3 Best Food Tracker Smartphone Apps To Use in 2024

Data helps us make informed decisions in all aspects of life. Technology has made it easier than ever to collect data about our health habits and lifestyle trends.

Paying attention to our metrics allows us to see how our actions impact our outcomes. It also lets us know the impact of our changes – are the results worth the effort?

If you’re not yet sold on the benefits of fitness ‘wearables’ that track our personal wellness data, at least consider keeping a food log via one of the food-tracking smartphone apps. If you’re already using other fitness trackers, it’s easy to see the impact of our behaviors on key metrics like weight, body composition, heart rate, sleep and even glucose levels.

Find what works for you. It can be pen + paper or the smartphone ‘notes’ feature. For those interested in a tracking app, here’s the rundown on three popular (and free!) options, ranked in order of my top picks.

No. 1: Cronometer

Accuracy of Data: Every food is reviewed by the Cronometer team before it’s added to the database.
Transparency of Source: Cronometer shares the source of the nutrition facts data. Sources range from the USDA database to user-generated data to an extensive database used in research.
The Barcode scanner feature is free.

No. 2: MyFitnessPal

Accuracy of Data: Only foods with a green checkmark are checked for accuracy. Others are ‘user-generated,’ meaning that people like you and me are entering these nutrition facts, which may or may not be accurate.
Repeat Common Foods: If you eat the same things regularly, MyFitnessPal makes it easy to re-add recent meals or snacks with just one click.
Customizable Nutrient Goals: Allows you to customize targets for calories and nutrients.

No. 3: Lose It!

Accuracy of Data: Only foods with a green checkmark are checked for accuracy. Other items are ‘user-generated,’ which may or may not be accurate.
Nutrition facts update in real-time: It’s simple to edit an item’s serving size from the default amount, and the nutrition facts change immediately, accordingly.
The free version is limited: The barcode scanner and ability to import recipes only come with the paid version