Independent app comparison · Verified July 13, 2026
A transparent comparison of ShelfTally and PML Stock Take across pricing, POS scanning, multi-device counting, purchase orders, and discrepancy review.
Side-by-side
Facts first. Where public documentation is silent, the table says so.
| Decision point | ShelfTally | PML Stock Take |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent free plan | Included One location and three stocktakes per calendar month. | Not listed PML offers a free trial, followed by a paid plan. |
| Paid pricing | $19 / $49 / $99 monthly One, five, or twenty locations. Paid plans have a 14-day trial. | $10.79 / $21.79 / $37.79 monthly One, three, or fifteen locations; contact PML for more. |
| POS barcode counting | Included Scan with the Shopify POS extension or enter a barcode manually. | Included Uses existing POS devices and barcode scanners. |
| Simultaneous devices in one count | Not currently One active scan session is allowed per stocktake. | Included PML publicly lists simultaneous multi-device scanning. |
| Stocktake frequency | Three monthly on Free; unlimited on paid | Unlimited Included in all listed paid plans. |
| Purchase orders | Included on paid plans Supplier, PO, receiving, partial receiving, and cost-update workflows. | Included PML lists purchase orders and transfers on every plan. |
| Discrepancy approval | Dedicated pre-apply review Choose which differences to apply before Shopify inventory changes. | Verify during trial The public listing does not describe the approval sequence in detail. |
Best fit
The right tool is the one whose constraints match the way your team already counts.
Choose ShelfTally if
Choose PML Stock Take if
Workflow
The important difference is often when control changes hands—not whether a checkbox exists.
ShelfTally
Create a named stocktake for one Shopify location from Admin.
PML Stock Take
Start a stocktake in PML and assign the relevant location.
ShelfTally
One active POS device scans or searches variants into the stocktake.
PML Stock Take
Multiple POS devices can scan simultaneously into the count.
ShelfTally
Finish counting, then review expected versus counted quantities in Admin.
PML Stock Take
Confirm the exact review and approval controls during the free trial.
ShelfTally
Select discrepancies and apply them with an idempotent adjustment request.
PML Stock Take
Complete the stocktake using PML’s inventory update workflow.
Questions before switching
ShelfTally is cheaper to start because it has a permanent free plan. PML’s paid plans are less expensive than ShelfTally’s corresponding paid tiers as of July 13, 2026.
Not currently. ShelfTally allows one active scanning session per stocktake. PML publicly lists simultaneous multi-device scanning.
Yes. Both products provide Shopify POS barcode-counting workflows using existing devices.
Yes. ShelfTally includes purchase orders and receiving on paid plans. PML lists purchase orders and transfers in each of its paid plans.
Try ShelfTally if three stocktakes per month and one active scanning device are enough, because the permanent free plan removes subscription risk. Try PML if simultaneous devices or unlimited counts are required immediately.
Join the ShelfTally waitlist. Tell us how your team counts, and we’ll keep your comparison-page source attached to the signup.