Meal planning and making lists are recommended ways to save money on groceries, but what happens when you leave your list at home? Grocery list apps offer real-time syncing and sharing capabilities, which make them great for households, friends or roommates looking to share the mental load of keeping the fridge and pantry stocked.
We assessed app features and user reviews to arrive at top choices for you to consider.
How we chose the apps on our list
Best overall grocery list app: Bring!
Bring! tops our roundup of grocery list apps.
Why we recommend it: The app has a colorful, user-friendly interface.
When building a list, the app suggests categories including fruits and vegetables, bread, meat and frozen foods. Choosing “fruits and vegetables” displays pictures of everything from apples to zucchini in colorful squares. Tap an option to get more specific — do you want canned or fresh tomatoes? Or just four on the vine?
There are a few features that make this app stand apart, including the ability to add store cards and pre-populated lists for things such as hosting a brunch or building a garden. There’s also an iPhone widget that makes adding items to your list easy from your home screen.
Cost: There is a free option and Bring! Premium ($1.99 a month or $8.99 a year). Bring! Premium gets you an ad-free experience, the ability to customize themes and lists and faster customer service.
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Best grocery list app for beginners: AnyList
AnyList is a no-frills app that gets the job done.
Why we recommend it: The free version is great for people who frequently shop at more than one store because users can create multiple, customizable lists. Sharing lists is easy and syncing happens in real time.
AnyList allows users to save and share recipes, then add the ingredients directly to relevant lists. It’s compatible with voice-assistant technologies, like Alexa and Siri, for people who like to make lists on the go.
Cost: AnyList offers a free version and AnyList Complete for $9.99 per year for an individual or $14.99 per year for a household. Premium features include meal-planning functionality, access to a web app version and the ability to add photos for list items.
Best grocery list app for busy families: Cozi Family Organizer
If you’re looking for a hub to organize the logistics of family life, Cozi Family Organizer might be for you.
Why we recommend it: Cozi Family Organizer lets you create grocery lists, but it also offers a lot of other functionality, including shared household calendars, a meal planner and the ability to delegate and track chores.
Cost: Cozi offers a free version, but if you want advanced features, Cozi Gold is definitely on the pricier side. Cozi Gold ($39.00 a year) eliminates ads and allows up to 12 people to add and edit events more than 30 days in advance. There are more robust reminders, a birthday tracker and a widget for your smartphone home screen.
Best grocery list app for tracking pantry inventory: Out of Milk
Out of Milk is a straightforward, clean app that offers basic list creation, syncing and a to-do list.
Why we recommend it: What makes this app different is the barcode scanner that allows users to take inventory of their pantries. There are options to note whether you’re low on ketchup or have a full canister of flour so you don’t buy duplicates you don’t need. Another thing that makes this app different: it displays a running total as you shop, so you don’t have sticker shock at the register.
Best grocery list app for roommates: OurGroceries
OurGroceries has a simple appearance and could be a good choice for roommates because it doesn’t integrate personal features, such as household calendars and chores.
Why we recommend it: Users have the ability to add items to their list by taking a photo or scanning a barcode. If you’re sharing shopping duties, you can also upload photos of items to make sure the person shopping gets the right product. The app can store favorite recipes and add ingredients to the appropriate shopping list with one touch.
Cost: The app is free and so are its features. Users can pay $1 per month, $6 per year or a one-time fee of $20 to remove ads.