Macro tracking is a powerful tool for balancing protein, fats, and carbs in your diet. However, many nutrition counting apps look promising but often restrict key features behind paid access. Whether you aim for weight loss, muscle gain, or improved health, finding a reliable option at no cost can feel overwhelming.
To simplify the process, we’ve tested and handpicked the 10 best free macro tracking apps in 2024. In this article, you’ll find detailed reviews of each tracker with their free and paid features, prices, and pros & cons. So. let’s get started!
Macro tracking apps allow users to watch their daily intake of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — the 3 main macronutrients. Unlike basic calorie counting, macro trackers focus on the quality and type of calories consumed.
For example, two foods may have the exact calorie count but very different macro compositions. It can affect energy levels, muscle recovery, and fat storage differently. This is why macro counting is popular among bodybuilders, athletes, and those on specialized diets like keto.
However, the tracking process is only as effective as the tools you use. A good app can make all the difference with quick logging features and nutrition insights. Below, you’ll find a side-by-side comparison of the best apps for macro tracking based on their free features, pricing options, and platform availability.
MyFitnessPal
Food/exercise logging, custom calorie/macro goals
Free; $19.99/month
iOS, Android
Cronometer
Macro/micronutrient tracking, verified foods, barcode scanner, sync with devices
Free; $12.99/month
iOS, Android
Carb Manager
Macro calculator, food logging, net carbs, exercise tracking, barcode scanner
Free; $8.49/month, $39.99/year
iOS, Android
Lose It!
Food/exercise tracking, personalized weight loss plan, sync with health apps
Free; $9.99+/month
iOS, Android
Lifesum
Food tracking, barcode scanner, limited statistics, fitness tracker sync
Free; $99.99/year
iOS, Android
Fitbit
Step/distance, food/nutrition, and basic macro tracking, sync with Fitbit devices
Free; $9.99/month
iOS, Android
FoodNoms
Calorie and macro tracking, barcode scanner, Apple Health integration, recipes, CSV export
Free; $5.99/month
iOS
MyNetDiary
Food/exercise tracking, weight charts, calorie budget, targets for weight loss
Free; $8.99/month
iOS, Android
MacrosFirst
Custom macro goals, unlimited custom meals, offline access, barcode scanner
Free; $11.99/month
iOS, Android
Trifecta
Meal logging, water tracking, free barcode scanner, workout timers
Free; $9.99/month
iOS, Android
Now, let’s review each free macro tracking app in detail.
App Store: 4.7 (1.9M Reviews)
Play Market: 4.3 (2.75M Reviews)
Price: Free; $19.99/month for Premium
If you’re not new to calorie counting, you probably already know about MyFitnessPal. This all-in-one health solution has over 250 million downloads and continues to be a customer favorite as the best free macro tracking app. With its help, you can check calories in over 14 million foods, including restaurant dishes.
When searching for foods in the database, you can view their macronutrient (Carbs, Fats, Protein) values in grams and percentages. The Macros tab displays macros in a pie chart graphic in day view. By default, the app distributes fat, carb, and protein calories based on a percentage in five percent increments. However, if needed, you can customize your goals (they must add up to 100%).
The app also provides premium features. With the paid version, you can set carbs, fat, and protein by grams, not just percentages. Additionally, it allows you to define unique macro goals for each day of the week to align with your workout schedule. You can quick-log macros and calories in each meal and follow your daily progress on the dashboard.
MyFitnessPal supports Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung Health, Google Fit, and over 35 more connections.
Free features include:
MyFitnessPal Premium adds some more features:
You can start a 1-month free trial If you’ve never upgraded to MyFitnessPal Premium before.
500+ recipes and 50 workouts
Barcode scanner only available in paid plan
Connect with 35+ apps and devices
Ads in the free version
Tracking with Apple Watch
Large food database
Export reports
App Store: 4.7 (7.8k Reviews)
Play Market: 4.4 (36.8k Reviews)
Price: Free; $12.99 for Gold
Cronometer is another macronutrient tracker favored by over 10 million users. It provides detailed information on 82 micronutrients, including all the essential vitamins and minerals for weight loss or bodybuilding. Cronometer stands out from other alternatives by being the best free macro tracking app with a scanner available for all users. With their barcode reader, you can quickly match products to the correct items in the database.
We love that all food items in Cronometer come from laboratory-analyzed sources like the USDA and NCCDB or are verified by a staff member. This means you won’t need to choose between multiple entries for the same product. Additionally, all macro and micronutrient targets in the app are customizable.
Cronometer syncs with Apple Health, Health Connect, Samsung Health, Google Fit, and Strava. You can also connect Fitbit, Garmin, Suunto watches, Oura Ring, WHOOP, Withings scales, Keto Mojo, Biosense, or Qardio devices.
Cronometer’s free features include:
The app also offers a paid plan, Cronometer Gold, which provides an ad-free experience with access to a Fasting Timer, Recipe Importer, Macro Scheduler, Time Stamps, and Custom Charts. You can ask for a free trial by signing up for an account and contacting support via email.
Free barcode scanner
Need to contact support to access the free trial
82 micronutrients tracked
Ads in the free version
Database of over 1.1 million verified foods
Missing a lot of restaurant foods
Integration with various fitness-tracking apps and devices
Free macros customization
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App Store: 4.8 (687.5k Reviews)
Play Market: 4.7 (147k Reviews)
Price: Free; $5.49/month for Premium
Carb Manager is the best app for tracking macros and net carbs, with a free barcode scanner, thousands of Keto recipes, and an intermittent fasting tracker. With 15 million downloads and an average 4.8 rating in the app store, it’s a popular choice for those following low-carb diets.
To start, enter your height, current weight, and goals, and the Carb Manager will calculate your daily calorie, carb, fat, and protein targets. The app has an intuitive and user-friendly food-logging system. One standout feature is the Visual “Snap,” which logs everything in an image for you (unlimited daily Snap available only with Premium).
Paid users also have access to Voice Logging, where you can say, “Hey Carb Manager,” and tell it what you ate to track your macros effortlessly. In the premium version, you can track additional metrics, such as sugars, fiber, specific fats, cholesterol, vitamins, minerals, and carbs for diabetes management. You can also set macro goals for any diet.
Carb Manager free features include:
The premium version unlocks additional features, such as:
Carb Manager connects with Fitbit, Garmin, BIOSENSE, Keto-Mojo, Google Fit, and Apple Health.
Free barcode scanner
Meal plans require a premium subscription
Free net carb tracking
UI issues after the last update
Large database of Keto recipes
Intermittent fasting tracker
App Store: 4.8 (662.9k Reviews)
Play Market: 4.2 (142k Reviews)
Price: Free; $9.99+ for Premium
Lose It! is a calorie and nutrition counting tool with over 3.4 million monthly active users. It combines a database of 50+ million searchable foods with 25 macronutrients and health goals to choose from. With its simple and intuitive design, many users consider it the best macro tracking app for beginners.
With Lose It!, you can track calories, macros, proteins, water, carbs, sugars, body measurements, and even sleep cycles. The app allows you to set basic goals, log food from the database, create your own, and stay within your calorie budget. However, the free version is quite limited, and users need to upgrade to premium for advanced nutrient tracking.
Lose It! free features include:
Paid features include:
Lose It! also connects with Fitbit, Misfit, Garmin, Withings, Google Fit, HealthKit, and more.
Easy-to-use interface
Basic features are very limited
Large food database
Barcode scanner available only in Premium
Syncs with fitness apps
Advanced macro tracking is paid
Calorie scheduling
App Store: 4.7 (139.6k Reviews)
Play Market: 4.5 (348k Reviews)
Price: Free; $99.99/year for Premium
Lifesum is a free macro tracker (protein, carbs, and fats) and calorie counter app. When you create a basic account, the tool provides daily nutritional recommendations tailored to your goals and metrics. You can search for food in the database and categorize it as breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack. Lifesum automatically calculates the nutrients you consume.
The app also includes a Life Score feature. Here, you can indicate your food preferences (e.g., vegetarian, vegan) and any allergies.
Lifesum’s free version offers a limited set of features that allow to:
Lifesum also offers a premium plan with three auto-renewing subscription options: $14.99/month, $29.99 for 3 months, and $99.99 for a year. The premium plan includes:
Lifesum connects with Apple Health, Google Fit, Samsung Health, Fitbit, Runkeeper, and Withings.
Free barcode scanner
Adjusting macro goals requires a premium
Intuitive dashboard
Frequent ads in the free version
Sync with health and fitness apps
Limited options for tracking nutrients
App Store: 4.4 (393.5k Reviews)
Play Market: 2.8 (1.1M Reviews)
Price: Free; $9.99/month for Premium
If you actively use Fitbit trackers, you shouldn’t overlook their mobile app. The technology works well for brand users and those searching for the best free macro tracking app. When registering, simply select the “Just use the app” option if you don’t have a Fitbit device.
With Fitbit, you can log your meals, track exercises, and record your steps, among many other features. If you’ve been logging food, the app provides a breakdown of your macro intake over the past week, automatically dividing it into carbs, fat, and proteins.
Fitbit offers the following free features:
Fitbit Premium also offers a daily readiness score, workout videos, a wellness report, and a full set of tips for healthy meal tweaks.
Works seamlessly with Fitbit trackers
Limited features without a Fitbit device
Tracks a wide range of health metrics
Limited macro tracking
Meditation and breathing audio sessions
App Store: 4.7 (721 Reviews)
Price: Free; $5.99/month for FoodNoms+
FoodNoms ranks as one of the best free calorie and macro trackers with encrypted iCloud sync. User data here syncs securely via your iCloud account and integrates with Apple Health. You can scan barcodes for free, with the database containing over 450K branded products, an 85% match rate in the United States. If a food item doesn’t exist in the database, you can also scan nutrition labels.
Users can set specific nutrition goals to lose or gain weight or improve their health. FoodNoms’ standout features include the detailed nutritional breakdown when logging food, including lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. It offers much more detailed insights compared to many other macro counting apps.
FoodNoms also has some other free features:
FoodNoms+ subscription unlocks additional features such as:
With FoodNoms+, you can access portion size estimation, low-calorie notifications, and automatic intermittent fasting goals.
Unlimited food tracking
No Android app available
Free barcode and nutrition label scanner
Limited connections to other apps/devices
Log food with Siri and the Shortcuts app
Custom notifications
App Store: 4.8 (96.5k Reviews)
Play Market: 4.5 (76.7k Reviews)
Price: Free; $8.99+ for Premium
MyNetDiary is widely regarded as the best free macro-tracking app for weight loss, with a database of over 1,660,000 verified foods and up to 108 nutrients. The app lets you log your foods, create meals, and add favorites. You can track calories, total fat, carbs, protein, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, dietary fiber, and calcium. The app also provides notifications for your next meal, weigh-ins, and other reminders.
MyNetDiary free features include:
The premium version offers:
MyNetDiary Premium members also benefit from an ad-free experience and priority technical support.
Extensive database with over 1,660,000 verified foods
Many advanced features require Premium
Free food and exercise tracking
Notifications for meals and weigh-ins
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App Store: 4.5 (578 Reviews)
Price: Free; $11.99 for Premium
MacrosFirst is an expert-approved best macro calculator that allows users to create custom daily goals and unlimited personalized meals for free. The app auto-calculates serving sizes using a simple two-step food logging method. MacrosFirst offers a database of over 5 million meals and a free barcode or smart label scanner.
One of the standout features is the ability to schedule different meals and goals for each day of the week, making it ideal for those with specific training plans. MacrosFirst integrates with Apple Health, Health Connect, Seismic, Google Sheets, Apotheo, Terra, Coach Catalyst, and Fit Coach Pro, providing a wide range of connectivity options.
MacrosFirst’s free features include:
The premium version adds more advanced options:
Premium users can also follow an unlimited number of friends and view their daily logs and nutrition averages.
Free barcode scanner
Net carb tracking is available only in premium
Ability to create custom daily macro goals
Large food database
Extensive integration options
App Store: 4.3 (1.5k Reviews)
Play Market: 4.0 (1.28k Reviews)
Price: Free; $9.99/month for Premium
Trifecta is a ready-to-eat meal delivery service that combines nutrition-focused meals with one of the best macro trackers. The company offers organic meals that are macro-balanced and cater to Paleo, Keto, Vegan, and more preferences. Their plans provide high-protein options and healthy ingredients that make it easier to maintain a balanced diet.
Trifecta app allows users to log meals, snacks, and beverages while tracking water intake, exercises, and more. When you register, you specify goals, dietary preferences, activity level, and body metrics, and the app will tailor a plan for you.
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The downside to the free version is that macros aren’t visible on the dashboard. However, you can still access detailed nutritional breakdowns for each food you log. If you upgrade to the premium version, you gain access to over 17 macro metrics. You can also start with their free macro calculator with a quick survey.
Trifecta app free features include:
Premium features include:
Trifecta also offers a 14-day premium app free trial for new users.
Easy meal logging and personalized plans
Macros not visible on the dashboard in the free version
Free barcode scanner
Premium subscription required for more detailed tracking features
Extensive variety in dietary options
Tracking macros using an app can seem daunting at first, but it’s a simple way to stay on top of your nutritional goals. With their help, you can log meals, scan barcodes, and watch your progress — all from your smartphone.
To start, calculate your daily calorie needs based on age, weight, height, gender, and activity level. You can use online macro calculators or consult a nutritionist. Determine the percentage of calories that should come from carbs, proteins, and fats. Common ratios include 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat, but this can vary depending on your goals (e.g., muscle gain, fat loss, or specific diets like Keto).
Then, choose the best free macro tracking app from the list above. You can try several options until you like one. Create an account and enter your details. Use the app’s search feature to find the foods you eat. Most apps have a vast database of branded and generic foods. For homemade meals, you may need to input ingredients and their portion sizes manually.
As you log each food item, the app will automatically calculate how much of each macro (carbs, protein, fat) you’ve consumed. Most macro counting apps provide a visual breakdown (e.g., pie charts or progress bars) to show how close you are to hitting your daily targets.
Check your macro and calorie intake throughout the week. Based on your progress, you can tweak your goals as needed. This is enough to get you started, but if you want to use advanced features, try looking for open-source material in the app’s community or contact support.
When selecting a free macro tracker, you will definitely face limitations compared to premium versions. Free apps often limit access to advanced features such as detailed nutrient breakdowns or custom macro goals. However, each user may have different needs based on diet preferences, fitness levels, and long-term goals. That’s why you must highlight the main features you should look for.
Here’s what to consider first:
Of course, we can continue this list further. For example, some of the best free macro tracking apps can help manage specific health conditions with premium features. Here, you can find intermittent fasting trackers, blood glucose monitors, or even diabetes management tools. If these features are essential to you, it’s worth exploring what premium options have to offer.
To get the most value from these apps, it’s a good idea to try out free trials. During this period, weigh the features against the cost to determine if the upgrade is worth it for you. In the end, the goal is to select only the best macro tracking app that strikes the right balance between functionality and price.
That wraps up our overview of the best free macro tracking apps. From nutrient counting to simple food logging, we’ve highlighted tools for both beginners and advanced users. With the right app, you can take control of your macros and ensure that every meal aligns with your fitness goals.
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REQUEST CVSYes, tracking macros can work for weight loss. By focusing on the right balance of carbs, proteins, and fats, you can tailor your diet to meet your goals. For example, it helps ensure you get enough protein to preserve muscle mass while cutting calories. Plus, it keeps you accountable by making you aware of what you’re eating. Just stay consistent and adjust your macro goals based on your progress.
It depends on your goals. Counting calories is simpler and gives you an overall idea of how much you eat. But tracking macros breaks down where those calories come from — carbs, proteins, and fats. This information helps you optimize your diet for muscle gain, fat loss, or balanced nutrition. Counting macros is usually more effective if you need more precise control over your diet.
The best way to track macros is by using a dedicated macro-tracking app. These trackers allow you to log your meals, calculate the macros for each food, and adjust your intake.
One of the best free macro tracking apps is MyFitnessPal. It offers a large food database, easy logging, and customizable macro goals. Another strong option is Cronometer, known for its detailed tracking of both macros and micronutrients.
