Lightning Inventory vs Materials Inventory

Based on the data on this page, Materials Inventory is the stronger choice for most Shopify App Store merchants — 5.0★ vs Lightning Inventory's 4.5★ is a meaningful gap that usually reflects real product or support quality differences across the user base.

Pricing entry tiers: Lightning Inventory at Free plan available, Materials Inventory at Free trial available. Check each app's tier structure for the capacity limits you actually need before deciding — the headline number is the same shape, but the gating shape per tier (seats, usage volume, integrations) varies.

Recommended by size: small/early-stage merchants who need fast install and low risk should default to Materials Inventory; mid-market and enterprise merchants with specific feature requirements should evaluate both — Lightning Inventory's 11-review base may include the workflow context that matches your specific use case better than Materials Inventory's broader-but-shallower coverage.

This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical Shopify App Store listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.

Is Lightning Inventory or Materials Inventory cheaper?

Both Lightning Inventory and Materials Inventory offer paid plans only. Lightning Inventory starts at Free plan available; Materials Inventory starts at Free trial available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.

Which has better reviews, Lightning Inventory or Materials Inventory?

Materials Inventory has the higher average rating (5.0★ from 52 reviews) compared to Lightning Inventory (4.5★ from 11 reviews). Both are tracked daily by AppRanks, so the figures here update each refresh cycle.

Should I choose Lightning Inventory or Materials Inventory?

Materials Inventory holds the higher average rating (5.0★ vs 4.5★). That is the one dimension AppRanks can separate them on here — read both apps' detail pages for the feature breakdown and recent listing changes.

Which is faster to set up, Lightning Inventory or Materials Inventory?

Both apps are one-click installs from the Shopify App Store. Materials Inventory has the deeper published review base (52 vs 11), which often — though not always — accompanies better-tested setup docs. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly: read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for user-reported install experience.

Which works better for small vs large Shopify App Store merchants?

Lightning Inventory typically suits early-stage and growth-mode teams based on its published review base (11 reviews). Materials Inventory typically suits early-stage and growth-mode teams based on its published review base (52 reviews). A larger review base generally means the app has been exercised at scale — relevant if you are processing high volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.

Can I migrate data between Lightning Inventory and Materials Inventory?

Migration support varies by app and category. Lightning Inventory and Materials Inventory both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from Lightning Inventory" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.