Best Apps and Software for Craft Fair Vendors in 2026

Payment Processing

This is the non-negotiable first tool every vendor needs. In 2026 the main contenders are:

• Square — The most widely used option. Free card reader, no monthly fee, 2.6% + $0.10 per tap/swipe. The ecosystem (invoicing, inventory, online store) is deep if you need it. Works offline if cell service drops.
• Stripe — Better if you also run an e-commerce store. Same rate as Square for in-person. The dashboard is more powerful for analytics nerds.
• PayPal Here / Venmo — Some customers specifically ask for Venmo. Worth having it as a backup even if it's not your primary processor.
• SumUp — Popular in Europe, gaining traction in the US. Lower rate (2.75% flat) and a clean, simple interface.

Whatever you use, download the offline mode before show day. Cell service at venues is unreliable and you cannot afford to lose a sale because your card reader won't connect.

Event and Income Tracking

Spreadsheets work until they don't. Once you're doing 10+ shows a year, you need something built for the job. BoothBook is the only platform purpose-built for craft fair vendors. It tracks your shows, income, expenses, and mileage — and gives you income-per-hour for every event so you know which shows are actually worth your time. At tax season, you export a CSV and you're done. For any vendor doing more than a handful of shows a year, it's the single highest-ROI tool on this list.

Inventory Management

• Craftybase — Purpose-built for makers. Tracks raw materials, production costs, and COGS. Good for vendors who make their own products and need accurate cost-of-goods data.
• Shopify POS — If you already have a Shopify store, the POS system lets you sell in-person with inventory syncing. Higher monthly cost but seamless if you're omni-channel.
• Square Inventory — Built into Square for free. Basic but functional for vendors with a simpler product line.

Design and Marketing

• Canva — Free tier covers most vendor needs. Make price tags, signage, social posts, and booth graphics. The mobile app is especially handy for quick show-day posts.
• Later or Buffer — Schedule your Instagram and Facebook posts in advance. Batch your content creation once a week instead of scrambling every day.
• Mailchimp — Free up to 500 contacts. Use it for a newsletter to past customers. Show announcements to your list consistently outperform cold social media posts.

Shipping and E-Commerce

• Etsy — Still the best marketplace for handmade goods. Even if you sell primarily in-person, an Etsy shop extends your reach year-round.
• Pirateship — Deeply discounted USPS and UPS rates. If you ship any orders, this saves more than its free membership costs.
• Packhelp / noissue — For custom branded packaging at reasonable minimums. Custom tissue paper and stickers elevate the unboxing experience significantly.

Admin and Taxes

• Wave — Free accounting software. Better than a spreadsheet, less expensive than QuickBooks. Works well for sole proprietors and single-member LLCs.
• QuickBooks Self-Employed — $15/month. Auto-imports bank transactions, tracks mileage via GPS, and generates a Schedule C summary. Worth it if you have significant income.
• TurboTax Self-Employed — Guides you through Schedule C deductions step by step. A reasonable option if you're doing your own taxes.

The Short List

If you're just getting started and don't want to be overwhelmed: get Square for payments, set up BoothBook to track your shows and income, and use Canva for your marketing graphics. That stack covers the essentials at low or no cost and will scale with you as your business grows.