Comparison

CommNote vs Grocery List

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CommNote

Features
Read full description

“We’re out of soap.” “Wait — did I tell you?” The little things are easy to forget. On their own they’re nothing, but they add up — and slowly you drift. CommNote was made to take those tiny misunderstandings away. It started as a chat group my partner and I made while living together, named “renrakucho.” We jotted shopping and reminders there — but in chat, everything just scrolls away. We wanted a place where it stays. So we built one, and kept the name. A shared notebook for the people closest to you — your partner, family, or roommates. Your shopping, your little agreements, your money — all in one place. ■ Three tabs that quietly have your back • Lists — never lose “can you grab milk?” again. Jot it and it appears on their screen; check it off when it’s done. Assign it, and “who’s doing this?” disappears. Pin the important ones. • Rules — “we take turns with the trash,” “quiet after 10pm.” Turn vague promises into something you can both see. • Money — “how much did we spend this month?” at a glance. Log who paid, tap “Split up,” and who-owes-whom is worked out for you — no more awkward money talk. Rent and subscriptions sit in fixed costs and total themselves. ■ Start with just your name No sign-up, no email, no password. Send a 6-digit code and you’re connected. ■ Notice without checking A gentle nudge when the other person adds, finishes, or logs something (never for your own actions). ■ Show it to people without the app Want to show the shopping list to family back home? Send a read-only link — no app, no sign-up for them. ■ For everyday life — and the occasional get-together • Couples just starting to live together; busy two-income households sharing chores • Staying in touch with family far away • Hosting a trip, BBQ, or party — assign the potluck (meat → Alex, drinks → Sam), and “Split up” the bill. Up to 10 people free (50 with Premium). ■ CommNote Premium (optional) For getting more from Money. ¥490/month or ¥4,900/year, 7-day free trial. Monthly report, categories, full history, custom split (60/40), up to 50 members & no ads. The basics (sharing, rules, expense log, Split up, fixed costs) stay free, always. For the people closest to you — and a day with nothing left unsaid. ■ Subscription terms CommNote Premium — ¥490/month or ¥4,900/year (7-day free trial). Auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://negtak.github.io/renrakucho/privacy-policy.html

About

Grocery List

Effortlessly manage household shopping with a shared, real-time list. Add items instantly, get notified of updates, and use AI to quickly populate your list from recipes or screenshots. Organize by aisle and set reminders for a smoother shopping experience.

Highlights
  • AI-powered item addition
  • Real-time list synchronization
  • Shopping and item notifications
  • Location and time-based reminders
  • Organized section dividers
  • Multiple list support
Features
Read full description

Your household shopping, on one list. Shopping List is a shared grocery list for everyone you live with: family, partner or roommates. Notice the milk is running low while you're at the fridge? Add it right there, and it appears instantly on the screen of whoever is at the store. When someone starts shopping or adds items, everyone gets a gentle notification. No more "did you already get that?", forgotten items or buying the same thing twice. MADE FOR • Families who split the shopping • Couples who share a home • Roommates who share household supplies • Anyone tired of notes on the fridge and scattered chat messages • Anyone who wants a simple list without the clutter FEATURES • Add with AI: paste a recipe or packing list, or pick a screenshot, and AI reads what to buy and adds it all at once. Things you probably already have at home, like spices, are sorted out for you • Real-time sync: additions and check-offs show up on everyone's screen instantly • Notifications: a heads-up when a family member starts shopping or adds items • Location reminders: when you come near a saved place, like home, your station or your usual store, you get a nudge if anything is still on the list. Your location is only checked on your device and is never shared or sent • Time reminders: pick the weekdays and time for a reminder before you shop • Item notes: keep a note under each item, like which store has the better price, shared with everyone on the list • Easy invites: just show a QR code or send a code • Multiple lists: separate lists for home, a party or a trip • Section dividers: organize items by aisle, like Produce or Household • One-tap check off: tap once when it's in the cart • Show only unchecked: focus on what's left with a single tap • Drag to reorder: arrange items in the order you walk the store • 24 color themes and 3 density levels: make it yours SIMPLE, SO YOU KEEP USING IT No complicated folders or settings. Open it and start writing. That's what we focused on. No sign-up needed to start. Sign in for free to keep your lists when you change phones and to share with your family. FREE AND PRO Free forever: one list, Add with AI 3 times a month, the White and Black themes and the Standard density. Pro adds unlimited lists, Add with AI up to 100 times a month, all 24 color themes, all density levels, more time reminders and more places. SHOPPING LIST PRO (AUTO-RENEWING SUBSCRIPTION) • Name: Shopping List Pro • Plans: monthly and yearly. The yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial. The price for your country is shown in the app before you purchase. • Payment is charged to your Apple ID account. The subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it at any time in your App Store account settings. • Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ • Privacy Policy: https://szkyudi.notion.site/3963a5e38ec480dd93c6cdb4265b10ea

Screenshots

CommNote4 screens
Grocery List4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: CommNote at 13.0 against Grocery List's 16.4. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CommNote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Grocery List sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CommNote ships an update every 3 days, Grocery List every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 7 level
CommNote versus Grocery List: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCommNoteGrocery List
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGen TakagakiYudai Suzuki

In-app purchases

2 purchases

CommNote

Subscriptions2
  • CommNote Premium(Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • CommNote Premium(Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
2 purchases

Grocery List

Subscriptions2
  • 買い物リスト Pro(月間プラン)$1.991 Month
  • 買い物リスト Pro(年間プラン)7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is CommNote free?
CommNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Grocery List free?
Grocery List is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CommNote or Grocery List have ads?
Neither CommNote nor Grocery List shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CommNote or Grocery List?
CommNote ships an update every 3 days, and Grocery List every 4 days. Most recently, CommNote was updated on November 10, 2026 and Grocery List on October 31, 2026.

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