The Free Calorie Counter for iPhone

Fast, accurate, and ad-free — the calorie tracker you'll actually stick with. Log meals in seconds and get on with your day.

Free, with no ads and no account required. Everything or just calorie counting: you choose during setup.

App Store 4.8

164,000+ ratings

MyNetDiary for iPhone at a Glance

Price	Free; Premium and Premium Plus optional
Ads	None
Account required	No
Platforms	iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, web
Food database	2M+ staff-verified foods
Nutrients tracked	Up to 108
Barcode scanner	Free
Apple Health	Writes 51 data types; reads 14
US App Store rating	4.8★ from 164,000+ ratings

Recognized by

Forbes Health ranked MyNetDiary #1 in Best Weight Loss Apps of 2025
American Journal of Preventive Medicine highest behavioral-strategies score of 30 apps
U.S. News & World Report named MyNetDiary best for overall tracking
The New York Times called MyNetDiary simpler, quicker, and better-looking than the competition
Today’s Dietitian noted “a staff of RDs experienced in weight management, diabetes, cardiovascular health”

32 million people trust MyNetDiary

Proven in a Peer-Reviewed Study

Users who tracked food 6–7 days per week lost 11.33% of their body weight on average over 6 months. For a 220-lb person, that's about 25 lb, or about 1 lb per week.*

The odds of clinically significant weight loss were 35% higher with each added tracking day per week, and even 2–3 days a week averaged a 7.35% loss. Consistency beats perfection.

*Peer-reviewed study of 5,132 MyNetDiary users, Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2026 (read the study). Observational; individual results vary.

Mean percent of body weight lost over 6 months, by food-tracking days per week (n = 5132)
Tracking days per week	Mean percent of body weight lost
Under 2	6.8%
2 to 3	7.4%
3 to 4	7.8%
4 to 5	8.0%
5 to 6	9.8%
6 to 7	11.3%

Tracking days per week. Groups are nonoverlapping; lower bounds inclusive.

Why People Switch

MyNetDiary differs from other calorie trackers in three practical areas: verified food data, logging speed, and a free tier that includes barcode scanning and shows no ads. Current users' reviews say how it's going.

Staff-Verified Accuracy

MyNetDiary combines USDA and NCC research-grade data, the same sources used in clinical research, with more than 2 million branded, restaurant, and generic foods carrying up to 108 nutrients per entry. The database is licensed by more than 50 diet apps and services. MyNetDiary is used in five academic and clinical research trials. Every branded and restaurant entry is reviewed by MyNetDiary's nutrition research staff, with 2,500–3,500 foods reviewed or updated each day. MyFitnessPal's bigger catalog is mostly user-submitted, which is how duplicates and inconsistent entries get in. If a food is missing, the PhotoFood service adds it from your label photos, typically the same day. In a 2026 independent study comparing 13 nutrition apps against standardized three-day food records, MyNetDiary and FatSecret produced the energy estimates closest to the reference records.

Fewer Taps Per Meal

In our January 2026 test, we logged the same 127 foods in every major calorie counter over a week and counted every action. MyNetDiary took 711; MyFitnessPal needed 1,035 and Cronometer 1,003, up to 46% more for the same meals. Full methodology linked.

A Free Tier Without Walls

Barcode scanning, full macro tracking, and uncapped progress charts are free here. MyFitnessPal and Lose It! put barcode scanning behind a paywall, and Cronometer shows ads on its free tier. MyNetDiary does none of that.

Better Reviews from Current Users

Lifetime star ratings hide decline; recent reviews don't. The monthly Diet App Scorecard analyzes recent US App Store written reviews with a published methodology. MyNetDiary has been consistently among the top-rated apps in every edition, scoring between 4.40 and 4.56, and returned to #1 in July 2026 at 4.46 while MyFitnessPal sat at 2.18; different apps led in May and June, and every month's data is published either way.

What You Get for Free

MyNetDiary has a lot in it, but you decide how much of it you see. During onboarding the app asks what you need. Say you only want to count calories, with no diets, tips, or coaching, and it becomes a lean calorie tracker: the free scanner and the verified catalog, with the fastest logging in our testing. The Dashboard is fully configurable, and every tool and feature can be turned on or off.

Everything below is included in the free iPhone app, with no time limit.

Log it fast

Food diary with search, favorites, recent meals, and copy-from-day
Free barcode scanner backed by the verified database
Voice logging for hands-free entry: speak individual foods for quick entry on Free, or describe a whole meal conversationally with AI Voice Logging on Premium Plus
Custom foods and recipes
Works offline; syncs when you're back online

Understand what you eat

Full macro and protein tracking and planning — by grams or calorie percentages
Up to 108 nutrients free: vitamins, minerals, omegas, and amino acids
Custom calorie, macro, and nutrient targets
Calorie calculator and deficit tracking
Customizable dashboard

Stay on track

Weight loss charts and reports with no chart caps
Coaching tips and meal reminders
Progress photos
Unlimited data history — no time limits on your diary
Exercise and water tracking
Shopping list

Connected

Apple Watch app, plus 4 home screen and 12 lock screen widgets
Apple Health sync: writes 51 data types, reads 14
Food sharing with family — log dinner once, the whole household gets it
Professional Connect: work with your dietitian or coach — they follow your diary, free for them too
Community and articles by Registered Dietitians

See how MyNetDiary’s free tier stacks up against other calorie counters.

See the free calorie tracker comparison →

Built for iPhone

What does the daily work once you start logging.

Meal Scan and the Free Barcode Scanner

Point the free barcode scanner at any package for verified calories, macros, and the full label. Or photograph your plate with Meal Scan on Premium and log the whole meal at once, matched against the same staff-verified database.

Explore the barcode scanner →

AI Coach

AI Coach is built on 20 years of nutrition expertise. It gives daily guidance based on what you logged rather than what you planned, suggests meals that fit your remaining calories, and scans restaurant menus for the best options when you eat out. Available in Premium Plus.

GLP-1 Companion

Nutrition-first support for Ozempic, Zepbound, and other GLP-1 medications: a protein-first dashboard focused on supporting muscle preservation, emphasized fiber and hydration, medication reminders, and symptom logging. Built with our Registered Dietitians. Available in Premium.

See the GLP-1 Companion →

Advanced Autopilot

Advanced Autopilot is an adaptive algorithm: instead of a formula frozen at signup, it estimates your actual energy expenditure (TDEE) from your logged food and your weight trend, then updates calorie and macro targets as that estimate changes. Your weight forecast updates with every entry. Available in Premium.

See Advanced Autopilot →

Planning for Any Diet

Plan by target date, weekly rate, or your own calorie budget, with four methods to estimate your energy needs. MyNetDiary supports balanced, low-carb, keto, high-protein, Mediterranean, and vegetarian eating, with calorie and macro cycling plus 600+ dietitian-created recipes and meal plans on Premium.

See planning tools →

Health and Diabetes Tracking

Track body measurements, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, A1C, and ketones alongside your food. The BG patterns view lays your meals, exercise, glucose checks, and meds out on one timeline. Available in Premium.

See health tracking →

Community

Public and private groups, daily success stories, and recipe sharing with other members, backed by Registered Dietitians’ articles and how-to videos. All free.

See the community →

Medication Tracking

Log medications and doses next to meals. They share a timeline with food, glucose checks, and exercise, so patterns show up. Available in Premium.

See medication tracking →

Family Food Sharing

If two people eat the same dinner, only one person needs to enter it. Shared foods and recipes land in every family member's diary. Free with the app.

See family sharing →

The Calorie Counter for Apple Watch

Yes, MyNetDiary includes a native Apple Watch app in its free tier. It logs foods, meals, water, and quick calories from your wrist, shows remaining calories and macros at a glance, and can display any tracked nutrient. Watch-face complications keep your calorie budget in view all day, and My Meals set up on the phone log with a single tap on the watch.

Log Foods & Water
Track Nutrients
Watch-Face Complications
Reminders & Notifications

MyNetDiary calorie ring and remaining calories on an Apple Watch face

Calorie Counting
on iPad

Same account, same diary, same database, laid out for the big screen. MyNetDiary for iPad puts your food log, charts, and planning side by side, which makes it the comfortable choice at a desk or in the kitchen. Everything stays in sync across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and the web app.

MyNetDiary food log, charts and planning side by side on iPad

Apple Health, Both Ways

Writes 51 data types to Apple Health, from nutrients and workouts to measurements and vitals, and reads 14, including steps, weight, and workouts from other apps and devices.

Siri Shortcuts

Check remaining calories, log water glasses, or record whole meals by voice with shortcuts you set up once.

iMessage Meal Sharing

Send a logged meal or a saved recipe over iMessage; the recipient taps to add it to their own diary, adjusting portions as needed.

Dynamic Type and Landscape Support

If you've increased the font size on your iPhone, the whole app scales to the text size you set in iOS Settings, and every screen works in landscape orientation.

Choose the Plan That Fits You

Start free — the free tier is the full tracker. Upgrade when a specific feature earns it. The table is the full inventory. During onboarding you choose the depth or the simplicity you want, and if your needs change later, you can pick and choose.

MyNetDiary plan feature comparison for iPhone (2026)
Feature	Free	Premium	Premium Plus
Food diary with search, favorites, recent meals, and copy-from-day	✓	✓	✓
Exercise and water tracking	✓	✓	✓
Free barcode scanner	✓	✓	✓
Voice logging	✓	✓	✓
Macro and protein tracking and planning, by grams or calorie percentages	✓	✓	✓
Up to 108 nutrients with custom targets, vitamins and minerals included	✓	✓	✓
Weight loss charts and reports, no caps	✓	✓	✓
Unlimited data history	✓	✓	✓
Fully configurable Dashboard	✓	✓	✓
Apple Watch app, home and lock screen widgets	✓	✓	✓
Apple Health sync: writes 51 data types, reads 14	✓	✓	✓
Custom foods and recipes	✓	✓	✓
Shopping list	✓	✓	✓
Coaching tips and meal reminders	✓	✓	✓
Community and food sharing with family	✓	✓	✓
Professional Connect — work with your dietitian or coach	✓	✓	✓
Works offline	✓	✓	✓
Exercise calorie add-back — 0% or 50% free, any value in Premium	✓	✓	✓
Meal Scan photo logging	✗	✓	✓
GLP-1 Companion	✗	✓	✓
Autologging — set regular meals once, they log automatically	✗	✓	✓
Intermittent fasting	✗	✓	✓
Calorie and macro cycling	✗	✓	✓
Advanced Autopilot — adaptive TDEE-based calorie and macro targets	✗	✓	✓
4 methods to estimate energy needs: EER, RMR, BMR by body fat, Mifflin-St. Jeor	✗	✓	✓
Health tracking: body measurements, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, A1C, ketones	✗	✓	✓
Medication tracking	✗	✓	✓
Up to 50 custom trackers and biometrics	✗	✓	✓
Fitbit, Garmin, and Withings sync	✗	✓	✓
Trend Analysis	✗	✓	✓
Meal Planner	✗	✓	✓
Recipe import	✗	✓	✓
600+ recipes and diet plans by Registered Dietitians	✗	✓	✓
AI Coach: daily guidance and answers anytime	✗	✗	✓
AI Suggest Meals	✗	✗	✓
AI Voice Logging — spoken meal descriptions become structured diary entries	✗	✗	✓
AI Restaurant Menu Scan	✗	✗	✓

Every plan starts with the same free download — upgrade anytime inside the app.

MyNetDiary holds 4.8 stars across more than 164,000 ratings on the US App Store. When people ask which is the best calorie counter app for iPhone, recent review scores are a fair place to look: the monthly Diet App Scorecard tracks how current users review and rate MyNetDiary against the other major trackers, with a disclosed, reproducible method.

Savannah · May 2026

Great App! I've been using the free version for years. Even the free version has done a great job tracking everything and given me great tips. it's really made keeping track of everything much easier!
Lucy · November 2025

Easy to use, bar code scanner works every time and is accurate. If a food isn't in the database you can add it, but that's not often. The Premium membership is well worth the few dollars to explore different meal plans and nutritional information.
Barbara · April 2025

I absolutely love this app! It's super easy to use, and it's also quick! I like that I can actually look up a food and see if I really want to use those calories or not! Hope that makes sense! You'll love it too!
Roxanne · January 2025

Excellent app, tracks everything. The paid version is worth it to check you're getting exactly the right nutrients too

Individual results vary. These reviews describe the experience of individual members and are not a promise of any particular outcome.

Browse the monthly Diet App Scorecard →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free calorie counter app for iPhone?

For iPhone users who want free barcode scanning, detailed nutrient tracking, Apple Watch support, and no ads, MyNetDiary is one of the strongest choices for a free calorie counter for iPhone: its free tier includes the barcode scanner, calorie and macro tracking, up to 108 nutrients, the Apple Watch app, and Apple Health sync, with no account required. In our January 2026 test it also logged the same meals in fewer actions than any other major tracker.

Is MyNetDiary free on iPhone?

Yes. The free MyNetDiary app includes the food diary, barcode scanner, voice logging, full macro and nutrient tracking, water tracking, progress charts, and the Apple Watch app, with no ads and no account required. Premium adds Meal Scan, GLP-1 Companion, Advanced Autopilot, health tracking, and Fitbit, Garmin, and Withings sync; Premium Plus adds the AI tools.

Does MyNetDiary have a free barcode scanner?

Yes. The barcode scanner is free and pulls from the staff-verified database, so a scan returns verified calories, macros, and the available nutrient detail for that food rather than a user-typed guess.

Does MyNetDiary work on Apple Watch?

Yes, in the free tier. The native Watch app logs foods, meals, water, and quick calories from your wrist, shows remaining calories and macros, and keeps your calorie budget on a watch-face complication.

Does MyNetDiary sync with Apple Health?

Yes, both ways and automatically: it writes 51 data types (nutrients, workouts, measurements, vitals) and reads 14 (steps, weight, and workouts from other apps and devices).

Does MyNetDiary sync with Fitbit or Garmin?

Yes. MyNetDiary Premium connects directly to Fitbit, Garmin, and Withings, bringing steps, workouts, and smart-scale weigh-ins into your diary automatically. Apple Health sync is free and also carries data from Apple Watch and many other devices.

How many nutrients does MyNetDiary track?

MyNetDiary can track up to 108 nutrients, including vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B group, minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc, plus omega-3s and amino acids, all in the free app. The nutrients available for an individual food depend on its source data; foods linked to research-grade composition data carry the fullest profiles.

Is MyNetDiary too complicated if I only want to count calories?

No. During onboarding, tell the app you only want to count calories, with no diets, tips, or coaching, and it becomes a lean calorie tracker: food diary, free scanner, and the database with the fastest logging in our testing. The Dashboard is fully configurable, and any tool or feature can be turned on or off later.

Can I use MyNetDiary on iPad?

Yes, natively, with the same account, diary, and database laid out for the larger screen, in sync with iPhone, Apple Watch, and the web app.

Does MyNetDiary work offline?

Yes. Log foods, water, and exercise without a connection, and the app syncs when you're back online. That covers flights, gym basements, and anywhere else coverage drops.

Does tracking food actually work for weight loss?

Yes. In a peer-reviewed, observational Journal of Medical Internet Research study of 5,132 MyNetDiary users, tracking food 6-7 days a week was associated with an average loss of 11.33% of body weight over 6 months, and more frequent tracking was associated with greater weight loss at every tracking-frequency level. Each additional tracking day per week was associated with 35% higher odds of losing at least 5% - the clinically significant threshold. Observational data shows association, not causation, and individual results vary.

Is MyNetDiary accurate?

Yes. MyNetDiary's database is staff-verified: over 2 million foods built on USDA and NCC research-grade sources, with 2,500-3,500 entries reviewed daily. In a 2026 independent validation study, MyNetDiary's three-day energy estimate came within 5 kcal of the dietitian reference; of the 13 apps tested, only MyNetDiary and FatSecret came that close.

How does Advanced Autopilot work?

Advanced Autopilot is MyNetDiary's adaptive algorithm. Rather than relying on the numbers you entered at signup, it watches what you log and how your weight trends, estimates your real energy expenditure (TDEE), and updates your calorie and macro targets as that estimate shifts. It's part of Premium.

What's the difference between MyNetDiary Premium and Premium Plus?

MyNetDiary Premium adds Meal Scan photo logging, GLP-1 Companion, Autologging, intermittent fasting, calorie and macro cycling, Advanced Autopilot, health tracking, and Fitbit, Garmin, and Withings sync. Premium Plus includes all of Premium plus the AI set: AI Coach, AI Suggest Meals, AI Voice Logging, and AI Restaurant Menu Scan.

Download free on the App Store. Start with the free calorie counter app for iPhone; upgrade inside the app when Meal Scan or AI Coach earns a place in your routine.

The Free Calorie Counter for iPhone

MyNetDiary for iPhone at a Glance

Recognized by

Proven in a Peer-Reviewed Study