Out of Milk – Total Shopping & To-Do List Replacement [iOS/Android/PC]

Out of Milk – Best iPhone / Android Shopping List App…

I have been searching high and low for a good shopping list app. Why is it so hard to find something that SHOULD be such a basic concept?! After downloading and testing some 30 iPhone apps, I finally found one that does just what I need it to and more. Out of Milk is my new friend and it’s totally free. Yay! This is THE best iPhone / Android shopping list app hands-down!

There were very specific features I was looking for, all of which were included in this app:

• Clean layout.
• Easy to add or edit items.
• Self-explanatory usage.
• Create multiple lists for different stores.
• Have a built-in list for easy item selection.
• Color coding and ability to sort by category.
• Share lists by email, text message, etc.
• Current list accessed and edited by family.
• Items can be checked off.
• Save favorite items for later selection.
• Option to enter price.
• Customization possible but not required.
• If free, no obtrusive ads.

Most other companies have too few or too many features or are just plain ugly. With the paid apps, either you can’t try them at all without buying it first or the free version is so stripped down that there’s no way to really test it anyway. The whole point of using a smartphone app is to make it easier to do something, not complicate it. However, these apps take so much work to use that I’d rather grab my pen and paper to write my list the old-fashioned way. I’m so glad that, out of the gazillion shopping list apps, there’s one that I really like and actually use on a regular basis (except for Shared Shopping List for Windows 8).

All you do is choose ‘Shopping List’, add a store, then add some items. Tap an item after you put it in a cart to cross if off the list and move it to the bottom of that category area. These can be cleared and rearranged. Your most recent lists are easily accessibile by tapping the icon in the upper right-hand corner.

There are a few ways to add items. As you type, a list of pre-installed items will pop up for you to choose from. Or, you can scan the barcode of the item if you have it handy. Items can also be added manually. At any time, items can be edited to include the category, quantity, price, and notes (i.e. sale info). If you add your local tax in the settings, that will be included in the running list total as you shop.

The Out of Milk app does more than keep a list. It also allows you to record inventory of your pantry so you’re not stuck saying, “Oh no! I thought we had some of that!”  As a bonus, you can even track your daily to-do’s. No more sticky notes for me! I just checked the Out of Milk website and it seems that the above listed features are just the tip of the iceberg. Using the app in conjunction with the site opens a whole slew of organizing power! The Pro version lets you change the theme and a few other things for $1.99 but that seems to only be for Android devices at the time. I’m kind of bummed about that as I’d like to play and see what else I can do with this! Oh well, I should just be happy they decided to add the main good stuff for free on the iPhone version.