I Tested 6 Nutrition Apps So You Don't Have To
Which ones are worth your time (and which ones aren't)
I've been tracking my food on and off for years, and I've probably downloaded every nutrition app that exists. Some are brilliant. Some are frustrating to use daily. Most are somewhere in between.
But which ones are actually worth your time and money?
I spent the last month testing 6 of the most popular nutrition tracking apps, logging the same meals across all of them to see which ones deliver on their promises and which ones are just fancy calorie counters with good marketing.
Here's what I found.
How I Tested These Apps
For four weeks, I logged the same meals across all six apps. I tested everything from simple foods (apple, chicken breast) to complex recipes (homemade curry, restaurant meals). I scanned barcodes, searched databases, and tried to break each app to see how they handled real-world usage.
What I was looking for:
Database accuracy: Can you actually find your food?
Ease of use: How intuitive is the interface for daily use?
Barcode scanning: Does it work in real shops with real products?
Free vs paid features: What do you actually get for your money?
Who it's best for: Beginners, serious trackers, or specific goals?
Let's dive into the results.
The Clear Winners
MyFitnessPal - The Reliable Giant
Price: Free with premium options (£19.99/month)
The Good: MyFitnessPal has the largest food database I've encountered. Nearly everything I searched for was there, from Tesco own-brand products to Nando's meals. The barcode scanner worked about 85% of the time, which is better than most. The community aspect is surprisingly helpful – you can see how other people logged similar foods.
The Not-So-Good: The free version is increasingly limited. You can't see micronutrients, can't set custom macro targets, and the ads are quite intrusive. The database accuracy varies wildly – some entries are spot-on, others are clearly wrong. You'll spend time double-checking entries.
Best for: Beginners who want the largest database and don't mind doing some detective work on accuracy.
Bottom line: It's popular for a reason, but the free version feels deliberately hobbled to push you toward premium.
Cronometer - The Precision Tool
Price: Free with premium options (£5.99/month)
The Good: This is the app for people who actually care about accuracy. Cronometer focuses on verified, high-quality data rather than quantity. The micronutrient tracking is phenomenal – you'll learn more about your vitamin intake than you ever wanted to know. The interface is clean and professional.
The Not-So-Good: The food database is smaller than MyFitnessPal, so you'll occasionally need to create custom entries. It can feel overwhelming for casual users who just want to track calories. The learning curve is steeper.
Best for: Serious trackers, people with specific health goals, anyone who values accuracy over convenience.
Bottom line: If you're the type of person who reads nutrition labels carefully, you'll love Cronometer. If you just want to quickly log your lunch, it might be overkill.
The Solid Middle Ground
Lose It! - The User-Friendly Option
Price: Free with premium options (£39.99/year)
The Good: Lose It! strikes a nice balance between simplicity and functionality. The interface is intuitive, the barcode scanner is reliable, and it doesn't overwhelm you with features you don't need. The free version is genuinely useful, unlike some others.
The Not-So-Good: The food database is smaller than MyFitnessPal but larger than Cronometer. Sometimes you'll need to hunt for specific items. The premium features aren't particularly compelling unless you want meal planning tools.
Best for: People who want something simple that just works without fuss.
Bottom line: It does exactly what it says on the tin. Nothing fancy, but nothing frustrating either.
FatSecret - The Comprehensive Free Option
Price: Completely free
The Good: For a free app, FatSecret is remarkably full-featured. You get macro tracking, barcode scanning, recipe building, and even a social community. The database is decent-sized, and the interface is straightforward. No premium tiers mean no artificial limitations.
The Not-So-Good: The interface feels dated compared to newer apps. The barcode scanner is hit-or-miss. Some advanced features that premium apps offer (like custom macro targets) aren't available.
Best for: Budget-conscious users who want comprehensive tracking without paying monthly fees.
Bottom line: If you can't or won't pay for nutrition tracking, FatSecret is your best bet. It's genuinely useful and completely free.
The Specialists
Carbon Coach - The Smart Assistant
Price: £89/month (includes coaching)
The Good: This isn't just a tracking app – it's a coaching system that adjusts your targets based on your progress. The app learns from your results and modifies your macros accordingly. It's like having a nutrition coach who actually understands data. The interface is modern and the barcode scanner is excellent.
The Not-So-Good: It's expensive. Really expensive. The coaching approach means less control over your own targets, which some people don't like. It's definitely overkill if you just want basic tracking.
Best for: People who want guided nutrition coaching and have the budget for it.
Bottom line: If you're serious about body composition goals and want expert guidance, Carbon Coach delivers. But you're paying premium prices for premium service.
MacroFactor - The Algorithm Genius
Price: £11.99/month
The Good: MacroFactor uses advanced algorithms to calculate your actual metabolic rate based on your intake and weight changes. It's incredibly accurate once it has enough data. The coaching recommendations are solid, and it adapts quickly to changes in your routine.
The Not-So-Good: It takes 2-3 weeks to "learn" your metabolism, so it's not immediately useful. The food database is clearly built with American users in mind – finding UK-specific foods can be challenging. It's very macro-focused, so if you care about micronutrients, look elsewhere.
Best for: Data enthusiasts who want the most accurate calorie and macro recommendations and don't mind creating custom entries.
Bottom line: Brilliant algorithm, but the UK food database limitations make daily use more tedious than it should be.
Quick Decision Guide
Just starting out and want something free? → FatSecret
Want the biggest database and don't mind paying? → MyFitnessPal Premium
Care about accuracy above all else? → Cronometer
Want something simple that just works? → Lose It!
Have serious body composition goals and a budget? → Carbon Coach
Want the most accurate metabolic calculations? → MacroFactor
My Personal Verdict
After a month of testing, I've stuck with MyFitnessPal as my daily driver. Despite its flaws, it simply has the best UK food database, and the time I save not having to create custom entries outweighs the occasional accuracy issues.
I genuinely love MacroFactor's approach to metabolic calculation – it's genuinely clever and scientifically sound. But living in the UK, I found myself constantly having to create custom entries for basic foods, which becomes tedious when you're trying to track consistently.
Cronometer gets an honourable mention for accuracy, and I'll use it when I want detailed micronutrient analysis, but for day-to-day tracking, convenience wins.
For most people starting their tracking journey, I'd recommend FatSecret (if budget is tight) or MyFitnessPal free version to start. Once you've built the habit, then consider whether premium features are worth the cost.
The bottom line: The best nutrition app is the one you'll actually use consistently. Pick based on your priorities – database size, accuracy, simplicity, or advanced features – and remember that imperfect tracking is infinitely better than no tracking at all.
Quick Reference: App Comparison
| App Name | Best For | Price | UK Database | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyFitnessPal | Daily convenience | £19.99/mo | Excellent | Variable |
| Cronometer | Accuracy seekers | £5.99/mo | Good | Excellent |
| Lose It! | Simplicity | £39.99/yr | Good | Good |
| FatSecret | Budget users | Free | Good | Good |
| Carbon Coach | Serious goals | £89/mo | Good | Excellent |
| MacroFactor | Data enthusiasts | £11.99/mo | Limited | Excellent |
Joel Armando (PhD) works in EdTech by day and translates fitness research by night, turning complex studies into practical advice for everyday fitness enthusiasts.
