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Fishbowl vs Sortly

Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.

Inventory and manufacturing.

Simple visual inventory.

The verdict

Both Fishbowl and Sortly are credible inventory management tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.

Fishbowl — Inventory and manufacturing.

Choose Sortly if you'd rather have a lower starting price (free – $49/mo), a free plan to start on and a higher overall rating (4.5/5). Simple visual inventory.

Fishbowl vs Sortly: side by side

DimensionFishbowlSortly
Starting priceCustomFree – $49/moWinner
Free planNoYesWinner
Pricing modelSubscriptionFreemium
Best forSmb Manufacturers, WholesalersSmb, Field Teams
PlatformsWeb, WindowsWeb, Ios, Android
Rating4.1/54.5/5Winner

Fishbowl key facts

Vendor
Fishbowl
Pricing
Subscription — Custom
Free tier
No
Platforms
Web, Windows
Best for
Smb Manufacturers, Wholesalers
Editor rating
4.1 / 5
Founded
2001
Headquarters
Orem, UT, USA

Sortly key facts

Vendor
Sortly
Pricing
Freemium — Free – $49/mo
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
Web, Ios, Android
Best for
Smb, Field Teams
Editor rating
4.5 / 5
Founded
2014
Headquarters
San Francisco, CA, USA

Frequently asked questions

Is Fishbowl better than Sortly?

Neither is universally better — Sortly edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.

Is Fishbowl or Sortly cheaper?

Sortly is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $49/mo. Fishbowl starts at custom; Sortly starts at free – $49/mo.

Can Fishbowl replace Sortly?

Yes for most teams — both are inventory management tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.