Created and run by the SMCo Thrift team, ThriftTrac offers business software for the thrift industry, allowing thrift stores to efficiently and easily track every customer interaction, donation, and process. It enables data collection while providing an iPad-based point of sale (POS) app, OnTrac, making it a great choice for retailers who prioritize data-driven decision-making.
While ThriftTrac’s data features are useful, the solution falls short of being comprehensive thrift store software, as it lacks certain capabilities essential to secondhand retailers. This gap makes it a poor fit for thrift stores looking for a single solution that can handle all their needs.
In this article, we’ll take a look at ThriftTrac’s strengths and weaknesses and provide some top ThriftTrac alternatives you may want to consider.
| ThriftTrac module | Why it’s beneficial for thrift stores |
|---|---|
| Point of sale | ThriftTrac’s OnTrac app makes transactions simple for employees and customers. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to use and facilitates rapid training. Plus, OnTrac integrates with ThriftTrac’s web portal for easy payment customization and end-of-day reconciliation. |
| Donations | Many secondhand retailers are run by nonprofits, and ThriftTrac understands that. That’s why they offer a donation module that allows you to track each donation and donor, deliver automated donation receipts, and capture information on churches, businesses, and other organizations connected to your donors. |
| Business metrics | ThriftTrac records key performance indicators (KPIs) for thrift stores, including metrics for processing, retail, transportation, and wholesale. These metrics are presented on a single dashboard, making it easy to visualize your thrift store’s performance. |
| Area of concern | Why it's a problem for thrift stores |
|---|---|
| Missing thrift store features | ThriftTrac was designed heavily around donor tracking and business metrics, which means that its tools lack the core features most modern thrift stores rely on daily. This includes inventory management, color-tag pricing, and customer marketing and communications. |
| Strict iOS lock | OnTrac is an iOS app built for iPads. If your store prefers to use other operating systems, ThriftTrac may not be the best option for you. |
| Hardware requirements |
To run ThriftTrac, you must purchase a specific hardware configuration: an Apple iPad supporting the latest iOS, a Star Micronics mC-Print3 thermal receipt printer, a Volcora 13” cash drawer, and a countertop tablet stand. If you already have other working hardware, you won’t be able to use it with ThriftTrac. |
| Internet dependency | Both ThriftTrac’s web portal and iPad app rely on an internet connection, which can cause checkout interruptions if your store’s Wi-Fi is unreliable or temporarily unavailable. |
| Smaller integration ecosystem | As ThriftTrac is a specialized, niche product, it lacks out-of-the-box e-commerce integrations found in more established POS systems. If you already use tools you like, you may not be able to connect them with ThriftTrac. |
ThriftTrac’s pricing depends on the number of modules you want and the number of locations you’ll operate in. It includes a setup fee and a monthly fee:
Like Thrift Works, ThriftCart was built specifically for thrift and resale stores. However, ThriftCart was designed to be a comprehensive thrift store solution, making it a top alternative to ThriftTrac. Here’s a breakdown of ThriftCart’s robust features.
| ThriftCart feature | How it benefits thrift stores |
|---|---|
| Compliant payments and accounting | Process payments easily. Apply the correct sales tax based on item category, location, or nonprofit status, and let the system automatically sort revenue and donation streams. |
| Detailed financial reports | Get accurate financial reports that separate store revenue, donations, grant funds, and processing fees. Use visual graphs and reports to better communicate with stakeholders and board members. |
| Inventory management | Track items from the moment they come through the door — set pricing rules, build standardized intake workflows, and keep inventory counts accurate in real time. |
| Color tags and automatic pricing | Assign colors to incoming items and build discount schedules directly in the system — no manual price changes needed. Tags print with both the original price and the applicable discount schedule. |
| Roundup donations | Give shoppers an easy way to support your mission at checkout with roundup prompts at the register. Automatically track roundup donation totals separately from sales transactions. |
| Pickup scheduling and route optimization | Allow donors or staff to request pickups online or in store, then arrange them with built-in route optimization and status updates. |
| Standardized donation intake | Record incoming donations from any tablet or desktop, auto-generate donor records, and send or print receipts for larger donations — all in one place. |
| Marketing | Run promotions, announce donation drives, and reward loyal shoppers. Market your thrift store via SMS, build customer profiles, and launch a customer loyalty program to keep customers coming back. |
| Simplified UI for volunteers | Get new volunteers up to speed in minutes — not hours — with simplified workflows for intake and checkout. |
| Cloud-based | Access your software on various devices and leverage automatic updates to ensure you always have the latest features. Easily scale up as your store grows and opens new locations. |
| Flexible hardware options | Save money on upgrading your POS system by using compatible hardware. |
| Integrations | Connect your POS system with tools like In the Loop AI, Shogo, Shopify, Zapier, and CharityProud. |
| 24/7 support and dedicated onboarding | Get 24/7 live phone support and a dedicated onboarding specialist to help you set up your system and train your staff. |
ThriftCart’s pricing starts at $99/mo, but you can get a more specific quote using our Build and Price tool.
| System | Best for | Standout features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thrift Works | Thrift stores that prefer to lease hardware |
|
Starts at $3,600 for hardware and $75/month for software |
| SimpleConsign | Stores with consignment options |
|
Professional plan starts at $99/month for the first year |
| AntiqueSoft | Antique malls and stores that rent out space |
|
Custom quotes |
| S-Tags | Stores focused on production speed |
|
Custom quotes |
| Square Point of Sale | Thrift stores looking for simple software to get up and running quickly |
|
Offers a free plan, paid plans start at $49/month |
Go to our comparisons page for a detailed rundown of how different systems stack up to ThriftCart.
You may want to search for a ThriftTrac alternative because:
ThriftTrac’s pricing is higher than that of its competitors, especially when you consider the initial setup fee and the monthly fee that scales with the number of modules you choose and the number of locations you operate it in. Additionally, it requires a specific hardware setup, which factors into the total cost of ownership.
There is no single solution that works for every thrift store. Your thrift store likely has different needs and priorities than others, so the solution you choose will be different. However, here are some questions you can ask yourself to narrow down your options:
Yes, many ThriftTrac alternatives include inventory management features. If your mission-driven thrift store needs to actively track inventory movement, manage pricing tiers, or handle large furniture items, you want an alternative that offers robust item-level inventory capabilities.
Keep in mind that thrift store inventories differ significantly from general retailers, as items are individual and unique. Seek out a ThriftTrac alternative that accounts for that characteristic in its inventory features.
This depends on the specific ThriftTrac alternative you decide on. However, many thrift store software solutions are cloud-based and hardware-agnostic, which means you can often reuse your existing hardware.
If you’re looking for a ThriftTrac alternative, you want a solution that’s built for thrift stores, includes POS and data collection, yet goes beyond those capabilities. ThriftCart offers exactly that. Continue with seamless payment processing and data reporting, and gain access to inventory management, color tags, roundup donations, and more — all in a single, cloud-based, scalable solution.
Schedule a custom demo today to see ThriftCart in action.