Shopping lists made easy with I Go Shop

The Story

Do you need to write a shopping list so you don’t forget the loo roll again? Of course, the best method is to simply remember what you need by making up a rhyme such as “eggs, chicken legs, cheese, frozen peas…” and so forth.

Alternatively, you can let your Android phone act as a useful aide memoire but instead of using it to jot down a bland note, I Go Shop utilises the power of the technology in your pocket to make the whole process more fun and, purportedly, more effective too. For instance, even though you can just type the name of each items onto a blank screen, the app also presents you with a list of popular goods that you can choose from. Or you can simply say what you want and rely on the Google robot to interpret your requests. It’s a brave shopper who takes this route, though.

The Experience

Once you’ve created your list, by whichever means, press the “Shop” button and these items will then appear  onscreen as a neatly formatted list (in alphabetical, rather than rhyming, order). Put an item into the app’s virtual basket when you have found it in the real world, and the appropriate box on your phone’s screen will turn green as this item simultaneously plummets to the bottom of your shopping list. It’s a simple enough idea and, broadly speaking, one that works well. For maximum flexibility, however, you’ll need to invest in the paid-for Pro version (£1.69) as the free Lite edition only allows you up to 20 items in one list. I Go Shop is fast, effective and, to some degree, fun. If there’s a fault, it’s that if you press in just slightly the wrong place, an erroneous item highlights. The fat fingered among us need not apply, then.

The Bottom Line

A simple app that works well, albeit that a pen and paper is almost as straightforward

Additional Info

Version tested: 1.1.0

All Android versions

Lite version available – ads and 20 item limit