Before you start
Common questions
The things people ask before they sign up. Already using HomeStock and something's not working? Support is the page for that.
Getting started
What's the difference between Personal, Household and Business?
They're three kinds of space. A Personal space is just yours, with nobody invited. A Household space is shared with people you invite — everyone sees the same lists, and you decide what each of them can do. A Business space adds real stock control: every movement recorded with costs, plus purchase orders, suppliers, counts, transfers, staff hours and pay.
You can have several, of any kind, and they don't see each other. How it all fits together →
Do I need to install anything?
No. HomeStock runs in any browser on a computer or a phone. On a phone you can add it to your home screen and it opens like an app. Desktop and phone versions are being built; see Downloads.
Can I use it for my house and my business at the same time?
Yes, and plenty of people will. They're separate spaces on the same account and you switch between them from the home screen. Nothing crosses over.
How do I get my existing list in?
For a business, import a spreadsheet — HomeStock matches your column headings for you, checks every row before writing anything, and won't commit an import that still has problems in it. For a house, most people just add things as they use them; it fills up faster than you'd expect.
Paying for it
How do I subscribe?
You can't yet. HomeStock is free to use in your browser while it's being finished, and nothing is being charged — there's no card to enter and nothing to cancel.
When subscriptions open, families will subscribe in the app, and businesses will also be able to subscribe here on the website, which suits company cards and invoicing better.
Do the people I invite have to pay?
No. Whoever creates the space pays; everyone invited uses it free and never needs their own subscription. A family pays once, and so does a business with staff. See pricing →
What happens if I stop paying?
Your spaces become read-only. Nothing is deleted. You can still read and export everything, and it all comes straight back when you subscribe again.
Is there a free version?
Yes — one personal space, free forever, with the inventory, the shopping list, reminders and expiry dates. Sharing with other people is what the paid plans add.
How it behaves
Does it work without internet?
Yes. Changes save on your device and sync when you're back online — a cold storeroom or a basement freezer won't stop you working. If two people change the same thing while one is offline, HomeStock keeps the newer change and tells the other person it did, rather than choosing silently.
Can I stop somebody seeing part of it?
Yes, and that's the normal way to use it. Access is granted per person rather than by job title: someone can add to the shopping list without seeing the bills, or count stock without seeing anyone's wages. New members can look and nothing else until you grant them more.
Does it handle payroll taxes?
No. HomeStock tracks hours worked and works out gross pay from them, for you or your accountant to work from. It does not calculate or withhold tax and it is not a payroll filing service.
What about my data?
We don't sell or share it, there's no advertising in HomeStock, and you can delete your account from inside the app with fourteen days to change your mind. A space other people use is handed over rather than deleted with you. The full explanation →