Counting calories can feel like a full-time job. You might be tracking your calories and macros diligently to hit a goal. But when you open the app to log a meal, you realize you don't know what's in it. You must return to your day and figure out 'How to track macros' to get on with your life. Fortunately, plenty of calorie-counting apps use artificial intelligence to speed up the process.

This guide will help you identify the top calorie-counting apps to find the right one for your needs. One of the best options on the market is DietAI's AI calorie counter. This innovative tool uses artificial intelligence to help you count calories faster and reach your goals. Instead of slowing down to manually track every morsel of food you eat, the AI calorie counter allows you to scan barcodes, upload photos of your food, and even use voice commands to get back to your day faster. 

Table of Contents

• Benefits of Counting Calories

• How to Count Calories Efficiently

• 15 Top Calorie Counting Apps for Everyone

• 7 Tips to Make Calorie Counting Easier

• Download DietAI Today for 80% Off!

Benefits of Counting Calories

Mindfulness: Awareness of Food Choices and Portions 

Counting calories promotes awareness of what you eat and portion control. You’ll think twice about that quick snack and put it back on the shelf or only take it when the calories are deemed valid.  As you learn to identify the calorie contents of different foods, you become more mindful of your choices and how they impact your health and goals.  

Education: Learning the Truth About Foods and Ingredients

Calorie counting can help you become more educated about the foods you eat. You may learn that the things you ought to be eating have a higher calorie content depending on the ingredients that go into it. For instance, a salad may seem healthy, but if it’s loaded with sugary toppings and drenched in creamy dressing, it could pack more calories than a burger. 

Control: Gaining Power Over Your Food and Health

This new knowledge gives you more control over your body weight and how you feel. As you learn to identify calorie counts and build healthier meals, you may discover that processed foods are swapped out for homemade meals that make better use of the number and feel good to eat. 

Purpose: Understanding Foods’ Roles in Your Diet

Calorie counting helps us learn which foods serve what purpose and where we should go, like finding the right energy source for those all-important workouts. 

Goals: Using Calorie Knowledge to Reach Milestones

Once you understand your food’s calorie count, you can make better choices that help you reach your goals. However, we’d say take this with a pinch of salt. You might struggle to achieve your goals without knowing the nutritional value behind the calorie number. 

Action: Learning to Look at the Big Picture

Now that you are actively looking at calorie information on your food, you’ll discover the nutritional information on the back of food labels. These provide you with better facts on which to base your decisions. Whether you want to increase calories for muscle gain or decrease calories for fat loss, now you know which foods to adjust for your goal.

How to Count Calories Efficiently

1. Use a Calorie Calorie-Counting app like DietAI

Regarding tracking macros, I recommend using an app like 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 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. What is My Recommended Caloric Intake?

Your caloric requirements depend on several factors, including gender, age, weight, and activity level. To lose weight, you must create a calorie deficit by consuming fewer calories than your body burns. This calculator can determine how many calories you should eat daily. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommendations for a healthy diet, which include eating five portions of fruits and vegetables per day, not getting more than 5% of calories from added sugar, getting around 30% of your total energy intake from fats, such as fish and oils eating 5 grams of iodized salt (equivalent to about one teaspoon) per day.

3. How to Weigh and Measure Your Portions

Portion sizes have increased over time. In some restaurants, a meal can double or triple the average person’s daily needs. “Portion distortion” is when you view large servings of foods as the norm. It can cause weight gain and hinder weight loss. It can be tricky to estimate how much you eat each day. Calorie counting can help you manage overeating by giving you a better understanding of how much you are consuming. For it to work, you need to record food portions correctly. Here are a few common ways to measure portion sizes: 

Scales

Weighing your food is the most accurate way to determine how much you’re eating. 

Measuring cups

Standard volume measures may be slightly quicker and easier to use than a scale. 

Comparisons

Comparing everyday items is quick and easy, especially if you’re away from home. However, this can be much less accurate. Common examples Here are some common serving sizes compared with household items that may help you estimate your portion sizes: 

• 1 serving of leafy green vegetables (1 cup) 

• a baseball 1 serving of rice or pasta (1/2 cup)

• a computer mouse or rounded handful 1 serving of vegetables (1/2 cup)

• a computer mouse 1 serving of fresh fruit (1/2 cup) 

• a tennis ball 1 serving of meat (3 ounces) 

• a deck of cards 1 serving of fish (3 ounces) 

• a checkbook 1 serving of cheese (1.5 ounces)

• a lipstick tube or the size of your thumb 1 serving of peanut butter (2 tablespoons): 

• a ping-pong ball 1 serving of olive oil (1 teaspoon)

• 1 fingertip Calorie counting isn’t an exact science, even when you weigh and measure portions. 

However, it’s not necessary to be entirely spot-on with your measurements. Just make sure to record your intake as accurately as you can. Try to be careful about recording items high in fat or sugar, such as pizza, ice cream, and oils. Under-recording these foods can cause a big difference between your recorded and actual intake. To improve your estimations, you can use a food scale in the beginning to give you a better idea of what a portion looks like for various foods. This can help you be more accurate, even after you stop using the scale.

Related Reading

• Apple Diet
• Macros for Muscle Gain
• Best Macro Tracking App
• Best App to Track Macros
• Macro Diet Plan
• Macro Ratio for Weight Loss

15 Top Calorie Counting Apps for Everyone

1. DietAI

Forget the old ways of calorie counting. DietAI takes a picture of your food and instantly analyzes the meal to deliver accurate calorie and macro information without manual logging. The user-friendly app makes nutrition tracking effortless by eliminating the tedious aspects of traditional food journaling. Beyond photo recognition, DietAI provides comprehensive progress tracking and personalized nutrition insights tailored to your goals. There’s even a barcode scanner for packaged foods, making it an ideal tool for anyone trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply maintain a balanced diet. 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. 

2. MacroFactor

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 adjust macros based on your actual results.

• Focuses on long-term sustainability, not crash dieting.

• 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.

3. Lifesum

Lifesum, a comprehensive fitness and health application, aids in monitoring people's diet, exercise, and the state of their bodies. Moreover, this myfitnesspal alternative is free and includes customized meal schedules, valuable tips and tricks to stay healthy, and regular workouts adapted for personal objectives. It is a myfitnesspal alternative with a barcode scanner.

Pros

• User-friendly inte­rface

• Extensive food database­ 

• Personalized recomme­ndations

• Syncs with various devices and apps

Cons

• Some features require a premium subscription

• Occasional syncing issues with fitne­ss trackers

• Limited free­ version compared to competitors

4. MyMacros+

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 straightforward 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 a month, which gives you access to deeper data analysis and diet summaries. The Macro Coach option ($9.99 monthly) tracks your weekly targets for better progress analysis. 

Pros

• Despite being paid-only, the app offers many good features at a low 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

• It can be more time-consuming to learn.

5. Macro Sync

Macro Sync is an entirely 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.

Cons

• The database is still expanding, but more entries are being added frequently.

6. 1st Phorm App

The 1st Phorm App is such a dynamic app. I recommend it strongly for busy people who don't have time to piece together a custom diet plan on their own 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 the 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. The thing that ties it all together to make 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 in your journey. You're also getting encouragement, support, and knowledge to help you see incredible progress from daily livestreams 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

• It 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.

7. Noom

Noom is a weight-loss app that helps users adopt healthy lifestyles and gradually reduce weight by combining techniques and specialized advice. 

Pros

• Personalized coaching for accountability

• Technique­s to create lasting change

• Compre­hensive approach to weight loss

• Supportive­ community

Cons

• Higher price compared to some­ alternatives

• Require­s commitment to behavior change

8. Fatsecret

FatSecret is a calorie counting and die­t tracking app that allows users to log their food intake, track the­ir exercise se­t weight goals, and connect with a supportive community. It is myfitnesspal alternative free platform. 

Pros

• Extensive food database­ 

• Free to use with no subscription re­quired

• User-friendly inte­rface

• Community support for motivation

Cons

• Limited feature­s compared to premium alternative­s

• Ads in the free ve­rsion

• Interface could be more­ modern

9. Nike Training Club

The Nike­ Training Club (NTC) app offers a wide range of fitne­ss solutions to help users achieve­ their goals. This myfitnesspal alternative free platform provides a variety of workouts, training plans, and e­xpert guidance from Nike traine­rs. 

Pros

• Dive­rse range of workouts and training plans

• Expert guidance­ from Nike trainers

• User-frie­ndly interface

• Integration with fitne­ss devices

Cons

• Limited nutrition tracking capabilitie­s

• Some premium content re­quires a subscription

10. MyNetDiary

MyNetDiary is a comprehensive­ app that helps you manage your diet and we­ight loss goals. This MyFitnessPal alternative offers calorie tracking, meal planning, exe­rcise tracking, and personalized coaching to support your he­alth journey. 

Pros

• Exte­nsive food database with barcode scanning

• Pe­rsonalized coaching to keep you accountable­

• Integrates with fitness de­vices and apps

Cons

• Some advanced fe­atures require a pre­mium subscription

• Relatively higher price­ point compared to similar apps

11. Runtastic

Runtastic is a flexible fitness app that helps you track your workouts, even when running, cycling, or engaging in othe­r outdoor activities. This MyFitnessPal Alternative offers specific training plans and a variety of workouts to cater to differe­nt fitness levels. 

Pros

• Precise GPS monitoring

• Tailored exercise regimens for different levels of fitness

• Synchronization with fitness gear and applications

Cons

• Accurate­ GPS tracking for reliable data

• Personalize­d training programs to suit your fitness goals

12. Healthify Me

HealthifyMe­ is one of the top MyFitnessPal Alternatives and an Indian health and fitness app that provides pe­rsonalized diet plans, nutrition tracking, workout routines, and acce­ss to certified coaches for guidance­ and support. 

Pros

• Tailored for Indian die­tary preference­s

• Personalized coaching to hold users accountable­

• User-friendly interface

Cons

• Some pre­mium features are only available­ with a paid subscription

• The food database may not be as e­xtensive as global alternative­s

13. Loseit

LoseIt! focuses on weight loss rather than other diet plan goals. As such, it tracks metrics like water consumption and exercise and macro tracking. If you want an all-in-one location specifically for weight loss, it’s a great option. The base app is free, but a Premium version costs $39.99 annually. The free option provides macro tracking, goal-setting metrics, and an extensive food database. You also get a barcode scanner and food suggestions. The Premium version offers device and app syncing, food insights, workout plans, and personalized goals. It’s a reasonable price to pay for these features, especially if you’re new to weight loss and don’t know how to start. Of course, if you have some experience, you likely won’t need them.

Pros

• The food database includes everyday restaurant items.

• The free option offers a good weight loss management platform.

• Provides a holistic approach to weight loss.

Cons

• Setting up and tracking all the metrics can be time-consuming.

14. Coronometer

Do you like setting goals and look forward to working towards them? Then, get this app to track macros. This is great if you want to set weekly goals and keep a check on your caloric intake. It has the potential to be your next 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 with detailed nutrient tracking of 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

• The interface can be complex for new users.

• Some features are behind a paywall.

15. Food & Macro Tracker By Fittur

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 next-generation tracker updates your macro targets in real-time as your body composition changes. You can make good food and exercise decisions based on personalized data. You watch the 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. You're not just tracking macros with this app.

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 macros and breastfeeding macros. In addition, it builds 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.

• It lets you track macros for different stages of life, personal goals, and special health considerations.

• You can share food with friends and family.

Cons

• It's more complicated to use if you're basing your diet goals on BMI because it uses a proprietary system that considers personal stats.

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

7 Tips to Make Calorie Counting Easier

1. Embrace Imperfection: Don't Aim for Flawless in an Unreliable System

Perfection is not the goal of calorie counting. The very premise of the system is flawed. Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)—the number of calories your body needs to maintain essential bodily functions—represents a "best guess" at an estimate that is based on years of scientific research across millions of people. Your BMR will vary based on your differences, and tracking your calories will help you understand your unique metabolism over time. The food industry does the same.

In 1991, the Australian Food Standards Code stated that the value shown on a Nutrition Information Panel was deemed compliant if it did not vary by more than 20% from the actual values present. While regulations have changed, there are still no laws mandating the accuracy of calorie counts on food labels. In the US, studies show that even commonly consumed snack foods can vary significantly from their published calorie counts. So, when you begin tracking your calories, understand that consistency is key, not perfection. By committing to the process, you will hold yourself accountable, and over time, you will improve your food choices to help you reach your goals.

2. You're Not Sentenced to Calorie Counting; It's a Learning Experience

Calorie counting isn't something you do for life. Instead, it’s an educational experience; the more you understand about the energy in food and how it relates to your goals, the better your relationship with food will be. Rather than approaching tracking with a “pass or fail” mentality, view it as an opportunity to learn. Understand how your food choices impact your energy levels and ability to control stress. Learn to identify how your eating habits affect your progress toward your goals. You get to determine how long this educational period lasts. With time, you will become allowed enough to stop tracking calories altogether—that’s the goal. Instead, you want to be educated enough about nutrition that you never have to open an app ever again. 

3. No Right or Wrong: Just Explore

I want to get this printed on a T-shirt. Seriously. There is no right or wrong in tracking calories—there is only exploration. If you go over your calorie count, the only person judging you is you. If you don't hit your protein target, the only person judging you is you. Whenever something sub-optimal occurs, the good news is that you can learn from it, grow from it, and ultimately succeed from those lessons. You are only ever investigating, course-correcting, and developing—you are not passing or failing. 

4. If It Has a Barcode, Track It

This one is so simple it hurts. Most tracking apps, like DietAI, have a barcode scanner. Scanning the barcode will take you seconds to get all the nutritional information you need about that food. So if you eat something with a barcode on the package—which will be a fair 75% of the food you eat—just track it. 

5. Set Up Generic Value Amounts for Fruits and Veggies

Let’s be clear—no one ever gained weight from eating too many fruits and veggies. Even if you are a vegetarian, I promise you that fruits and vegetables are not the problem. When tracking them, they can be annoying when put into an app accurately. Therefore, set up a generic value for fruits and vegetables, save that into your app, and use that every time you have your veggies at dinner. I scan a bag of frozen vegetables, set it to 100g, and use that every time I have dinner—irrespective of the vegetables.

6. Eating Out? Add 30% to Your Meal

I mentioned this earlier in the article, but it’s a strategy that makes everything more accurate when tracking your food. The best way to track your food when eating out would be the following: 

1. See online if the restaurant publishes its calories 

2. In the restaurant, take a photo. 

3. When at home, best guess the amounts. 

4. Add 30% on every quantity, even if the restaurant does publish their calories. 

That way, you have the bases covered. And remember, if you are out celebrating—celebrate. Don’t worry about the calories on special occasions—just worry about getting back on track the next day.

7. Cook Meals That Are Already Calorie Tracked

This is the one that perplexes me the most when it comes to people trying to lose weight and using calorie tracking as a solution. It also perplexs me with clients on my Strong and Confident Program—who are tracking and have access to over 250 recipes, all with calorie-tracked barcodes including vegetarian and vegan options—yet they still say that tracking is too hard. All the hard work has been done for you.

If you Google Dinner Recipes, you get 688,000 results; the top ones are all with the macros and calories already figured out for you. So use that resource. I guarantee you will be able to find a version of your favorite meal that is now barcode scannable or has all of the nutritional information figured out for you. Then, you just have to copy and paste. The brass tax is if you can’t be bothered to copy and paste some information or spend ten minutes finding the information on the internet to track your calories—then engaging in a fitness journey will always be a slog for you. 

The Game-Changing DietAI App

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 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!

Download DietAI Today for 80% Off!

DietAI changes the game for tracking macros. This app uses photo recognition technology to scan your food and instantly deliver accurate calorie and macro information to eliminate tedious manual logging. Beyond photo recognition, the app provides progress tracking, personalized nutrition insights, and convenient barcode scanning for packaged foods. Whether 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.

Related Reading

• MyFitnessPal Alternatives
• Macros for Dummies
• Macro Diet for Beginners
• Lean Bulk Diet Plan
• How to Track My Macros