Shopping list apps have made running errands a little easier in recent years. These apps can help you save time at the supermarket and can also prevent you from forgetting anything on your list, thus avoiding the dreaded second round.
Shopping list apps allow you to choose from countless items 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 value, and they also allow you to track discounted items and discounts that you can take advantage of. With most of these apps, creating a list is as easy as searching for items in the app or simply scanning the barcodes of a few items you have at home.
In short, a crumpled and scribbled piece of paper will not serve as a shopping list in 2017.
What to Look For?
When looking for a shopping list app, an easy-to-use 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 that have more products in their database and are more likely to find discount stores. You’ll also want an app that’s easily accessible from multiple devices and by different users so that the whole family can access their shopping list directly.
How Does It Work?
With shopping list apps, the user creates a new list and gets started. In many cases, a barcode scanner can be used to scan items in the house, which are immediately added to the list. As you shop, you can view items and they are automatically removed from the list. With these apps, you can also share the list with multiple people, who can update the list in real time. In addition, the apps allow you to search for products in the app’s database and, in many cases, drag and drop items into the list.
What are These Features?
All of the shopping list apps we reviewed include a barcode scanner, which makes creating a list much easier and should be a standard feature. You decide to make a list before heading to the supermarket, then wander around the kitchen to see what you’re missing. Simply scan a box of rice or a carton of milk, and the items are instantly added to your list, saving you the hassle of manually typing them in.
Some apps
go a little 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. Best of all, lists can be shared, and other users can update them at the same time. In other words, let’s say you’re already out of the store and browsing the frozen food section when your roommate notices that your cereal is out of stock. 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
Since multiple members of your household have access to your shopping list, you’ll want someone to keep track of it. For example, our grocery stores automatically remove duplicate items so you don’t buy multiple items from your list.
But what if someone with access to the list makes changes but you’re already out of the store? With Shopping List Ease, you’ll get real-time notifications when someone removes or adds 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 many shopping list apps, but you can also set up your account to receive updates on discounted items and deals at stores in your area. With Grocery Pal, you can get information about discounts in your area and 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 for certain 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 are looking for an app that provides guidance.
With Fooducate, you can access a healthy meal planner and scan barcodes to get nutritional information for items. The app will also suggest healthy alternatives for the items on your list. With the Buy Me a Cake app, you can also receive recipes via your Facebook Messenger, with detailed descriptions to show you what you need to make them.
So, Which One Should I Use?
Just as smartphones have changed almost everything in our modern lives, the simple grocery list of the past has also undergone a profound digital transformation. Shopping list apps that have been released in recent years allow you to simplify shopping, while also improving your ability to check store discounts and nutritional value. This is another way in which technology has simplified and optimized our daily activities, and it’s worth seeing if it works for you.