Shelf

Overview

Shelf is an open-source asset platform for organizations that need to keep equipment records tied to custody, location and bookings. It is a stronger fit for teams coordinating shared equipment than for someone who only needs a simple list. Its unlimited-asset plans are appealing, but the free plan's one-user and three-custom-field limits make it a constrained way to bring a team aboard.

Key features

Shelf combines asset pages and location tracking with custody records, kits, consumables, bookings, calendars, audits, dashboards, search, reminders and workspaces. The breadth matters when an inventory needs to answer who has an item and whether it is reserved, not just whether it exists. Unlimited assets on every plan remove a ceiling on inventory size; however, the Personal plan's one-user limit keeps shared workflows out of reach.

The free Shelf Companion app for iPhone and Android scans QR codes, runs audits, manages custody and checks bookings in or out. That gives staff a way to handle those tasks away from a desk. The web app can also be installed as a progressive web app on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux.

Organizations can choose managed cloud or self-host the open-source code with Docker and Supabase. Shelf says managed-cloud data is stored in Frankfurt, Germany, with application servers in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its stated controls include TLS 1.3 for data in transit, AES-256 encryption at rest, and role-based and organization-level access controls. It supports SAML 2.0 with Entra, Google Workspace, Okta and other identity providers, plus automatic SCIM provisioning. Shelf is not yet SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certified, a material consideration for buyers whose procurement requires those certifications.

Pricing

Shelf is freemium, with paid plans starting at $34/mo and a 7-day trial. All plans include unlimited assets, so the main decision is about users, fields and operational features rather than inventory count.

• Personal — free (billed $0/mo): Unlimited assets, one user, a personal workspace and three custom fields. It suits an individual tracking equipment, but the user cap rules it out for a working team and the field cap limits how much an inventory can be tailored.
• Plus — $34 a month (billed $34/mo): Unlimited assets, one user, unlimited custom fields, CSV import and export, and email support. It removes the field constraint and adds data portability, but remains a single-user plan; solo equipment managers are its clearest fit.
• Team — $67 a month (billed $67/mo): Unlimited assets and team members, bookings and reservations, a booking calendar and availability, booking PDFs, and audits and barcode add-ons. It is the practical step up for departments or production teams sharing equipment, and the listed plan adds the collaboration and booking functions missing from Personal and Plus.
• Enterprise — custom pricing: SSO/SAML/SCIM, custom MSA, DPA and SLA, dedicated single-tenant hosting available, HECVAT/VPAT compliance documents, a dedicated account manager and SLA, priority support and onboarding. It is aimed at larger organizations with procurement, hosting or support requirements; buyers should expect a custom quote rather than a posted rate.

Shelf says its team responds to pre-sales, customer and other inquiries within the same business day. The Personal and Plus user caps are the sharpest pricing distinction: Plus costs more but still does not add collaborators, while Team does.

Platforms

Shelf supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web and self-hosted deployment. The native Companion app is free on iPhone and Android, while the progressive web app can be installed across the listed desktop and mobile systems. This range gives teams flexibility in how they access Shelf, and Docker/Supabase self-hosting offers an alternative to its managed cloud.

Who it's for

Shelf makes most sense for equipment managers, departments, labs, production teams, universities and multi-site organizations that need custody and booking workflows alongside asset records. Solo users can start on Personal or Plus, but only Team removes the user cap and includes booking capabilities. Organizations that require current SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification should look elsewhere until Shelf has those certifications.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Unlimited assets on every plan avoids forcing an upgrade just because an inventory grows.
• Pro: Mobile QR scanning, audits and custody actions support equipment work away from a desk.
• Pro: Self-hosting and managed cloud offer different deployment approaches, with stated encryption and access controls.
• Con: Personal is limited to one user and three custom fields, so it is a narrow option for a shared inventory.
• Con: Plus still permits only one user; teams need the $67 a month Team plan for unlimited team members and bookings.
• Con: Shelf is not yet SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certified, which may disqualify it for some procurement requirements.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Asset Tracking Software.

• Snipe-IT is worth considering if open-source, self-hosted inventory with unlimited users and assets is the priority; hosted service is also offered at $39.99 a month.
• Asset Giant offers a free plan capped at 100 assets and one user, making it a smaller-scope alternative rather than Shelf's unlimited-asset approach.
• AssetTiger is another option with a free plan and trial for buyers considering an asset-management product built by the team behind MyAssetTag.com.
• Reftab may suit smaller inventories: its free plan supports up to 50 assets, with mobile apps and barcode and QR-code support.
• AssetCenter has a no-time-limit free plan for 25 available or deployed assets, a tighter starting cap than Shelf's unlimited-asset Personal plan.
• MapYourTag offers a free plan for 10 assets, two users and 10 scans per asset history, which may fit a small inventory with modest scanning needs.
• Simple Asset Tracker is a desktop-platform alternative with a free demo capped at 30 asset line items and unlimited users.

Verdict

Choose Shelf if your organization needs unlimited asset records plus custody, audits and bookings, especially when mobile scanning or self-hosting matters. Team is the clearest plan for shared operations; Personal and Plus are for one-person use. Look elsewhere if a current SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification is mandatory, or if you need multiple users without moving to Team.