Shopping list apps have made running errands a little easier in recent years. These apps can help you save time at the grocery store and can also prevent you from forgetting anything on your list, thus avoiding a second trip.
Shopping list apps allow you to choose from a wide range of products from hundreds of stores to create lists that you can share with other users. The apps have built-in databases that help you compare prices and nutritional values, and they also allow you to track discounts and offers that you can take advantage of. With most of these apps, creating a list is as easy as searching for products in the app or simply scanning the barcodes of a few items you have at home.
In short, a crumpled, scribbled piece of paper is no longer a shopping list in 2017.
What to Look For?
When looking for a shopping list app, a user-friendly interface is key. The app is designed to make things easier, so requiring technical knowledge can be counterproductive.
Look for apps with a large user base, as they typically have more products in their search database and are more likely to find stores with discounts. You’ll also want an app that’s easily accessible across multiple devices and by different users, so the whole family can access your shopping list right away.
How Does It Work?
With shopping list apps, you create a new list and get started. In many cases, you can use a barcode scanner to scan items in your home, which are then instantly added to the list. As you shop, you can see the items and they’re automatically checked off the list. With these apps, you can also share the list with multiple people, who can update it in real time. Additionally, the apps allow you to search for products in the app’s database and, in many cases, drag and drop items onto the list.
What are These Features?
All of the shopping list apps we reviewed include a barcode scanner, which makes creating lists much easier and should be a standard feature. You decide to make a list before heading to the supermarket, then quickly scan the kitchen to see what you’re missing. You simply scan the box of rice or the carton of milk, and the items are instantly added to your list, saving you the hassle of manually typing them in.
Some apps
Some apps go even further. Out of Milk lets you add items using its voice recognition software, while AnyList lets you sync with Siri and dictate your list directly to your iOS device, perhaps on your way to the supermarket.
The next question is: what can you do with the list once it’s online? Most apps allow lists to be updated continuously, long after you’ve left the house. And best of all, lists can be shared, and other users can update them at the same time. In other words, let’s say you’ve already left the store and are browsing the frozen food section when your roommate notices that you’re out of cereal. With apps like Grocery iQ, you can edit your list at any time via the company’s website, and with Wunderlist, you can change it at any time from your computer, Kindle, iPad, and other devices.
With different
If different members of your household have access to your shopping list, you’ll want someone to keep track of it so you don’t have to repeat the list. Our Shopping section, for example, automatically removes duplicate items so you don’t have to order something twice.
What if someone with access to your list makes changes but you’re already out to the store? With the Shopping List Ease app, you’ll get real-time notifications when someone adds or removes an item.
With any shopping list app
With any shopping list app, you’ll probably also want to find ways to save money. Not only can you compare prices with multiple shopping list apps, but you can also set up your account to send you updates about discounts and discounted items at stores in your area. With Grocery Pal, you can get information about discounts in your area, as well as compare prices for items on your list. With Flipp, you can easily find discounts at over 800 stores, and the app also lets you sign up for loyalty cards at select stores.
Many users are looking for an experience that goes beyond just finding products and comparing prices; they also want to take control of their health and have an app that guides them.
With Fooducate, you can access a healthy meal planner and scan barcodes to get nutritional information about items. The app will also suggest healthy alternatives to items on your list. With Buy Me a Cake!, you can also get recipes delivered to you via Facebook Messenger, with detailed descriptions to show you what you need to make the meals.
So, Which One Should I Use?
Just as smartphones have changed almost everything in our modern lives, the simple shopping list of the past has undergone a profound digital transformation. Shopping list apps that have emerged in recent years allow you to simplify your shopping while also improving your ability to check discounts and nutritional value for what you’re eating. This is another way that technology has simplified and optimized our daily activities, and it’s worth trying.
