Tracking macros can feel tedious and overwhelming. Whether you’re just starting with macro tracking or are a seasoned pro, counting macronutrients can feel monotonous. The good news is that you can make counting macros easier and faster with tools like apps and calorie counters.
If you’re looking for the best app to track macros, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will help you pick a macro tracker that meets your needs and makes counting calories easier so you can reach your goals faster. How to track macros.
Diet AI's, AI calorie counter is one of the best tools for counting calories faster. This innovative app uses artificial intelligence to help you track your macros and gets smarter the more you use it.
Table of Content
Benefits of Tracking Macros
Tracking Macronutrients to Prevent Health Conditions
Research suggests that monitoring macronutrients can help avert specific health issues. One study discovered that middle-aged individuals who consumed 6% of their daily calories as protein and increased this to 17% were less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, high-carbohydrate diets may mitigate diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. If you have diabetes or cardiovascular issues, consult a healthcare provider for dietary guidance.
Maintaining Weight and Achieving Fitness Goals
Tracking macronutrients can help individuals maintain moderate weight. Eating a starch-based carbohydrate diet that comprises 7–15% fat can reduce body fat percentage and lower the risk of obesity-related health complications in the short term. A 2017 study discovered that individuals who track the amount of food and nutrients consumed over time are likelier to maintain moderate weight. Tracking macros can also help individuals reach fitness goals. Another 2017 review suggests that high-protein diets, such as eating 1.4 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, help maintain muscle mass during resistance training.
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How to Track Macros in 4 Simple Steps
Step 1: Find Your Maintenance Calorie Intake
To accurately track your macros, you need to know your daily calorie needs, or maintenance calorie intake. You can use an online calculator or follow an equation such as the Mifflin-St to determine this number. Jeor equation. Most of these tools will require some basic information, including:
Age
Height
Current weight
Goal weight
Activity level
Step 2: Set Your Daily Calorie Goal
Once you have calculated your current total daily energy expenditure, or TDEE, you can adjust this number up or down to determine how many calories you should aim to consume daily to attain your nutritional goal. If you want to lose weight, you will target a number lower than your TDEE. Conversely, you will want to consume more calories than your TDEE to build muscle.
Step 3: Decide Your Macro Ratio
Now that you have established how many calories you need to consume each day, the next step is determining what ratio of macronutrients will help you achieve your goal most efficiently. The typical recommendation for macronutrient ratio is as follows:
Carbohydrates: 45-65% of total calories consumed
Fats: 20-35%
Proteins: 10-35%
You can fine-tune this ratio to attain specific objectives. For example, if you want to build muscle mass, you may want to decrease the number of carbs and fats in favor of increasing proteins. If you follow a keto diet, you should drop the percentage of carbs to about 10% and increase your fat intake.
Step 4: Count Your Macros
Here is an example of how to calculate the macronutrients required for a 2000-calorie diet:
You choose a 50% carbs, 30% proteins, and 20% fat ratio.
You need 50% of 2000 calories = 1000 calories from carbohydrates per day. At four calories per gram, you need 250g of carbs.
You need 30% of 2000 calories = 600 calories from protein per day. Four calories per gram translates to 150g of protein daily.
You need 20% of 2000 calories = 400 calories from fat per day. At nine calories per gram, this equals 45g of fat daily.
With this macronutrient ratio, your ideal daily intake would comprise 250g carbohydrates, 150g protein, and 45g fat.
Transform Your Nutrition Tracking With DietAI
DietAI transforms calorie counting with our AI calorie counting app. Take a picture of your food, and our app instantly analyzes your meals from a simple photo, delivering accurate calorie and macro information without manual logging. Beyond photo recognition, the app provides comprehensive progress tracking, personalized nutrition insights tailored to your goals, and convenient barcode scanning for packaged foods.
Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply maintain a balanced diet, DietAI makes nutrition tracking effortless by eliminating the tedious aspects of traditional food journaling. Download now to effortlessly track your calories and macros with DietAI, the AI-powered app that makes logging meals as simple as snapping a photo. Download today for 80% off!
15 Best Apps to Track Macros
1. DietAI: The AI-Powered App That Makes Tracking Macros a Breeze
DietAI transforms calorie counting with our AI calorie counting app. Take a picture of your food, and our app instantly analyzes your meals from a simple photo, delivering accurate calorie and macro information without manual logging. Beyond photo recognition, the app provides comprehensive progress tracking, personalized nutrition insights tailored to your goals, and convenient barcode scanning for packaged foods.
Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply maintain a balanced diet, DietAI makes nutrition tracking effortless by eliminating the tedious aspects of traditional food journaling. Download now to effortlessly track your calories and macros with DietAI, the AI-powered app that makes logging meals as simple as snapping a photo. Download today for 80% off!
2. MyMacros+: The Macro Tracker for Serious Macro Counters
MyMacros+ is the first paid-only macro-tracking app on our list. However, it’s a one-off payment of $2.99, so it’s hardly breaking the bank! This provides access to the database of 5 million food items and a barcode and label scanner. The app is easy to use and includes an Apple Watch version, allowing you to track things on the move. You can add your recipes based on ingredient macros or include information available on labels.
This makes it quick and easy to track your macros throughout the day. The Pro version costs $1.99 monthly and gives you access to deeper data analysis and a diet summary. The Macro Coach option ($9.99 monthly) tracks your weekly targets for better progress analysis. MyMacros+ is perhaps not the best option for newbies, as it’s helpful to have some starting information. But if this is you, it’s a great way to level up your macro tracking.
Pros
Despite being paid-only, the app offers lots of good features for the price
Comprehensive options for tracking macros and diet goals
The Apple Watch app is a nice addition
Macros Inc. verified entries within the food database
Cons
Can be more time-consuming to learn
3. Carb Manager: The Best App for Tracking Macros and Net Carbs
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. 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.
Pros
Free barcode scanner
Free net carb tracking
Extensive database of Keto recipes
Intermittent fasting tracker
Cons
Meal plans require a premium subscription. UI issues after the last update
4. MacroFactor: The Smart App for Tracking Macros
MacroFactor is a standout app in the macro tracking space, offering an incredibly intuitive and user-friendly experience. As a nutritionist, I’ve been thrilled to see how this app goes beyond basic macro tracking to provide actionable insights that help users achieve their goals efficiently and sustainably.
What makes MacroFactor unique is its science-backed algorithms that adapt to your progress. Unlike traditional macro apps, MacroFactor doesn’t just ask you to adjust your macros manually; it uses your input (like body weight changes and calorie intake) to update your targets dynamically. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a more innovative, data-driven way to track macros.
Pros
Automatically adjusts macros based on your actual results.
Focuses on long-term sustainability, not crash dieting.
It has an excellent user interface with a clean, modern design.
Integrates with fitness trackers for accurate calorie burn estimates.
Cons
It's free for only 7 days
5. Lose It!: The User-Friendly Macro Tracker
Lose It! is a calorie and nutrition counting tool with over 3.4 million monthly active users. It combines a 50+ million searchable food database with 25 macronutrients and health goals. 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 limited, and users must upgrade to premium for advanced nutrient tracking.
Pros
Easy-to-use interface
Large food database
Syncs with fitness apps
Calorie scheduling
Cons
Basic features are minimal. The barcode scanner is available only in Premium Advanced macro tracking is paid.
6. Macro Sync: The Completely Free Macro Tracking App
Macro Sync is a free macro tracking app designed by experts at Macros Inc. and nutrition coaching leaders. Unlike many competitors that charge for premium features, everything in Macro Sync is free—including tools that other apps lock behind a paywall. With Macro Sync, you gain access to verified food entries, a barcode scanner for easy tracking, and the ability to set custom goals.
It’s a simple, user-friendly app that helps you track your macros, create personalized goals, and measure your progress. The app is updated regularly based on user feedback, ensuring it remains responsive to the community’s needs. While it’s still growing and the database isn’t massive, Macro Sync’s development is fast-paced, with more entries regularly added. Macro Sync offers a fantastic solution backed by a trusted name in the industry for anyone looking to level up their nutrition tracking without hidden fees.
Pros
Completely free with premium-level features
Easy to use and customizable
Integrated barcode scanner for quick tracking
Verified entries by Macro Sync for accuracy
Community support and constant updates
Net carb tracking options for low-carb diets
Cons
The database is still expanding, but more entries are being added frequently
7. FitBit: The Best Free Macro Tracker for Existing Fitbit Users
You shouldn’t overlook their mobile app if you use Fitbit trackers. The technology works well for brand users and those searching for the best free macro tracking app. Select the “Just use the app” option when registering 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.
Pros
Works smoothly with Fitbit trackers
Tracks a wide range of health metrics
Meditation and breathing audio sessions
Cons
Limited features without a Fitbit device
Limited macro tracking
8. MyNetDiary: The Best Macro Tracker for Weight Loss
With more than 18 million members worldwide and a high user rating (4.8 out of 5 on Apple's App Store and 4.7 out of 5 on Google Play), MyNetDiary labels itself as a digital diet "assistant" for weight loss. The app contains more than 1,470,000 verified foods in its database and claims to require fewer steps than other apps to log foods. After assessing weight, age, and height, the app provides users with a daily calorie budget and the choice of either a weekly weight-loss rate or a target date.
Users can customize their dashboards to suit their needs, whichever choice is selected. One service offered is an easy-to-understand graph that breaks down macronutrient targets. (Macronutrient percentages, however, are available only on the paid version.) The app also provides users with personalized tips and advice, such as checking in to see if hydration needs are met. You can opt for the free subscription service with ads and pop-ups or upgrade to the premium service, which offers an ad-free experience and access to recipes for multiple food regimens, including low-carb, vegan, Mediterranean, and high-protein diets.
Pros
Free version includes lots of features
Large database of foods
Cons
Need to upgrade to the paid version if you want to count macronutrients
9. 1st Phorm App: The Best Macro Tracker for Busy People
The 1st Phorm App is such a dynamic app. I strongly recommend it for busy people who don't have time to independently piece together a custom diet plan because it puts an entire weight-loss ecosystem at your fingertips with a catalog of passive and interactive features. You'll track apps, plan a personalized meal plan, follow along with all the best workouts, and get guidance from an advisor.
Let's start with meal planning. This app allows you to select a custom macro plan based on your goals and lifestyle. Your barcode scanner is connected to the world's largest database of food! You can also save custom meals that you like for easy tracking. The workouts alone make this app worth its weight in gold. You're tapping into EMOM interval training, cross training/functional fitness, strength training, traditional workouts, weight-loss workouts, and workouts tailored for home exercise.
Your workouts are customized for tailored results. There's even a visual progress tracker that keeps you motivated. What makes this app such a powerful tool for success is direct, personalized access to your TransPHORMation advisor. Get direct support for any questions at any point of your journey.
You're also getting encouragement, support, and knowledge to help you see incredible progress from daily live streams from registered dietitians and NASM-certified nutrition specialists. You can also join your fellow macro counters in competitions with opportunities to win up to $50,000.
Pros
Makes planning a custom meal plan so easy.
You're tapped into the largest food database in the world.
Just scan food to get information on practically anything!
Incredible selection of cutting-edge relevant workouts for every type of fitness goal.
You can message advisors directly.
Livestreams are packed with helpful information.
You can customize your experience every step of the way.
I love the community aspect of the optional competitions.
Cons
While I love the weekly assessment, I'd love it if it went a little deeper because it's so valuable.
10. MyFitnessPal: The Old Faithful of Macro Tracking Apps
MyFitnessPal is a free app on Android and iOS, but it also has a website you can use. It has a library of 18 million foods, which is pretty impressive. As such, you won’t find it challenging to add in any meal you can think of! The app is easy to use and lets you set goals, add recipes, and monitor other essential factors.
You can do all this in the free version, but the paid version costs $79.99 a year when paid in full. The Premium version offers extras such as barcode and meal scanning, custom tracking, and individual ingredient macros. While these aren’t necessary for every diet plan, they’re helpful extras if you’re happy to pay the money.
Pros
Super easy to use
The free version offers pretty much everything you need
The included database is huge
Cons
Extensive databases can often be inaccurate
11. FoodNoms: The Best Free Macro Tracker for Privacy
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.
You can also scan nutrition labels if a food item doesn’t exist in the database. 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.
Pros
Unlimited food tracking
Free barcode and nutrition label scanner
Log food with Siri and the Shortcuts app
Custom notifications
Cons
Limited connections to other apps/devices
No Android app available
12. Cronometer: The Best Macro Tracking App for Detailed Reports
Do you like setting goals and look forward to working towards them? Then, get this app to track macros. Cronometer is designed for people who are very serious about their nutrition and health-tracking game.
This best free macro tracking app features various food databases and detailed nutrient tracking, including calories, macros, vitamins, and minerals.
One can set highly customizable goals and get detailed nutritional reports. It syncs with various health devices and apps to give you a 360-degree view of your well-being. These features are compatible with all systems, making it the best app for tracking macros.
Pros
Detailed nutrient tracking, including vitamins and minerals
Highly customizable goals
Syncs with many fitness devices and apps
Comprehensive food database
Cons
Interface can be complex for new users
Some features are behind a paywall
13. MacrosFirst App: The Best Free Macro Tracker for Beginners
The MacrosFirst app is one of the easiest, most simplistic macro trackers, but it contains some of the most influential and intuitive features. The best part? It offers some of the most coveted macro tracking app features for free! While MacrosFirst provides a paid version of its app, it gives so much value in its free app that thousands of macro trackers have switched to MacrosFirst and are unlikely to return.
The most significant pain points are tedious macro math, back-and-forth serving size adjustments, and manually entering foods into the database. MacrosFirst tackles both of these problems in the free version of the app by offering the ability to auto-calculate food portions based on your macros. This means no more macro math and endlessly adjusting portions to fit your macros. This feature is exclusive to MacrosFirst and makes tracking exponentially easier.
Furthermore, they have a Smart Label Scanner that instantly scans your nutrition label and automatically populates the nutrition information in the app for you—no more manual entries! These features and benefits are unheard of on other free apps, making this the best free and premium app on the market.
Of course, if you’re willing to shell out a few extra bucks each month to upgrade to the app's premium version, you’ll enjoy even more benefits, like the ability to adjust your macros by the day. So for those of us who like to carb cycle or utilize high/low-calorie days, the app's premium version makes it a breeze to customize your macros in so many different ways, making it well worth the upgrade.
Pros
Simple, clean interface that’s easy to use
Not bloated with ads and extras
Auto-calculate food portions based on your macros
A great database of foods that’s ever-expanding
Free premium scanning tool that auto-populates nutrition information for you
Ability to edit your daily goals based on your macro needs (with the paid version)
Very low monthly cost for the paid version of the app
Cons
It’s not fully integrated with all fitness trackers yet
There’s no body weight tracking option yet, but it's coming soon!
14. Food & Macro Tracker By Fittur: The Next Generation of Tracking Apps
Food & Macro Tracker by Fittur is a next-generation app that takes you far away from the outdated “spreadsheet” style of tracking macros. This intuitive tracker updates your macro targets in real time as your body composition changes. Based on personalized data, you can make good food and exercise decisions. You watch food get subtracted from your macro targets as you eat.
The app even adjusts for serving size. This user-friendly app has simple displays, finger-swipe controls, and automatic calculations. You can also plan your day's worth of meals in minutes. With this app, you're not just tracking macros. There are custom trackers for special health considerations. I love that Fittur lets you keep an accurate whole-health picture by providing a recipe macro calculator, water tracker, and intermittent fasting timer.
You’re also getting macro customization, a macro statistics tracker, weight charts, and more. This app even has unique settings for tracking pregnancy and breastfeeding macros. In addition, it builds in diabetes-management tools. If you share your fitness journey with others, you can encourage them to download the same food-sharing app with friends and family.
Pros
Streamlined and intuitive interface and features.
Lets you track macros for different stages of life, personal goals, and special health considerations.
You can share food with friends and family.
Has 100% five-star reviews in the Apple App Store.
Cons
It's harder to use if you're basing your diet goals on BMI because it uses a proprietary system that considers personal stats.
15. Caliber: The Best Macro Tracking App for Comprehensive Health
Are you tired of switching between apps? Having a remote phone space with one app to track macros, another to count steps, and an additional one to suggest exercises. Then, Caliber is your true calling because this is not just the best app for macro counting but also addresses all aspects of healthcare. It maintains your physical health and calorie intake.
This deadly combination makes it the best macro tracking app if you are trying to lose weight or build more muscle mass. Caliber is a wellness and free macro tracking app that covers all dimensions of health, including exercise and healthy eating. It also focuses on providing personalized coaching and training lessons and some helpful lifestyle change advice for quick growth.
This best app for tracking macros offers various plans to fit different budgets, making it accessible to many people. If you want to spend money, go for Caliber Premium, which costs $200 monthly for a well-rounded fitness plan. We promise your money will not go to waste. You get a personal health coach who creates a customized nutrition and workout plan. The coach helps keep you motivated with regular check-ins and personalized advice, making it an irresistible choice for apps to track macros and regular exercise.
Pros
Comprehensive approach to wellness
Personalized nutrition and workout plans
Regular check-ins with a personal coach
Various plans to fit different budgets
Cons
Premium plan is expensive
Must pay upfront for three months
Requires commitment and regular participation
How to Choose the Best App to Track Macros
Identify Your Goals
Before choosing an app for tracking macros, figure out why you need it. People looking to lose weight want an app that tracks calories and offers meal suggestions. Someone trying to gain muscle will benefit from an app with a macro calculator and progress tracking. If you aren't looking to achieve a specific goal and just want to improve your general health, find an app with nutrient breakdowns and food quality insights.
Consider Essential Features
Not all macro tracking apps are created equal. When exploring your options, consider the following features:
Food Database
An extensive and accurate food database is crucial.
Barcode Scanner
This feature helps log food quickly.
Custom Macros
This allows personalized macro ratios to be set.
Meal Planning
This provides meal suggestions based on your goals.
Integration
Look for apps that sync with fitness trackers like Fitbit or Apple Health.
User Experience
Choose one with a simple and intuitive interface.
Check Pricing
Many apps have a free version that covers basic tracking. However, you will eventually need to pay to unlock advanced analytics, meal plans, and premium support.
Read Reviews
User feedback on the App Store or Google Play can give insight into the reliability and usability of different macro-tracking apps.
Related Reading
• Low Carb Macros
• Macro Foods
• Macro Ratio for Muscle Gain
• Best Macros for Fat Loss
• 40 30 30 Diet
• Macro Split for Cutting
• Macro Ratios
Download DietAI Today for 80% Off!
DietAI transforms calorie counting with our AI calorie counting app. Take a picture of your food, and our app instantly analyzes your meals from a simple photo, delivering accurate calorie and macro information without manual logging. Beyond photo recognition, the app provides comprehensive progress tracking, personalized nutrition insights tailored to your goals, and convenient barcode scanning for packaged foods.
Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply maintain a balanced diet, DietAI makes nutrition tracking effortless by eliminating the tedious aspects of traditional food journaling. Download now to effortlessly track your calories and macros with DietAI, the AI-powered app that makes logging meals as simple as snapping a photo. Download today for 80% off!
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