MaiPantry — Frequently Asked Questions
MaiPantry helps Australians spend less on groceries by comparing prices across the major supermarkets, planning meals into a priced shopping list, and working out the cheapest way to shop. Here are the questions we're asked most. Can't find yours? Email hello@maipantry.com.au.
The basics
What is MaiPantry?
MaiPantry compares grocery prices across major Australian retailers — Coles, Woolworths, IGA, ALDI and more — so you can see who is cheapest before you shop. You can build a shopping list, plan meals, track prices and find the best-value basket, Australia-wide.
Which stores does it cover?
MaiPantry tracks national retailers including Coles, Woolworths, IGA, ALDI and Spudshed. Prices are collected from each retailer's public online catalogue and apply to your nearest branch of each chain. We are independent and not affiliated with any retailer.
Is it only for one state?
No — MaiPantry is Australia-wide. Set your home location in Settings so the app shows the retailers and branches near you, and you can plan a shop anywhere you travel.
How much does it cost?
The core of MaiPantry is free. There's an optional subscription, MaiPantry Pro, that unlocks deeper tools — see the next section.
Free vs Pro
What's free?
The core of MaiPantry is free: comparing live prices across every supported supermarket, unlimited shopping lists, joining and sharing lists, browsing the full catalogue, searching products, seeing the current deals, and recording your purchase history.
What do I get with Pro?
MaiPantry Pro unlocks the meal planner, the cheapest-trip planner (the best basket across stores), price tracking with history charts, per-item cheapest sorting, spending insights, and reusable list templates. Subscriptions are billed through the App Store or Google Play, and you can cancel anytime from your store account settings.
Prices, specials and matching
How does price matching work?
When you add a product, MaiPantry links it to the equivalent item at other retailers by brand, size and product type, then shows each store's current price so you can compare like-for-like.
What are "similar products"?
If an exact match isn't stocked at a store, MaiPantry suggests similar products — same category and size, often a different brand — so you still have a comparable option and can swap to the cheaper one.
How are specials and multi-buys handled?
Current specials are reflected in the price you see. Multi-buy offers (for example "2 for $5") are converted to a per-unit effective price so comparisons stay fair across stores.
How can I tell if a discount is actually a good deal?
Two quick checks. First, look at the unit price (dollars per 100g or per litre) rather than the shelf price, so you're comparing like-for-like. Second, a big "was" price only means a real saving if the product was genuinely sold at that price for a decent stretch — not just briefly before the sale. Comparing across stores and looking at a product's recent prices is the fastest way to spot a genuine bargain from a dressed-up one.
How fresh are the prices?
Catalogues are refreshed regularly and the app downloads updates in the background. To pull the latest immediately, go to Settings → Data → Resync catalogue. If the network is unavailable, your last downloaded catalogue is kept so the app still works offline.
Why might a price look out of date or wrong?
Retailers change prices throughout the week and regional pricing can vary. Tap Resync to refresh, and if something still looks wrong you can flag it from the product page or send us feedback. Always confirm the price in-store or on the retailer's own website before you rely on it.
Meal planning and trips
What is a trip?
A trip takes your shopping list and works out the cheapest way to buy everything — either all at one store or split across a few nearby stores — so you can see the total saving before you leave home.
How does meal planning work?
Pick the meals you want for the week and MaiPantry turns them into one combined shopping list, already priced across your local supermarkets, with pantry items you already have taken into account.
Lists and sharing
How do shared lists work?
Create a list and share its code with family or housemates. Everyone on the list sees the same items in real time and can tick things off as they shop. Joining and sharing lists is free.
Data, images and independence
Where does your price data come from?
Prices, specials and product details are collected from each retailer's publicly available online catalogue. They can vary by location, state or individual store and may not always reflect real-time conditions, so treat them as a guide and confirm in-store or on the retailer's website.
Where do the product images come from?
Product photos shown in MaiPantry come from open, redistributable sources — chiefly Open Food Facts and Wikimedia Commons (both Creative Commons licensed), our own photography, and images contributed for review. We deliberately don't republish retailers' own product photography. Where we don't have a suitable open image yet, the app shows a simple category tile instead.
Are you affiliated with Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, IGA or Spudshed?
No. MaiPantry is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Woolworths Group Limited, Coles Group Limited, ALDI Stores, Metcash/IGA, Spudshed or any other retailer. All retailer names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used only to identify where a price applies.
What about my privacy?
MaiPantry doesn't require an account. Your lists, purchase history and settings live on your device. A random device ID is used only to sync shared lists and to attribute feedback — it isn't tied to your name or email. See our Privacy Policy for the full detail.
Still need help?
Email hello@maipantry.com.au and we'll get back to you. You can also send feedback or flag a wrong price directly from the app.