Ranked for 2026
The 6 best free calorie counter apps in 2026, tested
The best free calorie counter in 2026 is WhispCal: its free tier keeps unlimited manual and barcode logging, no ads, and Phase 1 of its Calorie Autopilot, which measures your real maintenance.
Free means different things in each app. Some put the barcode scanner behind a paywall. Some show ads. Some offer a trial and call it free. This list only counts what you get for $0 with no time limit, and the table spells it out.
By Thomas MoriceBuilds WhispCal, and writes everything here
| App | Best for | What the free tier keeps | What you pay for | Paid plan* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. WhispCal | A Target that moves, for free | Unlimited manual and barcode logs, 6 AI text logs and 1 voice log a day, Autopilot Phase 1, no ads | Photo logging, unlimited AI logging, Phases 2 to 5 | $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr |
| 2. Cronometer | Micronutrients | Logging, barcode scanner, 80+ micronutrients, with ads | Photo and voice logging, fasting timer, no ads | About $10.99/mo or $59.99/yr |
| 3. FatSecret | A big free database | Logging, barcode scanner, weight log, community, with ads | Meal plans, extra tools, no ads | Varies by country |
| 4. MyFitnessPal | The biggest database | Search logging and a fixed goal, with ads | Barcode scanner, custom macros, no ads | About $19.99/mo or $79.99/yr |
| 5. Lose It! | First-time trackers | Logging and a calorie budget | Photo logging, more insights, no ads | About $39.99/yr |
| 6. Yazio | Basic fasting | Logging and a basic fasting timer, with ads | Recipes, meal plans, fasting programs | About $47.90/yr |
How we ranked them
Only the free tier counts here. Four questions decide the order. Can you log every meal without paying? Is the barcode scanner free? Are there ads? Does the free tier help your calorie goal keep up with your body?
We installed every app on this list and logged real meals in each one before ranking it. WhispCal is our app, so read the top spot with that in mind. MacroFactor and Cal AI are not on the list because they have no free tier, only a trial. Free tiers change often, so check the app before you commit.
1. WhispCal
WhispCal's free tier is not a trial. Manual and barcode logging are unlimited. You also get 6 AI text logs and 1 voice log a day. Phase 1 of Autopilot, Find Peak Maintenance, runs on the full engine and measures the highest intake your weight holds at.
- Who it's for: people who want a free tracker whose Target moves with them, not a number set on day one.
- Free limits: 6 AI text logs and 1 voice log a day. No photo logging. Cut, Reverse Diet, Bulk and Reset are Premium.
- Downside: the food database is smaller than MyFitnessPal's. It tracks fiber but not vitamins or minerals.
- If you upgrade: Premium is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year.
2. Cronometer
Cronometer's free tier is the most complete for nutrition data. It tracks more than 80 micronutrients from verified sources, and the barcode scanner is free.
- Who it's for: anyone tracking iron, B12, sodium or a plant-based diet.
- Free limits: ads, and shorter report history. Photo logging, voice logging and the fasting timer are on Gold.
- Downside: logging is slower than most, and your calorie goal stays where you set it.
- If you upgrade: Gold is about $10.99 a month or $59.99 a year.
3. FatSecret
FatSecret keeps its core tracker free: a large food database, barcode scanning, weight logging and a community.
- Who it's for: people who never want to pay and eat out often.
- Free limits: ads. Meal plans and some tracking tools are Premium.
- Downside: your daily intake comes from a formula and stays put until you edit it.
- If you upgrade: Premium price varies by country and store.
4. MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is still free to use, and its database is the biggest here. The free tier got thinner: the barcode scanner now needs Premium.
- Who it's for: people who search for restaurant and branded food more than they scan.
- Free limits: ads, no barcode scanner, and no custom macro goals.
- Downside: the calorie goal never moves on its own.
- If you upgrade: Premium is about $19.99 a month or $79.99 a year.
5. Lose It!
Lose It! has a friendly free tier for a first try at tracking. Setup builds a weight-loss budget and the logger stays simple.
- Who it's for: people counting calories for the first time.
- Free limits: photo logging and deeper insights are Premium, and Premium removes ads.
- Downside: the calorie budget holds until you change it.
- If you upgrade: Premium is about $39.99 a year, often on sale.
6. Yazio
Yazio's free tier covers food logging and a basic fasting timer. Most of what makes Yazio stand out sits in PRO.
- Who it's for: people who want a simple log and a fasting clock.
- Free limits: ads. Recipes, meal plans and guided fasting programs are PRO.
- Downside: the goal holds unless you edit it.
- If you upgrade: PRO is about $47.90 a year, with frequent discounts.
Which one should you pick?
Want a free tracker that measures your maintenance and has no ads? Pick WhispCal. Want free micronutrients? Pick Cronometer. Want a free barcode scanner and a big database, ads included? Pick FatSecret.
Leaving a paid app? See the best MyFitnessPal alternatives and the best MacroFactor alternatives. For one app at a time, read WhispCal vs Cronometer or WhispCal vs FatSecret.
*Paid plans are US list prices at the time of writing. Stores set local prices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free calorie counter app?
WhispCal. Its free tier keeps unlimited manual and barcode logging, no ads and Autopilot Phase 1 with no time limit. Cronometer is the best free pick for micronutrients.
Is there a calorie counter that is completely free?
FatSecret's core tracker is free, with ads. WhispCal's free tier has no ads and no time limit, and only photo logging, extra AI logs and Phases 2 to 5 are paid.
Which free calorie counter has a free barcode scanner?
WhispCal, Cronometer and FatSecret all scan barcodes on the free tier. MyFitnessPal moved its scanner to Premium.
Is MyFitnessPal still free?
Yes, with ads and fewer features. You can search and log food for free. The barcode scanner and custom macro goals need Premium, about $19.99 a month at the time of writing.
Does any free app adjust my calories automatically?
WhispCal does on its free tier. Phase 1 raises your intake while your weight holds and stops when it climbs, so you learn your real maintenance for free.
Keep exploring
Let WhispCal do the math automatically
These numbers are a starting point. WhispCal measures how your body actually responds — logging food in 3 seconds by voice, photo, or barcode — and auto-adjusts your targets as your metabolism changes. Free on iOS and Android.
Free on iOS & Android