Stay with Stockist if your retail network fits its plans and price matters most: it starts at $10 and puts analytics, heatmaps and Google Sheets sync on every plan. Switch to StoreRocket if the network is growing past Stockist's self-serve plans or you want lead capture on the searches that find no retailer nearby. The deciding difference is scale on a plan you can buy today: Stockist's largest self-serve plan holds 2,000 locations, and StoreRocket publishes plans for larger networks on its pricing page, with no sales call.
Store locators are the only thing StoreRocket makes, and we have been building them since 2018. StoreRocket maintains the hosted locator and delivers updates through the embed already on your site. We make StoreRocket, so weigh our view with that in mind.
The short answer
Stay with Stockist when
- Your network fits in 2,000 locations and four languages, the limits of its largest self-serve plan.
- The lowest monthly price matters most: Stockist starts at $10 a month.
- You want search analytics and Google Sheets sync on the entry plan.
Choose StoreRocket when
- Your retail network is heading past 2,000 locations and you want a published plan for it, not a conversation.
- You want a lead form on searches that find no retailer nearby, with the lead saved in your dashboard.
- You want the locator’s built-in text in each visitor’s language, and a REST API that creates and updates locations from your own software.
- You sell on Shopify and want an app that creates the Store Locator page for you.
Only a few locations and no budget? You may not need Stockist or StoreRocket. A free embedded map with a pin for each retailer is fine when the list is short, rarely changes and visitors only need to see where you are stocked. Our guide to free store locator options compares them.
StoreRocket vs Stockist: The Full Comparison
Stockist is cheap, and it is cheap honestly: $10, $20 and $40, with the analytics and the Sheets sync on every plan. Price is not where this comparison lives. It lives in how far each platform goes as your network and your ambitions grow.
| What you want | StoreRocket | Stockist |
|---|---|---|
| The entry plan | see current plans | $10 (Basic, 100 locations) |
| Search analytics and heatmaps | Yes, depends on the plan | included on every plan |
| Google Maps or Mapbox, your choice | Yes, either one on every plan | Google Maps and Mapbox |
| Your own uploaded markers | Yes, every plan | custom pin icons, every plan |
| REST API that creates and updates locations | Yes, depends on the plan | published API for custom locator layouts |
| Display languages | the locator's built-in text in each visitor's language, from StoreRocket's catalogue of languages; depends on the plan | 1 on Basic, 2 on Plus, 4 on Premium |
| Lead form when a search finds no retailer nearby | Yes, depends on the plan | search data in the analytics export |
| Locations on the largest self-serve plan | published plans past 2,000; see current plans | 2,000 ($40 Premium) |
Stockist publishes its whole feature list in one place, and it is worth reading because it is short and it is complete: bulk import and export, search by address or geolocation, unlimited search filters, custom map pin icons, search analytics, custom map colour themes, removing the powered-by link, Google Sheets sync, automatic geolocation, address suggestions, and custom fields and filters. Every plan gets all of it. What changes between $10 and $40 is only how many locations and how many languages.
So the question is not which is cheaper, it is what happens when you grow. Stockist's largest self-serve plan holds 2,000 locations and four languages, and above that their pricing page says "Need higher limits? We can support up to 100,000 stores per map - please get in touch". So the number exists, and getting it means a conversation.
StoreRocket's larger plans are published and bought at checkout, and they can carry the locator's built-in text in each visitor's language and lead capture on the searches that find nothing. A 300-store brand selling in one language fits Stockist's $20 Plus plan. For a brand that intends to be bigger than that, the difference is whether the next tier is a checkout or an email. If that is you, create your locator and import your Stockist export during the free trial.
What Is Stockist?
Stockist is a "where to buy" store locator with a streamlined interface and setup process.
Stockist publishes search analytics, neighborhood heatmaps, raw analytics exports and Google Sheets sync on every plan, from $10. What its plans meter instead is scale: 100, 500 or 2,000 locations, and 1, 2 or 4 display languages.
Stockist is a store locator SaaS focused on "where to buy" pages. The company built its product around a specific use case: helping brands show customers where their products are available at retail. The interface is clean, the setup process is quick, and the widget does what it says on the tin.
Stockist found early traction with CPG brands, small manufacturers, and DTC companies that sell through retail partners. The "where to buy" positioning was smart because it targeted a specific pain point rather than competing broadly in the store locator market.
Its current feature set includes analytics, heatmaps, Google Sheets sync, custom colors and map styles, search filters, and a custom-layout API.
Stockist Feature Review
Published Analytics and Heatmaps
Stockist publishes color-coded neighborhood heatmaps, search breakdowns by city and country, and downloadable raw analytics data you can take into a spreadsheet.
StoreRocket's analytics (depends on the plan) report on the same demand and on what happens next: a heatmap of where people search, the terms they type, and which retailers they open, and the searches that found nothing nearby, for the date range you pick.
Lead Capture
A visitor lands on your "where to buy" page and searches for retailers near them. On Stockist that search becomes a row in the analytics export. On StoreRocket, when the search finds no retailer nearby, a form can ask for the visitor's email, and the lead lands in your dashboard for you to follow up (depends on the plan).
Google Sheets Sync
Stockist publishes Google Sheets sync on every current plan, alongside spreadsheet bulk import and export.
With Google Sheets sync, your team manages a shared spreadsheet instead of exporting, importing, or entering the same data manually. On StoreRocket it depends on the plan, and the sheet can grow past the 2,000 locations of Stockist's largest self-serve plan; see current plans.
Customization
Stockist publishes custom colors, map styles, and custom map pin icons on every current plan.
StoreRocket lets you choose the locator style, brand colour, font, button text and your own marker image, and add custom CSS, so the locator can match your site.
Feature-by-Feature Deep Dive
Analytics That Drive Distribution Decisions
StoreRocket records what your distribution team needs to see (on plans that include analytics):
- A search heatmap showing the places people searched, including places with few retailers nearby. Those are candidates for your next retail partner.
- Search terms, the words people typed: a city, a postcode or an address.
- Searches that found nothing nearby, a direct list of coverage gaps.
- Clicks per retailer, which locations visitors open from the list or the map.
- Views of the locator and the pages they happened on.
Exporting this data depends on the plan; see pricing.
For a deeper look at what analytics can tell you about your retail presence, see our guides on retail analytics and retail customer analytics.
Lead Capture That Turns Searches Into Sales
Stockist's published analytics cover heatmaps, search geography and raw data exports, which tells you where the demand is. Lead capture tells you who it was.
StoreRocket gives "where to buy" searches with no result a next step (depends on the plan):
- A form appears when a search finds no retailer nearby
- The visitor leaves their email
- The lead is saved in your dashboard, with an email to let you know
The form only appears on the searches that find no retailer nearby: someone wanted your product in a place you do not stock it yet. Together with the searches that found nothing, the leads show where your next retailer should be.
Google Sheets Sync for Effortless Data Management
StoreRocket creates a linked Google spreadsheet from your locations. Your team edits that sheet using its template columns, then runs Sync from Sheets or enables automatic daily sync.
Why this matters for "where to buy" use cases specifically: retailer data changes often. New retail partners come on board, existing ones change hours or close, seasonal pop-ups need to be added and removed, and different team members across sales, marketing, and operations all need to contribute updates.
With Google Sheets sync, your sales team adds new retailers to the sheet as they close deals. Your operations team updates hours and addresses. Your marketing team adds seasonal locations. Everyone works in the tool they already know (a spreadsheet), and the live "where to buy" page updates once a day, or on demand with Sync from Sheets.
Map Provider Flexibility
Stockist supports customer-supplied Google Maps or Mapbox keys.
StoreRocket supports Google Maps and Mapbox; you choose the provider, and switching is a dashboard setting plus pasting the new embed code. During the free trial StoreRocket supplies the map; after you subscribe, you connect your own key and pay that provider directly. Google Maps is the familiar default, and Mapbox prices its API usage differently and has its own map styles. Our Google Maps vs Mapbox guide breaks down when each provider makes more sense.
Customization and Branding
Stockist publishes custom colors, map styles, and custom pin icons.
StoreRocket lets you set the locator style, brand colour, font, markers, search distance, filters and location buttons in Widget Studio, with custom CSS for the last details. Your "where to buy" page should feel like a natural extension of your brand, not a third-party widget bolted on.
For inspiration on what modern locators look like, browse our store locator examples gallery.
Pricing Comparison
StoreRocket Pricing
StoreRocket's current plans and prices are on its pricing page. Plans are sized by the number of locations, and you can pay monthly or yearly. Every plan includes the core locator: search, filters, custom fields and Google Maps or Mapbox. Analytics with heatmaps, lead capture, Google Sheets sync, the REST API, multi-language, white label and priority support depend on the plan.
Stockist Pricing
Stockist publishes Basic at $10/month, Plus at $20/month, and Premium at $40/month.
The Value Calculation
For 300 retail locations, Stockist Plus supports up to 500 locations and costs $20/month or $192/year. That is a strong price for a one-language network of that size. Compare it with the StoreRocket plan for a 300-location network and the features you need on the pricing page. The gap that matters comes later: past 2,000 locations Stockist asks you to get in touch, while StoreRocket's larger plans are published.
For the complete ROI story, see our store locator ROI guide.
For "Where to Buy" Pages Specifically
Since Stockist's core positioning is the "where to buy" use case, it is worth addressing how StoreRocket handles this specific scenario.
Product-Focused Locators
StoreRocket's filters let you build product-specific "where to buy" experiences, with custom fields for other details. If you sell multiple product lines, customers can filter retailers by which products they carry. A visitor looking for your flagship product sees different results than someone looking for an accessory line. Our guide on product locator vs store locator covers the distinction in detail.
Retailer Tier Differentiation
Not all retailers are equal. Some are premium partners with dedicated product displays. Others are standard stockists. A StoreRocket filter marks each tier so visitors can filter by it, and custom fields describe the rest. Depending on the plan, location types put a label such as "Premium partner" on a retailer's result card and, with priority sorting switched on, list those retailers ahead of the rest. Custom buttons work per location on every plan, so premium partners can feature a "Book a Demo" button while standard retailers show only directions.
"Buy Online" Integration
For products available both in-store and online, StoreRocket supports configurable CTAs that can include online purchase links alongside physical store directions. For more on this topic, see our guides on omnichannel customer experience and click and collect.
Regional Distribution Mapping
Using StoreRocket's analytics, you can identify which regions have strong search demand but sparse retail coverage. That points to where your next retailer should be. Our distribution strategy guide covers how to use locator data to optimize your retail network.
Other Stockist Alternatives to Consider
Storepoint
Storepoint offers a store locator from $25 to $99 a month, installed on Shopify from the Shopify App Store or with its embed code. Its analytics dashboard starts on the $49 Pro plan and white label on the $99 Business plan, and dashboard seats are metered at 2, 5 and 20. StoreRocket publishes the plans that carry analytics and white label on its pricing page, and lets you invite teammates on any plan.
Locally
Locally specializes in connecting brands with retail partners, with a focus on real-time inventory visibility. That depth comes with quote-only pricing and a demo before you see a number, where StoreRocket's plans are on a page you can read right now.
Grappos
Grappos is a product locator targeting CPG and food/beverage brands, focused on the "find near me" experience for consumer packaged goods. It starts at a published $300 a month and is demo-led; StoreRocket publishes its plans and runs beverage networks with a free trial and no sales call.
Custom Development
Building your own "where to buy" solution gives you complete control while making your team responsible for development and ongoing maintenance. StoreRocket gives you custom fields, filters, custom CSS and a REST API without the upkeep.
Complete Migration Guide: Stockist to StoreRocket
Here is the migration process.
Step 1: Export Your Locations from Stockist
Log into Stockist and export your retailer data as a CSV file. Include all fields: retailer name, address, phone, website, hours, categories, and any custom attributes.
Step 2: Sign Up for StoreRocket
Create a free account at storerocket.io/get-started. No credit card required. The free trial includes the features compared here, so you can test them before you pick a plan.
Step 3: Import Your Retailer Data
Navigate to Locations and click Import. Upload your Stockist CSV. StoreRocket matches the columns it recognises and asks about the rest. The import shows what will change before you publish, and you choose to add the rows or replace the current list.
Step 4: Set Up Google Sheets Sync
After importing your CSV, open Google Sheets Sync in StoreRocket (depends on the plan) and create a new linked spreadsheet. StoreRocket exports your locations to it. Edit that sheet using its template columns, then run Sync from Sheets or enable automatic daily sync. Continuous sync uses the spreadsheet created by StoreRocket. See the Google Sheets setup guide.
Step 5: Configure Your Widget
Open Widget Studio and choose a style. Set your brand colour, search distance, filters and markers. Add custom buttons to the retailers that need them. The live preview shows the result, and nothing changes on your site until you save.
Step 6: Enable Lead Capture
Turn on lead capture (depends on the plan). When a search finds no retailer nearby, a form asks for the visitor's email, and each lead lands in your dashboard with an email to let you know.
Step 7: Replace the Embed Code
Remove the Stockist embed code from your website and paste the code from Install in the StoreRocket dashboard; it already carries your account ID.
On Shopify you can skip the snippet: install StoreRocket from the Shopify App Store and the app creates the locator page for you. For platform-specific instructions, see our guides for Shopify, WordPress, Squarespace, Webflow, and any other platform that accepts an HTML block.
Step 8: Verify and Test
Search for retailers on desktop and mobile. Submit a test lead. Check that analytics tracking is active. Verify that all retailer data, custom fields, and categories display correctly.
Step 9: Cancel Stockist
Once everything is confirmed, end your Stockist subscription. Your visitors keep the same "where to buy" page URL; only the widget on it changes.
What Transfers
- All retailer data (names, addresses, coordinates, contact info, hours)
- Custom fields and attributes
- Category assignments
- Existing coordinates (no re-geocoding needed)
What you gain
Each of these depends on the plan; see current plans.
- Room to grow past 2,000 locations on a published plan
- Lead capture for searches with no retailer nearby
- A REST API that creates, updates and deletes locations from your own software
Frequently Asked Questions
Which costs less to run over time, Stockist or StoreRocket?
For a small network, Stockist is hard to beat on price: it starts at $10 a month, and both are hosted, so neither leaves you maintaining locator code. As the network grows, the comparison becomes which plan holds it: past 2,000 locations Stockist quotes, while StoreRocket's larger plans are published on its pricing page. With StoreRocket, the running cost is the plan plus, after the trial, your own Google Maps or Mapbox account, which you pay directly. StoreRocket maintains the hosted locator and delivers updates through the embed already on your site, and store locators are all StoreRocket makes.
Can I keep my "where to buy" focus with StoreRocket?
Yes. StoreRocket supports "where to buy" pages with flexible terminology, custom filters and per-retailer CTAs, and the same locator grows with the program on published plans. Our where to buy page guide covers the full strategy.
Is StoreRocket more expensive than Stockist?
StoreRocket's current prices are on its pricing page. Stockist publishes Basic at $10, Plus at $20 and Premium at $40 a month, with analytics and Sheets sync on every plan, so for a small one-language network it is the low-price option. Compare the plan on each that includes the features you need; above 2,000 locations the comparison is a published StoreRocket plan against a Stockist quote.
How long does migration take?
It depends mostly on how much styling and testing you want to do; the import itself runs in the dashboard. Your Stockist locator stays live until you swap the embed code, so shoppers never see a gap.
Will my retailer data transfer completely?
Yes. Export a CSV from Stockist and import it: names, addresses, phone numbers, websites, hours and custom attributes come across as columns. StoreRocket matches the columns it recognises and asks about the rest, and rows with latitude and longitude keep their coordinates.
Does StoreRocket support CPG and food/beverage brands?
StoreRocket supports "where to buy" pages for CPG, food, and beverage brands. Custom fields let you specify product lines carried at each retailer, and filters let customers narrow results by product. For CPG-specific marketing strategies, see our CPG marketing guide.
What about Stockist's simplicity? I liked that it was easy.
The basic setup is just as short: import a spreadsheet, pick your colors, paste one embed code or install the Shopify app. Filters, lead capture and Sheets sync are there when you want them, and none of them is needed to go live.
Can I try before committing?
Yes. Create your locator on the free trial, which includes the features compared here with no credit card required. Set up your locator alongside your existing Stockist widget, compare the experience, and only switch when you are confident.
Does StoreRocket support international retailers?
Yes. StoreRocket places addresses worldwide on the map, searches in miles or kilometres, and, depending on the plan, can limit address suggestions to the countries you choose and show the locator's built-in text in each visitor's language. Location content itself is not translated.
The Bottom Line
Stockist is a tidy, inexpensive "where to buy" locator, with analytics, heatmaps and Google Sheets sync on every plan. Its largest self-serve plan holds 2,000 locations and four languages; past that, its pricing page asks you to get in touch.
Choose StoreRocket if you sell through a retail network that is growing: published plans past 2,000 locations that you can buy today (current plans), lead capture on the searches that find no retailer nearby, and the locator's built-in text in each visitor's language.
Import your Stockist data and see how StoreRocket fits your "where to buy" workflow. No credit card, no sales call, no commitment.
Related: What is a store locator? | Where to Buy page guide | Best store locator software 2026 | Store locator ROI | Best product locator software
Questions about switching from Stockist? Contact us and we will help you migrate.