Concept & Philosophy
Why is pon free and ad-free?
pon takes a new and smart approach in many areas – and that includes its funding model. We believe that everyday tools like pon shouldn’t be made unnecessarily complicated by ads or subscriptions. That’s why pon will remain completely free, with no ads and no hidden costs.
Most apps are funded through ads or by selling user data – pon does it differently. We want a simple, fast, and private shopping list that doesn’t bother you with ads or force you into a subscription.
Instead, we rely on honest users. If you enjoy pon and find it makes your daily life easier, you can support us voluntarily – if not, you can continue using the app however it suits you. No pressure, fair for everyone.
Of course, further development takes time and money. That’s why we appreciate:
✅ A 5-star rating in the App Store to help more people discover pon.
✅ A small contribution via in-app purchase to keep the project running.
💡 This also means that we may occasionally remind you in the app to support us. That’s the only “price” you pay for an app that otherwise remains completely ad-free.
We’re continuously improving pon step by step – with no subscription requirements, no ads, and no compromises on privacy. Whether you choose to support us or not: The most important thing is that pon makes your shopping easier! 😊
Why does pon work differently from other shopping list apps?
When you switch from a traditional shopping list app to pon, you might notice that some things work differently than you're used to. At first, you might even feel like something is missing – but this is exactly where pon's big advantage lies! 🚀
pon was designed to make shopping as easy as possible – without manual sorting, rearranging, or endless list maintenance.
1️⃣ One list is all you need – pon organizes everything automatically
In other shopping list apps, you might create a separate list for each supermarket: “Walmart,” “Target,” “Costco”, and so on.
With pon, that’s not necessary! Instead of managing multiple lists, one single list is enough, such as “Shopping List” or “Weekly Groceries.”
🛒 Why?
➡️ You assign a shopping location to each item (e.g., “Milk – Walmart”).
➡️ pon automatically groups all items by shopping locations.
➡️ As soon as you arrive at a supermarket, pon moves that store to the top – giving you an instant overview of what you can buy there.
📌 No more switching between lists – pon does it for you!
2️⃣ Check off & clear – pon learns for you
You might be used to items staying on the list after being checked off. In pon, it works differently: Once checked off = the item is done and can be removed!
Why?
✅ pon remembers the order of your purchases and automatically sorts your list correctly next time.
✅ pon tracks how often you buy items and suggests them right when you need them again.
✅ Instead of leaving old items “on the list,” you’ll find everything in the product catalog or under “Suggestions.”
🛒 Example:
You buy milk every Monday. You don’t need to keep it on the list – pon recognizes the pattern and automatically suggests milk under “Suggestions.”
📌 Conclusion: No more manual list management – pon thinks for you!
3️⃣ pon isn’t a static notepad – it’s a shopping assistant!
Many traditional list apps work like a simple notepad where you have to manage items manually. pon takes it a step further:
🤖 pon adapts to you – not the other way around.
➡️ pon knows what you need – even before you think of it.
➡️ pon organizes your list automatically, saving you time.
➡️ pon suggests items based on your shopping habits.
📌 This means: The more you use pon, the better it gets for you!
4️⃣ At first, pon feels different – but then you realize how much better it is!
If you’re coming from other shopping list apps, some things might feel unfamiliar at first. But after using pon for a few days, you’ll realize: pon makes your life easier! 🚀
Why doesn’t pon have product categories?
In pon, there are no fixed categories because your shopping isn’t organized by generic product groups, but by the actual order of items in your supermarket.
This means:
✅ pon learns exactly where you find items in the store.
✅ The order automatically adapts to your shopping habits.
✅ No rigid category system – just a smart, personalized sorting.
How does pon learn the correct order?
It’s simple: Through your shopping behavior!
Every time you check off items while shopping, pon remembers the order. Items you always check off first will automatically appear higher on your list.
Example:
🍏 You always check off apples first because the produce section is right at the entrance.
➡️ pon remembers this and will automatically place apples at the top of your list next time.
This happens individually for each supermarket!
Per store – not per supermarket chain.
pon learns the order per store, not per supermarket chain.
This means: Two branches of the same chain (e.g., two Walmart stores) won’t necessarily have the same sorting. pon remembers the shopping order for each individual store.
This way, you no longer have to run around the store; your list is displayed in the exact order you shop. 🚀
Why does pon group items by shopping locations instead of categories?
In pon, your items aren’t sorted into traditional categories like “Fruits & Vegetables” or “Beverages,” but rather by the stores where you buy them. This makes your shopping as efficient as possible, as you can instantly see what you need to get at each location.
Here are the advantages:
✅ All items for the current supermarket are grouped together.
➡️ No more switching between different lists!
✅ If you switch supermarkets, the list adjusts automatically.
➡️ You only see the items you can actually buy there.
✅ Alternative locations are considered.
➡️ An item can be assigned to multiple stores. As soon as you get closer to one of them, pon automatically places it there.
How does it work exactly?
📍 When adding an item, you can specify where you want to buy it.
📍 pon then groups your shopping list by these locations.
📍 If you’ve added multiple alternatives, pon shows the item where it makes the most sense to buy it at that moment.
Example:
You want to buy milk and have specified that you can get it at Walmart, Target, or Costco.
- If you’re currently at a Walmart, milk will appear in the "Walmart" group.
- If you enter a Target, pon automatically moves the item to the "Target" group.
- If you lose track of the item and leave the store without buying it, it moves back to its original group.
This way, you always have a smart, dynamic shopping list that adapts to your location – instead of a rigid list with fixed categories.
Why aren’t checked-off items moved to the end of the list?
In pon, checked-off items stay in their place instead of moving to the end of the list. This is a deliberate decision – and it comes with several advantages:
1️⃣ No chaos when checking off items
If checked-off items were moved to the end of the list, the entire list would constantly change. This would cause two major drawbacks:
🔄 The list would jump around, making you repeatedly search for where to continue.
❌ Increased risk of mistakes – you might try to check off an item, but just as you tap, it moves down, causing you to select the wrong one.
2️⃣ Logical grouping by shopping locations remains intact
pon groups your items by the stores where you buy them.
If checked-off items were moved to the end of the list, it would disrupt this organization.
Example:
- You have a group with items for Walmart.
- You check off "milk" and "coffee."
- If these items moved to the end of the list, the Walmart group would no longer be complete – and you might easily overlook what’s still missing.
This way, your shopping list remains stable and easy to navigate, no matter how many items you've already checked off.
How do I remove checked-off items?
Once you're done, you can pull the list down with a simple swipe gesture to remove all checked-off items – just like crumpling up and discarding a traditional shopping list.
pon helps you stay quick and efficient while shopping – without unnecessary distractions from jumping lists!
Why does pon delete checked-off items when I pull the list down or shake my iPhone?
pon is designed to work like a traditional shopping list: Once you've checked something off, you don’t need it for this trip – so it can go! With a simple swipe down, you can remove all checked-off items at once.
Why is that?
✅ pon isn’t a storage place for items – it’s a shopping list.
➡️ Items you need regularly don’t need to be “saved” – pon will automatically suggest them when they’re needed again.
✅ Fast, intuitive operation.
➡️ No lengthy searching or manually deleting items – one swipe and your list is clean again.
✅ The list should always be up-to-date.
➡️ A shopping list is meant for what you need right now – not for what you might want to buy someday.
What if I want to keep an item after all?
No problem! That’s what these features are for:
🛒 Suggestions → pon remembers what you buy frequently and suggests it automatically.
⏳ Automatic re-listing → You can set items to reappear on your list after a certain period (e.g., milk every 3 days).
📦 Product catalog → Here, you can find all your saved items anytime.
Can I disable the shake feature?
Yes! If you don’t want to use the shake-to-delete feature, you can disable it in the pon settings.
The pull-down gesture to delete will always remain active – because it’s a core principle of pon to keep your shopping list as simple and efficient as a traditional paper list.
How does pon learn my shopping habits?
pon tracks your shopping behavior to make creating your lists as easy as possible. This happens completely automatically when you use the app while shopping – and the best part: Everything stays local on your device!
1️⃣ pon learns the order in which you shop
Every time you check off items while shopping, pon remembers the order. Items you always check off first will appear higher on your list next time.
Example:
🥛 You always check off milk first while shopping because it’s right at the entrance in the fridge section.
➡️ pon remembers this and will place milk at the top of your shopping list next time.
This happens individually for each supermarket – because not every store is laid out the same way!
2️⃣ pon remembers what you buy regularly
Items that you need frequently are automatically recognized by pon and shown in the right places:
✅ Frequently – items you buy often.
✅ Suggestions – pon recognizes when something is due again and suggests it to you.
✅ Automatic reminders – You can set items to automatically reappear on your list after a certain period (e.g., eggs every 7 days).
3️⃣ pon adapts to your supermarkets
pon learns not only your sorting but also where you shop.
➡️ Items are automatically assigned to the supermarket where you buy them.
➡️ When you’re in a specific store, the relevant items will be displayed first.
Example:
🛒 You buy pasta sometimes at Rewe, sometimes at Aldi.
➡️ pon remembers this and shows you the pasta exactly where you are.
4️⃣ Privacy: Everything related to your location and usage behavior stays on your device!
🔒 pon does not analyze your shopping behavior
📍 Your location data also never leaves your device!
➡️ pon uses your location only to, for example, sort your items accordingly in a supermarket or remind you of your purchases (this happens locally) – but this data is neither stored nor shared.
Your shopping is your business! pon simply helps you get it done faster and more efficiently – all without compromising your privacy.
What are the benefits of "Frequently," "Suggestions," and "Custom"?
pon helps you create your shopping list faster by saving your frequently purchased items and suggesting exactly the products you’ll need again soon. To save you time searching, there are three useful sections under “+ Add items”:
1️⃣ “Frequently” – Your most purchased items at a glance
Here you’ll find everything you buy regularly – based on your shopping history.
✅ No more manual searching – your favorite products are always within reach.
✅ pon automatically updates this list based on your previous purchases.
✅ Ideal for products you need often, like milk, bread, or eggs.
Example:
You buy toast bread every week – so it will appear under “Frequently.” As soon as you create a new shopping list, you can add it with just one tap.
2️⃣ “Suggestions” – pon thinks along and reminds you of missing items
Here, pon shows you items you should buy again soon.
✅ pon recognizes patterns – for example, if you need milk every 4 days.
✅ Automatic reminders – no more thinking about what’s missing.
✅ Perfect for things you buy regularly but not daily.
Example:
You buy yogurt every 7 days. If your last purchase was a week ago, yogurt will automatically appear in "Suggestions" – without you having to think about it!
3️⃣ “Custom” – All your custom-created products at a glance
Here you’ll find all the products you’ve created, sorted alphabetically.
✅ Complements the pon product catalog with your own items.
✅ Ideal for special brands, rare products, or personal favorites.
✅ If you can’t find a product in the pon database, you can permanently save it here.
Example:
You always buy a specific brand of protein bars that isn’t in the pon product catalog. After you create the item once, you’ll always find it here.
Even faster with the pon search!
📌 If you don’t see a product right away, the smart search can help.
✅ After just 1-2 letters, relevant suggestions will appear.
✅ pon takes into account how often you buy a product – so your most important items will always be at the top.
✅ In the “All” section, you’ll also find the entire pon product catalog with many products and features.
pon is smart, mobile, and best of all: free