Best pantry and 72-hour kit apps (2026): compared

Updated: October 25, 2026

Despendo vs BeaglePrep, Survikit, Pantry Check and KitchenPal: price, barcode scanner, days of food, 72-hour kit and which one fits what you need.

There are pantry apps, emergency apps and spreadsheets, and almost none do all three well. This guide puts Despendo, the app we make, next to four alternatives we found in stores and on official websites, and next to the classic spreadsheet. We tell you where each one wins, including the cases where Despendo is not what you need.

Transparency: we have a stake in this, so we only use what each app says on its own website or store listing, with a date. Last checked: October 25, 2026. Prices and features change; if you spot something out of date, email us and we will fix it. The other apps' names are their owners' trademarks, and we deliberately do not link to them: you can search for them yourself.

Quick summary: which app fits you

• You want everything in one place, shared with your partner or family, with days of food calculated: Despendo.
• You want to pay once and have it work with no account and no internet: BeaglePrep.
• You want an emergency app built for Spain (112, first aid, blackout mode) on iPhone, no account: Survikit.
• You only need an inventory and a shopping list on iPhone or iPad: Pantry Check.
• Your thing is daily cooking, recipes and meal planning: KitchenPal.
• You have few items and a zero budget: a spreadsheet.

Price, platform and language

Features

"Not stated" means we did not find it on the app's website or store listing; it is not the same as "it does not have it".

What it costs over 3 years

If price is the only thing you look at, BeaglePrep wins in the long run with its one-time payment. Despendo costs less than most subscriptions, but it is a subscription, and it is worth saying so plainly.

What makes Despendo different

1. Days of food that cannot be fooled. A calculator that only divides calories would tell you 25 kg of sugar is almost two months of food. Despendo caps each food group, inspired by WHO guidance on sugars and fats and by classic long-term storage lists, and shows you both numbers. We explain it in how days of food are calculated.
2. Pantry, water and 72-hour kit in one place. The app works out your water per person, has the kit checklist and suggests what to buy to reach your goal. You can try the free calculators with no account first.
3. A shared household and alerts where you already are. The family group lets another person see and edit the same pantry, and alerts and the weekly summary arrive by email or Telegram.
4. Built in Spanish and for Latin America, with a full English version.
5. Your health profile, encrypted. Allergies, medications and blood type are stored encrypted with AES-256 on the server. We state in this article that it is not end-to-end encryption.

When Despendo is not for you

• You need it to work offline. Despendo keeps your data in the cloud and needs a connection. If opening your inventory during a long blackout matters, BeaglePrep and Survikit keep everything on the phone.
• You do not want to create an account. Despendo asks for an email; BeaglePrep and Survikit do not.
• You prefer to pay once. Despendo is a $4.99 yearly subscription.
• You want a native app-store app. Despendo installs as a web app from your browser, not yet from the App Store or Google Play.
• You want to call 112 and learn first aid from the app. That is what Survikit does; Despendo does not.

What about the spreadsheet?

It is still the most used tool, and it works. What it does not do is warn you when something is about to expire, scan a barcode or calculate your days of food. If you already have one, do not start over: you can import it into Despendo with a CSV file and use our free template.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best app to organize a pantry?

It depends on what you need. For a simple inventory on iPhone, Pantry Check or KitchenPal; for emergency preparedness with a one-time payment, BeaglePrep; for emergencies in Spain with no account, Survikit; and to have your pantry, days of food, 72-hour kit and a shared household in one place, Despendo.

Does Despendo work offline?

No. Despendo keeps your information in the cloud so it can be shared with your family group and send you alerts, so it needs a connection. If you need a fully offline inventory, BeaglePrep and Survikit keep it on the phone.

How much does Despendo cost?

$4.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial and no card. If someone you invited pays their first year, you get a free year (the reward arrives 30 days after that payment).

Can I bring my spreadsheet into Despendo?

Yes. You can import a CSV file with your products, quantities and expiration dates. See the guide to importing your spreadsheet.

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Despendo is an independent app. This guide is general information: adapt it to your family, climate and medical needs, and always follow local authorities' instructions.