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List management

Create and manage lists

Create a grocery list, then add a budget, store, reminders, and collaborators when you need them.

9 min read

Why list setup matters

A little setup makes a list easier to use at the store. ListAIse lets you prepare weekly staples, divide tasks with roommates, or keep separate store runs organized. This guide covers names, budgets, stores, reminders, and collaborators.

Color-coded, budget-aware lists make it obvious what needs attention next.
Tip:

Need a head start?

Start with a simple template and adjust it as your routine changes. Mark frequently used lists as favorites so they stay one tap away.

Create a list

Use these steps whenever you need a new list:

1

Tap the + button in the Lists tab

From the Lists tab, tap the floating + to open the new-list editor.

2

Give your list a clear name

Use a descriptive name such as "Weekly Staples" or "Friendsgiving Prep" so the goal is obvious at a glance.

3

Choose an icon and accent color

Pick an icon and accent color that make the list easy to recognize in the Lists feed.

4

Tap Create to save the list

Tap Create. The list is saved and ready for items immediately.

5

Configure budget, store, and reminders

Open List options to add a spending limit, store, location, and smart reminders when you need them.

6

Start adding items and invite collaborators

Add items manually, by voice, from recipes, through the Assistant, or by scanning a receipt or written list. Share the list when other shoppers need access.

Start with a recognizable name, icon, and color, then configure shopping details from the list options.

Choose names, emojis, and colors

  • Names: An emoji can make a list easier to recognize. People often use 🛒 for staples, 🌮 for taco nights, or ✈️ for travel meal prep.
  • Color accents: Each list can have its own accent color. Premium adds gradients and cover artwork for a gallery view.
  • Descriptions: Add household members, dietary notes, or delivery instructions for collaborators.
Note:

Naming format

Use a format like "Store • Cadence • Owner" (e.g., "Costco • Weekly • Alex") to keep history and analytics easy to skim.

Budgets, stores, and location reminders

Budgets are optional, but they're the fastest way to avoid checkout surprises:

  • Set total spend and choose notification thresholds. ListAIse warns you at 75%, 90%, and 100%.
  • Turn on multi-currency for travel. Each list remembers its own currency and tax defaults.
  • Add a store to use store-specific categories and location-based reminders.
Warning:

Premium geo-reminders

Premium subscribers can receive a notification near a saved store, such as a reminder to pick up detergent when they are close to Target.

Budget, currency, store, and collaborator settings are kept together.

Organize with pins, search, and sorting

Tip:

Pin vs Archive

Pin frequently used lists to keep them at the top. Archive seasonal or one-off lists to preserve their history without keeping them in the active view. Archiving shows Undo for a few seconds. Restoring or copying a list counts toward the free list limit.

Note:

Sorting modes

Toggle between alphabetical, last modified, due date, or completion percentage. Each device remembers the last mode you used.

Pinned lists stay at the top of the Lists feed, while completed lists settle below active work. Inside a list, use search and sorting controls to organize items alphabetically, by category, checked status, price, meal, or a custom order. A-Z sorting ignores capitalization and accents. Item names can be up to 80 characters and list names up to 60; a counter appears near the limit. Adding an item that matches one already on the list, like Tomato and Tomatoes, raises its quantity instead of adding a duplicate.

Use the search field above the Lists feed to find a list by name. It searches lists already loaded in the current feed. If a list is missing, clear the search, load more lists, and try again. Switching feeds clears the search.

Search and sort controls keep even a long grocery list manageable.

Add items and undo checks

Open Add Item to browse categories or search for an item. Search prioritizes exact names and word beginnings, then includes partial and similar matches to help with typos.

The Your items section shows items you have added recently on this device. Tap a row to add it again; if it is already in the list, tapping increases its quantity. Search also filters these recent items.

For a new item, enter its name and adjust the quantity in the entry bar above the keyboard. You can keep typing and adding without closing the keyboard after each item.

Tip:

Checked the wrong item?

Use the row's Undo control within four seconds of checking it off. After that, you can still uncheck the item from the list.

For help deciding what to buy, open Assistant from the list's action menu. Review its suggested items before adding them.

Shop with your list

Open a list with items left to buy and tap Shop. Items appear in category groups, with quantities and meal details where available.

Check off an item to move it into In basket. The progress count tracks your shopping session. Expand the basket and choose Uncheck to return an item to the list. When everything is checked, tap Finish to return to the list details.

On shared lists, All shows all remaining items. Mine shows your claims and items nobody has claimed. See the sharing guide for claiming items. Viewers can browse Shop mode but cannot check items off.

Set your category order

Shop mode learns a category order for this list from the order in which you check items off. It saves that order when you leave Shop mode and uses it when you have not set a manual order.

To choose your own order, open Category order from the list options and drag the categories. Each move saves immediately. Undo restores the order you started with; Done closes the sheet. The Other category stays last.

A manual order takes priority over the learned order. When a learned order is available, tap Use learned order to switch back. The ordering sheet is available when the list has at least two categories other than Other.

Use repeat-purchase suggestions

You might need suggests items based on your past check-offs. Tap a suggestion to add it to the current list. The approximate interval, such as "every ~7 days," reflects your purchase history.

Suggestions need enough purchase history to find a pattern. Items already unchecked on a loaded list are excluded, and items estimated to be due appear first. Suggestions do not add anything automatically.

Tap Hide to hide the displayed suggestions for a week on this device. Use Undo in the confirmation message to bring them back. The band appears on editable lists with items when suggestions are enabled and matching history is available.

Find and restore archived lists

Tap the Archived lists action at the top of the Lists screen. Archived lists are kept separately from the active feed; open a row to view its contents.

If you own the list, tap Restore beside it to return it to the active feed. Other members are not offered the restore action. If the archive fails to load, use Retry.

Archiving preserves a list. It is different from deleting it; the archive screen does not provide a permanent-delete button.

Templates, favorites, and multiple lists

Open the menu of a list you own or can edit and choose Save as Template. From the Lists screen, open Shopping templates to apply it. Viewers cannot save a shared list as a template. The dashboard can hold lists for weeknight meals, warehouse runs, and roommate chores at the same time.

  • Templates: Available on both plans. Applying one creates a new personal list with unchecked items; it does not copy sharing permissions or change the original. You can save and apply locally available templates offline, then reconnect to sync.
  • Favorites: Pin your top five lists for quick access on mobile.
  • Multi-list views: Premium users can create unlimited lists and group them by store, household, or event.
Note:

Collaborating with family?

Learn how roles, notifications, and group lists work together in the Sharing & Collaboration guide.

Free and Premium limits

CapabilityFreePremium
Active lists5Unlimited
BudgetsSingle totalAdvanced alerts + analytics
Shopping templatesSave and apply; list limits still applySave and apply
Location remindersManual notesAutomatic geo-reminders

Upgrading bypasses free-tier cloud AI quotas for voice, recipe import, and receipt scanning. See the Premium overview for the full comparison.

FAQ

Can I duplicate a list?

Yes. Open the ••• menu on mobile or right-click on web, then choose "Duplicate." Budgets, categories, and items are copied.

How do I restore an archived list?

Open Archived lists from the Lists screen and tap Restore beside a list you own. It returns to the active feed.

Do templates sync across devices?

Yes. Templates synchronize across iPhone, Android, and the web app when you use the same ListAIse account.

More guides

Use these guides in ListAIse

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