Pretty much every calorie app is free to download. What matters is what the free version actually lets you do. This is what each big app's free tier includes, so you don't find the paywall a week in.
I make CalTrak, so I'm biased. To keep this fair, everything about the other apps comes from their own pricing pages, privacy policies or US App Store listings, which I checked on November 3, 2026, and every app gets a "best for" that isn't CalTrak. If something's out of date, email support@caltrak.app.
Free tiers compared
| App | Free barcode scanning | Free photo logging | Free custom macros | Ads in free version | Paid tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CalTrak | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | None |
| Cronometer | Yes | No (Gold) | Yes | Yes | $10.99/mo or $59.99/yr |
| MyFitnessPal | No (Premium) | No (Premium) | No (Premium) | Yes | $19.99/mo or $79.99/yr |
| Lose It! | No (Premium) | No (Premium) | Advanced tracking is Premium | Not confirmed | Premium subscription |
| MacroFactor | No free tier. 7-day free trial, then paid. | $11.99/mo or $71.99/yr | |||
1. CalTrak, if you want everything free with no account
Every feature is free, including barcode scanning, AI photo and text logging, recipe import, custom macro goals, charts, and Apple Health and Health Connect sync. No ads, no account, and your food log stays on your phone.
What you give up: there's no web app, no automatic sync between devices (you move your data with a backup file), and it tracks calories, macros, fiber and sugar but not vitamins and minerals.
2. Cronometer, if you want detailed nutrition
Cronometer's free tier is generous. Barcode scanning and custom macro targets are included, and it tracks a long list of vitamins and minerals. The free version has ads, and photo logging and recipe import need Gold. CalTrak vs Cronometer
3. MyFitnessPal, if you want its database and web access
MyFitnessPal has one of the biggest food databases around and works on the web. The free tier covers manual logging with ads. Barcode scanning, photo logging (Meal Scan) and custom macro goals are Premium. CalTrak vs MyFitnessPal
4. Lose It!, if you want a structured weight loss plan
Lose It! is friendly and plan-focused, with free calorie tracking, a weight loss plan and a community. Its App Store listing puts the barcode scanner, photo logging and advanced macro tracking in Premium. CalTrak vs Lose It!
5. MacroFactor, if you'll pay for adaptive coaching
MacroFactor isn't free. After a 7-day trial it's a subscription. In return there are no ads, its privacy policy says it doesn't sell personal data, and it adjusts your targets based on your weight trend. If you're fine paying, it's a strong pick.
Head-to-head comparisons
Want more detail on one app? These go through each one feature by feature.
- CalTrak vs MyFitnessPalPrice, barcode scanning, AI photo logging, macro goals, ads and privacy.
- CalTrak vs Lose It!Free features, photo logging, accounts and privacy.
- CalTrak vs CronometerMicronutrients, photo logging, recipe import and ads.
How to choose
- Want everything free with no account? CalTrak.
- Care most about vitamins and minerals? Cronometer.
- Want web logging and the biggest database, and don't mind paying? MyFitnessPal Premium.
- Want a guided plan and a community? Lose It!
- Want automated coaching and don't mind paying? MacroFactor.
Questions people ask
If you want every feature free with no ads or account, CalTrak includes barcode scanning, AI photo logging and custom macro goals at no cost. Cronometer's free tier is also good, especially for micronutrients, but it has ads and keeps photo logging for Gold.
As of November 2026, CalTrak and Cronometer both have free barcode scanning. MyFitnessPal and Lose It! list it as a Premium feature.
CalTrak has no ads at all. Most other apps show ads in the free version and remove them if you subscribe.
