Best picks
The 10 best weight-loss and calorie-tracking apps for 2026, ranked by published evidence, tracking features, privacy labels and cost, with App Store prices checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Self-monitoring of diet, activity and weight is consistently linked with weight loss in behavioral programs.[1]
- In a 2025 trial, the WeightWatchers digital program led to 5.4% weight loss at 6 months vs 1.5% with standard nutrition emails.[5]
- A coached Noom diabetes prevention program led to 2.64 kg more weight loss than usual care at 6 months.[6]
- Simply giving primary-care patients MyFitnessPal did not change weight at 6 months; logins fell after the first month.[4]
In short: Tracking what you eat is one of the most reliable habits linked with weight loss, and any of these ten apps can do it. WeightWatchers and Noom rank first because their programs have been tested in randomized trials. Among plain trackers, MacroFactor (no cross-app tracking on its privacy label, but no free tier) and Cronometer (a free tier and detailed nutrients) lead. If you want a free, no-frills log, fatsecret is the simplest privacy-friendly choice.
We research; we don’t test. We read each app’s own App Store listing, in-app purchase prices and Apple privacy label on October 6, 2026, and searched the medical literature for trials of each app or program. Prices change often and can differ on Android and the web. Several of these companies also sell prescription weight-loss services; those are medical care, which we never rank, so this list covers only the non-prescription app features. For prescription options, see our medical weight loss guide. For a broader look at commercial programs, see our programs hub.
Why tracking works (and why an app alone isn’t enough)
Self-monitoring, meaning keeping a record of food, activity or weight, is the core of behavioral weight-loss programs. A 2011 systematic review found a consistent link between self-monitoring and weight loss, and a 2021 review of 39 trials found that more digital self-monitoring went with more weight loss in 74% of the comparisons. A 2019 study added that frequency matters: people who logged in to their food diary more times a day lost more, and the time needed fell from about 23 minutes a day in the first month to 15 minutes by month six.
An app on its own is a weaker tool. In a 2014 randomized trial, primary-care patients who were simply helped to download MyFitnessPal lost no more weight over six months than those who weren’t, and logins dropped sharply after the first month. The difference between apps matters less than whether you keep using one, ideally as part of a plan with a clear calorie deficit.
What the app trials found
- -5.4% vs -1.5%body weight at 6 months: WeightWatchers digital program vs standard nutrition emails (376 U.S. adults)Palacios et al., AJCN 2025
- -2.64 kgmore weight loss at 6 months with Noom's coached diabetes prevention program than usual care (202 adults with prediabetes)Toro-Ramos et al., JMIR mHealth 2020
- -0.30 kgdifference (not significant) at 6 months when patients were simply given MyFitnessPalLaing et al., Ann Intern Med 2014
Checked on October 6, 2026
The 10 best weight-loss and calorie-tracking apps
The 10 best weight-loss and calorie-tracking apps, ranked
1. WeightWatchers Program
Best for A structured program with points, coaching and community
- Digital program beat standard nutrition advice in a 2025 randomized trial (-5.4% vs -1.5% at 6 months)
- Points tracking with barcode scanner plus protein, fiber and calorie tracking
- privacy label lists contact info, identifiers and usage data as used to track you
Maker-stated specs
Price $19.99 to $24.99 for monthly plans; $108.99 for 6 months (App Store in-app prices) (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback One of the higher ongoing costs, and its privacy label lists cross-app tracking
2. Noom
Best for Psychology-based lessons and habit change
- Coached Noom program led to 2.64 kg more loss than usual care at 6 months in a 2020 trial, lasting to 12 months
- AI food logging with 1M+ foods, daily lessons, optional 1:1 coaching
- privacy label lists purchases, financial info, location, user content, identifiers and sensitive info as used to track you
Maker-stated specs
Price $44.99 to $199.99 per plan (App Store in-app prices) (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback The broadest tracking categories on any privacy label in this list
3. MacroFactor
Best for Data-minded people who want calorie targets that adjust automatically
- Algorithm estimates your energy expenditure and adjusts calorie and macro targets weekly
- verified food database and barcode scan
- privacy label has no "Data Used to Track You" section
Maker-stated specs
Price $11.99 a month, $47.99 for 6 months, $59.99 to $71.99 a year (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback No free tier (7-day trial), and no published trial of the app itself
4. Cronometer
Best for Detailed nutrition, including vitamins and minerals
- Free tier tracks calories, macros and 95+ vitamins and minerals
- curated database of 1.1M+ verified foods
- privacy label lists contact info, identifiers and usage data as used to track you
Maker-stated specs
Price Free; Gold $10.99 a month or $59.99 a year (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback The level of detail can feel like a lot if you only want calories; no published trial of the app itself
5. fatsecret
Best for A free, simple food and weight diary
- Free food diary with barcode scanner and photo recognition, exercise diary and weight log
- syncs with Apple Health and Fitbit
- privacy label has no "Data Used to Track You" section
Maker-stated specs
Price Free; premium $10.49 to $14.99 a month or $38.99 to $59.99 a year (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback No published trial of the app itself; fewer reviews than the big apps (about 15,000 ratings)
6. Yazio
Best for Calorie counting plus an intermittent fasting tracker
- Free calorie counter with barcode scanner
- fasting tracker, meal planning and step tracking
- privacy label lists identifiers as used to track you
Maker-stated specs
Price Free; PRO $23.90 to $47.90 for 12 months (App Store offers vary) (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback No published trial of the app itself; many different prices in the App Store list
7. MyFitnessPal
Best for The biggest food database and the most integrations
- Over 100 billion food logs (maker-stated)
- food, macro, water and workout tracking plus an intermittent fasting tracker
- privacy label lists identifiers and usage data as used to track you
Maker-stated specs
Price Free to download; Premium $19.99 a month or $79.99 a year (lower offers also listed) (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback In the one randomized trial, simply being given the app did not change weight
8. Lose It!
Best for An easy calorie budget for beginners
- Free personalized calorie budget and food, weight and activity logs
- voice and photo meal logging
- privacy label lists contact info, identifiers and usage data as used to track you
Maker-stated specs
Price Free; Premium options from $9.99 to $79.99 in the App Store list (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback Privacy label lists data used for third-party advertising; no published trial of the app itself
9. Carb Manager
Best for People following a low-carb or keto plan
- Free net-carb tracking and unlimited barcode scans
- 5,000+ recipes and a fasting tracker
- privacy label has no "Data Used to Track You" section
Maker-stated specs
Price Free; Premium $8.49 a month or $29.99 to $59.99 a year (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback Built around low-carb eating, which is only one of many diets that work
10. Lifesum
Best for Photo, voice and barcode logging with meal plans
- Food rating, macro tracker, water and fruit-and-vegetable tracker
- meal plans with grocery lists
- privacy label lists identifiers as used to track you
Maker-stated specs
Price Free to download; Premium $29.99 to $39.99 for 3 months or $99.99 to $119.99 a year (checked Oct 6, 2026)
Drawback The highest yearly price of the plain trackers here; no published trial of the app itself
All 10 apps side by side
| # | Pick | Best for | Key specs (maker-stated) | Price range | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WeightWatchers Program | A structured program with points, coaching and community | Digital program beat standard nutrition advice in a 2025 randomized trial (-5.4% vs -1.5% at 6 months); Points tracking with barcode scanner plus protein, fiber and calorie tracking; privacy label lists contact info, identifiers and usage data as used to track you | $19.99 to $24.99 for monthly plans; $108.99 for 6 months (App Store in-app prices) | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 2 | Noom | Psychology-based lessons and habit change | Coached Noom program led to 2.64 kg more loss than usual care at 6 months in a 2020 trial, lasting to 12 months; AI food logging with 1M+ foods, daily lessons, optional 1:1 coaching; privacy label lists purchases, financial info, location, user content, identifiers and sensitive info as used to track you | $44.99 to $199.99 per plan (App Store in-app prices) | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 3 | MacroFactor | Data-minded people who want calorie targets that adjust automatically | Algorithm estimates your energy expenditure and adjusts calorie and macro targets weekly; verified food database and barcode scan; privacy label has no "Data Used to Track You" section | $11.99 a month, $47.99 for 6 months, $59.99 to $71.99 a year | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 4 | Cronometer | Detailed nutrition, including vitamins and minerals | Free tier tracks calories, macros and 95+ vitamins and minerals; curated database of 1.1M+ verified foods; privacy label lists contact info, identifiers and usage data as used to track you | Free; Gold $10.99 a month or $59.99 a year | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 5 | fatsecret | A free, simple food and weight diary | Free food diary with barcode scanner and photo recognition, exercise diary and weight log; syncs with Apple Health and Fitbit; privacy label has no "Data Used to Track You" section | Free; premium $10.49 to $14.99 a month or $38.99 to $59.99 a year | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 6 | Yazio | Calorie counting plus an intermittent fasting tracker | Free calorie counter with barcode scanner; fasting tracker, meal planning and step tracking; privacy label lists identifiers as used to track you | Free; PRO $23.90 to $47.90 for 12 months (App Store offers vary) | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 7 | MyFitnessPal | The biggest food database and the most integrations | Over 100 billion food logs (maker-stated); food, macro, water and workout tracking plus an intermittent fasting tracker; privacy label lists identifiers and usage data as used to track you | Free to download; Premium $19.99 a month or $79.99 a year (lower offers also listed) | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 8 | Lose It! | An easy calorie budget for beginners | Free personalized calorie budget and food, weight and activity logs; voice and photo meal logging; privacy label lists contact info, identifiers and usage data as used to track you | Free; Premium options from $9.99 to $79.99 in the App Store list | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 9 | Carb Manager | People following a low-carb or keto plan | Free net-carb tracking and unlimited barcode scans; 5,000+ recipes and a fasting tracker; privacy label has no "Data Used to Track You" section | Free; Premium $8.49 a month or $29.99 to $59.99 a year | Oct 6, 2026 |
| 10 | Lifesum | Photo, voice and barcode logging with meal plans | Food rating, macro tracker, water and fruit-and-vegetable tracker; meal plans with grocery lists; privacy label lists identifiers as used to track you | Free to download; Premium $29.99 to $39.99 for 3 months or $99.99 to $119.99 a year | Oct 6, 2026 |
How we ranked them
Published evidence came first. WeightWatchers and Noom have randomized trials of their own programs showing more weight loss than a comparison group, so they lead. MyFitnessPal is the only plain tracker with its own trial, but that trial found no difference, so it ranks with the trackers that rely on the general evidence for self-monitoring. Among those, we looked next at self-monitoring features (food database quality, barcode scanning, weight and activity logs, adaptive targets), then privacy, then total cost, then cancellation terms. Cancellation works through your App Store or Google Play subscription settings for in-app purchases; plans bought on a company’s website follow that company’s terms, so read them before you pay.
Privacy: what each app says it collects
Apple’s privacy labels are filled in by each developer and are not verified by Apple, but they are the easiest way to compare apps. “Data used to track you” means data that may be combined with data from other companies’ apps and websites, usually for advertising. Health and weight data are sensitive, so this is worth a look before you sign up.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| MacroFactor | 0 |
| fatsecret | 0 |
| Carb Manager | 0 |
| Yazio | 1 |
| Lifesum | 1 |
| MyFitnessPal | 2 |
| Cronometer | 3 |
| Lose It! | 3 |
| WeightWatchers | 3 |
| Noom | 6 |
Categories such as identifiers, usage data, contact info, location or financial info. Fewer is more private. Every app also collects some data linked to you to run the service.
Source: Apple App Store privacy labels for each app (developer-reported, U.S. store) (checked on October 6, 2026)
What a year of premium costs
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Yazio | $23.90 USD | $47.90 USD |
| Carb Manager | $29.99 USD | $59.99 USD |
| fatsecret | $38.99 USD | $59.99 USD |
| MyFitnessPal | $49.99 USD | $79.99 USD |
| Cronometer | $59.99 USD | $59.99 USD |
| MacroFactor | $59.99 USD | $71.99 USD |
| Lifesum | $99.99 USD | $119.99 USD |
Annual plans only. App Store lists can include introductory offers. WeightWatchers ($19.99 to $24.99 a month) and Noom ($44.99 to $199.99 per plan) sell plans of other lengths, and Lose It! does not label plan lengths in its list. Prices on the web or Android may differ.
Source: Apple App Store in-app purchase lists for each app (U.S. store) (checked on October 6, 2026)
Every plain tracker on this list except MacroFactor is free to download, and Cronometer, fatsecret, Yazio, Lose It! and Carb Manager describe free food logging. That is enough for most people starting out. Pay for premium when a specific feature (adaptive targets, detailed nutrients, coaching) will help you keep logging.
How to choose an app
Pick an app in four steps
- Decide on structureWant lessons and coaching? Look at WeightWatchers or Noom. Just want a log? Start with a free tracker.
- Check the food databaseSearch five foods you eat often and see whether the entries look right.
- Read the privacy labelOn the App Store page, scroll to App Privacy before you create an account.
- Try it for two weeksLog every day; if it feels like a chore, switch apps rather than stop tracking.
Before you set a target in any app, our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator give a neutral starting estimate, the macro calculator splits it into protein, carbs and fat, and the weight loss calculator shows a realistic timeline. If you prefer an eating window to counting, read our comparison of intermittent fasting vs calorie counting; low-carb fans can read our keto diet guide before choosing Carb Manager.
What an app can’t do
Apps estimate calories; they don’t measure them. Food databases contain user-entered items, portions are easy to misjudge, and photo or AI logging adds its own errors. An app also cannot choose foods that keep you full; for that, see our best filling foods and best diets for weight loss. After you reach your goal, keep weighing in regularly; our guide to keeping weight off explains why.
Records in this article
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- What calorie and protein targets should I set in the app?
- Would a structured program or a dietitian help me more than a tracker alone?
- Is food tracking a good idea for me given my history with eating?
- How often should I weigh myself?
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for weight loss?
WeightWatchers and Noom have the strongest evidence because their programs were tested in randomized trials. For plain calorie tracking, MacroFactor and Cronometer lead our list, and fatsecret is a simple free option.
Is there a good free calorie-counting app?
Yes. Cronometer, fatsecret, Yazio, Lose It! and Carb Manager describe free food logging in their App Store listings, and MyFitnessPal and Lifesum are free to download. MacroFactor has only a 7-day trial.
Do calorie-counting apps actually work?
Tracking is linked with more weight loss, especially when people log often. But in one trial, just handing people an app without a plan made no difference, so the app works best as part of a plan you stick with.
Which weight-loss app is best for privacy?
On their Apple privacy labels, MacroFactor, fatsecret and Carb Manager list no data used to track you across other companies' apps and websites. Labels are developer-reported, so read the privacy policy too.
How do I cancel an app subscription?
Subscriptions bought in the app are managed in your App Store or Google Play account settings. Plans bought on a company website follow that company's own cancellation terms.
References
- Burke LE, Wang J, Sevick MA. Self-monitoring in weight loss: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2011. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2010.10.008 · PMID 21185970 (accessed October 7, 2026) Review
- Patel ML, Wakayama LN, Bennett GG. Self-Monitoring via Digital Health in Weight Loss Interventions: A Systematic Review Among Adults with Overweight or Obesity. Obesity, 2021. doi:10.1002/oby.23088 · PMID 33624440 (accessed October 6, 2026) Review
- Harvey J, Krukowski R, Priest J, et al.. Log Often, Lose More: Electronic Dietary Self-Monitoring for Weight Loss. Obesity, 2019. doi:10.1002/oby.22382 · PMID 30801989 (accessed October 7, 2026) Other
- Laing BY, Mangione CM, Tseng CH, et al.. Effectiveness of a smartphone application for weight loss compared with usual care in overweight primary care patients: a randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2014. doi:10.7326/M13-3005 · PMID 25402403 · NCT01650337 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
- Palacios AM, Lee AM, Parker C, et al.. Effectiveness of a digital weight management program on diet quality: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.06.024 · PMID 40609748 · NCT05648344 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
- Toro-Ramos T, Michaelides A, Anton M, et al.. Mobile Delivery of the Diabetes Prevention Program in People With Prediabetes: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2020. doi:10.2196/17842 · PMID 32459631 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
- WeightWatchers Program (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / WW International, Inc.. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- Noom Weight Loss, Food Tracker (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / Noom, Inc.. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- MacroFactor – Macro Tracker (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / Stronger By Science Technologies LLC. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- Cronometer: Calorie Counter (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / Cronometer Software Inc. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- Calorie Counter by fatsecret (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / Secret Industries Pty Ltd. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- AI Calorie Tracker by Yazio (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / YAZIO GmbH. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- MyFitnessPal: Calorie Counter (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / MyFitnessPal, Inc.. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- Lose It! – Calorie Counter (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / FitNow, Inc.. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- Carb Manager: Keto and Macro Log (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / Wombat Apps LLC. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- Lifesum: AI Calorie Counter (App Store listing, in-app purchases and privacy label). Apple App Store / Lifesum AB. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
- Apple Privacy Labels. Apple. (accessed October 7, 2026) Other
Facts checked on October 6, 2026
Educational information, not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your own situation. In an emergency call 911.
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