Sortly Alternative: Tool Tracking Built for Theft, Not Just Inventory
Sortly is a general inventory app — restaurants, retail, offices, contractors. It's solid at inventory. It wasn't built for tool theft, AirTag GPS recovery, or insurance documentation the way tradespeople need it. Here's an honest read.
What Sortly does well
- Strong general inventory features (categories, photos, custom fields)
- QR code generation for tagging items
- Works across many industries — flexible for non-tool use cases
- Established product with solid mobile apps
Where Sortly falls short for tradespeople
- No AirTag or GPS recovery — QR codes only
- No theft-report PDF for insurance or police
- No trades-specific workflows (van assignments, calibration tracking, EPA records)
- Free plan limited to 100 items, paid starts at $24/mo
- Generic inventory model — not optimized for high-theft, high-value personal tool kits
Sortly vs ToolVault vs the rest
| Feature | Sortly | ToolVault | ShareMyToolbox | Milwaukee ONE-KEY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | General SMB inventory | Tradespeople, theft recovery | Construction companies | Milwaukee-only owners |
| Starting price | $24/mo (paid) | Free / $3.99/mo | ~$80/mo | Free (Milwaukee only) |
| AirTag / GPS recovery | No | Yes | No | No |
| Theft report PDF | No | Yes | No | No |
| Trade-specific workflow | No | Yes | Limited | No |
| QR code tagging | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Calibration tracking | Manual | Built-in | No | No |
| Free tier | 100 items | Free forever | No | Yes (Milwaukee only) |
When ToolVault is the right choice
- You're a tradesperson worried about theft, not just general inventory
- You want AirTag GPS recovery
- You need theft-report PDFs for insurance or police
- You want trade-specific features like calibration tracking and van assignments
When Sortly is still the right choice
- You need inventory across many non-tool item types (office supplies, retail stock, restaurant equipment)
- You don't care about theft recovery or AirTag integration
- You have an existing Sortly workflow you don't want to migrate
Less than a coffee a week.
Not $80/month like the enterprise tools. ToolVault is built for the individual tradesperson — priced to match.
- ✓Up to 20 tools
- ✓Photo & serial tracking
- ✓Manual location entry
- ✓Basic theft report
- ✓Offline mode
- ✓Unlimited tools
- ✓AirTag & SmartTag GPS
- ✓AI camera scan to add tools
- ✓Insurance document vault
- ✓Full theft report with PDF export
- ✓Analytics & depreciation tracking
Other alternatives to consider
- ShareMyToolbox — Better than Sortly for construction crews, but $80+/mo.
- EZOfficeInventory — Enterprise-grade, expensive, overbuilt for individuals.
- Milwaukee ONE-KEY — Free, but Milwaukee tools only.
- Spreadsheet — Free but no tag integration, no theft documentation.
Common questions about switching
Is ToolVault cheaper than Sortly?
Yes. Free tier is unlimited time, paid is $3.99/mo vs Sortly's $24/mo.
Can I migrate my Sortly inventory to ToolVault?
CSV import is on the roadmap. Export from Sortly and we'll help bulk-add when you join the waitlist.
Does ToolVault support QR codes like Sortly?
Yes. Generate QR codes per tool. Pair with AirTags for both visual scanning and GPS recovery.
What features does ToolVault have that Sortly doesn't?
AirTag GPS recovery, theft-report PDFs, trade-specific workflows (van assignments, calibration tracking), and a free tier without item caps for paid users.
Does ToolVault work for small shops, not just individuals?
Yes. Sole traders, 2–5 person shops, and small crews all use the same workflow.
Is there a free trial?
Free forever for your first set of tools. Pro at $3.99/mo unlocks unlimited tools and AirTag integration.
Try ToolVault before the Sortly renewal hits
Early adopters get Pro free for 6 months. Join the waitlist and we'll email you when early access opens.