Stockaj vs Sortly: Which Inventory Tool Actually Handles Rentals?
If you've searched for "inventory management software" recently, you've almost certainly come across Sortly. It's well-known, visually clean, and does a solid job at what it's designed for: tracking what you own and where it is.
But if your organization doesn't just own things — if you lend, rent, or circulate items — you've probably noticed that Sortly starts falling short quickly. Because Sortly is an inventory tracker. It was never designed to manage the complex lifecycle of rentals.
This is where the tools diverge, and it's worth understanding the differences before committing your team to either one.
The Core Difference
Sortly is built around a simple premise: track what you have and where it is. It does this well, with visual folders, photo-based organization, and mobile scanning.
Stockaj is built around a different premise: manage items that move between people. Inventory tracking is the foundation, but the real workflow is the rental cycle — checking items out, tracking who has what, managing returns, handling damage, and automating follow-ups.
If your items sit in a warehouse and occasionally move between locations, Sortly is a fine choice. If your items regularly leave your control and come back (or don't), you need rental management — and that's a fundamentally different problem.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Inventory Basics
| Feature | Stockaj | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Item tracking | ✅ With types, tags, custom fields | ✅ With folders, tags, custom fields |
| Serial number tracking | ✅ Item variants with condition states | ✅ Via custom fields |
| QR codes / barcodes | ✅ Auto-generated, scannable | ✅ Scannable, printable |
| Photo attachments | ✅ | ✅ (visual-first approach) |
| Bulk import (CSV/XLSX) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Search | ✅ Instant (Meilisearch-powered) | ✅ Standard search |
| Warehouse / locations | ✅ Hierarchical with sub-locations | ✅ Folder-based |
Verdict: Roughly equal for basic inventory. Sortly's visual approach (large photos, folder metaphor) feels more consumer-friendly. Stockaj's item types and variants model is more structured for operational use.
Rental Management
| Feature | Stockaj | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Rental lifecycle | ✅ 9 statuses with timestamps | ❌ No native rental tracking |
| Renter management | ✅ Full contact database with history | ❌ No concept of renters |
| Checkout / return workflow | ✅ Dedicated UI + kiosk app | ❌ Must improvise with notes or tags |
| Overdue tracking | ✅ Automatic detection + alerts | ❌ Manual only |
| Return condition logging | ✅ Per-item condition (Good/Damaged/Repair/Lost) | ❌ Not available |
| Rental history per item | ✅ Full audit trail | ❌ Not available |
| Rental history per renter | ✅ Complete | ❌ Not available |
| Expected return dates | ✅ With automated reminders | ❌ Not available |
Verdict: This isn't close. Sortly has zero native rental features. If you're renting or lending items, you'd need to build workarounds using custom fields, notes, and manual processes — essentially re-creating a rental system inside an inventory tool. It works for 5 items. It breaks at 50.
Self-Service & Scanning
| Feature | Stockaj | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service kiosk | ✅ Desktop app (Windows/Mac/Linux) | ❌ |
| Barcode scanner support | ✅ USB HID + camera | ✅ Mobile camera |
| Offline capability | ✅ Full offline queue with auto-sync | ✅ Offline mode (mobile) |
| Staff self-checkout | ✅ Scan → cart → checkout flow | ❌ |
Verdict: Stockaj's kiosk app is purpose-built for high-throughput environments like events, warehouses, and shared workshops. Visitors or staff scan items, check them out, and return them — no training needed. Sortly doesn't have this concept.
Automation & Integrations
| Feature | Stockaj | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Webhooks | ✅ Event-based with signing and retry | ❌ |
| Alert rules | ✅ Overdue, low stock, return reminders, custom | ✅ Low stock alerts |
| REST API | ✅ Full API with docs | ✅ API available |
| Mail merge | ✅ Bulk email to renters | ❌ |
Verdict: Stockaj's automation is built for rental workflows — overdue escalation, return reminders, webhook-triggered actions. Sortly offers basic low-stock alerts, which is appropriate for its inventory-only scope.
Team & Access Control
| Feature | Stockaj | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Roles | ✅ 5 roles (Owner → Guest) with granular permissions | ✅ Admin / User roles |
| Multi-workspace | ✅ | ✅ |
| Activity audit trail | ✅ Full history | ✅ Activity log |
Verdict: Stockaj's role system is more granular — useful when you have volunteers who should create rentals but not delete items, or a board member who needs read-only access.
Data & Privacy
| Feature | Stockaj | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Data jurisdiction | Swiss law (FADP) | US law (CLOUD Act applies) |
| GDPR compliance | ✅ Native | ✅ Stated |
| Data export | ✅ CSV, XLSX, PDF + API (all plans) | ✅ CSV export |
| Pricing currency | CHF | USD |
Verdict: For European organizations, Swiss hosting means your renter data (names, addresses, rental history) stays under Swiss/EU-compatible jurisdiction. For US-based teams, this is less relevant.
Pricing
| Plan | Stockaj | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 50 items, 1 user, 20 rentals/mo | 100 entries, 1 user |
| Entry-level paid | CHF 29/mo (500 items, 5 users) | $49/mo (Advanced, 2 users) |
| Mid-tier | CHF 99/mo (unlimited items, 20 users) | $99/mo (Ultra, 5 users) |
| Enterprise | CHF 299/mo (unlimited everything) | Custom |
Stockaj includes rental management on all plans including free. Sortly's pricing buys you more inventory features, but you'll still have no rental management at any tier.
When to Choose Sortly
- You're tracking physical assets that don't leave your organization (office furniture, IT equipment, warehouse stock)
- You want a visual, photo-first interface — Sortly's folder-based approach with large thumbnails is more approachable for non-technical users
- You're a US-based company and data jurisdiction isn't a concern
- You don't need to track who has what or manage return workflows
When to Choose Stockaj
- You lend, rent, or circulate items to people outside your team
- You need to know who has what, when it's due, and what condition it's in
- You run events, festivals, or pop-up operations where items move between multiple venues
- You want a self-service kiosk for check-out/check-in workflows
- You need automated overdue tracking and return reminders
- Your renters' personal data should stay under European data protection law
- You need webhook integrations to connect with your existing tools
The Bottom Line
Sortly and Stockaj solve different problems. Sortly answers "what do we own and where is it?" Stockaj answers that plus "who has it, when is it coming back, and what shape is it in?"
If you're managing assets that stay in-house, Sortly is a solid, well-designed option. If your items circulate — if people borrow, rent, or check out your equipment — Stockaj is built specifically for that workflow.
Don't try to force a pure inventory tool into a rental management role. The workarounds will cost you more time than the right tool costs in subscription fees.
Want to see how Stockaj handles your specific workflow? Start a 14-day free trial — no credit card, full features, real rental management.