We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproducts. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process . If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Calorie counter apps make logging food and activity quick and easy. They also can give you insight into lifestyle habits, nutrient quality, meal timing, and how often you’re meeting your daily goals. Plus, these apps replace the old-school paper and pencil method of logging calories, which can be more difficult to maintain. The best calorie counter apps are designed with extensive food databases, barcodes for quick scanning, calorie and nutrient tracking tools, recipe ideas, and meal plans. Some apps are free to download and use, while others require a paid subscription to access premium features. Many food and fitness apps allow you to log and track exercise, but this is not a requirement to be a calorie counter app. With that in mind, these are the best calorie counter apps. Consult with a doctor or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet. There is much more to a healthy eating pattern than counting calories, and trying to eat fewer calories can even lead to weight gain by lowering metabolism and increasing cravings for more calorie-laden foods. Diets should not necessarily be measured by weight loss or weight gain, but by their impact on overall health, including resistance to disease, amount of energy, and intake of nutrients. Best Calorie Counter Apps Best Calorie Counter Apps Final Verdict Calorie Counter Apps vs. Nutrition Apps Frequently Asked Questions Methodology Key Specs Price: $4.17 monthly Free version available: Yes Platform: Android, iOS Why We Chose It: Lifesum is our pick for best overall calorie counter app because of its focus on healthy eating, the value of high-quality foods, and an easy-to-use calorie tracker. Pros Combines calorie counting with healthy eating Includes barcode scanner and picture recognition Logs and tracks calories, macros, water, and exercise Daily food rating on goals Cons Paid subscription required for premium features like meal plans Can only import and export data to and from Apple Health Does not include coaching or community support Lifesum is also one of our favorite best diet apps because of its flexibility, ease of use, integrated platforms, and motivational components. With Lifesum, you’ll not only enjoy a simple and quick way to count calories, but you’ll also learn how to eat healthier, plan meals, understand the nutrient quality of different foods, and more. If you’re just getting started, you can opt for the app’s kick-starter three-week weight loss program, during which you’ll get pre-planned meals, easy five-ingredient recipes, shopping lists, and support for as little as $4.17. From there, you can continue with another Lifesum plan or revert to the free version and simply count calories and track nutrients on your own. Lifesum’s calorie counter feature includes an impressive food database and a barcode scanner for easy logging. Lifesum also supports macronutrient and net carb tracking, so if you need to count carbs on a keto diet, Lifesum will work for you. No matter what you track, Lifesum gives you daily reports and a Life Score™ so you always know how you’re doing. Key Specs Price: $59.99 annually or $8.99 monthly Free version available: Yes Platform: Android, iOS Why We Chose It: We chose MyNetDiary as the best for specific types of eating styles, because it allows you to select from calorie-counting, vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, and keto eating patterns. Pros Easily logs and tracks calories, meals, exercise, and nutrients Includes barcode scanner Offers eating pattern options such as keto, vegan, macros Includes weekly target tracker Connects with Apple Watch, Garmin, Google Fit, Samsung, Fitbit, and Withings Cons Limited activity options Emphasis on food tracking for weight loss Advanced tracking options require premium subscription If you want to do a little more than just count calories, you can track all of your nutrients specific to any diet with MyNetDiary. In addition to a basic calorie counter tool, MyNetDiary allows you to set a focus, such as macros, paleo, or keto. First, you set your targets and plan by answering a few questions that MyNetDiary uses to create your daily calorie budget. You also get to choose your desired weekly weight loss rate, macronutrient intake, and target weight loss completion date. Then, you can start logging food in the app (pro tip: Log ahead of time to better adhere to your day’s meals and save time during the workday). In addition to its great calorie counting features, MyNetDiary also boasts extreme connectivity: You can connect the app to products from Fitbit, Apple Watch, Withings, Garmin, Google Fit, and Samsung. Key Specs Price: $39.99 annually Free version available: Yes Platform: Android, iOS Why We Chose It: Lose It! took the top spot for weight loss because of its large database of food, focus on calorie counting, and community support. Pros User-friendly interface Free version is enough to get started Large database of foods and restaurant items Includes barcode scanner Cons Paid subscription required for premium features Encourages daily weigh-ins Some calorie counts are inaccurate Overall, Lose It! is a great weight loss app, largely because it provides such a simple way to log and count calories. Its four main features—goal-setting, food and exercise tracking, app and device integration, and community—make this app an easy addition to any health efforts you’re currently pursuing. Lose It! has a food database boasting more than 27 million food products, from produce topackaged foods to restaurant meals. You can also create your own recipes to quickly log calories in one touch for recipes you eat often. For example, if you eat two eggs and two pieces of whole-wheat toast every morning, you can create a recipe and log the entire meal at once, rather than logging the individual items each morning. On top of that, you can use the app’s barcode scanner or Snap It feature, which allows you to log food via photos (did you know that logging your food with photos helps you become even more aware of your eating habits?) To keep you on track with your goals, Lose It! provides weekly and monthly reports of your calorie and nutrient intake, as well as graphs to show your weight loss over time. Key Specs Price: $3.33/month, billed annually Free version available: Yes Platform: Android, iOS, web Why We Chose It: If you’re following a keto lifestyle, then Carb Manager is an excellent way to log and count calories and other macronutrients. Pros Easy-to-use macro calculator Low-carb recipes and meal plans included Tracks markers like body measurements and weight Cons Focuses on the keto diet Free version has minimal features Might hit a limit for entering food on free version Part of following the keto diet is tracking your nutrients, specifically carbohydrates. If you’re already tracking nutrients, you’re inherently also tracking calories—why not make it easier and way more fun with Carb Manager, one of the best tracking apps for keto? Carb Manager makes it easy to stay in ketosis and maintain or lose weight with three different calculators: A keto calculator allows you to track carbs and net carbs; a nutrient calculator allows you to track protein, fats, and other nutrients; a calorie calculator brings it all together and shows you your total food consumption for the day. Carb Manager also has plenty of keto-friendly recipes for when you’re in a pinch for ideas, as well as meal plans and shopping lists to make your life easier. Key Specs Price: Free with ads; Ad-free: $11.99 annually, $3.99 quarterly, or $1.49 monthly Free version available: Yes Platform: iOS Why We Chose It: ControlMyWeight is all about logging and counting calories, earning it our top spot for simplicity. Pros Verified food data Specific focus on calories Free with ads Cons Only for Apple iPhone and iPad No export or print function within app Minimal features other than calorie tracking ControlMyWeight is the app for anyone who just wants to count calories—and that’s it. There’s beauty in simplicity, and that shows with ControlMyWeight. When you open the app, you’ll find a visually appealing, easy-to-navigate interface. The number of features on ControlMyWeight doesn’t compare to most of the other calorie counter apps on this list, but that’s exactly the point. If you do need a little help, ControlMyWeight still has your back: You can set up the app so that it sends you push notifications throughout the day, reminding you how many carbs, fats, and sugars you’ve eaten to help you stay on track. The app also features very simple weight charts so you can visualize your progress. Key Specs Price: $79.99 annually, $19.99 monthly Free version available: Yes Platform: Android, iOS, web Why We Chose It: MyFitnessPal earns the top spot for features. This app allows you to log and count calories, track exercise, view weight-loss progress, and connect with friends for support. Pros Largest food database available Includes barcode scanner Connects with over 50 other apps Tracks exercise and calories burned Free version is enough to get started Cons Free version does not have recipe suggestions User-generated foods with macros may be wrong Daily calories and weight prediction may be inaccurate Health and fitness advocates and professionals herald MyFitnessPal as one of the best healthy-living apps on the market. That’s with good reason: MyFitnessPal makes food logging and calorie counting easy with its simple interface and food database of more than 11 million food items (by far one of the largest available—most calorie counting apps have databases of 10 million or less). MyFitnessPal also has a barcode scanner that recognizes millions of food products; a restaurant logging feature with meals from popular restaurants; a recipe importer so you can import nutrition information from your own recipes; and, perhaps best of all, an automatic calorie counting feature that compiles your calorie intake from all the food you log. With MyFitnessPal, you can accurately track nutrients and count calories on any diet, thanks to the personalized diet profile and flexibility afforded by the app. To celebrate your success, check out the weight charts and nutrition insights. And don’t forget to upload progress photos! Key Specs Price: Free Free version available: Yes Platform: Android, iOS Why We Chose It: Budget-conscious calorie counters will enjoy this fast and easy calorie counting app from FatSecret. Pros Free version is all most users need Food diary for logging and tracking Large collection of recipes and nutritional info Exercise diary, weight chart, and journal Cons Paid version unlocks premium features like meal plans Focus is on food and calories more than physical activity Most of the calorie counter apps on this list have free versions and paid versions. If you are looking for a calorie counter app that’s 100% free and still contains all of the features you need for successful calorie counting, go with Calorie Counter by FatSecret. We covered this great app as one of our picks for best keto apps, but it also works as a calorie counter and food diary for any diet. Calorie Counter by FatSecret is fast, simple, and comprehensive: Enjoy a food diary, large food database, exercise diary, weight chart and journal, and a vast collection of healthy recipes to support your efforts. This app also features image recognition of food, making it easier than ever to log and track calories, as well as a unique diet calendar to visualize when you eat and burn the most calories. Calorie counting apps are a great tool to use when trying to lose weight, change eating habits, or track your macros. Although most apps come equipped with tools for logging and tracking food (and calories), some do a better job at keeping it simple and efficient. All of the apps we reviewed have a free version, but they also require a paid subscription to access premium features. That said, the free version of Lose It! and FatSecret are often enough for most people. If easy access and quick tracking top your list of must-haves, consider ControlMyWeight, which has a specific focus on calorie tracking. But if improving your eating habits while also counting calories is important, then download Lifesum, our overall pick for best calorie counter app. Calorie counter apps are designed to turn your smartphone into a food and activity calculator and tracker. With the ability to scan barcodes, snap pictures of popular food items, and quickly search thousands of items, calorie counter apps are changing the way people lose weight and maintain health. Nutrition apps—also referred to as macro tracking apps—are very similar to calorie counter apps. Like a calorie counter tool, nutrition apps give you one place to log and monitor calories and nutrients. Where they may differ is in the charts, graphs, and data they display. For example, a nutrition app may share more insight into the amount of protein or carbohydrates you’re consuming, whereas a calorie counter may be set up just to display a running tally of your daily calories. Many apps can count calories, but good ones should do more by offering a broader insight into overall nutritional health. Our top pick, Lifesum, focuses more broadly on healthy eating by emphasizing food quality and including features such as meal plans and shopping lists. This app and others also allow you to log foods with a barcode scanner. Many experts and studies point to counting calories as one of the best ways to lose weight. However, it's often more complex than that, and a sustainable plan should include a broader approach to diet and exercise, with a goal of losing no more than one or two pounds per week. By tracking the number of calories you’re consuming and burning, you can get motivated to hold yourself accountable and succeed in your weight loss goals. But any such plan still should start with a consultation with a doctor or registered dietitian.If you have any history of disordered eating, calorie counting could be dangerous. A calorie counter app is a program you can use on your mobile device to keep track of all the calories you consume and burn throughout the day. The main feature of calorie counter apps is the ability to record calories and nutritional information. But many calorie counter apps have other helpful tools such as activity trackers, barcode scanners, meal planners, support forums, workout videos, and the ability to sync with wearable trackers or other devices or apps. The best apps do the calculating for you. What you need to do is accurately enter the foods you eat. Many apps even have barcode scanners that allow you to scan packaged foods for quick calculations. It's still important to remember that not all calories are created equal. A healthy diet also needs to consider nutritional content, activity level, and more. Some calorie counter apps are free to download, but they may be limited in terms of functionality. In many cases, you can make in-app purchases to gain access to premium features, like personalized feedback, customization, and access to fitness videos. These costs can range from approximately $2 to $20 per month. To be considered for this list, the calorie counter apps must have a free version that provides enough features to make them helpful and worth using. We also considered the food database, and if it included a barcode scanner for quick entry. Apps that allow you to track calories from popular restaurants and grocery-store items were also given priority. Other features that helped in our reviews included recipe ideas, meal plans, and the ability to track exercise or other activities. And finally, we looked at several online reviews and customer ratings to gain insight into the daily use of the calorie counter apps. Best Online Exercise Classes of 2022 Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lucan SC, DiNicolantonio JJ. How calorie-focused thinking about obesity and related diseases may mislead and harm public health. An alternative.Public Health Nutr. 2015;18(4):571-581. doi:10.1017/S1368980014002559 Benton D, Young HA. Reducing calorie intake may not help you lose body weight. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2017;12(5):703-714. doi:10.1177/1745691617690878 Cena H, Calder PC. Defining a healthy diet: evidence for the role of contemporary dietary patterns in health and disease. Nutrients. 2020;12(2):334. doi:10.3390/nu12020334 Hartmann-Boyce J, Johns DJ, Jebb SA, Aveyard P; Behavioural Weight Management Review Group. Effect of behavioural techniques and delivery mode on effectiveness of weight management. Obes Rev. 2014;15(7):598-609. doi:10.1111/obr.12165The 8 Best Calorie Counter Apps of 2022
Important
Best Overall : Lifesum
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Best for Diet Support : MyNetDiary
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Best for Weight Loss : Lose It!
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Best for Keto : Carb Manager
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Best for Simplicity : ControlMyWeight
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Best With Lots of Features : MyFitnessPal
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Best Completely Free : Calorie Counter by FatSecret
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Final Verdict
Calorie Counter Apps vs. Nutrition Apps
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes a Good Calorie Counter App?
Can Counting Calories Help Me Lose Weight?
What Is a Calorie Counter App?
How Do I Calculate My Calorie Count?
How Much Do Calorie Counter Apps Cost?
Methodology
FAQs
Is there a better app than MyFitnessPal? ›
The best alternative is Cronometer, which is free. Other great apps like MyFitnessPal are Open Food Facts, LifeSum, FatSecret and Lose it!. MyFitnessPal alternatives are mainly Calorie Trackers but may also be Health Tools or Nutrition Trackers.
Is MyFitnessPal Free 2022? ›It is free to sign up and use but some features are reserved for their premium subscription. Launched in 2005, MyFitnessPal now has an estimated 200 million users and an average rating of 4.5/5 on Android and 4.7/5 on Apple.
Are calorie counters apps accurate? ›Likely no, according to experts. While consistent diet monitoring can help some people lose weight (maintaining that weight loss is a different story), actual calorie-tracking isn't as accurate as it might seem.
Which app is better lose it or MyFitnessPal? ›Food Database and Selection
MyFitnessPal has a better food and restaurant database than Lose It. It makes sense, they've been around for a long time and have a lot of users. Lose It is lacking in the restaurant calorie tracking.
- Best overall: MyFitnessPal.
- Best free features: Lose It!
- Best fully free: FatSecret.
- Best for specific diets: Cronometer.
- Best for weight loss: Noom.
- Best for building healthy habits: Lifesum.
- Best for diet quality: MyNetDiary.
- Best for simplicity: Calory.
Best free calorie counting app: Lose it!
With a detailed database of what you may be putting into your body, this app also works as a food diary with its barcode scanner. (Adding new foods also isn't a big task). On Lose It! you can check your fat loss journey through graphs and keep in touch with a community online.
Most often, MyFitnessPal grossly underestimates its users' calorie requirements. It doesn't take nearly enough variables into account. For example, it tells me I should be eating 2000 calories per day to maintain my weight, when in fact that number is upwards of 3000.
What happened to MyFitnessPal? ›In October 2020, the MyFitnessPal app changed hands once more and is now owned by the private equity firm Francisco Partners. Although MyFitnessPal remains one of the most popular health and fitness mobile apps, there's strong competition in this category and some users are looking for alternatives.
How much is MyFitnessPal per month? ›MyFitnessPal Price: Free vs Premium
MyFitnessPal has a free tier of service, plus a Premium membership. Premium costs $9.99 per month or $49.99 per year. With a free account, you can track food and calories, activity, weight, and a few other metrics.
MyFitnessPal. This top-rated weight loss app pairs your workouts with a nutrition plan. With a database of more than 14 million foods, a barcode scanner, food log, and 50 workouts, you get a 360-degree picture of your overall health.
Is it worth paying for MyFitnessPal? ›
Is Paid MyFitnessPal Worth It? Yes, upgrading to the paid MyFitnessPal version is definitely worth it if you want to take your health and fitness to the next level. The upgrade to premium will allow you to make tracking your food and exercise much easier, which is critical, especially for beginners.
What is the easiest way to count calories? ›One approach is to add up the number of calories per serving of all the foods that you eat, and then plan your menus accordingly. You can buy books that list calories per serving for many foods. In addition, the nutrition labels on all packaged foods and beverages provide calories per serving information.
Is MyFitnessPal calorie counter accurate? ›2) Its calculations aren't good (and must be modified)
After doing so, you'll be given calorie and macronutrient targets based on your answers. In 95% of cases, the app (A) overestimates calorie needs, because it overestimates calories burned from activity, and (B) underestimates protein needs.
A calorie deficit of 500 calories per day is effective for healthy and sustainable weight loss.
Is MyFitnessPal no longer free? ›The MyFitnessPal 101 and Mindful + Motivated plans are free for all members. All other plans can only be accessed under a Premium subscription.
How many calories should I be eating a day? ›Adult females need anywhere from 1,600 to 2,400 calories a day and adult males need anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day, according to the USDA's latest “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” report released in 2020.
Is there a calorie counter on iPhone? ›Several free apps available on iPhone and Android help people count calories, including: MyFitnessPal, which tracks calories and macro- and micronutrients, and also has free recipes and health articles. MyNetDiary, which tracks exercise, steps, water intake, and caloric intake by meal.
What is the best free app to track calories? ›- Best for Long-Term Weight Management: WW.
- Best for a Psychological Approach to Weight Management: Noom.
- Best for Building Healthier Habits: Lifesum.
- Best for Counting Macronutrients over Calories: Lumen.
- Best Free App: MyNetDiary.
- Best for Healthcare Professionals: Cronometer.
Your Apple Watch uses your personal information — such as your height, weight, gender, and age — to calculate how many calories you burn and more. To update your personal information, open the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap the My Watch tab, then tap Health > Health Details.
How long is Loseit app free? ›Lose It offers new users a 7 day free trial to check out everything Lose It has to offer. After this trial period you will be required to upgrade to a paid membership.
Is the premium version of MyFitnessPal worth it? ›
Is Paid MyFitnessPal Worth It? Yes, upgrading to the paid MyFitnessPal version is definitely worth it if you want to take your health and fitness to the next level. The upgrade to premium will allow you to make tracking your food and exercise much easier, which is critical, especially for beginners.
Which is better MyFitnessPal or Lifesum? ›MyFitnessPal is easily the better option if you're also interested in getting into shape and improving your fitness levels, as it offers a range of workouts, from circuits to HIIT and muscle workouts. While you can track your exercise on Lifesum, there are no workout routines on offer.
Which is better MyFitnessPal or Nutracheck? ›MyFitnessPal offers many of the same features as Nutracheck, but it's more US-focused. You can still choose whichever metrics and measurements you prefer though. They say they have 11 million foods in their database, but having more entries isn't necessarily a good thing.
What happened to MyFitnessPal? ›In October 2020, the MyFitnessPal app changed hands once more and is now owned by the private equity firm Francisco Partners. Although MyFitnessPal remains one of the most popular health and fitness mobile apps, there's strong competition in this category and some users are looking for alternatives.
What app is most like weight Watchers? ›- Cron-o-meter. Cron-o-meter is a free nutrition and fitness tracker that does a great job of breaking down macro and micronutrients. ...
- FatSecret. ...
- FitBit. ...
- Healthi formerly iTrackBites. ...
- MyFitnessPal. ...
- My Diet Coach. ...
- RiseUp + Recover. ...
- Spark People.
One approach is to add up the number of calories per serving of all the foods that you eat, and then plan your menus accordingly. You can buy books that list calories per serving for many foods. In addition, the nutrition labels on all packaged foods and beverages provide calories per serving information.
How much is MyFitnessPal per month? ›MyFitnessPal Price: Free vs Premium
MyFitnessPal has a free tier of service, plus a Premium membership. Premium costs $9.99 per month or $49.99 per year. With a free account, you can track food and calories, activity, weight, and a few other metrics.
MyFitnessPal is not a weight loss program like other apps, but a tool to use if you're more of a self-motivator. Their free program has just what you need to stay successful. The premium membership is available for $9.99 a month or $49.99 for the year.
Is MyFitnessPal no longer free? ›The MyFitnessPal 101 and Mindful + Motivated plans are free for all members. All other plans can only be accessed under a Premium subscription.
Is there a free version of Lifesum? ›Lifesum Pricing and Plans
You can use Lifesum for free with limitations or pay a subscription for a Premium membership that offers more features.
How much does Lifesum cost per month? ›
About Lifesum
You add your personal data, calorie intake (the app can also help calculate the calories depending on what your goals are) and sets distribution between carbs, protein and fat. There is a free version of the app and a premium from $3.75/Mon, I've only used the free version.
Is the number of calories burned accurate? If you choose automatic tracking and use an exercise tracker during your workout, the calorie count is as accurate as it can be with today's technology. The calorie count in the exercise list is an estimate of what the average person burn.
Can I use Nutracheck for free? ›At the end of the 7 days, if you don't wish to upgrade, you can continue to use the Nutracheck App free of charge as a Lite member. Lite membership gives you unlimited searches for foods, but you can only add 5 items a day to your diary.
How many calories should a woman eat? ›An ideal daily intake of calories varies depending on age, metabolism and levels of physical activity, among other things. Generally, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men.
How many calories do I have to eat to lose weight? ›One pound equals about 3,500 calories. If you consume 500 calories fewer than what your body uses to maintain weight daily, you'll lose 1 pound in a week. You can also increase the number of calories your body uses with more physical activity to create this caloric deficit.