans, per its pricing page.
When does an apparel brand outgrow a planning app?
Outgrowth shows up as work outside the app: wholesale orders in email, picks run from printed sheets, or stock at a 3PL the planner cannot see. Then the choice is Cin7 Core, from $349 a month, or Katana if production sits inside the business, Core from $299 a month. Move when that work costs real staff hours each week.
Buyers guide
- Your true variant count: styles times sizes times colours, plus lengths, fits and widths.
- Your orders in your busiest month, because Zoho, Trunk and Katana all price or cap by order volume.
- Entry plan limits: integrations and sale orders on Cin7 Core, locations and add ons on Katana.
- Whether you need production tracking for fabric and components, or only finished goods. That splits Katana from the rest.
- Which tool becomes the single stock source for stores, warehouse and 3PL after the move.
- Supplier lead times by product group, entered before the trial.
- Data export on exit: can you take SKU, order and purchase order history with you?
Frequently asked questions
How much does inventory management software cost for a Shopify apparel brand?
Zoho Inventory has a free plan and Standard at $29 a month billed annually. Prediko starts at $49 a month, Trunk at $35, Katana Core at $299 and Cin7 Core at $349, while Inventory Planner is quote only. Compare each fee at your peak month, because caps and GMV bands move the price.
Which inventory tool is best for size and colour forecasting?
Prediko fits most Shopify apparel brands best: it forecasts demand at variant level and turns forecasts into purchase orders. Inventory Planner by Sage suits larger multi channel ranges but is quote only. Cin7 and Katana hold stock well, yet forecasting there sits in add ons or production tools, not a planning first screen.
How many SKUs does an apparel brand really have?
Count variants, not styles. Ten styles in six sizes and four colours is 240 SKUs before lengths or fits. That count decides real limits: the Katana free plan stops at 30 SKUs, Cin7 Core Standard covers SKUs under 100K, and Zoho and Trunk charge on orders, not SKUs.
When should an apparel brand move from Shopify stock tools to a paid system?
Move when stock errors cost sales or staff time weekly. Signs are bestsellers selling out in core sizes while slow colours pile up, purchase orders built in spreadsheets, and counts that differ between Shopify and your warehouse. If one avoided stockout a month pays the fee, Prediko usually pays first.
Can one tool handle Shopify, wholesale and a second sales channel?
Yes, but the fit differs. Cin7 Core covers inventory, purchase orders, wholesale and other channels in one system, with integration slots capped by plan. Katana suits brands that also make product. Trunk only syncs stock counts. Prediko and Inventory Planner plan the buy, then sit beside your order system.
Sources
- Prediko pricing, checked 2026-11-02
- Cin7 pricing, checked 2026-11-02
- Katana pricing, checked 2026-11-02
- Inventory Planner pricing, checked 2026-11-02
- Zoho Inventory pricing, checked 2026-11-02
- Trunk Shopify App Store listing, checked 2026-11-02