The best calorie counter app is the one that makes logging quick enough to keep doing: barcode scanning, a large food database, photo logging or detailed nutrient tracking. Check how it handles serving sizes and what the free version includes. Ten apps follow in no particular order, then tips for logging accurately.
A calorie counter's only as useful as the entries you put into it. Most people stop logging not because the app's wrong, but because finding each food takes too long, so the speed of logging matters more than any chart it can draw.
The ten apps below are alphabetical and in no particular order, from widely used food diaries to small nutrition trackers. Each description comes from the app's own website, re-checked today. This page covers features only, not health or diet advice; for that, speak to your GP or a registered dietitian.
Calorie counter apps in one table
Yes in the free plan column means the app's own site describes a free version or free sign-up, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Free versions usually include logging, with extra tools in an upgrade.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| CalorieKing | Calorie counter and journal | A free counter with a food database | Yes |
| Cronometer | Nutrition tracker | Detailed nutrient logging on a free tier | Yes |
| FatSecret | Food and macro tracker | Free food and calorie logging | Yes |
| Foodnoms | Apple nutrition tracker | Apple users logging macros | Yes |
| Lose It! | Calorie counter | Quick logging by snap or scan | Yes |
| MacroFactor | Macro tracker app | Data-minded macro tracking | Trial only |
| MyFitnessPal | Calorie counter and food diary | A widely used food diary with a free tier | Yes |
| MyNetDiary | Calorie counter app | Verified foods and free tracking | Yes |
| Nutracheck | UK calorie counting app | UK foods with barcode scanning | Trial only |
| SnapCalorie | Photo calorie tracker | Logging meals by photo or voice | Yes |
Ten calorie counting apps
CalorieKing
Best for: Anyone who wants a free calorie counter and exercise journal backed by a food database, on the web and iOS.
Cronometer
Best for: Detail lovers who want nutrient logging from lab-analysed food data, with barcode scanning in the free version.
FatSecret
Best for: Free-tier seekers who want to log food, calories and macros with essential tools free and a Premium tier for extras.
Foodnoms
Best for: Apple users who want a native nutrition and macro tracker across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, free to start.
Lose It!
Best for: Beginners who want to log meals by snapping, scanning or searching foods, with free sign-up and Premium as an upgrade.
MacroFactor
Best for: Data-minded trackers who want a macro tracker app, tried first through a free trial of its nutrition app.
MyFitnessPal
Best for: People who want a widely used calorie counter with a free tier, plus a seven-day trial of Premium tools.
MyNetDiary
Best for: Label readers who want a free calorie counter built on staff-verified foods with many nutrient fields.
Nutracheck
Best for: UK users who want a calorie counting app with a large database of UK foods and barcode scanning, tried free for seven days.
SnapCalorie
Best for: People who log meals with a photo or voice note, with core features free and no credit card required.
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Read the serving line before you log anything
The most common logging slip is serving size. The FDA's guide to the Nutrition Facts label explains that the calories shown are per serving, so if a package holds four servings and you eat the whole thing, you've had four times the calories listed on the label.
Calorie counter apps log by serving too, so it's worth checking how yours handles it. When you scan a barcode, look at the serving the app picks and change it to what you ate. For packets with several servings, logging the number of servings, not just one, keeps your diary accurate.
Setting up a calorie counter in six steps
- Decide what you want to track: calories only, or macros and nutrients as well.
- Check the food database has the brands and shops you use, especially outside the US.
- Scan a few barcodes from your cupboard to test how quickly entries appear.
- Save your regular breakfasts and lunches as meals so you can log them in one tap.
- Set a reminder at mealtimes until logging becomes a habit.
- Look at the free version's limits before you start any trial.
Logging styles compared
- Barcode scanning: quick for packaged food, as long as you check the serving.
- Database search: useful for fresh food and home cooking.
- Photo or voice logging: the quickest option when you're eating out.
- Detailed nutrient tracking: for people who want vitamins and minerals as well as calories.
Small habits that make logging easier
- Log as you go. Recalling a whole day at bedtime is where entries go missing.
- Weigh once, estimate later. Weighing a usual portion a few times trains your eye.
- Batch your recipes. Enter a home-cooked recipe once and log portions from it.
If a demanding job makes all this feel like one more thing, my piece on staying fit when work is full on has simple routines for long days, and this starter kit for setting personal goals helps you decide what you're tracking for.
Do you make a calorie counter app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on calorie counter apps
Choose the app that's quickest for the way you eat. If most of your food comes in packets, barcode scanning matters most; if you cook from scratch, look for recipe entry; if you eat out a lot, photo logging saves time.
Start on a free version and log every day for two weeks before you look at the extras. Always check serving sizes when you scan. And if you have a medical condition or specific dietary needs, use the app alongside advice from your GP or a dietitian, not instead of it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free calorie counter app?
Several apps here offer free versions with logging and barcode scanning. Check what each free tier includes before you commit.
How accurate are calorie counter apps?
They're only as accurate as the entries. Check serving sizes and pick verified foods where the app offers them.
Do calorie counter apps scan barcodes?
Many do, including some on their free versions. Always check the serving size the app picks after a scan.
Can I track macros as well as calories?
Yes. Several apps track protein, carbohydrate and fat, and some go further into vitamins and minerals.
Are there calorie counter apps for UK foods?
Yes. At least one app here focuses on UK foods, and you can check any app's database for the brands you buy.
What does per serving mean on a food label?
The FDA explains that label calories are for one serving, so a package with several servings holds more than the number shown.
