Hobbyist Shop Inventory App That Isn't Priced for the Construction Industry

mobile app weekend hack •• multiple requests

Home woodworkers, makers, and DIYers want an inventory app to track tools, screws, bits, lumber offcuts, and jigs — but every option is built and priced for construction crews. Sortly's free tier caps at 100 items; paid tiers start at $24/mo. Hobbyists describe falling back to spreadsheets, but want photo-and-barcode-first capture they can pull up while leaning over a band saw.

builder note

Pricing is the wedge. $4.99 one-time or $1.99/mo with unlimited items. Feature-wise, lean into the hobby identity... let users browse other public shop inventories, swap tag taxonomies, and export to Etsy-style cost cards. The community sells the app for you if it feels native to woodworking, not 'enterprise lite.'

landscape (3 existing solutions)

Pro inventory apps overshoot. Hobbyist apps underserve. The middle is empty.

Sortly Most-recommended in the thread but free tier caps at 100 items. Paid tier starts at $24/mo, which is construction pricing.

ToolBuddy / Tool Tracker (iOS) Niche, low-rated, feels abandoned. Limited barcode support and no cross-platform.

Notion templates The fallback. Works but isn't optimized for shop floor capture or quick search by photo.

sources (1)

reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/1srnihv/tool_i... "they all seemed to be aimed at the Construction industry, complicated or costly for a one-man operation" 2026-04-19

woodworkingdiyinventoryhobbyistshop-management