10 Best Calorie-Counting Apps, According to Nutritionists
Use your phone to help you safely work toward long-term, successful weight loss.
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Logging your meals and snacks via a food tracker app can be an effective tool when it comes to safe weight loss and management. It can also help you understand more about the foods you're putting into your body and which vitamins, minerals and nutrients they provide. The best calorie-counting apps make logging your food intake and reaching your goals more attainable, but they also acknowledge that there's more to your calorie intake than just numbers.
Perhaps you’ll notice on the days you skip a meal that you feel a little foggy and not totally on your game. Maybe you're at risk of type 2 diabetes or hypertension, and you'll realize that you're consuming more sugar or sodium than you thought your were on the weekends. The mere act of writing down or taking a picture of the food you eat can help you master mindful eating by becoming more invested in what you put in your body.
Calorie-counting apps can also encourage movement and help you create healthier habits in general. "Calorie counting apps are ideal for people looking to identify certain eating patterns and make smarter choices when it comes to healthy eating for weight management,” says Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., NASM-CPT, the director of the Nutrition Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Many of these apps also encourage you to track hydration and physical activity, which can promote an overall healthy lifestyle."
Our top picks:
With so many calorie-counting options out there, choosing the right one for you can be challenging. That's why our team of health experts and registered dietitians put together this list of their favorite calorie-tracking apps (including free options!). Below, learn more about our top picks and how we selected the best calorie-counting apps, plus tips on choosing the right one for you and your lifestyle. Just take note: Calorie requirements for weight maintenance or weight loss vary from person to person based on multiple factors, including gender, age, height and how physically active you are.
Interested in downloading more apps to help support your health? Check out our top picks for the best sleep apps, the best workout apps and the best weight loss apps.
Editors' note: We want to acknowledge that weight loss, health and body image are complex subjects — before deciding to go on a diet, we invite you to gain a broader perspective by reading our investigation into the hazards of diet culture.
Pros
- Largest food database of all the apps on our list
- Easy to log restaurant items
Cons
- Barcode scanner is no longer part of the free version
With more than 200 million users and over 18 million foods in its database, some nutritionists call MyFitnessPal the ultimate diet and fitness tracker.
The app makes it easy to log everything you eat, and you won't waste time trying to do the math on portion sizes and protein content. It can even remember your favorite homemade dishes, so on Taco Tuesday, you don't have to reenter the ingredients of your killer guac. The app can also calculate the calories of recipes uploaded from other websites.
While basic membership is free, the premium membership offers upgrades like a barcode scanner (which used to be part of the free subscription), a new intermittent fasting guide, custom macro tracking and an ad-free experience. But if the paid version isn't in your budget, the app also offers a lot of great features for free. Just take note that while this app has a large food database, many dishes have been added by individual users and entries are not verified for accuracy, which can leave room for error.
Pros
- Free version includes lots of features
- Large database of foods
Cons
- Need to upgrade to paid version if you want to count macronutrients
With more than 18 million members worldwide and a high user rating (4.8 out of 5 on Apple's App Store, and 4.7 out of 5 on Google Play), MyNetDiary labels itself as a digital diet "assistant" for weight loss.
The app contains more than 1,470,000 verified foods in its database and claims to require fewer steps than other apps to log foods. After assessing for weight, age and height, the app provides users with a daily calorie budget and the choice of either a weekly weight-loss rate or a target date. Whichever choice is selected, users can customize their dashboards to suit their needs. One service offered is an easy-to-understand graph that breaks down macronutrient targets. (Macronutrient percentages, however, are available only on the paid version.)
The app also provides users with personalized tips and advice, such as checking in to see if hydration needs are being met. You can opt for the free subscription service, which has ads and pop-ups, or upgrade to the premium service, which offers an ad-free experience and access to recipes for multiple food regimens, including low-carb, vegan, Mediterranean and high-protein diets, among others.
Compatible with Apple Watches, Fitbit, Garmin and other wearable trackers, you'll be able to see your daily intake on your wrist for a quick reminder.
Pros
- Strong community support
- Scientific, holistic approach
- Easy-to-use barcode scanner
Cons
- Membership is pricey
- Points-based system may be tedious for some
WW (formerly Weight Watchers) has nearly 5 million members and is considered by many to be the gold standard of weight management. With science being a driving factor behind everything the company does, its approach to nutrition and health involves four pillars of wellness that can influence weight and overall health: food, activity, mindset and sleep.
WW's personalized points program assigns each individual a daily allotment of points (which takes weight, height and age into account) and incorporates a survey to identify which zero-point foods can fit into your plan. (For example, most lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables and fruits can be zero points if you identified these choices in the survey as foods you consume most often during the week.) To help educate members on how to make healthier food choices, foods with added sugar and saturated fat are higher in points, while foods that are higher in protein, fiber and unsaturated fat are lower.
The app contains an easy-to-use barcode scanner, and if a food isn't in its database, the scanner offers the ability to offer entries logged by other WW members. You can also create and build your own recipes. While the app encourages consuming more fruits, vegetables and plant-based foods in lieu of processed foods, just be aware that some users may find the point-based system to be limiting and tedious.
Pros
- Connects easily to any Fitbit tracker, but you don't need one to use the app
- App can track sleep and heart rate, too
Cons
- Requires buying one of Fitbit's wearable fitness trackers for the best experience
A wearable fitness tracker will monitor your steps and workouts, but using one alongside Fitbit's app will help you take food tracking to the next level. You can input foods either manually or with the app's barcode scanner, and it provides a daily breakdown of your carb, protein and fat intake so you can better understand how your food choices affect your overall health.
The app also gives Fitbit wearers detailed data on their heart rate, sleep quality and more, while upgrading to the premium subscription also gets you access to workouts from Fitbit’s expert trainers. You also don't have to own a Fitbit to use the app — it can work with your existing smartphone to track steps. That said, we've found it's more of a seamless experience with a Fitbit device.
- Cost: App is free to download. Premium membership is $10 per month, or $80 per year. A Fitbit device, recommended for the optimal experience, starts around $60.
- Get it for iOS and Android.
Pros
- Large food database
- Breaks down macronutrients and micronutrients
- Premium membership offers access to nutrition coaching
Cons
- Some kinks in newly debuted U.S. version
Originally launched for the European market, YAZIO has made its way to the U.S. — though users may still find a few kinks (converting calories can be tricky, after all). That being said, we still recommend this app for those traveling abroad or who are looking for super-detailed food tracking. It breaks down both macronutrients and micronutrients for the foods you log, and it's customizable depending on your diet. It also claims to have more than 2 million foods in its database, with more than 2,000 recipes created by nutrition experts.
To hold yourself even more accountable, you can upgrade to YAZIO Pro, which gives users access to its nutrition coaching feature. The app also offers analyses based on eating habits, personalized meal plans and more. You can also connect it to Apple Health and other health apps or link it to your fitness or smartwatch for further connectivity.
Pros
- Can connect with communities for motivation
- Multiple ways to log food, including photo feature
Cons
- Logging food can be time-consuming
Lose It! comes up with a personalized calorie budget based on your height, weight and age. It also claims to be the "first weight management app to offer gender inclusivity in profile settings," the company said in a statement.
Plus, it offers tons of options when it comes to logging your meals: searching its food database, scanning barcodes or using the Snap It! feature that allows you to upload a photo of your dish, and the app will attempt to identify the foods. The tool might not be correct 100% of the time, but the more you use the feature, the company says, the smarter it'll get. In addition to artificial intelligence, the app has human interaction covered, too: You can connect with communities and networks to keep accountability and momentum on the up-and-up.
The premium version of the app has the ability to sync with other apps and devices, such as your iPhone's health data, your Fitbit wearable or other trackers. Additional customizations available with the premium version include wellness challenges, setting up private support groups and receiving a daily or weekly log of your progress. According to the company, "Premium members lose, on average, three times more weight than members using the free version."
Nutritionix Track
Pros
- Multiple ways to log food, including speaking into the app
- Food database was created by registered dietitians
Cons
- Users report some glitches with dictation feature
Created by registered nutritionists, over 1 million food items are in Nutritionix Track's database. But that's only the beginning of what the app offers: Users praise it for its straightforward calorie tracking, and nutritionists praise it for its nutritional info transparency, since it can combine the calorie content of common packaged food ingredients and restaurant items with everyday fresh foods. This tracking feature makes it especially great for people who are eating mixed meals (i.e., takeout leftovers with home-cooked chicken).
Upgrading to Track Pro allows you to access the app's Coach Portal and share your food log with your trainer or nutritionist. You can log food items by speaking into the app, but note that some users have reported difficulty with the dictation feature.
- Cost: App is free to download. Track Pro is $6 per month, or $29 for the annual subscription.
- Get it for iOS and Android.
Pros
- One-tap tracking makes measuring calories and water intake easier
- Meal-planner option and grocery lists take the hassle out of cooking
Cons
- No community features available
With more than 50 million users and a database that contains millions of foods and their corresponding nutritional information, LifeSum provides a more accurate way to count calories and macronutrients (protein, fats and carbs). Beware, though, that calorie and macro targets should be used as guides, and on days that you're more active, you may require more calories — and the app may not adjust for this.
Still, one tap lets users track water, fruit and vegetable intake to encourage building healthier habits. Shortcuts allow for quicker and easier tracking — ideal for people who are deterred by documenting their daily intake. The app also gives you a LifeScore, which is daily points based on your food intake and activity that gives users a positive goal to hit.
The app also includes a meal-planner option with a range of diets and recipes to choose from, plus grocery lists to help users stay on track. Join for free with limitations, or upgrade to the premium service, which has nutrition advice and personalized meal plans.
Pros
- Food submissions are verified for accuracy
- Takes into account breastfeeding and pregnancy needs
Cons
- Fewer foods in its database than other apps
Cronometer ("CRON" stands for "calorie restriction with optimal nutrition") provides an app for individuals and a separate pro version for health-care professionals to help manage clients. The app offers easy tracking of calories and micro- and macronutrients, with the goal of encouraging users to develop healthier eating habits. Every food submission is verified for accuracy, and the app offers a forum and a Facebook page where users can connect and swap tips.
Users like that the app is customizable, contains intuitive tracking, manually creating home recipes and has features to account for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Plus, it syncs with multiple apps and devices. Sign up for free, or upgrade to the ad-free "gold" subscription that has recipe importing and a fasting timer. Take note that although this app may contain a more accurate food database, it has fewer foods than some of the other apps on our list.
Pros
- Uses behavioral psychology to help with weight loss
- Emphasizes consuming whole foods, rather than processed foods
Cons
- Expensive
The Noom app isn’t just about tracking calories. It was developed by behavioral psychologists to give users a more customizable experience while taking into account emotional eating. It also provides an educational component. The result? It has 45 million users.
In the app, foods used to be categorized like traffic lights, with the color red indicating the most calorie-dense, nutrient-low foods. But after receiving user feedback, Noom recently updated its color system. Now, green means go and relates to less-calorically-dense foods, while yellow indicates foods that should be consumed in moderate portions. Foods that were formally "red" are now orange but continue to be foods that should be limited, such as processed foods. (But it's important to note that yellow and orange foods are not "bad.")
Know, however, that even though you can purchase a monthly plan, the app is generally designed to be used for more than a month, which can add up quickly cost-wise.
Methodology: How we chose the best calorie-counting apps
Our registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab test and review all types of nutrition, wellness and health apps, including weight-loss apps, intermittent fasting apps and workout apps.
When researching and evaluating apps, we consider a variety of factors, including:
- User reviews
- Ease of use
- Consistency of quality
- Cost
- Features
- Whether or not they contain up-to-date and effective information
We also give preference to apps that easily sync with other health-tracking devices to measure physical activity, sleep and hydration, and whether the apps are available on both Android and iOS devices.
When it came to calorie-counting apps, specifically, our health editors and nutrition experts scoured online user reviews and downloaded many of the apps themselves in order to experience them firsthand. Overall, we made sure to highlight apps that we think provide robust and accurate food databases, are user-friendly and make it easy to log meals, calories and nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates and fat.
How many calories should I eat in a day to lose weight?
According to Sassos, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to weight loss and management. Although some of these apps may give suggested allotted calories for weight loss, it’s best to meet with a registered dietitian who can help you determine the number of calories you should consume to lose weight.
That's because calories can vary based on a variety of factors, including body type, activity level, medical history and more. "Just make sure to never go below 1,200 calories a day, as this can lead to extreme hunger, micronutrient deficiencies and more adverse side effects," says Sassos.
How accurate are calorie counter apps?
Unfortunately, calorie-counting apps aren’t necessarily regulated and aren’t always the most reliable, though they can give you a general sense of how much you are consuming. According to Sassos, they can often be subject to errors in their database based on users inputting incorrect information.
"That being said, many apps allow you to manually input the information for the food you eat, and while this can be burdensome and time-consuming, it’s your best bet at getting the most accurate estimate of your daily calorie consumption," says Sassos.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
A past version of this article was written by registered dietitian Amy Fischer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., who has worked with thousands of patients to improve their health through whole foods and a nutritious diet. Amy believes that food is to be enjoyed, even on a weight-loss journey, and that although calories count, the focus should be on health and eating and living better, not just losing weight.
This guide was most recently updated by Courtney Campbell, a contributing writer who has written product reviews on a variety of topics over the course of her career, testing everything from healthy cookbooks to inflatable paddle boards.
Courtney (she/hers) has spent the past 5 years testing everything from reusable straws to standing desks to homemade kombucha kits. A longtime reviewer, deals hunter, and lifestyle writer, she currently heads up the American Kennel Club's product review site Retrievest and previously worked as the Shopping Editor for USA Today’s Reviewed. Additionally, she has covered design and lifestyle trends for Apartment Therapy, Domino, SELF, and more. A graduate of Elon University, she loves telling everyone about what race she’s planning on running next while raving about her favorite running headphones (they’re bone conducting!).
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