Materials Inventory vs Spaceship: Shipping Automationfor Shopify (2026)
Materials Inventory and Spaceship: Shipping Automation, while both listed under the "Inventory" category on Shopify, address vastly different needs for merchants. Materials Inventory is targeted at makers and manufacturers who need granular control over their raw materials, finished product inventory, and profitability. Its core strength lies in providing real-time inventory updates, bill of materials management, and profit tracking. Spaceship, on the other hand, focuses on streamlining the shipping process for e-commerce businesses. Its strength is in automating shipping label generation, comparing rates across multiple carriers, and simplifying order fulfillment.
At a Glance
Materials Inventory
49 reviews
Spaceship: Shipping Automation
5 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
Spaceship: Shipping Automation
Spaceship powers e-commerce fulfillment automation with exclusive discounts on global carriers.
Key Features
- Compare shipping rates from worldwide carriers instantly
- Auto sync with Shopify stores, bulk shipments creation in a sec
- Fast-track EU shipments with one-time IOSS setup
- Share real-time tracking links with your customers
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Materials Inventory5/5 Spaceship: Shipping Automation5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 49 | 5 |
Reviews Materials Inventory49 Spaceship: Shipping Automation5 | ||
| Target Merchant | Makers & Manufacturers | E-commerce businesses (general) |
Target Merchant Materials InventoryMakers & Manufacturers Spaceship: Shipping AutomationE-commerce businesses (general) | ||
| Core Function | Raw Materials & Product Inventory Management | Shipping Automation |
Core Function Materials InventoryRaw Materials & Product Inventory Management Spaceship: Shipping AutomationShipping Automation | ||
| Key Feature 1 | Bill of Materials management | Multi-carrier rate comparison |
Key Feature 1 Materials InventoryBill of Materials management Spaceship: Shipping AutomationMulti-carrier rate comparison | ||
| Key Feature 2 | Real-time inventory updates | Automated shipping label generation |
Key Feature 2 Materials InventoryReal-time inventory updates Spaceship: Shipping AutomationAutomated shipping label generation | ||
| Value Proposition | Improved inventory accuracy and profitability tracking. | Faster, cheaper and smarter shipping. |
Value Proposition Materials InventoryImproved inventory accuracy and profitability tracking. Spaceship: Shipping AutomationFaster, cheaper and smarter shipping. | ||
| Inventory Management Type | Manufacturing Inventory Management | Order Fulfillment Inventory Management |
Inventory Management Type Materials InventoryManufacturing Inventory Management Spaceship: Shipping AutomationOrder Fulfillment Inventory Management | ||
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Our Verdict
The choice between Materials Inventory and Spaceship: Shipping Automation hinges entirely on the merchant's specific needs. Materials Inventory is ideal for businesses that manufacture their own products and need to closely track raw materials, product builds, and profitability. Its feature set helps prevent overselling and stockouts in a complex manufacturing environment. Spaceship, however, is best suited for any e-commerce business looking to optimize its shipping process. Its strengths lie in rate comparison, label generation, and order fulfillment automation. A merchant primarily focused on reselling pre-made goods would benefit greatly from Spaceship but find little value in Materials Inventory, and vice-versa.
Common Questions
Which app helps me avoid overselling?
Both apps claim to help avoid overselling, but in different ways. Materials Inventory prevents overselling by accurately tracking raw materials and finished product inventory. Spaceship prevents overselling by ensuring accurate fulfillment and tracking information is updated on Shopify.
Which app is easier to set up and use?
Materials Inventory explicitly states it is "Intuitive & easy to use". Spaceship doesn't make this claim, so without user reviews comparing usability, it's impossible to say definitively. However, based on features, Spaceship's focus on automation might lead to a steeper initial setup.
Can these apps be used together?
Potentially. A manufacturer could use Materials Inventory to manage their manufacturing inventory and then integrate Spaceship for the shipping process after an order is fulfilled. However, direct integration isn't explicitly stated or implied.
Does either app offer quantity discounts on shipping or materials?
Spaceship offers discounts through their carrier partnerships. Materials Inventory focuses on purchasing materials in bulk at the right time through informed purchase orders, but it doesn't mention discounts.
Which app is more important for a dropshipping business?
Spaceship: Shipping Automation is more relevant for a dropshipping business as it focuses on the shipping process. Materials Inventory is not designed for a dropshipping model, as it is designed for a business that handles their own manufacturing or assembly process.
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