NFC tags, if you want them
Write a list to any standard sticker and put it on the box. Tap to open that list. Set up an NFC Action and the tap can update an item for you, like taking one off a count. There's a tool to wipe a tag so you can reuse it.
iPhone app · Lists · Inventory · NFC
A list and inventory app with NFC superpowers.
Lists and home inventory for iPhone. NFC tags optional.
Works with standard NFC stickers, about $0.25 each. Or skip them.
On a computer? Point your iPhone camera at this code to download Intellist.
- 01Free to download
- 02Works offline, syncs later
- 03Any standard NFC tag
- 04Share with the people you choose
- 05Reads tags on iPhone 7 and later
The problem
Your lists live on your phone. Your stuff lives in a bin in the garage.
That gap is why lists go stale. A photo of a box is wrong the moment you take something out. A marker label on a tote says “Misc.” Intellist ties each list to the place it describes, so checking it or fixing it takes a tap, not a trip through your camera roll.
Checklists and inventories
Groceries, packing, to-dos, or a count of everything on a shelf. Checked items drop to the bottom. Uncheck them all at once to reuse a list.
Organized by room
Kitchen, garage, attic, basement. Browse to where a thing actually is instead of scrolling one long list.
Details on every item
Quantities, notes, photos, and dollar values. Useful for the pantry, and for the insurance claim you hope you never file.
Shared, on your terms
Share lists, actions, and automations. Make Groups so the family sees the pantry and the roommates don't.
Automations
The grocery list that writes itself.
Set a rule once. When the pantry count drops below the number you pick, the item lands on your shopping list. Nobody has to remember to write down eggs.
WhenEggs in Pantry drops below 2
Thenadd Eggs to Groceries
Where it earns its keep
Built for how you actually live.
01 · Kitchen & pantry
Know what’s in the pantry without getting up.
Track counts in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. Let automations build the shopping list as you use things up.
02 · Storage & garage
Stop opening every tote to find one thing.
Tag the bins, search across all of them at once, and know which box the power drill is in before you pull the stack down.
03 · Checklists
Lists you can use again next week.
Packing lists, chores, groceries. Check things off, uncheck all with one tap, and share with whoever’s coming along.
How it works
Set up in the time it takes to unpack one box.
Don't want tags? Skip step three. The app works fully without NFC. Tags just make opening one specific container faster.
- 01
Get the app
Download Intellist free from the App Store.
- 02
Make your lists
One per bin, shelf, or storage spot you want to keep track of.
- 03
Link a tagOptional
Write the list to a standard NFC sticker and put it on the container.
- 04
Tap and go
Tap the tag to see and update what’s inside. Changes made offline sync later.
What is Intellist?
Intellist is a free iPhone app for making lists and managing home inventory. It combines flexible checklists (shopping lists, to-do lists) with detailed inventory tracking for your pantry, storage boxes, freezer, garage, and more. It also supports NFC tags — tap your phone on a tag to instantly see what's inside any container.
Do I need NFC tags to use Intellist?
No. NFC tags are completely optional. Everything in Intellist works without them. You can search for items, browse by room, and manage all your lists directly in the app. NFC tags just add a faster, more physical way to access a specific container's contents.
Is Intellist free?
Intellist is free to download and the core app works without a subscription — you get up to 3 lists, unlimited items per list, and NFC tag scanning. A Pro subscription unlocks unlimited lists, smart automations, and group sharing, starting at $4.99/month for individuals or $9.99/month for families (annual plans available). Every Pro subscription includes a free 2-week trial.
What NFC tags work with Intellist?
Intellist works with any standard NFC tag. We recommend NTAG215 or NTAG216 tags, which cost about $0.15–$0.50 each. You can find them on Amazon and other retailers. Just stick them on your boxes, bins, shelves, or containers.
What iPhones support NFC with Intellist?
iPhone 7 and later can read NFC tags. iPhone XS and later can both read and write NFC tags, which is needed to set up tags with Intellist.
Can I share lists with my family?
Yes. Intellist includes family sharing so household members can all see where things are stored and what needs restocking. Everyone stays on the same page.
How is Intellist different from Sortly?
Sortly is designed for businesses and starts at $49/month. It uses QR codes and barcodes. Intellist is free to download, designed for home use, and uses NFC tags for instant tap-to-view access. Premium plans start at $4.99/month — a fraction of Sortly's $49/month. If you're organizing your home rather than managing commercial inventory, Intellist is the better fit. See the full comparison.
How do the smart automations work?
You can set up automations so that when an item's quantity drops below a threshold in your inventory, it gets automatically added to a shopping list. For example, when you're down to your last carton of eggs, Intellist can add eggs to your shopping list automatically.
Why not just take a photo of what's in a box?
Photos go stale the moment you add or remove something. Intellist keeps a live, searchable inventory you can update in seconds, search across every container at once, and share with your family. With NFC tags, checking a box's contents is faster than finding the right photo in your camera roll.
From the blog
Guides for lists that stay current.
Use Claude With Your Lists and Home Inventory: The Intellist Connector
The slowest part of any inventory is typing it in. Intellist now connects to Claude, so you can photograph an open box and have Claude write its list, ask which bin the camping lantern is in, or update a count mid-conversation. Here’s what it does, how to set it up, and what it can’t do yet.
Moving Inventory App: Track What’s in Every Box, and What the Movers’ List Misses (2026)
If you hire movers, they make an inventory. It tells you there were 64 cartons and one of them was dented. It does not tell you which one has the router. Here’s the inventory you keep yourself, and how to build it without slowing down packing.
House Fire Inventory List: How to Rebuild What You Owned for Your Claim (2026)
Most home inventory advice assumes the fire hasn’t happened yet. This one is for after: how to rebuild a list of everything you owned, with values, when there was no list to begin with.
Put a tag on one box tonight.
Intellist is free on the App Store for iPhone.
Download free on the App StoreOn a computer? Point your iPhone camera at this code to download Intellist.