Cronometer Review 2026: The Accuracy-First Calorie Tracker

The single fact that matters about Cronometer before anything else: it uses only verified sources — USDA FoodData Central, Health Canada’s Canadian Nutrient File, and a curated set of branded databases. It does not allow user-submitted entries. This makes it smaller and slower to find some foods, and it makes it the most accurate calorie counter available.

Why database accuracy matters more than database size

MyFitnessPal has 14 million entries. Independent studies have found an 18% average error rate on calorie counts for user-submitted entries. On a 2,000 kcal/day target, 18% error means you could be eating 2,360 kcal and your app says 2,000. Over 12 weeks of tracking, that is the difference between losing 8 lb and losing nothing.

Cronometer has approximately 400,000 entries. Every entry is verified. On common whole foods, it is slower to find what you are looking for. On the foods it covers, the number is accurate.

For casual logging this tradeoff is irrelevant. For anyone counting calories to hit a target, it is the most important number in the category.

The micronutrient depth

Cronometer tracks 84 nutrients by default — including vitamins A through K in their distinct forms, all eight B vitamins individually, and minerals like molybdenum and chromium that no other app surfaces without manual customisation. The daily report shows exactly where you are hitting or missing targets.

For pre-diabetic users monitoring net carbs and glucose load, this is the most clinically useful tracker available. For vegans monitoring B12 and iron, it is the only tracker worth serious consideration. For CKD patients tracking phosphorus and potassium, same verdict.

Pricing

App	Headline price	Real year-2 cost	Notes
Cronometer Free	£0	£0	No barcode scanner on iOS free tier. Web version has scanner. Full micronutrient tracking included.
Cronometer Gold	£59.88/year	~£48/year with promo codes	Adds barcode scanner, recipe import from URL, food analysis, and data export.
Cronometer Pro	Contact for pricing	Contact for pricing	Clinician and coach tier. Recovery mode included.

What logging this seriously looks like

The typical user who logs 5+ days per week for 12 weeks loses 4–8 lb. Heavier starting weights see more; smaller deficits see less. If you log ad-hoc 2–3 days per week, expect roughly no change — the difference between "tracking" and "tracking enough" is the whole game.

Real annual cost in 2026: Truly-free track-only = £0 (Lose It free, Cronometer free, FatSecret). Solid mid-tier = £24–£60/year (Cronometer Gold £48, Yazio Pro £35, MacroFactor £72). Coaching-included = £150–£300/year (Noom 6-month £159, WW Core £276/year).

What the free tier actually gives you

More than most apps give at any price. The free tier includes: all 84-nutrient tracking, the full USDA database, unlimited food log, biometric tracking (weight, blood pressure, blood glucose), and web-based barcode scanning. The only meaningful free-tier limit is no mobile barcode scanner on iOS (Android has it).

For most users, the free tier is sufficient. Upgrade to Gold if you log packaged foods frequently (barcode scanner becomes essential) or if you want URL-based recipe import.

The logging speed problem

I will not pretend this is not a real issue. Logging a meal in Cronometer takes approximately three times as long as logging the same meal in Lose It. The search is exact-match — “banana” returns USDA verified entries, not autocomplete suggestions. If you have not logged a food before, expect to spend 30–45 seconds finding the right entry.

After two weeks of daily logging, your custom foods list is long enough that most meals are one-tap repeats. The speed problem is a first-month problem.

Verdict

The best calorie tracker for anyone who needs accuracy. For lifters, keto dieters, and condition-specific users, Cronometer Gold at £48/year is the correct answer and there is no close second. For casual trackers who primarily eat restaurant food: use Lose It instead, the logging experience will make you actually use it.

Score: 8.5 / 10. The logging-speed penalty and the restaurant-food gap prevent a higher score, but for its target use cases Cronometer is the category winner.