A Quartzy alternative for small labs: StockVial vs Quartzy
Last checked: October 7, 2026. Prices come from each company's public pricing page on that date.
Quartzy is one of the best-known lab ordering and inventory tools, and for many labs it works well. But if you run a small academic lab or an early-stage biotech, two things often push people to look around: the price for a handful of users, and how much typing it takes to keep inventory current. This page compares the two honestly, including where Quartzy is the better choice.
The short version
| StockVial | Quartzy | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes — 2 members, 100 items | No |
| Entry paid plan | Lab: $39/month ($390/year) | Academia: $50/month, billed annually |
| People included | 15 members per lab | 3 users |
| Next plan | Enterprise: $190/month ($1,900/year), unlimited members | Industry: $250/month, billed annually, 5 users |
| Pricing basis | Flat per lab | Per plan with a seat count |
| Logging use at the bench | Scan the bottle's QR label, tap Used up 1 / Move / Dispose | Update the item record |
| Receiving a delivery | Photo of the delivery note fills the item table | Manual entry or from Quartzy orders |
| SDS | SDS link stored per item, included | SDS automation is a paid add-on |
| Mobile barcode scanning | Included (phone camera, no app install) | Paid add-on |
| Built-in supplier shop | No | Yes — Quartzy Shop |
| ERP / PunchOut / SSO | No | Enterprise plan |
Where StockVial is different
1. Logging takes seconds, at the freezer. The most common complaint about lab inventory software is that nobody keeps it up to date, because recording usage means sitting down at a computer. StockVial prints a QR label for each bottle. Scan it with any phone camera and tap Used up 1, Move or Dispose. There is nothing to install.
2. Receive a whole delivery with one photo. Take a picture of the packing slip or delivery note. StockVial reads the items — product name, catalog number, lot and expiry — into a table. You check it and register everything at once.
3. One flat price for the whole lab. Labs change every semester: rotation students, new postdocs, a visiting scientist. With StockVial the Lab plan covers up to 15 people for $39 a month, so adding someone never changes the bill. There is also a free plan for two people and up to 100 items, which is enough to try it on a single shelf or rack.
4. Spending by grant. Pick a grant and a period to see what was ordered and received, ready to check against your monthly statement.
5. A chemical list for EHS in one click. Export what you hold — with CAS number, quantity, location and SDS link — as Excel, CSV or PDF for your safety office.
Where Quartzy is the better choice
- You want to buy through one shop. Quartzy Shop lists millions of products with free shipping over a threshold. StockVial does not sell anything; you keep ordering from your usual vendors.
- You need ERP, PunchOut or single sign-on. Quartzy's Enterprise plan offers these. StockVial does not today.
- Your institution already pays for Quartzy. Then the switching cost is rarely worth it.
Switching from Quartzy or a spreadsheet
Most small labs actually run on a spreadsheet. StockVial imports Excel and CSV files with a column-matching step, so you can bring in an existing list (including an export from another tool) and fix anything that does not match before it is saved.
Try it
You can look around the demo without signing up, or start free — no credit card needed for the free plan.
Quartzy is a trademark of its owner. StockVial is not affiliated with Quartzy. Quartzy details are from its public pricing page and may change; check quartzy.com/pricing for current terms.