Best Free Calorie Counter Apps for iPhone (2026)
'Free' means different things in calorie trackers. Some apps lock the barcode scanner behind a paywall on day one; others give you the full app and never push you to subscribe. We compared what each popular calorie counter actually lets you do without paying — here's the honest breakdown.
#1
Caloriez
The most generous free tier in 2026
Pros
- + AI food logging works in the free tier
- + Barcode scanner free, no paywall
- + Macro tracking, water tracker, fasting timer included
- + No forced sign-up to start using it
- + Apple Health sync at no cost
Cons
- − Some advanced AI quotas reserved for Premium
- − iOS only for now
Pricing: Free; optional Premium $12.99/mo or $49.99/year
#2
MyFitnessPal
Free tier shrinks every year
Pros
- + Largest food database is still free to search
- + Free macro tracking
Cons
- − Barcode scanner now Premium-only
- − Many reports and features paywalled
- − Ads on free tier
Pricing: Free tier (limited) + Premium ~$19.99/mo
Read full comparison: Caloriez vs MyFitnessPal →#3
Cronometer
Free tier punches above its weight
Pros
- + Detailed micronutrient tracking free
- + Verified food database
Cons
- − Steeper learning curve
- − No AI input
Pricing: Free + Gold ~$54.99/year
Read full comparison: Caloriez vs Cronometer →#4
Lose It!
Free, but you'll hit walls fast
Pros
- + Snap It photo logging on free tier (limited)
Cons
- − Most advanced features Premium-only
Pricing: Free + Premium ~$39.99/year
Read full comparison: Caloriez vs Lose It! →#5
Yazio
Pretty, paywalled
Pros
- + Clean free experience
- + Recipes preview
Cons
- − Most diet plans and reports require Pro
Pricing: Free + Pro ~$39.99/year
Read full comparison: Caloriez vs Yazio →The verdict
In 2026, Caloriez offers the most usable free tier on iPhone — AI logging, barcode scanner and macros all work without paying. MyFitnessPal is still useful for free if you're happy searching for every meal manually. Everything else either limits the free tier aggressively or skips modern AI features altogether.
Try Caloriez free on iPhone
AI food logging, barcode scanner, recipes, meal plans, fasting timer — all in one app.
Download on the App StoreDisclaimer: This article is provided in good faith for informational purposes only. Pricing and feature availability of third-party apps change frequently; some details may be out of date or inaccurate at the time you read this. All app names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners. Caloriez is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of the other apps listed. Always verify current pricing and features on each app's official page before making a purchase decision.