Stocky alternative after Aug 31: Forthcast
Forthcast vs Stocky for Shopify inventory planning: compare store-wide demand forecasts, reorder alerts, and purchase-order workflows before Stocky's August 31, 2026 shutdown.
Updated August 2026
Forthcast vs Stocky: Which Demand Forecasting Tool Is Right for Your Shopify Store?
Quick answer: After August 31, 2026, Stocky cannot manage Shopify inventory, Forthcast is a direct replacement: AI demand forecasting up to 12 months ahead, revenue-ranked reorder-point alerts, and draft purchase orders — $19.99/mo flat at any catalog size. It auto-imports your Shopify sales history on install, so you can be forecasting within minutes.
TL;DR: After August 31, 2026, Stocky can no longer be used to manage inventory. Forthcast provides an alternative with AI demand forecasting and reorder-point alerts at $19.99/mo flat, importing your Shopify sales history automatically.
- After August 31, 2026, Stocky can no longer be used to manage inventory (forecasting was removed in July 2025). It was pulled from the Shopify App Store on February 2, 2026, and Stocky data does not move automatically. Shopify says read-only export access remains for at least 90 days; suppliers cannot be exported, and Stocky APIs stop on August 31. Shopify's built-in Admin inventory is a basic replacement (no bill-of-materials or raw-material tracking).
- Forthcast: AI demand forecasting up to 12 months ahead plus reorder-point alerts.
- $19.99/mo flat at any catalog size; auto-imports your Shopify sales history.
- Migrate in about an hour — run both in parallel first, then uninstall Stocky.
Looking for an honest comparison between Forthcast and Stocky? We've analyzed both demand forecasting solutions to help Shopify merchants make the right choice.
Note: Stocky was acquired by Shopify in 2018. Shopify says Stocky can no longer be used to manage inventory after August 31, 2026 — key features (transfers, min/max forecasting) were already removed in July 2025, so merchants need a replacement in place before that date.
Quick Summary: Forthcast vs Stocky
Choose Forthcast if: You want Shopify demand forecasting at $19.99/month, billed through Shopify, with forecasts that appear after historical orders load; cancel by uninstalling the app. Ideal for growing stores that need powerful tools without enterprise costs.
Choose Stocky if: You're a Shopify POS retailer who needs a replacement before the August 31, 2026 inventory-management cutoff and needs features specifically tailored to that scale.
Head-to-Head Feature Comparison
| Feature | Forthcast | Stocky |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $19.99/mo flat | Free to install. Additional charges may apply. |
| Pricing Model | Flat-rate, no hidden fees | Discontinued — inventory management ending after August 31, 2026 |
| Shopify Integration | Install through Shopify; historical orders load before forecasts appear | Available |
| Setup Time | Varies with historical-order loading | Confirm the current Stocky workflow |
| Free Trial | 14 days, no CC | Varies |
| Contract Required | No | Varies |
| Founded | 2024 | 2018 |
Detailed Pricing Breakdown
One of the biggest differences between Forthcast and Stocky is pricing transparency.
Forthcast Pricing: - $19.99/mo — flat rate - No per-SKU charges - No percentage-based fees - Billed monthly through Shopify; cancel by uninstalling the app - 14-day free trial included
Stocky Pricing: - Free to install. Additional charges may apply. - Pricing model: discontinued — inventory management ending after August 31, 2026 - Monthly plans available - Self-serve signup
What Forthcast Does Better
- AI-Powered Forecasting: Predict demand with high accuracy
- Automated Reorder Points: Never stockout or overstock again
- Shopify-Native: Syncs inventory in real-time
- Visual Analytics: Understand your inventory health at a glance
- Flat-Rate Pricing: No per-SKU fees regardless of catalog size
Where Stocky Excels
To be fair, Stocky has genuine strengths: - Was free with Shopify POS - Native Shopify integration - Simple interface
Common Stocky Complaints
When researching Stocky alternatives, merchants frequently mention: - Discontinued by Shopify — inventory management ending after August 31, 2026 - Key features (transfers, min/max forecasting) already removed July 2025 - Delisted from Shopify App Store February 2026 - No longer receiving updates or support
Primary concern: Discontinued by Shopify — key features already removed, inventory management ending after August 31, 2026
Who Should Choose Forthcast
Forthcast is the better choice if you: - Run a Shopify store (any size) and want purpose-built demand forecasting tools - Want predictable pricing at $19.99/mo with no surprises - Need quick setup without weeks of implementation - Value responsive customer support included at every tier - Prefer an app with explicit Shopify billing and uninstall cancellation mechanics
Who Should Choose Stocky
Stocky may be better if you: - Primarily serve Shopify POS retailers who need a replacement before the August 31, 2026 inventory-management cutoff - Need demand forecasting features beyond Shopify - Have budget for Free to install. Additional charges may apply. - Have IT resources for complex setup
Migration Guide
Switching from Stocky to Forthcast: - Migration difficulty: Easy - Step 1: Sign up for Forthcast free trial at forthcast.io - Step 2: Install Forthcast through Shopify - Step 3: Allow historical orders to load, then review the imported settings - Timeline: Loading time varies with the store's order history
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forthcast better than Stocky? It depends on your needs. Forthcast costs $19.99/month, billed through Shopify. Install it through Shopify and allow historical orders to load before forecasts appear. Stocky starts at Free and uses Free to install. Additional charges may apply.. Merchants who prioritise predictable costs and quick Shopify setup tend to prefer Forthcast; those with more complex enterprise requirements may evaluate Stocky as well.
How does Forthcast compare to Stocky? Forthcast and Stocky both serve Shopify merchants in the demand forecasting space. Forthcast costs $19.99/month, billed through Shopify; cancel by uninstalling the app. Stocky starts at Free and uses Free to install. Additional charges may apply.. Forthcast is Shopify-native with a quick setup process; Stocky offers different integration options that may suit certain workflows.
What are the main differences between Forthcast and Stocky? The main differences are pricing model and Shopify integration approach. Forthcast costs $19.99/month through Shopify and is built for Shopify merchants; cancel by uninstalling the app. Stocky uses Free to install. Additional charges may apply.. Both tools have distinct feature sets — see the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.
What happened to Stocky after the Shopify acquisition? Stocky was acquired by Shopify in 2018, and Shopify says it can no longer be used to manage inventory after August 31, 2026; read-only export access remains for at least 90 days, suppliers cannot be exported, and Stocky APIs stop on August 31. Merchants considering Stocky should review any recent changes to pricing, support terms, or product roadmap since the acquisition.
How hard is it to migrate from Stocky to Forthcast? Forthcast connects to your Shopify store in minutes. Migration complexity depends on your existing data setup, but our support team can assist with the transition.
The Bottom Line
For Shopify merchants comparing demand forecasting solutions, Forthcast offers better value than Stocky at a fraction of the cost. At a flat $19.99/mo — vs Stocky's "free to install, additional charges may apply" model — you get professional-grade features with faster setup and simpler pricing.
Given that Shopify is ending Stocky's inventory-management use after August 31, 2026, merchants concerned about long-term stability may find Forthcast a more predictable choice.
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Last updated: April 2026. Pricing and features verified against public sources. Check vendor websites for current information.
Disclosure: Forthcast publishes this comparison and is one of the products compared. Competitor details reflect public information as of the date shown above — confirm current pricing and features on the vendor's own site.
Reviewed by the Forthsuite Team | Based on analysis of merchant experiences and public review data from G2, Trustpilot, and Shopify App Store.
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