Best Calorie Counting Apps For Android In 2026
The best calorie counting apps for Android in 2026 are the ones that still let you log food without hitting a paywall at the barcode scanner.
Several big names have moved scanning, photo logging and voice entry behind subscriptions, so the right pick depends on what you will actually pay for.
Prices and free-tier limits below come from published 2026 reviews and change often, so confirm the final price on the Play Store listing before you subscribe.
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Quick picks: which calorie counter should you use?
| Award | App | Why | Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best free tracker | FatSecret | Free diary and barcode scanner | Visit site |
| Best for nutrient detail | Cronometer | Free scanner, verified data | Visit site |
| Best free scanner plus no ads | MyNetDiary | Free scanner, ad-free | Visit site |
| Best for fasting | YAZIO | Fasting timer in free tier | Visit site |
| Best known | MyFitnessPal | Large community, paid scanner | Visit site |
Why is barcode scanning behind a paywall now?
MyFitnessPal and Lose It! both list the barcode scanner as a paid feature in 2026, while Cronometer, FatSecret, MyNetDiary, YAZIO and Lifesum still offer it free.
If you eat mostly packaged food, that single difference decides which app costs you money.
If you cook from scratch, manual search works in every app below.
1. MyFitnessPal: best known
Biggest name, but barcode scanning now sits behind Premium.
Specs: Premium about $19.99/mo or $79.99/yr | Android, iPhone | Free plan has no barcode scanner
Pros:
- Large, well-known food database and community groups
- Free plan still covers manual logging, workouts and steps
Cons:
- Barcode scanning needs Premium (Premium+ also includes it)
- Free tier shows ads
2. Cronometer: best for nutrient detail
Best pick if you care about nutrient accuracy more than speed.
Specs: Gold $10.99/mo or about $59.99/yr | Android, iPhone | No meal plans
Pros:
- Barcode scanning is free
- Tracks dozens of vitamins and minerals from verified lab-based sources
Cons:
- No meal plans
- Gold is needed for extras beyond the free plan
3. Lose It!: best calorie budget
Simple calorie budget app, though the scanner is now a paid feature.
Specs: About $40/yr, no monthly option | Android, iPhone | Free plan lacks the scanner
Pros:
- Personalized calorie budget and a very large food database
- Syncs with Fitbit, Garmin and Samsung Health
Cons:
- Barcode scanner, fasting timer and ad-free use need Premium
- Photo and voice logging are Premium too
4. YAZIO: best for fasting
Clean app with a built-in fasting timer, if you can live with ads.
Specs: Pro about $47.90/yr | Android, iPhone | Free plan shows ads
Pros:
- Barcode scanning, macro breakdown, water logging and a fasting timer are listed among its features (per BGR)
- Strong Google Play rating of 4.4 from 853,000+ reviews
Cons:
- Custom meal recommendations and recipes need Pro
- Ads on the free plan
5. FatSecret: best free tracker
Still the most generous free option for plain calorie tracking.
Specs: Free core | Premium about $60/yr | Android, iPhone
Pros:
- Free diary, verified database, monthly summaries and barcode scanner
- Google Play rating of 4.6 from about 545,000 reviews
Cons:
- AI photo recognition and dietitian plans are paid (one review lists FatSecret as fully free, so check the app)
- Burned calories are not added back to your daily budget
6. MyNetDiary: best free scanner
Free barcode scanning plus detailed nutrient data, with paid meal scanning.
Specs: About $9/mo | Android, iPhone | No ads in the free tier
Pros:
- Free barcode scanner, food diary and no ads, plus info on 108 nutrients
- Database of 2M+ staff-verified items
Cons:
- Photo-based Meal Scan and dietitian plans are paid
- Syncing with wearables is a paid feature
7. Lifesum: best for meal plans
Easy manual logging with a free scanner, aimed at diet-style meal plans.
Specs: About $7.49/mo | Android, iPhone
Pros:
- Free manual logging and barcode scanner
- Paid plans cover keto, Mediterranean and high-protein meal plans
Cons:
- Meal plans and fasting-window plans are paid
- Google Play rating of 4.4 is among the lower ones here
How do the seven calorie counters compare?
| App | Barcode scanner | Paid price (approx.) | Free plan ads | Paid extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyFitnessPal | Paid | $79.99/yr | Yes | Scanner, nutrient detail |
| Cronometer | Free | $59.99/yr | Not stated | Gold features |
| Lose It! | Paid | About $40/yr | Yes (ad-free is paid) | Scanner, fasting, photo, voice |
| YAZIO | Free | $47.90/yr | Yes | Recipes, meal recommendations |
| FatSecret | Free | $60/yr | Yes | AI photo, diet plans |
| MyNetDiary | Free | $9/mo | No | Meal Scan, plans |
| Lifesum | Free | $7.49/mo | Not stated | Meal plans |
Prices as reported by BGR (August 2026) and other 2026 reviews; the Play Store listing shows what you will actually pay.
Which app has the best Google Play rating?
| App | Google Play rating | Reviews or downloads | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyNetDiary | 4.6 | 5M+ downloads | Aug 2026 |
| Cronometer | 4.6 | 57,000+ reviews | Aug 2026 |
| Lose It! | 4.6 | 182,000 reviews | Aug 2026 |
| FatSecret | 4.6 | 545,000 reviews | Aug 2026 |
| YAZIO | 4.4 | 853,000+ reviews | Aug 2026 |
| MyFitnessPal | 4.4 | Nearly 3M reviews, 100M+ downloads | Aug 2026 |
| Lifesum | 4.4 | 378,000+ reviews | Aug 2026 |
Ratings as reported by BGR on August 28, 2026; they shift daily.
What happened to MyPlate by Livestrong?
The Livestrong MyPlate calorie tracker closed in 2023, and Cronometer publicly invited its users to switch at the time.
If you used MyPlate for weight loss, Cronometer or FatSecret are the closest free replacements on this list.
Which calorie counter should you choose?
- Zero budget: FatSecret or MyNetDiary, since both keep the scanner free.
- Nutrient accuracy: Cronometer.
- Intermittent fasting: YAZIO, whose free tier includes a fasting timer.
- Fitness community: MyFitnessPal, if you accept paying for the scanner.
What do you actually get for free?
Free plans in 2026 fall into two groups: apps that keep the scanner free and apps that charge for it.
- Scanner free: Cronometer, FatSecret, MyNetDiary, YAZIO and Lifesum.
- Scanner paid: MyFitnessPal and Lose It!.
- Ad-free free plan: MyNetDiary per BGR; most others show ads or push upgrades.
Should you pair your app with a food scale?
An app is only as accurate as your portion sizes, and a kitchen scale removes the guessing.
Check each scale’s app compatibility before buying, since support varies.
- Smart Food Scale with Nutritional Calculator: budget option with app integration.
- RENPHO Digital Food Scale: stainless steel scale that works with the RENPHO Health app.
- Etekcity Smart Food Kitchen Scale: waterproof, rechargeable.
Related guides
Our verdict
FatSecret is the best free choice, and Cronometer is the best pick when accuracy matters.
Cronometer being the accuracy pick rings true — verified entries make a real difference when you are tracking micronutrients, not just calories. MyFitnessPal’s free tier getting capped at five foods a day really changed the value calculation for casual users. We cover Android health and utility apps at APK Mega, and the free-tier comparison here is the part most readers will actually use.