MerchantFlow vs SimplyCost
Built for 2026, not 2016 - importing up to 5 years of history on first sync
SimplyCost has been on the App Store since 2016 and is still the cheapest way to put COGS against your orders. SimplyCost now pulls ad spend from six ad platforms. Beyond COGS and ad spend, MerchantFlow adds cohort analysis, AI assistance, Business Valuation, and Product Viability. MerchantFlow imports up to 5 years of historical data on your first sync; how much you can view depends on plan (90 days Starter, 12 months Pro, unlimited Plus).
Last updated
Install on ShopifyUse MerchantFlow if
You've outgrown basic COGS and ad spend tracking and want Flow AI, cohort analysis, Business Valuation, Product Viability, and modern billing that respects cancellation. Business Valuation, Product Viability and funding tracking are on the Plus plan; Flow AI is on Pro and above.
Use SimplyCost if
You need rock-bottom pricing, you only need basic COGS, margin and ad spend tracking, and you want a focused tool with a low entry price.
The shortlist
Best SimplyCost alternatives compared
SimplyCost beside MerchantFlow and the other profit tools merchants shortlist against it, on the five things that decide the switch.
| Tool | Entry price | Blended P&L | Shopify-native | Per-region P&L | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MerchantFlowRecommended | $49-$149/mo Flat tiers · no per-order overage fees | Yes Meta, Google, TikTok and Snapchat Ads in one blended number | Shopify app Shopify and WooCommerce | Yes Net profit per country | 1-click Shopify install Plus a WooCommerce connector |
| SimplyCost4.8(72)MerchantFlow vs SimplyCost | $9.99/mo Starter capped at 600 orders/mo | Limited | Shopify app Shopify only | No | 1-click Shopify install |
| BeProfit4.4(204)MerchantFlow vs BeProfit | $49/mo Hard order caps below the top tier (450 / 900 / 1,700) | Yes | Shopify app Shopify and WooCommerce | Profit, ad spend unallocated | 1-click Shopify install |
| Kleio5.0(20)MerchantFlow vs Kleio | $29/mo | Yes | Shopify app Shopify only | Country filter + P&L grouping | 1-click Shopify install |
| GoProfit4.8(92)MerchantFlow vs GoProfit | $12/mo Free plan available · Tiers gated by monthly order count | Yes | Shopify app Shopify only | Not documented | 1-click Shopify install |
"Recommended" is our own pick, and we are not a neutral party: MerchantFlow is our product. Every competitor cell is drawn from that vendor's published pricing page and Shopify App Store listing on the dates below. Blended P&L means one profit number across every channel: it is not a split of organic against paid revenue, and no row here claims a per-campaign net profit figure for any tool.
Pricing verified from SimplyCost Shopify App Store listing (Oct 4, 2026), BeProfit Shopify App Store listing (Oct 4, 2026), Kleio Shopify App Store listing (Oct 4, 2026) and GoProfit Shopify App Store listing (Oct 4, 2026).
Why merchants switch
What MerchantFlow does that SimplyCost doesn't
Flow AI with three personas
SimplyCost lists no AI assistant. MerchantFlow's Flow AI switches between CMO, Executive, and Finance personas so each team member gets answers framed for their decisions.
Honest billing
Cancelling stops future billing, and you keep access until the end of the period you already paid for. A July 2025 SimplyCost App Store review from an 8-year customer describes being charged after uninstalling and getting no reply until Shopify Support stepped in; the refund was then processed. MerchantFlow won't put you through that.
Historical data import on first sync
MerchantFlow imports up to 5 years of historical Shopify orders and ad spend on your first sync (view window by plan: 90 days Starter, 12 months Pro, unlimited Plus) so you keep your full financial picture when switching from SimplyCost.
Everything beyond COGS
Business Valuation, Product Viability, cohort analysis, Flow AI, revenue-based funding tracking, bank balance, bundles, and CAPEX amortisation. None of these are listed in SimplyCost's App Store listing or on zapfor.com.
Margin by Region
See net profit, net margin, POAS, and CAC per country with a full cost waterfall - allocating COGS, shipping, payment fees, ad spend, and shared overhead. SimplyCost breaks profit down by time, product, variant, vendor, and sales channel, but documents no country or region dimension for revenue, orders, or profit.
Side by side
MerchantFlow vs SimplyCost: the full comparison
| Feature | MerchantFlow | SimplyCost |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time P&L | Yes | Limited |
| Auto COGS | Yes | Yes |
| Native ad platform integrations | Yes | 6 platforms |
| Meta, Google, TikTok, Snapchat Ads | Yes | Plus Microsoft, Pinterest |
| LTV / cohort analysis | Yes | No |
| Custom report builder | Pro+ | No |
| Flow AI assistant (3 personas) | Pro+ | No |
| Business Valuation | Plus plan | No |
| Product Viability simulator | Plus plan | No |
| Revenue-based funding tracking | Plus plan | No |
| Bank balance + burn rate | Yes | No |
| Bundle handling | Yes | No |
| CAPEX amortisation | Yes | No |
| Agency Portal | Separate Agency plan | No |
| Margin by Region (per-country net P&L) | Yes | No |
| WooCommerce support | Yes | No |
| Per-discount-code margin tracking | Yes | No |
| 3PL / fulfilment cost tracking | 3PL integration | Manual entry |
| CJ Dropshipping (cost + tracking) | Native 3PL sync | No |
| Native mobile app | iOS + Android | No |
| 5-year historical data import | Imported; view window by plan | No |
| Native MCP server | Hosted, OAuth, 50+ tools | No |
Feature data verified against SimplyCost's public Shopify App Store listing and developer pricing page.
What you actually pay
SimplyCost pricing vs MerchantFlow
Three published monthly prices, each with an included order volume. Annual saves 20%. Every plan includes a 14-day free trial - cancel for free anytime during the trial and you will not be charged.
Starter
Solo operators under $500k GMV
or $39.2/mo billed annually
Pro
Default for $500k-$5M GMV
or $71.2/mo billed annually
Plus
Full financial OS for $5M+ GMV
or $119.2/mo billed annually
MerchantFlow - flat pricing
Starter / Pro / Plus. Save 20% billed annually.
- 14-day free trial, cancel for free anytime
- Month-to-month billing. Each plan lists its included order volume (1,000 / 5,000 / 25,000 per month) and never charges per-order overages
SimplyCost pricing
4.8(72)Starter
Up to 600 orders/mo
per month
Pro
Unlimited orders
per month
Pricing as published on SimplyCost Shopify App Store listing - verified Oct 4, 2026.
What their merchants say
Public reviews and testimonials about SimplyCost
Where a public source page is available, we link it so you can inspect the context yourself.
The SimplyCost app itself provided good functionality for profit tracking. However, my experience with their customer support was extremely frustrating and lacked transparency, especially considering my long-term loyalty.
The other side
What MerchantFlow customers say
Reviews from merchants who run their store on MerchantFlow.
MerchantFlow has become one of the most valuable tools in my business. As a tradie building Mech Tools from the ground up, understanding true profitability is critical. MerchantFlow gives me clear, accurate data that helps me make better business decisions.
Mech Tools Pty LTD
Australia · 18 days using the app
I've tried quite a few of these profit tracker apps (even tried making one myself), but honestly, none of them offer what MerchantFlow does and the ones that come close cost 10x the monthly price. My favorite feature by far is the integration with my 3PL, so the data I'm seeing is the actual data not a guess.
Netherlands · 21 days using the app
I've been using MerchantFlow for the last six months in order to better understand my brand's profitability. The tool has without a doubt been super insightful and allowed me to make changes within the business that have nearly doubled our brand's monthly profit. This is the best profit analysis and optimisation tool going around for any ecommerce brand owner right now.
Australia · 6 months using the app
Its super important for me to know my numbers down the the exact percentage and I can trust Merchant Flow to get it right. I've used other softwares in the past but none of them have half of the features this does and always end up not being correct. Highly recommend using it if you're running an ecommerce store.
Australia · 2 months using the app
The honest take
Where SimplyCost still beats us
We think comparison pages should be honest. Here's where SimplyCost is genuinely a better fit than MerchantFlow.
- Starter at $9.99/mo and unlimited orders on Pro at $29.99/mo are low entry prices for a profit app.
- Over nine years on the App Store (launched December 2016) with a 4.8 rating across 72 reviews.
- Native ad spend sync for Google, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Snapchat and TikTok Ads.
- Simple, focused feature surface area for merchants who want nothing more.
Questions merchants ask
MerchantFlow vs SimplyCost FAQ
What are the best SimplyCost alternatives in 2026?
The closest alternatives to SimplyCost for Shopify profit tracking are MerchantFlow, BeProfit, Kleio and GoProfit. All of them install from the Shopify App Store. MerchantFlow is our own product, so treat this as our recommendation rather than a neutral verdict: it starts at $49/mo flat with no per-order overage fees, reports one blended profit number across Meta, Google, TikTok and Snapchat, breaks net profit down per country, and supports WooCommerce as well as Shopify. The comparison table on this page puts all five side by side on entry price, blended P&L, per-region P&L and setup, with each vendor's pricing source and the date we last checked it.
Will I lose my historical COGS data if I switch from SimplyCost?
MerchantFlow imports up to 5 years of historical Shopify orders on your first sync (how much you can view depends on plan). You can set up your COGS rules (percentage, flat rate, or target margin) in the dashboard and they apply retroactively across your order history.
How long does migration take?
Historical data import on first sync runs in the background; duration depends on store size. Setting up your COGS rules and expenses takes a few minutes in the dashboard.
Is MerchantFlow more expensive than SimplyCost?
Yes. SimplyCost's Shopify App Store listing shows Starter at $9.99/mo for up to 600 orders and Pro at $29.99/mo for unlimited orders, verified October 2026 on both the listing and zapfor.com. MerchantFlow charges more because you get real-time P&L, Flow AI, cohort analysis, Business Valuation, Product Viability, and dozens of other features that SimplyCost doesn't have. If all you need is basic COGS, ad spend and margin tracking, SimplyCost is still the cheaper option.
Will MerchantFlow keep charging me if I cancel?
No. Cancelling stops future billing, and you keep access until the end of the period you already paid for. We don't honour the "Netflix" approach that other apps in this category have used on their own customers.
Run your own numbers
Free calculators to check the math yourself
Every tool runs instantly in your browser - free, no signup required.
Landed Cost Calculator
Cost tracking that includes freight and duty, not just the supplier unit price.
Open calculatorBreak-Even ROAS Calculator
The minimum ROAS you need once COGS, fees and refunds come out.
Open calculatorEcommerce Business Valuation
Eight years of trading history is worth real money on a multiple. See how much.
Open calculatorAlso comparing
See how MerchantFlow stacks up against others
See the full picture of your profit
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