Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics vs Materials Inventoryfor Shopify (2026)
Bigblue and Materials Inventory are both 5-star rated Shopify apps in the Inventory category, but they cater to vastly different needs. Bigblue focuses on outsourced fulfillment and logistics, targeting customer-centric brands looking to streamline their shipping and post-purchase experience. It offers services like warehouse storage, same-day fulfillment, customized unboxing experiences, and branded tracking. Materials Inventory, on the other hand, is designed for makers and manufacturers who need to manage raw materials and track production profitability within their own operation. The key distinction lies in where inventory is managed. Bigblue assumes you're outsourcing fulfillment, holding your inventory in *their* warehouses. Materials Inventory assumes you're managing raw materials and finished goods *yourself*. Bigblue offers value through scalability, brand customization, and simplified operations; Materials Inventory provides value through cost tracking, production planning, and preventing overselling. The number of reviews also suggests that Materials Inventory is more established and well-used within its niche, boasting 49 reviews compared to Bigblue's 12.
At a Glance
Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics
12 reviews
Materials Inventory
49 reviews
Detailed Overview
Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics
Bigblue is the fulfillment solution for customer-centric brands that boosts your sales.
Key Features
- We package and ship your orders with same-day fulfillment.
- Unique unboxings: Use your own packaging, add flyers, samples, and gift notes.
- Display a delivery badge on your product page and estimated dates at checkout.
- Easily setup your customer experience: from branded tracking emails to returns.
- B2B fulfillment for your marketplaces, Amazon FBA orders, retail stores, etc.
Materials Inventory
Inventory management for makers & manufacturers. Create bills of materials & track profitability
Key Features
- Stop overselling: The app updates your Shopify inventory in real-time
- Plan ahead: Know your real-time inventory of bundles, products & raw materials
- Easy to use: Intuitive & easy to use so you can focus on your business
- Informative: Costs & profits per product. Full history of inventory movements
- Low inventory alerts. Thresholds dynamically adjusted. Custom Purchase Orders
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics5/5 Materials Inventory5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 12 | 49 |
Reviews Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics12 Materials Inventory49 | ||
| Target Merchant | Customer-centric brands outsourcing fulfillment | Makers & Manufacturers managing their own inventory |
Target Merchant Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsCustomer-centric brands outsourcing fulfillment Materials InventoryMakers & Manufacturers managing their own inventory | ||
| Core Functionality | Outsourced fulfillment, warehousing, shipping, and branded post-purchase experience | Raw materials management, bill of materials, production tracking, and profitability analysis |
Core Functionality Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsOutsourced fulfillment, warehousing, shipping, and branded post-purchase experience Materials InventoryRaw materials management, bill of materials, production tracking, and profitability analysis | ||
| Ease of Use | Focus on setup and automation of shipping processes | Focus on intuitive inventory management and tracking |
Ease of Use Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsFocus on setup and automation of shipping processes Materials InventoryFocus on intuitive inventory management and tracking | ||
| Value Proposition | Increased sales through better customer experience and streamlined operations | Cost savings and increased profitability through efficient inventory management and production planning |
Value Proposition Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsIncreased sales through better customer experience and streamlined operations Materials InventoryCost savings and increased profitability through efficient inventory management and production planning | ||
| Key Feature: Fulfillment | Same-day fulfillment & B2B Fulfillment | N/A - Focus on raw materials |
Key Feature: Fulfillment Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsSame-day fulfillment & B2B Fulfillment Materials InventoryN/A - Focus on raw materials | ||
| Key Feature: Branding | Unique unboxings and branded tracking | Purchase Orders |
Key Feature: Branding Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsUnique unboxings and branded tracking Materials InventoryPurchase Orders | ||
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Our Verdict
For Shopify merchants seeking to offload their warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping operations, Bigblue is the clear choice. Its focus on branded customer experiences and streamlined logistics makes it ideal for businesses looking to scale without being bogged down by operational complexities. Its integrated B2B fulfillment option further widens the potential use cases.
Materials Inventory is the better solution for makers and manufacturers who manage their own inventory of raw materials and finished goods. If you're tracking bills of materials, calculating product profitability, and need to prevent overselling based on raw material stock, Materials Inventory is purpose-built for your needs. In short, use Bigblue to outsource logistics; use Materials Inventory to manage your own production.
Common Questions
Which app is better for dropshipping?
Neither app is explicitly designed for dropshipping. Bigblue *could* potentially be used if you're transitioning from dropshipping to holding some inventory for faster fulfillment, but Materials Inventory is not applicable.
Can both apps be used together?
Potentially, but it's unlikely. If you manufacture your products and then use Bigblue for fulfillment, you might consider using Materials Inventory to track raw materials and production, then integrate the finished goods inventory with Bigblue. This would require custom integrations and careful planning.
Which app has the easiest setup?
Bigblue claims to connect to Shopify stores in seconds, suggesting a very quick initial setup. Materials Inventory, while intuitive, likely requires more configuration to set up raw materials, bills of materials, and cost tracking.
Which app is better for a small business?
It depends on the business model. A small business focused on manufacturing their own products benefits from Materials Inventory. A small business that wants to outsource fulfillment benefits from Bigblue.
Which app helps prevent overselling?
Materials Inventory directly addresses overselling by updating Shopify inventory in real-time based on raw materials. Bigblue aims to fulfill all orders, so it focuses more on stock management within *their* warehouses, but might not have the same granular control over raw materials.
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