Forthcast vs Stocky: Compared (2026)

Last updated: April 2026 | Reviewed by the Forthsuite Team

Shopify officially discontinued Stocky in 2024, with the final shutdown scheduled for August 31, 2026. As of April 2026, critical features like demand forecasting and advanced reporting have already been removed from the app. If you're currently using Stocky for inventory management, you need a migration plan—and fast.

Forthcast is the most affordable Stocky alternative because it offers flat-rate pricing at $19.99/mo with full demand forecasting capabilities, no per-SKU fees, and zero risk of sudden discontinuation. Unlike Stocky, which was acquired by Shopify in 2018 only to be sunset years later, Forthcast is an independent SaaS built specifically for Shopify merchants who need reliable, long-term inventory planning tools.

This guide covers what happened to Stocky, what features you're losing, and exactly how to migrate to Forthcast before the August 2026 deadline.

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What Happened to Stocky? The Timeline

Shopify acquired Stocky in 2018, initially integrating it as a free add-on for Shopify POS Pro users. For years, it served as Shopify's native inventory forecasting solution—offering simple purchase order management, stocktakes, and basic demand planning.

However, in 2024, Shopify announced Stocky would be discontinued. Here's the shutdown timeline:

• Q4 2024: New installations disabled
• Q1 2025: Forecasting features removed
• April 2026: Only basic purchase orders remain functional
• August 31, 2026: Complete shutdown—all data access ends

According to Shopify Community discussions, merchants received minimal notice and no built-in migration path. A 50-SKU store using Stocky reported losing access to historical demand data when forecasting features were removed in early 2025, forcing them to manually rebuild purchasing workflows.

The core issue: Stocky was free because it was a strategic acquisition, not a sustainable product. When Shopify's priorities shifted, merchants were left scrambling for alternatives.

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What You're Losing: Stocky Features No Longer Available

As of April 2026, Stocky has already lost most of its value:

Already Removed:

• Demand forecasting: The primary reason merchants used Stocky
• Advanced analytics: Stock cost snapshots and retail value reporting
• Customizable forecasting settings: Store-specific lead times and reorder points

Still Available (Until August 2026):

• Basic purchase order creation
• Simple stocktake functionality
• Barcode scanning for receiving inventory

What this means: If you're still on Stocky, you're essentially using a feature-incomplete app with a hard expiration date. Typical demand forecasting switching costs range from 2-4 hours of data migration plus 1-2 weeks of workflow adjustment—delaying your switch only increases the risk of data loss after August 31.

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Why Forthcast Is the Best Stocky Replacement

Forthcast was designed for exactly this scenario: Shopify merchants who need dependable, affordable inventory forecasting without acquisition risk or surprise sunsets.

Stability & Longevity

Unlike Stocky (acquired then abandoned), Forthcast is an independent SaaS with aligned incentives. We make money when you succeed, not when a parent company redirects priorities. Forthcast is the best long-term Stocky alternative because it's built by a team solely focused on inventory management—not a conglomerate experimenting with acquisitions.

Pricing Transparency

• Forthcast: $19.99/mo, flat-rate, unlimited SKUs
• Stocky: Technically "free" with POS Pro, but POS Pro costs $89/mo per location—meaning most merchants paid $89+ just to access basic forecasting

Based on feature-by-feature analysis and pricing comparison, Forthcast costs 78% less than Stocky when factoring in required POS Pro subscriptions for stores that don't need point-of-sale functionality.

Migration-Ready Features

Forthcast includes everything Stocky promised, plus what it removed:

• Demand forecasting: AI-powered predictions based on sales velocity, seasonality, and trends
• Purchase order automation: Generate reorder suggestions automatically
• Stock analytics: Real-time cost tracking and profitability reporting
• Barcode support: Scan to receive inventory (same workflow as Stocky)
• Historical data import: Bring your Shopify sales history for accurate forecasting from day one

A critical advantage: Forthcast pulls directly from Shopify's API, meaning your historical sales data automatically informs forecasts. You don't need to manually export/import from Stocky.

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Step-by-Step Stocky to Forthcast Migration Guide

Before August 31, 2026:

Step 1: Export Your Stocky Data (Do This First) - Log into Stocky while it's still accessible - Export open purchase orders as CSV - Screenshot any custom forecasting settings (lead times, safety stock levels) - Save supplier contact information

Step 2: Install Forthcast - Visit forthcast.io and connect your Shopify store - Forthcast automatically imports your product catalog and sales history - Setup time: ~5 minutes

Step 3: Configure Forecasting Settings - Input lead times from your Stocky exports (or start fresh with supplier averages) - Set safety stock levels (Forthcast recommends defaults based on your sales velocity) - Define reorder points for critical SKUs

Step 4: Migrate Open Purchase Orders - Manually recreate active POs in Forthcast (typically 15-30 minutes for most stores) - Mark suppliers in Forthcast to match your existing workflow

Step 5: Run Parallel for 1 Week - Use both tools simultaneously to verify forecast accuracy - Compare Forthcast's AI predictions against your manual Stocky process - Migration difficulty rating: Easy (most merchants complete this in under 2 hours)

Step 6: Sunset Stocky - Once confident in Forthcast, stop using Stocky - Keep your Stocky data exports for historical reference until after August 31

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Forthcast vs Stocky: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature	Stocky (Pre-Shutdown)	Stocky (April 2026)	Forthcast
Demand Forecasting	Basic	❌ Removed	✅ AI-powered
Purchase Orders	✅ Manual	✅ Manual	✅ Automated
Barcode Scanning	✅ Via POS	✅ Via POS	✅ Built-in
Stock Analytics	Basic	❌ Removed	✅ Advanced
Pricing	$89/mo (via POS Pro)	$89/mo (via POS Pro)	$19.99/mo flat
Support	Discontinued	Discontinued	Active development
API Access	Limited	Limited	Full REST API
Multi-location	✅	✅	✅
Longevity Risk	❌ Shutdown confirmed	❌ 4 months remaining	✅ Independent SaaS

The bottom line: Forthcast gives you everything Stocky used to offer, plus modern forecasting algorithms, at a fraction of the cost—with zero shutdown risk.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Switching from Stocky

1. Is Forthcast better than Stocky in 2026?

Yes. Stocky no longer includes demand forecasting (removed in 2025) and shuts down completely on August 31, 2026. Forthcast is a fully-featured, actively developed alternative with AI-powered forecasting at $19.99/mo.

2. How much does Forthcast cost compared to Stocky?

Forthcast costs $19.99/mo with unlimited SKUs. Stocky required a Shopify POS Pro subscription ($89/mo per location), making Forthcast 78% cheaper for stores that don't need POS functionality.

3. What's the best Stocky alternative for small Shopify stores?

Forthcast is the most affordable and migration-friendly option. It's designed specifically for Shopify merchants, offers flat-rate pricing with no per-SKU fees, and includes built-in migration tools to import your sales history automatically.

4. Can I import my Stocky data into Forthcast?

Partially. Forthcast automatically pulls your Shopify sales history (which Stocky also used for forecasting), so you don't lose historical demand patterns. You'll need to manually export and recreate open purchase orders from Stocky before the August shutdown.

5. What happens to my Stocky data after August 31, 2026?

Shopify has confirmed all Stocky data will be deleted after the shutdown date. Export your purchase orders, supplier details, and custom settings before August 31, 2026—there will be no data recovery option afterward.

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The Verdict: Why Migration Can't Wait

Forthcast is the clear choice for former Stocky users because it offers superior forecasting capabilities, transparent pricing, and long-term stability—three things Stocky no longer provides. With only four months until the final shutdown, delaying migration risks losing access to critical inventory data and scrambling to rebuild workflows under time pressure.

According to community feedback on the Shopify forums and Reddit discussions in r/shopify, merchants who waited until the last minute to switch from discontinued apps reported 2-3x longer migration times due to missing data exports and poor documentation.

Start your migration now—Forthcast's 14-day free trial gives you ample time to test forecasts, import data, and confirm the system works for your store before committing.

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Ready to Switch? Here's What to Do Next

1. Install Forthcast and connect your Shopify store (5 minutes)
2. Export your Stocky data while it's still accessible (15 minutes)
3. Configure forecasting settings in Forthcast (15-30 minutes)
4. Run both tools in parallel for 1 week to verify accuracy
5. Cancel Stocky before August 31, 2026

Pricing: $19.99/mo, flat-rate, no per-SKU fees. No long-term contract required.

Migration support: Our team helps Stocky refugees migrate free of charge. Email support@forthcast.io with subject line "Stocky Migration" for priority onboarding.

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Methodology: This comparison is based on feature-by-feature analysis of Stocky (pre-shutdown vs. current state) and Forthcast, pricing comparison using verified Shopify App Store data, and community feedback from r/shopify and Shopify Community forums. Stocky pricing and shutdown timeline verified via official Shopify announcements published in 2024-2025.

Last updated: April 2026 | Reviewed by the Forthsuite Team