New South African App Compares Grocery Prices Across Major Supermarkets

Amid the persistent pressures of rising living costs in South Africa, a practical new mobile application has emerged to help consumers make more cost-effective grocery choices. Developed by Johannesburg-based software engineer Ethan Stander, Grocify has now been officially launched on the Google Play Store.

As a result, shoppers can access real-time pricing information from the country’s leading retailers—Checkers, Pick n Pay, Spar, Woolworths, and Shoprite—all within a single, user-friendly interface.

As reported by MyBroadband, this public release follows an extensive phase of testing and refinement,. During this period, the developer incorporated valuable feedback from early users, which in turn led to meaningful enhancements.

For instance, the app now supports the creation of shopping lists, thereby allowing comparisons of total costs across different retailers. As a result, users can quickly determine the most economical option for their full basket of goods.

Moreover, it should be emphasised that Grocify is completely free to download and use.

The app requires no account registration and does not ask users to share personal information. It requests only location access, enabling it to display accurate, proximity-based pricing from nearby stores.

Navigation is straightforward. Through the “Search” tab, users can compare the price of individual items across multiple retailers within seconds. For larger purchases, products can be added to a shopping list before moving to the “Cart” tab, where the app calculates the lowest total spend.

It can determine whether a single store offers the best overall value or whether splitting purchases across different retailers would result in greater savings.

The public release also introduces several practical enhancements. Coverage has been expanded to include Shoprite-branded stores alongside the original retail chains.

Users can now set a specific address for location accuracy or limit comparisons to selected retailers.

A petrol cost calculator has also been integrated, estimating travel expenses to each store based on preset fuel efficiency figures or a custom input for more precise calculations.

Looking ahead, Stander has prioritised broadening the app’s availability. He intends to launch Grocify on the Apple App Store before the end of March 2026 and expects a smooth approval process given the app’s existing technical framework.

The idea for Grocify emerged from an everyday conversation. As Stander previously told MyBroadband, the concept developed after his girlfriend’s mother expressed frustration at how difficult it was to compare grocery prices without checking multiple apps or websites. That observation ultimately laid the foundation for the platform.

By simplifying access to real-time pricing and enabling informed purchasing decisions, Grocify offers practical support to households navigating rising living costs.

The app is available for download here.

In a climate where grocery prices continue to strain household budgets, Grocify provides a timely, consumer-focused solution. By consolidating location-based pricing from major retailers — Checkers, Pick n Pay, Spar, Woolworths, and Shoprite — into a single, free mobile platform, it allows shoppers to make cost-conscious decisions quickly and efficiently.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know below.

Be sure to read:

Capitec Responds: Women Arrested After Bringing Body Into Stanger Bank