CalorieCounterApp.net
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Use Case Guide

Best Free Calorie Counter Apps (No Subscription)

The four genuinely-free calorie trackers in 2026 are Cronometer (free tier, optional Gold £48/yr), FatSecret (free, no upgrade required for core features), Lose It! Free (free, hard upsell after 14 days), and MyFitnessPal Free (free but barcode scanner is now Premium-only at £64/yr).

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).

Most generous free tier

Cronometer

Micronutrient tracking, whole foods

8.5

/ 10

Free (Gold £48/yr) Safety 3/5
Read Review →
Free barcode scanner

Lose It!

Barcode scanning, packaged food

7.8

/ 10

Free (Premium £40/yr) Safety 2/5
Read Review →

Why "free" is complicated in calorie apps

Every major calorie app has a free tier. Not every free tier is genuinely useful. Here is the honest breakdown:

  • Cronometer free: The most generous free tier in the category. Full 84-nutrient tracking, full USDA database, unlimited logging. The only limitation on iOS is no mobile barcode scanner (available on web and Android free). If you primarily cook at home and eat whole foods, the free tier is sufficient indefinitely.
  • Lose It! free: Includes the mobile barcode scanner on all platforms — the primary reason to use it over MFP's free tier. Upsell prompts begin on day 14. Core logging features remain free.
  • MyFitnessPal free: The barcode scanner moved to Premium in late 2022. Without it, MFP's free tier is a search-only database interface. If you primarily eat packaged food, this is a significant limitation. If you cook from whole ingredients, it is workable.
  • FatSecret: Fully free with no upgrade required for core features. Database is the smallest of the four. UI is functional but dated. Worth considering if you have tried the others and find the upsell prompts intolerable.

Our recommendation for "just want it free"

Start with Cronometer free if you eat mostly whole foods and cook at home. Start with Lose It! free if you eat packaged food and need the barcode scanner. Both have reasonable upgrade paths if you find you need more features later.

See also: Lose It! vs MyFitnessPal comparison · Full Cronometer review