Can my household share one list?

Yes — that is the point. Everyone in a household sees and edits the same list, so an item checked off at the store disappears on the other person's phone. A household can have up to 5 people. You invite people by email or by sending a share link.

Questions and answers

Last updated 7 October 2026

How Smart Grocer builds your list, what it costs, and what happens to your receipts.

What is Smart Grocer?

Smart Grocer is a grocery list app that writes your next shopping list for you. You scan a receipt after you shop; it learns what your household actually buys and how often, then builds the next list in category order. It works as a website, an iPhone app, and an Android app, and the same list is shared by everyone in the household.

How does it know what to put on my list?

From your receipts. Each scan records what you bought and when, so Smart Grocer can work out roughly how often your household gets through an item. When something is due again it goes on the next list, with a short note saying why — for example "every week" or "usually Saturday". Nothing is guessed from other people's shopping.

Do I have to scan receipts to use it?

No. You can type or paste a list and use it as a plain shopping list for free, without an account. Scanning is what turns it into a list that writes itself, so the more receipts you scan the less typing you do.

Can I try it without creating an account?

Yes. You can add items and shop from the list as a guest; the list is kept on that device only. When you register, that guest list moves into your household so nothing is lost. Photo upload (a receipt, a list or ingredients) requires an account, because the extracted items have to belong to a household.

How much does it cost?

Each household gets a 60-day free trial, with 3 photo scans a week, and each email gets 60 days in total — setting up another household later does not restart it. Joining someone else's household is free and does not use your own trial. After that, Smart Grocer needs a subscription for the household. It is $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year — the same price on the website, the iPhone app, and the Android app. You are only ever charged once, whichever one you subscribe through.

What do I get with a subscription?

A subscription is the point at which the list really does write itself. Scan every receipt and Smart Grocer learns your household properly — the weekly staples, the every-fortnight things, the item you always forget — so the next list is waiting for you instead of being something you sit down and write. Insights turn those receipts into a clear picture of the grocery bill: what this month costs, how it compares to the last few, and which store it went to, so a bill creeping up is something you notice early rather than at the end of the month. A reminder arrives before each shop, the list splits itself by store so you only see what to buy where, and up to 5 people share it live — one subscription covers the whole household, not one phone. In full: A list that writes itself from what you buy; Unlimited receipt scans; Insights and budget tracking; One shared list for up to 5 people; Reminders on your shopping days. It is $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year — paying yearly saves you close to two months.

What happens when my trial ends?

Nothing is deleted and you are not charged automatically. Your list, what Smart Grocer has learned, household sync, reminders and Insights pause until someone in the household subscribes — then everything picks up where it left off. Smart Grocer reminds you 14, 7, 3 and 1 days before the trial ends, and you can still export your data or delete your account.

What happens to my receipt photos?

The photo is used to read the items and the total, and is discarded afterwards. What stays is the shopping trip: the item names, the prices, and the date. That is what Insights and the next list are built from. You can export or delete all of it at any time.

Is my shopping data sold or used for advertising?

Your data is never sold. Smart Grocer does not show ads today and uses no advertising cookies or ad networks. If that changes, the Privacy Policy will be updated first and you will be asked before any advertising cookies are used. The Privacy Policy sets out exactly what is stored and who processes it.

How do I delete my account and data?

In Settings, under About, Export purchase history downloads your household's purchases as a CSV. To delete, use Delete account in the same place, or the account deletion page at smart-grocer.com/account-deletion. Deleting removes your account and grocery data.

Does it work at the store with bad signal?

The list you already loaded stays on screen and you can keep checking items off. Changes sync when your phone gets a connection again. Scanning a receipt needs a connection, because the reading happens on the server.

Which stores and receipts does it understand?

Any printed grocery receipt, plus handwritten lists and typed ingredient lists. It is not tied to particular chains or loyalty accounts — if you can photograph it, it can usually read it. Faded or crumpled receipts read better if you lay them flat and fit the whole slip in frame.

Do I need the app, or does the website work?

Both work and share the same account, with the same list, receipt scanning and reminders. The website runs in any modern browser and takes payment by card; the iPhone and Android apps take payment through the App Store and Google Play.

Is there a minimum age?

You must be at least 13 to create an account, or 16 where local law requires it. You confirm this when you register.

How do I get help or report a problem?

Use the support form in Settings — it goes straight to the team and you do not need a mail app. You can also email thesmartgrocerapp@gmail.com.

Still stuck?

Read the Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service, or send a note from Settings. To remove your account, see account deletion.

Questions? Email thesmartgrocerapp@gmail.com.