Home Screen widget
See how many items are left at a glance, and start adding with the voice, scan, or camera buttons.
Shopping list for iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch
Notice it. Add it in 3 seconds.
“Out of milk?” Add it right there, in the fewest taps possible—before you forget. Share with family by just showing a QR code. No account, no email.
Why NeedSoon
Forgotten buys start with forgotten adds.
The problem doesn’t happen at the store. It happens at home.
You open the fridge: “We’re almost out of milk.” You reach for the refill: “Did we run out?” If you don’t note it right then, it’s gone by the time you reach the store.
Most shopping list apps are built for the shopping trip. NeedSoon is built for the second you notice—and we cut every step we could between that moment and a saved item.
A typical list app 5
- Find and open the app
- Pick a list
- Open the add screen
- Fill in category and quantity
- Save and close
Somewhere in there, something else gets your attention.
NeedSoon 1
- Type in the field you see first—or tap a suggestion
No category, no quantity. It saves first; fix it only if you need to. From a widget or Siri, you don’t even open the app.
Notice. Add. Done.
- Notice.
- Add.
- Done.
You usually notice you’re running low at home, in the middle of something else. So adding it should only take a moment.
Out of milk?The first screen is a text field. Re-add recent items with one tap, or use your voice or a barcode.
Added “Milk”No confirmation screens. Add it and get back to what you were doing—it’s already on your family’s list too.
Now just buy it.Try it
How fast can you add it?
This is the app’s Add screen, recreated in your browser. Type an item or tap a suggestion. Hit the voice button to watch “milk and eggs” become two items.
What do you need?
RECENTLY ADDED
- Nothing yet.
Ways to add
Wherever you notice, that’s the way in.
Home Screen, Lock Screen, or your wrist. Add from wherever you are—without hunting for the app.
Apple Watch
Speak to your wrist to add. At the store, check items off as you go. It’s included with the iPhone app—nothing extra to install.
Say several at once
What you say is split into separate items.
“Milk and eggs”→MilkEggs
Barcode
Scan a barcode to fill in the product name. Not found? It switches straight to typing.
Just snap the label
Threw away the barcode? Take a photo of the label. Text is read on your device and offered as suggestions—no connection needed.
Siri & Spotlight
Hands full? Just ask. Answer Siri’s follow-up and it’s on the list.
“Siri, add to NeedSoon”Lock Screen & Control Center
One tap to the add screen—before you even unlock your iPhone.
Lock Screen widgetControl CenterShortcuts
iPad
On a larger screen, the Add screen and your shopping list sit side by side. Add from the iPad in the kitchen, too.
Family sharing
Family sharing is just a QR code.
No account. No email address. No invite links. Open the same screen, scan the QR, and you’re on the same shopping list.
- Create a familyTap the family icon at the top left of your list.
- Show the QR codeHold up the QR code that appears.
- Scan to joinYour family taps “Scan QR to join.” That’s it.
- Adds and purchases sync to everyone
- See who added and who bought, with names and photos
- Fewer double purchases
For couples, roommates, and anyone running errands for family.
At the store
Never lost in the aisles.
Glance with one hand, check off with the other. You never sort when adding—the list sorts itself when you shop.
- 01Sort by aisle, store, or personAisle categories are guessed from the item name. Group by supermarket, drugstore, and more.
- 02One tap to check off, one tap to undoChecked the wrong one? Tap again and it’s back.
- 03Purchased items tidy themselves awayBought items collect at the bottom and clear automatically after a set period (adjustable in Settings).
- 04Search, and set stores in bulkEven a long list stays easy to find your way around.
What’s different
Not just another shopping list.
- 01
Speed of adding comes first
The first screen is a text field. Category, quantity, and store are never required, and there’s no confirmation screen before saving.
- 02
Family sharing with no account
No ID, password, or email. Share with a QR code—and if you don’t share, everything stays on your device as before.
- 03
Add without opening the app
Widgets, Lock Screen, Control Center, Siri, Spotlight, and Apple Watch. More ways in means fewer forgotten adds.
- 04
Voice, barcode, and label photo
“Milk and eggs” becomes two items. Barcodes fill in the name. No barcode? Snap the label and text is read on-device.
- 05
Works quietly, even offline
Add and check off without a connection. Without sharing, your data stays on your device. No tracking.
Peace of mind
A shopping list doesn’t need your personal data.
No sign-up
Use every feature without registering a name or email address.
On-device unless you share
Your list is never sent anywhere unless you turn on family sharing.
No tracking
No advertising or tracking SDKs are built in.
Permissions only when needed
Camera and microphone access is requested only when you choose that feature.
Read the full Privacy Policy.
Help & support
Using NeedSoon
There are just two screens: Add and List. Switch with the tabs at the bottom, or swipe from the screen edge.
Adding items
Type an item name in the field on the Add screen—the first thing you see when you open the app.
- Re-add recent and frequent items with one tap.
- After adding, you’ll see “Added ‘Milk’” with an Undo button.
- If the same item is already on your list, NeedSoon tells you instead of adding a duplicate.
- Tap an item to edit its name, quantity, notes, or the store you plan to buy it at.
Adding by voice, barcode, or label photo
- Voice: say several items at once and they’re split up (“milk and eggs” → 2 items). Deselect any you don’t want on the confirmation screen.
- Scan: scan a barcode to fill in the product name. If nothing is found, switch to typing.
- Capture: photograph a product label and text is recognized on your device as suggestions (no connection needed).
Camera and microphone permission is requested only the first time you use those features. Every core feature works by typing if you decline.
Adding from widgets, Siri, or Apple Watch
- Widgets: touch and hold the Home Screen or Lock Screen and add NeedSoon. Start with the voice, scan, or camera buttons.
- Control Center: add the control to open the add screen in one tap.
- Siri: say “Add to NeedSoon” and answer the follow-up question.
- Apple Watch: installs automatically on your paired Watch. Add by voice or text, and check items off from your list.
Sharing with family, and leaving
- On the List screen, tap the family icon at the top left.
- Create a family to show a QR code.
- On the other device, open the same screen and choose Scan QR to join.
Syncing happens when you open the app, pull to refresh, or make a change. The family name and the auto-delete period for purchased items are shared by everyone.
To stop sharing, choose “Leave this family.” That device returns to local-only use. Only show your QR code to people you trust.
While shopping
- Sort: by date added, by aisle, by store, or by person.
- Check off: one tap when you buy it—tap again to undo.
- Stores: set a store for each item, or for many items at once.
Settings (auto-delete, character)
- Auto-delete purchased items: after 7–90 days, or never (default 90 days; shared across the family while sharing).
- Character: set your icon (an animal avatar or a photo) and name, shown as “who added” when sharing.
- Open Settings from the menu at the top right of the List screen.
FAQ
Questions
Do I need an account to share with my family or partner?
No. There’s no sign-up and no email address. Create a family to show a QR code; anyone who scans it shares the same shopping list. Behind the scenes, devices that know the same random family ID (the QR code) sync with each other.
Is NeedSoon free?
Yes. Download it free from the App Store and start right away.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Adding, editing, and checking off items all work offline. Family sharing syncs when you’re back online or open the app.
Do I need a separate Apple Watch app?
No. It’s included with the iPhone app and installs on your paired Apple Watch automatically. View your list, add by voice or text, and check items off.
A scanned barcode isn’t found
Type the item name and add it as usual. Store-specific codes that can’t be looked up show “Product not found” and switch to manual entry. Items without a barcode can also be added by label photo or voice.
Sharing doesn’t work on my work-managed iPhone
Syncing may fail on networks with restrictions. You can still add and check off items on the device. If it doesn’t improve, please contact us.
How do I delete my data?
Delete items in the app. To stop sharing, choose “Leave this family.” Deleting the app removes the data on that device. To delete shared data, contact us below.
Next time you think “we’re out,” you won’t forget.
Free, and ready to use right away.
Contact
Bug reports, requests, or questions—just email us. We reply in English and Japanese.