Disclosure: This comparison was written by Steffen, the founder of BoxBuddy. We've done our best to be fair and accurate, but you should know we have a direct interest. Try the apps yourself and decide.
Quick answer
Choose Boxes if you want an offline-first inventory you'll keep using after the move, such as a storage unit, holiday decorations, or a small team, and you don't mind typing. Choose BoxBuddy if you're packing a family home and want to speak each box instead of typing, with labels anyone can scan in their phone's camera without installing an app. One trade-off to know up front: Boxes works offline, and BoxBuddy needs a connection (cellular data works).
Two kinds of box app
Both apps label a box and tell you what's inside. The difference is what each is built for: Boxes for depth and offline use, BoxBuddy for packing speed and letting anyone scan.
Best for long-term storage, small teams, and people who want every detail recorded.
- Works offline, then syncs
- QR, barcode, and NFC labels
- Custom fields, values, CSV import, reports
Best for packing a whole home quickly, with family helping.
- Speak each box instead of typing
- Labels open in any phone camera
- One shared move for the whole family
Want to test QR labels first? BoxBuddy includes 10 free boxes so you can try the workflow before committing the whole move.
Download on the App StoreBoxes and BoxBuddy are the closest competitors in our comparison series. Both track physical boxes, both print labels with QR codes, and both let more than one person work on the same inventory. An earlier version of this page said Boxes had no QR labels and no sharing. That was wrong. We rewrote this comparison from the current Boxes App Store listing and website, checked October 9, 2026.
Same Category, Different Priorities
- Boxes (by StackTracks, iPhone) is a general-purpose storage inventory. It has spaces, automatically numbered boxes and items, photos, QR, barcode and NFC scanning, printable labels for any label or paper size, custom attributes, item values, CSV import, reports, audit logs, and offline use with sync. Its listing pitches it for moving, home inventory, holiday decorations, and storage facilities.
- BoxBuddy is built only for moving. It has room-based boxes, spoken descriptions, photos, printable QR labels that open in any phone camera, family sharing, and more than one move per account.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | BoxBuddy | Boxes App |
|---|---|---|
| Box tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Photos per box | ✅ Multiple, auto-compress | ✅ Yes |
| Organization | ✅ Rooms, color-coded | ✅ Spaces (rooms, locations) |
| Box numbering | ✅ Automatic, per room | ✅ Automatic |
| QR code labels | ✅ Printable | ✅ Printable, any label or paper size |
| Barcode & NFC | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Scan without the app | ✅ Any phone camera | ⚠️ Listing describes in-app scanning |
| Voice dictation | ✅ Voice-first | ❌ Not listed |
| Offline use | ❌ Needs a connection (cellular works) | ✅ Works offline, syncs later |
| Sharing | ✅ Shared family moves | ✅ Team invites with roles |
| Inventory depth | ⚠️ Moving essentials | ✅ Custom fields, values, CSV, reports |
| Multiple moves | ✅ Yes, switch between them | ⚠️ Not move-based; uses spaces |
| Pricing | $19.99/year (first 10 boxes free) | Free + in-app purchases |
Where BoxBuddy Is Stronger for a Household Move
1. Speak Instead of Type
Instead of typing "4 dinner plates, serving bowl, salad tongs, tablecloth" on your phone, you say it, and BoxBuddy transcribes it. Your hands stay on the packing tape, not on a keyboard.
The Boxes listing doesn't mention voice input, so every description is typed. On a packing day with 60+ boxes, that's where people start skipping descriptions, usually around box 15. That defeats the purpose of the app.
2. Labels Anyone Can Scan
Both apps print QR labels. A BoxBuddy label opens in any phone's camera and shows the room, contents, and photos. The mover, or a friend helping you unpack, doesn't need to install anything or have an account.
The Boxes listing describes scanning QR codes, barcodes, and NFC tags from inside the Boxes app. It doesn't mention a web view for people who don't have the app, so plan on everyone who scans having Boxes installed.
3. Built Around the Move
BoxBuddy has nothing to configure. Boxes belong to rooms, numbers count up per room, and a shared move puts the whole family on the same list. If you have more than one move on the go, such as your own and a parent's, you switch between them. Boxes' flexibility (custom attributes, statuses, aliases, numbering schemes) is a strength for long-term storage, but it's setup you don't need for a three-week packing sprint.
4. The 60-Second Workflow
BoxBuddy is engineered for packing-day speed:
- Open the app → select the room (1 tap)
- Snap a photo of the open box contents (5 seconds)
- Speak the description: "Coffee maker, filters, 4 mugs" (5 seconds)
- Print the QR label and stick it on the box (10 seconds)
- Done. Under 60 seconds total
Boxes can be fast too, especially if you plan your inventory in a spreadsheet and bulk-import it. Where it's slower is the description itself: typing a box's contents on a phone takes longer than saying them, and over 60 boxes that adds up.
Where the Boxes App Has the Edge
It Works Offline
Boxes works without an internet connection and syncs when you're back online. BoxBuddy needs a connection to save a box, photo, or label. Cellular data is usually enough, but in a basement or storage unit with no signal at all, Boxes is the better tool.
Depth for Long-Term Storage
Boxes records far more than a moving app needs: custom attributes, item values and quantities, sizes and weights, fragile or hazardous flags, tags, reports, CSV import, audit logs, and even webhooks. If you'll keep the inventory for years, for a storage unit, a collection, or a small stockroom, that depth is worth having.
Barcodes and NFC
Boxes can scan product barcodes and NFC tags, and it lets you attach your own QR codes. BoxBuddy only uses its own QR labels.
Free Entry Point
The Boxes app is free to download with basic features (some advanced features via in-app purchases). BoxBuddy is free forever for up to 10 boxes, then $19.99/year or $29.99/year for up to 1,000 boxes. If budget is the only factor and you have very few boxes, both apps offer free options.
🏆 Verdict: It Depends on What Happens After the Move
Choose BoxBuddy if: you're packing a family home, several people are packing and unpacking, you'd rather speak descriptions than type them, and you want labels anyone can scan without an app.
Choose Boxes if: you need to work offline, you'll keep the inventory long after the move, or you want barcodes, NFC tags, custom fields, and reports.
For a typical family move, BoxBuddy's voice capture and app-free scanning save the most time. For storage that lasts years, Boxes is the more complete tool.
Upgrade Your Moving Game
Speak the contents, print the label, and let anyone scan it. Your first 10 boxes are free, then $19.99/year. Cancel anytime.
Download Free on the App StoreFrequently Asked Questions
Is BoxBuddy better than the Boxes app for moving?
For a family move, usually yes: BoxBuddy lets you speak box descriptions instead of typing, and its QR labels open in any phone camera without installing an app. Boxes is the stronger choice if you need to work offline or want a detailed inventory you'll keep after the move, with barcodes, NFC tags, custom fields, and reports.
Does the Boxes app have QR code labels?
Yes. Boxes prints labels with QR codes on any label or paper size, and it can also scan barcodes and NFC tags. The difference is who can scan them: the Boxes listing describes scanning inside the Boxes app, while a BoxBuddy label opens in any phone's camera without installing an app.
What is the best moving box tracking app?
For a family move, BoxBuddy: voice descriptions, QR labels anyone can scan without the app, room-based organization, family sharing, and annual pricing ($19.99/year, with your first 10 boxes free). If you need offline use or a long-term storage inventory, Boxes is a strong alternative. See our full 7 Best Moving Apps comparison.
Is the Boxes app free?
The Boxes app is free to download with basic features. Some features require in-app purchases. BoxBuddy is free forever for up to 10 boxes, then $19.99/year (Pro) or $29.99/year (Family) for up to 1,000 boxes — no monthly fees.
Can I use the Boxes app with my family?
Yes. Boxes lets you invite other people with their own roles and permissions, and it syncs across devices. BoxBuddy shares a move with your family so everyone can add, scan, and search boxes, and its QR labels let movers and helpers scan without an account.
Can I use the Boxes app offline?
Yes. Boxes works without an internet connection and syncs your changes when you're back online. BoxBuddy needs a connection at every step, because each box, photo, and label saves to the server right away. That is what lets everyone in a shared move see updates in real time.
Can I use BoxBuddy in a basement or storage unit with weak signal?
BoxBuddy needs an internet connection to save a box, photo, or label. A weak cellular signal is usually enough, but a true dead zone means waiting until you're back in range. Boxes works offline and syncs later, so it is the better fit for a space with no signal at all.
Which moving app has voice input for box descriptions?
BoxBuddy is built around voice: you speak a box's contents instead of typing, which is faster when your hands are full of tape and bubble wrap. The Boxes app's listing doesn't mention voice input.