Stock Scarcity on Shopify with Vitals: low stock counter, pricing and setup
Last updated on November 5, 2026
Yes, Vitals does low stock messages on Shopify. The Vitals app (Vitals: Reviews, Bundles & 40+ on the Shopify App Store) includes Stock Scarcity, a stock counter that shows a message such as "Hurry! Only 3 units left in stock!" on product pages when inventory is low, using your real Shopify inventory. It comes in the same plan as product reviews, bundles, pop-ups and 40+ other apps.
Stock Scarcity at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What it shows | A low-stock message with the real stock level through the {{ stock }} tag, read from Shopify. |
| When it shows | On product pages for variants whose inventory is at or below the threshold you set. Optionally, a separate message for out-of-stock variants that can still be purchased. |
| Customization | Your own text and colours, an optional stock bar, layout and placement. |
| Where it shows | On product pages. Use Display Rules to show it on specific products only. |
| Pricing | Included in the Vitals All-in-One plan, $29.99/month, with a 7-day free trial. See the Shopify App Store listing for current pricing. |
When Vitals Stock Scarcity is not the right fit
- Showing a stock level that is not real. The message always uses your real Shopify inventory, as Shopify does not allow fake stock information.
- Your theme already shows its own low-stock message. Both messages can appear on the page, so turn one of them off.
Things that are rare, scarce, or in limited quantities are usually more valuable - and scarcity creates a sense of urgency - or more commonly known as Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). This is why with the Stock Scarcity app, you can help your visitors decide to purchase a product and not risk it becoming unavailable later!
Here's how to set up the Stock Scarcity app.
The Stock Scarcity app is very customizable and easy to set up.
Firstly, enable the app and choose the maximum inventory for which you want to display the app. Set this threshold in Show urgency box when variant inventory is below: (50 by default). All variants with that many units or fewer in stock will display the app.
Please keep in mind that the Stock Scarcity app will always show the real inventory levels through the {{ stock }} tag, which retrieves the stock from Shopify's API, as Shopify doesn't allow fake information on its stores. Back in the summer of 2017, Shopify banned all apps that provided fake stock information or fake recent sales notifications.
Suppose you want to use the app on most of your products. In that case, you can choose to put a threshold of ~ 1,000 or more and add a general message like "Hurry, only a few in stock" so as not to show the real value of inventory. Still, you risk infringing on Shopify ToS, and it will look artificial if all product pages carry the same message. We highly recommend NOT doing this.
You can also customize the text that the app will display and its colors to fit your theme.
Showing the Stock Scarcity app even if the product is out of stock but can still be ordered
If you want the Stock Scarcity app to still appear and inform visitors that they can still order the product even though it has limited to no stocks, you can enable the option "Show widget when variant is out of stock but still purchasable":
Once this option is enabled, it will display the app and your custom text as long as the product being viewed satisfies the following requirements on Shopify's end:
- The "Continue selling when out of stock" is enabled
- The product's "Track Inventory" is enabled and is managed by Shopify
- The product's quantity is less than or equal to 0.
💡 Looking to have this app appear only on specific product pages? You can use the Display Rules section of the app to specify the product pages where you would like this app to appear. For more information, you can refer here: Displaying apps only on specific products using Display Rules
❓ App not appearing on your store? The Vitals app might not yet be enabled on your Shopify Theme via the App Embeds section. For more information, you may go here: Enabling the Vitals app via App Embed
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Vitals have a low stock or stock counter app for Shopify?
Yes. Stock Scarcity is part of the Vitals app. It shows a low-stock message on product pages when a variant's inventory is at or below your threshold.
How much does Vitals Stock Scarcity cost?
It is included in the Vitals All-in-One plan at $29.99/month, with a 7-day free trial. Check the Shopify App Store listing for current pricing.
Does Stock Scarcity show real inventory?
Yes. The {{ stock }} tag reads the variant's stock from Shopify.
Why am I not seeing the Stock Scarcity message?
The message only shows when the product's stock is at or below your threshold. See the Stock Scarcity App FAQs.
Still stuck?
Chat with our support team, we'll sort it out with you.