StayValid and Sortly both track expiry dates. But they serve different users. StayValid is a light personal tracker. It has a free tier, push alerts, and a Peace Score dashboard. Sortly targets small firms with WhatsApp reminders and support for many languages. It starts with a 15-item free plan. This guide breaks down features, pricing, and the best use case for each tool.
StayValid vs Sortly at a Glance
What Is Sortly?
Sortly is an inventory management app with photo-first item tracking. It supports expiry dates as custom fields, QR/barcode scanning, and folder organization. Teams use it for equipment, supplies, and perishable goods. Plans start at $29/month after a 14-day trial. It is built for physical inventory, not personal document renewal.
You can learn more on the official Sortly website.
StayValid vs Sortly: Feature Comparison
The table below compares core features side by side. Both tools track expiry dates and send reminders. The key gaps are in alert channels, pricing, and target audience. Look closely at the free tier, push alerts, and unlimited item pricing rows.
| Feature | StayValid | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes — 7 items free forever | No — 14-day trial only |
| Email reminders | Yes | Yes (paid plans) |
| SMS reminders | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Push notifications | Yes (all users) | Yes (mobile app) |
| Photo attachments | No | Yes — core feature |
| QR/barcode scanning | No | Yes |
| Custom fields | No — 6 built-in categories | Yes — unlimited |
| Team sharing | Yes — per-item links | Yes — team roles |
| Reports & dashboard | Peace Score + charts (Pro) | Inventory reports (paid) |
| Slack/Teams webhooks | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Smart Add (NLP) | Yes — paste text, auto-parse | No |
| Offline support | Yes — PWA | Yes — native app |
Pricing Comparison
Price matters when you pick a tool you will use every month. Both tools have low entry costs. But the price for unlimited items differs a lot.
| Plan | StayValid | Sortly |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo (7 items) | None — 14-day trial |
| Advanced | $9/mo or $79/yr (unlimited) | $29/mo (2,000 items) |
| Ultra | — | $49/mo (5,000 items) |
| Enterprise | — | $89+/mo (10,000+ items) |
Prices as of Mar 2026. Check each site for current rates.
Where Sortly Does Well
No product is perfect for everyone. Sortly has real strengths worth a look:
- Photo-first inventory. Every item can have multiple photos. Visual people love the grid view.
- QR code and barcode scanning cuts data entry time. Scan a label and the item appears instantly.
- Folder-based organization works for warehouses, closets, storage units, and offices.
- Native iOS and Android apps with offline sync. Works in basements and warehouses with no signal.
Where StayValid Stands Out
StayValid was built for solo users and small teams. It gives you a simple, reliable way to track expiry dates. Most people only track 5 to 15 items. Think of a passport, a license, car insurance, and a few other things. You do not need a big platform for that. Here is where StayValid pulls ahead:
Built for expiry tracking from the ground up. Every feature revolves around renewal dates.
Free tier with 7 items. No trial. No credit card required.
Push, email, and SMS reminders on all channels. Sortly only sends email alerts.
Peace Score shows a single 0-to-100 number. You know your renewal health at a glance.
Smart Add parses natural text. Type "Passport expires Sep 2028" and it fills everything in.
Where Sortly Falls Short
Based on user reviews and our own tests, these are the most common pain points:
- No free plan. The trial ends after 14 days. You must pay $29/month or more to keep using it.
- Built for physical inventory, not document renewals. Tracking a passport expiry feels like a workaround.
- No SMS reminders on any plan. You rely on email or app notifications only.
- Expiry dates are custom fields, not a core feature. Sorting and filtering by expiry is limited.
Who Should Choose Which?
The right tool depends on what you track and how many people need access. A solo user with a passport and car insurance has very different needs than a team with 500 records. Use the boxes below to decide.
Choose StayValid if you:
- Track personal expiry dates like passport, license, and insurance
- Want push alerts on your phone
- Need a free tier or low-cost unlimited plan
- Prefer a clean, simple layout with no learning curve
Choose Sortly if you:
- Need WhatsApp reminders for your team
- Work in multiple languages
- Want to import hundreds of items from a CSV
- Need document file storage along with tracking
The Verdict
Sortly is a strong inventory tool for physical items and warehouses. If you need photo tracking and QR scanning, it delivers. StayValid is the better fit if your main goal is tracking renewal dates for documents, insurance, licenses, and subscriptions.
The best expiry tracker is the one you use every day. A tool with 200 features does not help if setup takes an hour. It fails if alerts get lost in your inbox. StayValid keeps it simple. Add an item, pick a date, and get a push alert before it expires.
If you track personal docs like your passport, driver's license, or insurance policies, StayValid gives you all you need. No extra cost or fuss from a big team tool. Sign up for free and start tracking in under a minute.
Sources
Related reading: 17 Things That Expire You're Probably Forgetting About