Vercos ERP vs. StockSmith (formerly Craftybase): Which Software is Right for Your Studio?

If you have been in the maker space for more than a few years, you already know the name Craftybase (now officially rebranded as StockSmith).

For a long time, it was the only real option for artisans who needed to track raw materials and build complex recipes (BOMs). When I first started scaling my own concrete candle studio and 3D print farm, it was the first software I looked at to escape my chaotic spreadsheets.

But as the e-commerce landscape has evolved, so have the needs of modern makers. Today, if you are looking for an industrial-grade system to run your workshop, the decision usually comes down to StockSmith or Vercos ERP.

Both platforms are built to calculate your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and manage your inventory, but they take two very different approaches to user experience, feature sets, and pricing. Here is the founder-to-founder breakdown of how they compare.

The StockSmith (Craftybase) Approach: The Legacy Standard

StockSmith is the "granddaddy" of maker software. Because it has been around for over a decade, it boasts a massive, deeply robust feature set that caters to strict, traditional bookkeeping.

If your primary goal is to have a deeply granular, traditional accounting ledger and you are willing to spend the weeks required to learn a highly complex interface, StockSmith is a powerful tool.

Where it struggles: StockSmith's biggest hurdle is its legacy architecture. The user interface can feel dated and overwhelming to new users. More importantly, their pricing model is built on a "success penalty"—charging you significantly more money as your order volume, revenue, and SKU catalog grow.

The Vercos ERP Approach: The Modern, Fast-Paced Engine

I built Vercos ERP because I wanted the industrial-grade power of a traditional MRP, but I wanted it wrapped in a lightning-fast, modern interface that didn't require an accounting degree to navigate.

Here is where Vercos ERP steps away from legacy platforms like StockSmith:

1. Predictable, Transparent Pricing (No Success Penalty)

As a maker, your software shouldn't punish you for having a viral video or a massive Q4 holiday season. While StockSmith scales its pricing based on how much revenue you make or how many materials you track, Vercos ERP operates on predictable, fixed monthly tiers. Whether you track 50 raw materials or 5,000, your software cost stays exactly the same so you can scale with confidence.

2. Built-in Time Tracking & Billable Labor

Many makers today run hybrid businesses—selling pre-made items on Shopify while taking high-ticket custom commissions on the side. Vercos ERP features a built-in stopwatch widget and labor tracker. If you are a woodworker or leathercrafter, you can track your exact bench time and instantly convert those billable hours into a professional invoice.

3. Tax-Ready Localized Automation

Older platforms often force you to export your data into a secondary, expensive software like QuickBooks just to do your taxes. Vercos ERP was engineered to handle your operating expenses natively. It uses localized tax logic (like the US Schedule C or Canadian T2125) to map your material depletion, machine depreciation, and overhead directly to tax-ready ledgers as you work.

4. The Modern Production Kanban

Instead of clicking through endless drop-down menus, Vercos ERP utilizes a visual, Make-to-Order (MTO) Kanban board. When an Etsy order comes in, the materials are "allocated." You simply drag the job to "Complete" when you finish building it, and the system handles the fractional math and multi-channel sync behind the scenes.

The Verdict

If you are looking for the oldest, most traditional bookkeeping tracker on the market and don't mind a steeper learning curve and volume-based pricing, StockSmith remains a highly capable legacy tool.

But if you are a modern maker looking for a lightning-fast, beautifully designed manufacturing engine that tracks custom labor, automates your localized taxes, and offers predictable pricing that won't punish your growth, Vercos ERP is the upgrade your workshop has been waiting for.