Updated March 2026
Best Inventory Planner Alternatives for Shopify in 2026
Inventory Planner by Sage is the most feature-rich inventory management app on Shopify — and also the most expensive at $249.99/mo. If you're looking for alternatives because of the price, because you don't need all those features, or because the complexity is slowing you down, here are your best options.
Top 3 Picks
- 1. Alertr — DTC brands that need forecasting and alerts without the full planning suite
- 2. Prediko — Growing brands that want Inventory Planner-level features at a lower price
- 3. Fabrikatör — Brands that need PO management at a lower price than Inventory Planner
Alertr
If you're paying $249.99/mo for Inventory Planner but mainly using it for sell-rate tracking and reorder alerts, Alertr does that for $19/mo. No purchase order generation or seasonal modelling, but the core forecasting and alerting works out of the box in 30 seconds.
Key Features
- ✓ Sell rate tracking per SKU
- ✓ Days of stock estimates
- ✓ Email + Slack reorder alerts
- ✓ CSV export
- ✓ Configurable thresholds
Pricing
$19/mo (beta) — normally $29/mo. Free tier for up to 50 SKUs.
Best for: DTC brands that need forecasting and alerts without the full planning suite
Pros
- + $19/mo vs $249.99/mo — 92% cheaper
- + 30-second setup, no configuration
- + Slack alerts included
- + Beta price locked in forever
Cons
- - No purchase order management
- - No seasonal forecasting models
- - Single location only
- - No bundle tracking
Prediko
The closest alternative in terms of capability. AI-powered forecasting with purchase orders and multi-location support — at roughly half the price.
Key Features
- ✓ AI demand forecasting
- ✓ Smart purchase orders
- ✓ Multi-location
- ✓ Supplier management
- ✓ Visual reports
Pricing
From $119/mo
Best for: Growing brands that want Inventory Planner-level features at a lower price
Pros
- + Modern AI-driven forecasting
- + PO generation
- + About half the price
- + Good UI
Cons
- - Still $119/mo
- - Newer — less proven track record
- - May lack some niche IP features
Fabrikatör
Inventory planning with a focus on purchase orders and cash flow optimization. Strong supplier management and backorder handling.
Key Features
- ✓ Inventory planning
- ✓ PO generation
- ✓ Backorder management
- ✓ Supplier tracking
- ✓ Cash flow optimization
Pricing
From $99/mo
Best for: Brands that need PO management at a lower price than Inventory Planner
Pros
- + Good PO workflows
- + Backorder handling
- + $99/mo vs $249.99/mo
Cons
- - Less mature forecasting than IP
- - Smaller user base
Bee Low Stock Alert & Forecast
If you mainly use Inventory Planner for low stock alerts and basic forecasting, Bee covers that for a fraction of the price. Forecasting available on the Enterprise plan.
Key Features
- ✓ Low stock alerts
- ✓ Demand forecasting (Enterprise)
- ✓ Multi-location
- ✓ Slack integration
- ✓ Per-item thresholds
Pricing
Free (250 SKUs) / $5.99 / $11.99 / $39.99/mo
Best for: Merchants stepping down from IP who mainly need alerts and basic forecasting
Pros
- + Much cheaper
- + Multi-location support
- + 126+ reviews
Cons
- - Forecasting only on $39.99/mo plan
- - No PO generation
- - Less sophisticated demand modelling
Katana
Manufacturing ERP that handles raw materials, production, and finished goods. The right Inventory Planner alternative if you manufacture your own products.
Key Features
- ✓ Manufacturing management
- ✓ Raw material tracking
- ✓ Production planning
- ✓ Multi-location
- ✓ QuickBooks integration
Pricing
From $179/mo
Best for: Brands that manufacture and need production planning alongside inventory
Pros
- + Full manufacturing ERP
- + Raw material and BOM tracking
- + Production scheduling
Cons
- - $179/mo
- - Complex setup
- - Not relevant if you don't manufacture
How to Choose the Right Alternative
If you need simple forecasting and alerts: Alertr or Bee. Both track sell rates and send reorder notifications. Alertr is cheaper ($19/mo vs Bee's $39.99/mo for forecasting).
If you need purchase orders: Inventory Planner or Fabrikator. Both generate POs directly from forecasts. More expensive but saves manual PO creation.
If you need multi-location: Bee, Sumtracker, or Katana. Essential if you ship from multiple warehouses or have retail locations.
If budget is tight: Alertr's free tier (50 SKUs) or Bee's free tier (250 SKUs) let you start without committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inventory Planner worth $249.99/mo?
For large stores ($1M+ revenue) that need automated purchase orders, seasonal forecasting, and deep analytics — yes. For stores that mainly need to know when to reorder and how much, there are much cheaper alternatives that cover 80% of the value.
What's the cheapest Inventory Planner alternative with forecasting?
Alertr at $19/mo includes sell-rate forecasting and automated alerts. Bee offers forecasting at $39.99/mo. Both are dramatically cheaper than Inventory Planner's $249.99/mo.
Can I migrate from Inventory Planner easily?
Yes. All Shopify inventory apps read from the same underlying Shopify data. Install the alternative, let it sync your products and orders, and you'll have forecasting data within minutes. No data export/import needed.
Will I lose features switching from Inventory Planner?
Probably — IP is the most feature-rich option. The question is whether you actually use those features. If you mainly check sell rates and get reorder alerts, a simpler tool at $19-40/mo does the same job.
Try Alertr — Inventory forecasting and reorder alerts. Free tier available, no credit card required.
Inventory forecasting & low stock alerts via email and Slack for Shopify. Inventory forecasting and reorder alerts. Free tier available, no credit card required.
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