Apple Reminders already has a grocery list: since iOS 17, a list set to the Groceries type sorts items into sections such as Produce and Dairy as you add them. It's free, built in, shareable with other Apple Account users, and on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and iCloud.com. Grocery List is a dedicated shopping list app for iPhone and iPad. It adds what Reminders doesn't do: recipe import from websites and social video, turning a photo of a handwritten list into items, templates, and a Lock Screen list you check off without unlocking, in a paper-notebook design. Its sharing and recipe import come with Premium, a one-time purchase.

Grocery List is our app. The Reminders facts below come from Apple's support pages, checked on the date at the top of this page.

At a glance

Grocery List Apple Reminders
Pricing Free; Premium is one payment, no subscription Free, built into iOS
Account None beyond your Apple ID Apple Account with iCloud Reminders
Automatic sorting Your own categories Yes, a Groceries list sorts items into sections
Shared lists Premium (only the person sharing needs it) Free, with other Apple Account users
Recipe import Premium: most recipe sites, plus TikTok, Instagram and YouTube captions No
Photo of a handwritten list Yes, free No
Templates for the weekly grocery run Yes (Premium) No
Siri Yes Yes
Lock Screen Live Activity you can check off; widgets Widgets
Platforms iPhone, iPad iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, iCloud.com

Where Grocery List is different

  • Recipes become shopping lists. Share a recipe page, or a TikTok, Instagram or YouTube recipe, and you check its ingredients before they go on the list.
  • Photo of a paper list. Photograph a handwritten list and the items are typed up for you.
  • Templates. Save your weekly basics or a favorite meal and add it all at once.
  • The Lock Screen. Check items off from a Live Activity without unlocking your phone.
  • Made only for shopping. No due dates, priorities or flags in the way. It looks like a paper notebook.

When Reminders is the better pick

  • You want free sharing. Reminders shares a list with other Apple Account users at no cost.
  • You want the list on a Mac or Apple Watch. Grocery List is iPhone and iPad only.
  • You only need a plain list that sorts itself. Reminders' Groceries list does that, and it's already on your iPhone.

FAQ

Does Apple Reminders sort groceries automatically?

Yes. Since iOS 17, a list whose type is set to Groceries sorts items into sections as you add them. iOS 18 added more sorting languages. Apple notes that automatic sorting isn't available in every language.

Can I use both?

Yes. Some people keep household reminders in Reminders and the shopping in Grocery List. If Siri adds an item to Reminders when you meant Grocery List, include "Grocery List" in what you say, for example "Add to my shopping list with Grocery List".

Sources