The best keto app makes it easy to see your carbs at a glance, log meals quickly and find recipes you'll enjoy cooking. Some apps are trackers first, some are recipe collections and some combine keto with fasting or coaching. Nine apps follow in no particular order.
Keto lives or dies on the details: carbs hide in sauces, snacks and drinks, and guessing rarely works. A good app takes the maths away so you can focus on cooking and eating well.
The nine apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from big nutrition trackers to keto-only apps with recipes and plans. Each description comes from the app's own App Store listing, re-checked this week. My ChatGPT prompts for meal prep and a weekly shopping list can help turn any plan into a shopping list.
Keto apps at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own store listing or site describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many free apps carry ads or sell optional upgrades.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carb Manager | Carb tracker | Counting carbs and macros | Yes |
| Cronometer | Nutrition tracker | Micronutrient detail | Yes |
| Keto Diet App & Recipes | Recipe guide | Learning keto basics | Yes |
| Keto Diet App: Carb Tracker | Plan and tracker | Low-carb recipes | Yes |
| KetoDiet | Carb tracker | Fasting and meal plans | Yes |
| Lose It! | Food tracker | Simple food logging | Yes |
| MyFitnessPal | Food tracker | A huge food database | Yes |
| Senza | Keto coach | Coaching and progress | Yes |
| Total Keto Diet | Recipe and tracker | Recipes and meal plans | Yes |
Nine keto apps
Carb Manager
Best for: Keto followers who want a well-known tracker for net carbs, macros and meals in one place.
Cronometer
Best for: Detail lovers who want vitamins and minerals tracked as well as carbs, fat and protein.
Keto Diet App & Recipes
Best for: Newcomers who want a guide to how keto works plus recipes sorted by meal and occasion.
Keto Diet App: Carb Tracker
Best for: Cooks who want thousands of low-carb recipes and a macro tracker in the same app.
KetoDiet
Best for: People combining keto with intermittent fasting who want meal plans and fasting timers together.
Lose It!
Best for: Trackers who want quick logging and goal setting, with low-carb tracking as one option.
MyFitnessPal
Best for: Anyone who wants a big food database and a long-established tracker that many people already use.
Senza
Best for: Keto beginners who want a coach-style app tracking nutrition, sleep and mood alongside meals.
Total Keto Diet
Best for: Home cooks who want lots of keto recipes, meal plans and shopping lists to make the week easier.
Why keto means reading grams, not percentages
The FDA's Daily Value for total carbohydrate on Nutrition Facts labels is 275 grams.
What that means for you: the percent Daily Value on a label is based on that general amount, not on a low-carb plan. On keto, read the grams of carbohydrate and fibre per serving rather than the percentage, or let your app do the counting. This guide is general information, not medical advice, so talk to your doctor or midwife about your own situation.
Tracker, recipe app or coach?
Trackers count net carbs, macros and calories as you log food, often with barcode scanning and large food databases. Recipe apps give you meals that fit your plan, with meal plans and shopping lists. Coaching apps add guidance, progress tracking and sometimes fasting timers.
If you're new, a recipe app with a simple tracker takes the guesswork out of the first weeks. If you're experienced, a detailed tracker helps you fine-tune.
Starting keto with an app
- Talk to your doctor first if you have a health condition or take medication.
- Set your daily carb target in the app.
- Log everything for the first two weeks, including drinks.
- Plan meals ahead so you're not caught out.
- Batch cook a few recipes you enjoy.
- Review your week and adjust what didn't work.
Keto-friendly kitchen basics
- Eggs. Quick, flexible and filling.
- Leafy greens. Low in carbs and full of fibre.
- Good fats. Olive oil, avocado and nuts in sensible amounts.
- Prepped protein. Cooked chicken or fish ready for busy days.
Eating out on keto
Restaurants are where many keto plans wobble. Sauces, breadcrumbs and side dishes can add carbs you don't see on the menu.
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It helps to check the menu before you go, ask for vegetables instead of chips or rice and keep sauces on the side. Most kitchens are happy to help if you ask simply.
Log the meal as best you can afterwards and move on. One estimate won't undo a good week.
Tracking without obsessing
Tracking every bite can be useful at the start, when you're learning where carbs hide. Over time, many people find they can track less once they know their regular meals.
If logging starts to feel stressful, try tracking only new foods or only dinners for a while. Your app will still be there for the days you need detail.
Pay attention to how you feel, not just the numbers. Energy, sleep and how you enjoy your food matter as much as any chart.
And if you're cooking for a family who isn't following keto, look for recipes everyone can share with a simple swap on the side. It's far easier than cooking two separate dinners every night.
Do you make a keto app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a keto app
Choose the app that makes logging quickest for you, because the best plan falls apart if tracking feels like a chore. Recipes you'll cook again matter more than a huge database.
Be kind to yourself on off days and look at your week as a whole. For more free guides, browse my free resources library.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best keto app?
One that makes logging carbs quick and gives you recipes you enjoy, whether it's a tracker, recipe app or coach.
Do I need an app for keto?
Not strictly, but tracking carbs by hand is hard, so an app makes it easier to stay on plan.
What is the Daily Value for carbohydrate?
The FDA's Daily Value for total carbohydrate on Nutrition Facts labels is 275 grams.
Are keto apps free?
All apps here are free downloads, often with a free trial or optional upgrades.
Can keto apps scan barcodes?
Some trackers here include barcode scanning to log packaged foods quickly.
Is keto safe for everyone?
Not necessarily. Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you have a health condition.
