What is the best grocery list extension for real-time sharing?

Question

Moving in with my girlfriend next week and honestly the biggest thing im worried about is how we're gonna handle the groceries lol. We both work weird hours so someone is always stopping by the store on the way home without a plan and we end up with three cartons of eggs or no milk at all. I was looking into AnyList because i saw it mentioned on a couple of blogs but it seems like you have to pay a yearly subscription to even get the web version or desktop sync? And then i saw Bring! but it looked a bit too much like a social media app for my taste with all the big icons and stuff that take up way too much space on the screen.

I really just want something super simple where i can add stuff from my laptop while im at work and she sees it immediately on her phone at the shop. My budget is pretty much zero since we just dropped a ton on the security deposit for this place so free is definitely the goal here. Some of these apps say they sync in real time but then the app store reviews mention it taking like five minutes to update which is useless if she is already in the checkout line at Kroger. Is there actually a browser extension that handles this well and keeps things perfectly synced across devices or should we just stick to a shared note or something?...

jxgonjdfzd · Accepted Answer

To add to the point above: you might want to consider Microsoft To Do. Its free and the sync is solid, but honestly be careful to only use the official app to keep your data safe.

use the desktop site while you are working

make sure she has notifications on

test it at home first before you really rely on it for dinner

Emily Catherine Matsumoto · Answer

Honestly, just use Google Keep! Its literally life changing for couples. It is completely free and the sync is actually instant, no joke. Just create a note, add checkboxes, and share it with her email. I use it every single day for this exact thing and it updates the second she checks something off. Plus, the browser extension makes adding stuff from work super fast!

pyfmeosiyr · Answer

@Reply #1 - good point! Keep is alright for basics, but i've been managing shared household lists for about eight years now and Keep eventually gets cluttered. We went through that same frustration with AnyList... the subscription wall for web access is a huge turnoff when you just want to type a quick note from your work laptop without grabbing your phone. tbh it felt like a chore.

Microsoft To Do is probably the most robust free choice for this. It has a solid browser extension that lets you add items without even leaving your current tab.

The sync is top-tier because it uses a cloud backbone, so the lag is basically non-existent.

Categorization is better than a flat note, so things stay organized by aisle which is huge when youre in a rush. OurGroceries was my go-to back in college with three roommates. It looks a bit dated but the technical side of the sync is very reliable. It uses a low-latency push system so it updates almost the second someone hits enter on the web portal. its definitely better than a shared note because you wont accidentally delete the whole thing while typing.