You like shopping. You like using your smartphone. These apps bring those two thingstogether beautifully.
Fooducate (Free, iOS/Android)
Have you ever wandered down a grocery aisle, overwhelmed and confused by all of the packaging and branding claims? Seriously, try finding an oatmeal bar; there are a dizzying variety of options that all claim to give you the most fiber, protein and taste. Sure, you could compare nutritional labels in the store, but really, who has time for that?
Enter Fooducate, a wonderful shopping companion that eliminates nutrition label confusion. The concept is so simple, yet so well executed. Scan barcodes on products and Fooducate tells you their grade (A-, B+, C, etc.…) based on nutrition facts and ingredients. The most favorably graded items are minimally processed and naturally rich in nutrients and antioxidants. If your favorite foods happen to get a terrible grade (like many of mine shamefully did) the app provides a list of extremely similar, but much better-for-you products.
I can’t say enough good things about this app – definitely a home screen keeper. I keep hoping people will see me scanning products at the grocery store and ask what I’m doing, just so I can spread the word.
Good for:
Honestly, anyone who wants to know a little more about what they’re eating; but it’s especially great for parents, those with food allergies, celiac disease or diabetes. There are other (paid) versions of this app available for the iPhone that are specifically designed for use with diabetes, food allergies and gluten-free eating.
Seesaw (iOS, Free)
Are you that person that sends pictures to your friends and family to help you make a decision? I am. I’m sure they don’t mind giving their opinion, but when I send my friend a bunch of pictures in a row of nail polish colors, clothes and other miscellaneous items, it probably gets old.
Seesaw is an app that uses crowdsourcing to help with decision-making. It allows you to create your own comparison of photos and then tallies votes from other users on their opinion. Besides fashion, I’ve seen people ask for opinions on cleaning products they prefer, movies they should see, what wedding details look best, etc. It’s really quite versatile. You can take a photo, upload from your photo library, or (my favorite) upload from Pinterest. Requires a login by either tethering your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account to the app or by using your mobile phone number.
Good for:
Anyone who has ever wanted second set of eyes to help make a decision… or anyone who just generally likes giving their opinion to others (I found them equally satisfying).
Shopkick (Free, iOS/Android)
Some days, I wish I could get paid to shop; I really put a lot of time and effort into it. With Shopkick, getting rewarded for shopping is the entire premise. In case you haven’t heard of it, Shopkick rewards you for shopping at all your favorite stores. Shopkick earns you points when you walk through the doors of tons of major retailers. By building up points, you earn gift certificates to spend at your favorites—simple concept and even easier to use.
Good for:
Anyone who frequently shops at major retailers (including Best Buy!) and you know, likes free money.
Key Ring: (Free, iOS/Android)
Who doesn’t have a million and one of those little store loyalty cards? It seems like just about everyplace has a rewards program nowadays. At Best Buy, it’s fairly straightforward to look up a Reward Zone card by phone number to earn you points, even without the card. However, not every retailer works the same way.
Key Ring is a free app that digitizes existing loyalty cards, removing the need to carry the plastic card around. It requires registering an e-mail address and creation of a password, but the rest is pretty straightforward. The initial setup takes a little while, but the reward of not having to carry around those extra cards is so worth it.
Good for:
Anyone who gets annoyed by having to dig through their wallet, key ring or purse for a different rewards card every time you check out.