Packing Buddy vs Sortly in 2026
Packing Buddy vs Sortly compared for a household: what each tool does, what each says about pricing, getting started, and questions to ask first.
CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.
Sortly describes itself as inventory management software for small businesses. [1] Packing Buddy lets you photograph what goes into a moving box, then AI lists the items and picks the room. [2] Each box gets a code printed on its label. [2] You can search your boxes to find which box an item is in. [2]
| Option | Paid plan prices | Free tier | Card fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sortly | not published | not published | not published |
| Packing Buddy | Plus $12.99 a month or $59 a year for 100 boxes; Pro $19.99 a month or $99 a year [2] | 3 test boxes per device without an account; 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box with a free account [2] | not published |
The short answer
Sortly describes itself as inventory management software for small businesses. [1] Packing Buddy lets you photograph what goes into a moving box, then AI lists the items and picks the room. [2]
For a household move, the sources line up like this. Packing Buddy says each box gets a short printed code, and that you can search boxes to find an item. [2] [2] Sortly says it lets you organize inventory folders by location and type, and track items with photos. [1] [1] Sortly's pages speak of businesses, so check whether it fits a home move.
What Sortly is built for
Sortly's own page describes inventory software for managing physical inventory, including supplies, materials, tools and equipment. [1]
Sortly says you can upload an existing inventory list. [1] It says you can organize inventory folders by location, type and more. [1] It offers custom fields for item details. [1] It also says it has an in-app barcode and QR code scanner. [1]
For photos, Sortly says you can upload high-resolution photos to track each item visually. [1] It lists low-stock alerts, real-time reporting insights, and exports of custom PDF or CSV reports. [1] [1] [1]
On devices, Sortly says it syncs your inventory across all devices and teams. [1] It also says you can use it on mobile, desktop or tablet through cloud-based syncing. [1]
What Packing Buddy is built for
Packing Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site.
You take photos of what goes into a box, and AI lists the items and picks the room. [2] Each box gets a short code like K-03 that is printed on its label. [2] Labels print from a home printer on store-bought Avery 5163 or compatible sheets, or on plain paper you cut out and tape on. [2] You can also print blank QR labels in advance and start a box later by scanning one. [2]
Scanning a box's QR code with any phone camera opens that box in the browser, with no app needed. [2] You can search your boxes to find which box an item is in. [2]
Share links let a partner, friends or movers join by typing their name, with no account needed; the movers link comes with your plan. [2] The app and its AI box lists are available in 30 languages. [2] It runs on phones and in a web browser. [2]
Pricing and fees
The Sortly facts used for this page do not include any prices or plan names, so Sortly's pricing is not published here. Check Sortly's own pricing page before you decide.
Packing Buddy has a free option. Without an account you get 3 test boxes per device. [2] With a free account you get 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. [2]
Plus costs $12.99 a month or $59 a year for 100 boxes. [2] Pro costs $19.99 a month or $99 a year, with unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. [2] The source does not name which plan includes the movers share link. [2]
If you cancel Packing Buddy, you keep your boxes and can still open, edit, reprint and search them, but you cannot add new ones. [2] No card processing fee is stated in the sources for either tool.
Getting started
For Sortly, the facts here say you can upload an existing inventory list. [1] They also say you can use it on mobile, desktop or tablet. [1] They do not describe signing up or setup steps, so check Sortly's site for those.
For Packing Buddy, the web app is live, and on a computer you can choose photos you already took with nothing to install. [2] Without an account you can try 3 boxes per device. [2]
To use it, photograph what goes into a box and let AI list the items and pick the room. [2] Print the label with its short code, or print blank QR labels ahead of time. [2] [2] Bluetooth label printers work in the phone app on Pro, not in the browser. [2]
Things to check before you choose
These questions apply to either tool.
- How many boxes or items will the move involve, and does the plan you need cover that number?
- What does the tool cost for the length of time you will use it, month to month or by the year?
- Can the people helping you, such as a partner, friends or movers, open a box without making an account?
- Which label printer do you own, and does the tool print to it?
- Does the tool work on the phones and computers in your home?
- What happens to your records if you stop paying?
- Is the tool written for households or for businesses, and does its wording match your job?
- Is the language you need supported?
How to choose
If you want to photograph a box and get an item list and room, Packing Buddy's claims cover that. [2] If you want labels from a home printer on Avery or compatible sheets, Packing Buddy says it prints them. [2]
If helpers need to look inside boxes without an account, Packing Buddy says share links work by typing a name. [2] If you want to sort items into folders by location and type, Sortly says it supports that. [1]
If you want to import an existing list, or export PDF or CSV reports, Sortly says it offers both. [1] [1] If you need a published price for Sortly, look at its own site, since none is given here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sortly made for home moves?
Sortly describes itself as inventory management software for small businesses, covering supplies, materials, tools and equipment. [1] Its sources here do not mention home moves, so check whether its features match what you need for packing boxes.
How much does Packing Buddy cost?
Packing Buddy's free option gives 10 boxes with a free account. [2] Plus costs $12.99 a month or $59 a year for 100 boxes. [2] Pro costs $19.99 a month or $99 a year, with unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. [2]
Where is Sortly pricing information listed?
Check Sortly's own site for current plans and costs before you sign up.
Can movers see Packing Buddy boxes without an account?
Packing Buddy says share links let a partner, friends or movers join by typing their name with no account. [2] The source does not name which plan includes the movers link, so check before moving day.
Can Packing Buddy labels be printed at home?
Packing Buddy says labels print from a home printer on store-bought Avery 5163 or compatible sheets, or on plain paper you cut out and tape on. [2] On Pro, Bluetooth label printers work in the phone app, not in the browser. [2]
Free: 3 test boxes per device without an account; with a free account, 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. [2]
Try Packing BuddySources
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