Synplex vs Stocky: Replacing a Deprecated Planning Tool Before the Deadline
Shopify is shutting down Stocky on August 31, 2026, with no native replacement for its forecasting and replenishment features. This comparison covers what Synplex covers, what it does differently, and how the transition works.
This is not a close comparison. Stocky is being shut down and Shopify is not replacing its planning layer. Synplex covers the same core jobs - demand forecasting, reorder suggestions, purchase orders, and supplier management - inside a Shopify-native app that is actively developed. The only real question is timing: teams that depend on Stocky for buying decisions should migrate before the operational pressure of a deadline forces them to. Teams that only use Stocky for basic retail counts or admin have more runway, but the deadline is fixed either way.
Synplex vs Stocky by Shopify: which one is right for your Shopify brand?
This is not a close comparison. Stocky is being shut down and Shopify is not replacing its planning layer. Synplex covers the same core jobs - demand forecasting, reorder suggestions, purchase orders, and supplier management - inside a Shopify-native app that is actively developed. The only real question is timing: teams that depend on Stocky for buying decisions should migrate before the operational pressure of a deadline forces them to. Teams that only use Stocky for basic retail counts or admin have more runway, but the deadline is fixed either way.
Synplex is best for
- Any Shopify brand that currently relies on Stocky for reorder suggestions, purchase orders, or inventory planning before August 31, 2026.
- Teams that want to move from threshold-based reorder logic to demand-driven replenishment that accounts for seasonality and lead times.
- Merchants who want to replace Stocky without adopting an enterprise platform - staying inside Shopify with a focused planning tool.
- Operations that want structured supplier management and PO workflows embedded in their planning process.
Stocky by Shopify is best for
- Merchants in the final weeks of a planned migration who only need Stocky for basic purchase orders or retail admin during the transition window.
- Stores with minimal forecasting needs that are already using another tool for replenishment and only need Stocky's retail admin features briefly.
Feature breakdown
Synplex vs Stocky by Shopify: side-by-side
A detailed feature comparison for Shopify brands evaluating both platforms.
| Feature | Synplex | Stocky by Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Platform & Ecosystem | ||
| Product status | Actively developed Shopify app with ongoing investment in forecasting and replenishment workflows. | Officially deprecated by Shopify. Access ends August 31, 2026. |
| Long-term viability | Built as a standalone inventory planning product with a clear product roadmap for Shopify brands. | No future development. Shopify is not building a direct native replacement for Stocky's planning features. |
| Forecasting & Demand | ||
| Demand forecasting | Forecasts from Shopify sales history, accounting for seasonality, trends, and supplier lead times. | Forecasting features are being removed as part of the deprecation. Not a viable path forward. |
| Replenishment suggestions | Demand-driven reorder recommendations that reflect sales velocity, lead times, and safety stock logic. | Min/max threshold logic. Does not model actual demand patterns or supplier-specific lead time variation. |
| Purchasing & Execution | ||
| Purchase orders | POs created from replenishment signals in one workflow - no export or manual bridging step. | Available today but shutting down in August 2026. Not a durable purchasing workflow. |
| Supplier management | Supplier records, lead times, and MOQs tracked inside the replenishment workflow. | Supplier data is not portable from Stocky. Records must be rebuilt in any replacement system. |
| Analytics & Usability | ||
| Inventory analytics | Stockout risk, sell-through, overstock positions, and supplier performance reporting within the planning workflow. | Useful for basic retail operations. Not designed as a forward-looking planning or analytics tool. |
| Operator experience | Built for lean Shopify teams - fast setup, guided action, clear replenishment signals. | Familiar for existing users, but the planning surface shrinks toward the shutdown date as features are removed. |
| Support & Maintenance | ||
| Planning model quality | Demand-driven forecasting from actual sales patterns - not static thresholds. | Min/max logic does not adapt to demand changes, seasonal variation, or lead time shifts without manual adjustments. |
In depth
The real differences between Synplex and Stocky by Shopify
01
What Shopify Is Actually Removing
Stocky's shutdown removes more than an app. It removes the reorder suggestion logic, purchase order tracking, and inventory planning workflows that many merchants have embedded into their weekly buying rhythm. Shopify's native admin does not replace those capabilities - it handles inventory counts and basic retail operations, not demand forecasting or supplier-aware replenishment. Brands that relied on Stocky for buying decisions need a dedicated replacement, not just a new app icon.
02
Threshold-Based Reordering vs Demand-Driven Planning
Stocky's model was simple by design: set a minimum stock level, get a nudge when inventory falls below it. That works for stable, predictable SKUs. It breaks down when demand is seasonal, when lead times vary by supplier, or when a promotion creates a spike that static thresholds cannot anticipate. Synplex models actual sales patterns and accounts for supplier lead times, so reorder signals reflect what demand is likely to do rather than just where inventory sits right now.
03
Why Migration Timing Matters
Switching inventory planning tools mid-season or under deadline pressure is operationally harder than switching during a slower period. The risk is not just losing access to an app - it is disrupting buying habits and planning cadences at the worst moment. Synplex pulls Shopify data automatically, and most merchants complete initial setup within a day or two. Early migration gives your team time to build familiarity with the new workflow before it becomes urgent.
04
Who Can Still Wait - and for How Long
If your team uses Stocky only for physical retail counts, basic admin, or occasional purchase order reference, you have more time before the deadline creates operational pressure. But brands whose weekly buying decisions flow through Stocky's reorder suggestions or PO workflows have less buffer than they think. Planning tools take a few weeks to feel natural. Migrating in July 2026 leaves almost no time to build those habits before August 31.
Pricing & value
How Synplex and Stocky by Shopify compare on cost
Synplex
Shopify app subscription covering forecasting, replenishment, purchase orders, and supplier management. Self-serve setup, no implementation project.
Stocky by Shopify
Previously bundled with Shopify retail at no additional cost. That access ends permanently on August 31, 2026.
Synplex adds a subscription cost that Stocky did not carry. It also replaces the planning work that typically surrounded Stocky - reorder spreadsheets, manual supplier follow-up, and reactive stock decisions - which has a real operational cost of its own.
Making the switch
What the Transition from Stocky to Synplex Involves
Synplex connects directly to Shopify, so product catalog, inventory levels, sales history, and location data import automatically - no export or data wrangling required. The main manual work is supplier records: Stocky does not export supplier data, so lead times, MOQs, and vendor contacts need to be set up in Synplex as a one-time configuration step. Most merchants complete setup and run their first replenishment review within one to two days.
Typically owned by: Typically managed by an operations lead or inventory manager. No technical implementation required.
Try Synplex FreeImports automatically
- Shopify product catalog and variants
- Current inventory levels and locations
- Historical sales data from Shopify
- Existing purchase order context recorded in Shopify
May need a quick review
- Recreating supplier records, lead times, and MOQs - Stocky supplier data is not exportable
- Setting replenishment parameters for seasonal or promotional SKUs
- Reviewing any reorder logic previously managed manually outside Stocky
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from Shopify merchants comparing Synplex and Stocky by Shopify.
Ready to try Synplex instead?
Join the Shopify brands that chose Synplex for forecasting, replenishment, purchase orders, and supplier workflows — without the overhead.