Best inventory count and stock take apps in 2026
By mise · Updated October 7, 2026
Quick answer: the best inventory count app (or stock take app, in the UK) depends on what you count. For stock that moves every day, mise is the only one on this list where the AI identifies and categorizes the item by itself from the barcode or a photo. In the others, every item is added by hand or comes from supplier catalogs.
In mise, the AI identifies and categorizes everything by itself: name, brand, photo, group, category, size and unit. You don't add or type anything; you only adjust if you want to. In Sortly and the other apps, every item is added and categorized by hand.
We compared the apps most often recommended for inventory counts and stock takes in restaurants, bars and shops. The factor that matters most day to day is simple: how long it takes to get a new item into the app.
Comparison: how items get into each app
| App | How items get in | Built for |
|---|---|---|
| mise | The AI identifies and categorizes items by itself from the barcode or a photo; you only adjust if you want to. | Any business, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. |
| Sortly | Added and categorized by hand, or imported from a spreadsheet. | Items, supplies and equipment for small businesses. |
| BoxHero | Added by hand or imported from a spreadsheet. | Small businesses and shops. |
| Stockpile | Added by hand. | Simple stock control. |
| MarketMan | Set up by hand and from supplier catalogs. | Restaurants: purchasing and inventory. |
| WISK | Set up by hand or from a beverage catalog. | Bars and restaurants. |
| Backbar | Beverage library plus manual setup. | Bars. |
| BinWise (BinScan) | Set up by hand and from a beverage catalog. | Bars and wine programs. |
| Restaurant365 | Set up by hand and from supplier invoices. | Restaurant groups: accounting and back office. |
| Spreadsheet | Everything by hand. | Just getting started. |
| Nory (UK) | Set up in the platform. | Labour, stock and ordering for restaurant groups. |
| StockTake Online (UK) | Set up in the system and from scanned invoices. | Stock control and GP for hospitality. |
| Procure Wizard (UK) | From supplier catalogs and purchasing. | Purchasing, invoices and stock for hospitality groups. |
Do it in mise
- Scan the barcode or snap a photo: the AI identifies and categorizes the item by itself.
- Count by area, with your team, using your phone camera.
- Log purchases and sales (invoices by photo or XML) and see real COGS, waste and minimum stock.
- Build the shopping list and export to Excel or PDF.
7 days free, no card needed.
One by one
mise: scan the barcode or snap a photo and the AI identifies and categorizes the item (name, brand, photo, group, category, size and unit). It counts by area with your team, tracks COGS, waste and minimum stock, builds the shopping list and exports to Excel or PDF. It works for any business.
Sortly and BoxHero: good for items, supplies and equipment at small businesses, with barcode scanning; items are added by hand or from a spreadsheet.
MarketMan, WISK, Backbar and BinWise: built for restaurants and bars, focused on purchasing, beverages and wine lists; items come from manual setup or catalogs.
Restaurant365: an accounting and back-office suite for restaurant groups.
How to choose in 30 seconds
- Tracking equipment and supplies? Sortly or BoxHero.
- Only running the bottle stock of a large bar? A beverage app such as WISK, Backbar or BinWise.
- Counting stock in any business without setting up items by hand? mise.
For any shop
mise works for any business that keeps stock: pharmacies and drugstores; bars, restaurants, cafés and bakeries; supermarkets, convenience and corner stores; pet shops, cosmetics and beauty stores; liquor stores, hotels, distributors and warehouses; and retail shops in general. The AI recognizes products from any category.
Most well-known apps are either built only for bars and restaurants (WISK, Backbar, BinWise, MarketMan) or make you add every item by hand (Sortly). mise serves any shop, and the AI recognizes products from any category.
Head-to-head comparisons
- mise vs MarketMan: which inventory app to choose
- MarketMan Alternative: Simpler Restaurant Inventory
- mise vs WISK: which inventory app to choose
- WISK alternative: inventory app with AI that identifies items
- mise vs Backbar: which inventory app to choose
- Backbar alternative: inventory app with AI that identifies items
- mise vs Nory: which inventory app to choose
- Nory alternative: inventory app with AI that identifies items
- mise vs StockTake Online: which inventory app to choose
- StockTake Online alternative: inventory app with AI that identifies items
- mise vs Procure Wizard: which inventory app to choose
- Procure Wizard alternative: inventory app with AI that identifies items
- mise vs Sortly: which inventory app to choose
- Sortly Alternative for Restaurants and Stores
- Best inventory apps for retail shops and pharmacies (2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best stock take app?
It depends on what you count. For stock in restaurants, bars, cafés, shops, pharmacies and other businesses, mise: the AI identifies and categorizes everything by itself: name, brand, photo, group, category, size and unit. You don't add or type anything; you only adjust if you want to. In Sortly and the other apps, every item is added and categorized by hand.
Is there an inventory app that recognizes products from a photo?
Yes, mise. Snap a photo of the product or scan its barcode and the AI identifies and categorizes it: name, brand, photo, group, category, size and unit.