Materials Inventory vs Metastock Location Inventoryfor Shopify (2026)
Materials Inventory and Metastock Location Inventory are Shopify apps in the 'Inventory - Other' category, but they cater to very different segments of the Shopify merchant population. Materials Inventory is targeted at makers and manufacturers who need robust inventory management for raw materials and finished goods, focusing on tracking profitability and preventing stockouts. Metastock Location Inventory, on the other hand, is designed for brick-and-mortar retailers with multiple physical locations who want to display stock levels for their products at each store to online shoppers. The key difference lies in whether inventory is managed across a supply chain (Materials Inventory) or across physical store locations (Metastock).
At a Glance
Materials Inventory
49 reviews
Metastock Location Inventory
4 reviews
Detailed Overview
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
Metastock Location Inventory
Brick-and-Mortar inventory solution for multi-location Merchants.
Key Features
- Allow customers to select local store and view product inventory.
- Disable add to cart and cart adjustments on out-of-stock product.
- Integrate into any Online Store 2.0 theme or request an install.
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 1.8/5 |
Rating Materials Inventory5/5 Metastock Location Inventory1.8/5 | ||
| Reviews | 49 | 4 |
Reviews Materials Inventory49 Metastock Location Inventory4 | ||
| Target Merchant | Makers & Manufacturers | Multi-Location Brick-and-Mortar Retailers |
Target Merchant Materials InventoryMakers & Manufacturers Metastock Location InventoryMulti-Location Brick-and-Mortar Retailers | ||
| Inventory Focus | Raw Materials & Finished Goods | Product Inventory at Physical Locations |
Inventory Focus Materials InventoryRaw Materials & Finished Goods Metastock Location InventoryProduct Inventory at Physical Locations | ||
| Key Feature: Stock Management | Real-time inventory updates to prevent overselling | Display stock levels by store location to customers |
Key Feature: Stock Management Materials InventoryReal-time inventory updates to prevent overselling Metastock Location InventoryDisplay stock levels by store location to customers | ||
| Key Feature: Purchase Orders | Custom purchase orders for raw materials | None mentioned |
Key Feature: Purchase Orders Materials InventoryCustom purchase orders for raw materials Metastock Location InventoryNone mentioned | ||
| Value Proposition | Increased profitability through cost tracking and reduced stockouts | Improved in-store sales and customer satisfaction by showing product availability |
Value Proposition Materials InventoryIncreased profitability through cost tracking and reduced stockouts Metastock Location InventoryImproved in-store sales and customer satisfaction by showing product availability | ||
| Ease of Use | Intuitive and easy to use | Integrates into any Online Store 2.0 theme or request an install |
Ease of Use Materials InventoryIntuitive and easy to use Metastock Location InventoryIntegrates into any Online Store 2.0 theme or request an install | ||
Our Verdict
If you're a manufacturer who needs to manage raw materials, track costs, and optimize purchase orders, Materials Inventory is the clear choice. Its high rating and detailed feature set focusing on production make it well-suited for this use case. Metastock Location Inventory is only suitable if you have multiple physical retail locations and want to display stock levels online. Given its very low rating and limited reviews, thoroughly investigate before committing to it, and compare it to other multi-location inventory solutions before making a final decision. Potential alternatives may provide a better solution with better support and product stability.
Common Questions
Which app is better for dropshippers?
Neither app directly addresses the needs of dropshippers. Materials Inventory focuses on managing raw materials, while Metastock Location Inventory is for physical stores. Consider other inventory management solutions tailored to dropshipping models.
Can Materials Inventory manage inventory across multiple warehouses?
The description doesn't explicitly state multi-warehouse support. You would need to confirm this directly with the app developer.
Does Metastock Location Inventory sync in real-time?
The description doesn't specify the sync frequency. This would need to be verified. However, the phrase 'display stock levels' implies real or near real-time information.
Which app is easier to set up?
Materials Inventory claims to be intuitive and easy to use. Metastock mentions theme integration assistance, suggesting it *might* require setup beyond basic installation. The higher ratings of Materials Inventory implies that it is easier to use.
Which app offers better customer support?
We cannot determine which offers better customer support from the provided data. However, the higher number of reviews and better rating suggest a more positive user experience with Materials Inventory, which *could* be indicative of better support.
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