🏆 Quick Picks
Whether you're trying to lose weight, build muscle, or simply eat healthier, a good calorie counter can make all the difference. But with so many options available, which one is actually worth your time (and money)?
We've tested the most popular calorie counting apps available in the UK in 2026 to give you an honest comparison. Here's what we found.
The 7 Best Calorie Counter Apps in the UK
NutraSafe
Best Overall Value for UK Users
NutraSafe stands out as the only calorie counter that combines standard nutrition tracking with additive scanning (E-numbers), comprehensive vitamin and mineral tracking, and food reaction logging. Built specifically for UK users with UK supermarket products.
✓ Pros
- 81% cheaper than MyFitnessPal Premium
- Only app that scans additives + tracks vitamins
- UK-focused food database
- No ads on free tier
- Unique food reaction tracking
✗ Cons
- Smaller database than MyFitnessPal
- iOS only (no Android yet)
- Newer app – less brand recognition
MyFitnessPal
Largest Food Database
MyFitnessPal is the most well-known calorie counter with the largest food database (14+ million foods). However, it's become increasingly expensive and the free version is now heavily limited with ads.
✓ Pros
- Largest food database
- Well-established, trusted brand
- Good fitness integrations
- Recipe importer
✗ Cons
- Most expensive option (£15.99/mo)
- Free version full of ads
- Database includes inaccurate user entries
- No additive or vitamin tracking in free
Nutracheck
Best UK-Verified Database
Nutracheck is a UK-focused calorie counter with a database verified by qualified nutritionists. Every food entry is checked for accuracy, making it more reliable than crowd-sourced alternatives.
✓ Pros
- Most accurate UK database
- Nutritionist-verified entries
- Good for UK supermarket products
- Includes expert support
✗ Cons
- Only tracks 7 micronutrients
- No additive information
- No free tier (trial only)
- Interface feels dated
Cronometer
Best for Micronutrient Tracking
Cronometer is the gold standard for comprehensive micronutrient tracking. It tracks 82 nutrients including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Popular with biohackers and those with specific dietary requirements.
✓ Pros
- Most detailed micronutrient tracking
- Scientific, data-driven approach
- Good for specific diets (keto, vegan)
- Accurate USDA database
✗ Cons
- Limited UK-specific foods
- Learning curve – complex interface
- No additive information
- May be overwhelming for casual users
Yuka
Best for Food Scanning Only
Yuka is a French app that scans food and cosmetics to rate their health impact. It's great for quick product checks but doesn't function as a full calorie counter or food diary.
✓ Pros
- Quick product scanning
- Good additive information
- Also scans cosmetics
- Simple interface
✗ Cons
- Not a calorie counter
- No food diary function
- French database – UK products limited
- No vitamin/mineral tracking
Lose It!
Best Free Calorie Counter
Lose It! offers a generous free tier with basic calorie tracking. It's a solid choice for beginners who want simple weight loss tracking without paying.
✓ Pros
- Good free version
- Simple, clean interface
- Social features (challenges)
- Snap It AI photo logging
✗ Cons
- US-focused database
- Limited UK products
- Basic nutrition only
- No additive information
MacroFactor
Best for Serious Athletes
MacroFactor uses an algorithm that adapts to your metabolism over time, adjusting your targets based on real weight trends. Popular with bodybuilders and serious fitness enthusiasts.
✓ Pros
- Adaptive algorithm learns your metabolism
- Science-based approach
- Excellent for macro tracking
- Created by nutrition researchers
✗ Cons
- Expensive (£9.49/mo)
- US-focused database
- Overkill for casual users
- No free tier
Quick Comparison Table
| App | Price/mo | UK Database | Vitamins | Additives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NutraSafe | £2.99 | ✓ | ✓ Full | ✓ |
| MyFitnessPal | £15.99 | ◐ | ◐ Premium | ✗ |
| Nutracheck | £4.99 | ✓ | ◐ Basic | ✗ |
| Cronometer | £7.99 | ◐ | ✓ Full | ✗ |
| Yuka | Free | ◐ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Lose It! | Free | ✗ | ◐ Premium | ✗ |
| MacroFactor | £9.49 | ◐ | ◐ | ✗ |
Which Calorie Counter Should You Choose?
Choose NutraSafe if...
- You want the best value (£2.99 vs £15.99 for MyFitnessPal)
- You care about additives and E-numbers in your food
- You want comprehensive vitamin and mineral tracking
- You suspect food intolerances and want to track reactions
- You're in the UK and want UK-specific products
Choose MyFitnessPal if...
- You need the largest possible food database
- You're already using it and don't want to switch
- Budget isn't a concern (£15.99/month)
Choose Cronometer if...
- Detailed micronutrient tracking is your priority
- You follow a specific diet (keto, vegan, carnivore)
- You don't mind a more complex interface
Choose Nutracheck if...
- You want 100% verified UK foods
- Accuracy is more important than features
- You prefer expert support
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free calorie counter app UK?
For free calorie counting in the UK, NutraSafe offers the best value with 5 free food logs daily plus unlimited barcode scanning. MyFitnessPal's free tier has become more limited and shows ads. Lose It! also offers a decent free tier. For serious tracking, paid options starting from £2.99/month provide better features.
Is MyFitnessPal still the best calorie counter?
MyFitnessPal remains popular due to its large food database, but it's now £15.99/month for premium (the most expensive option). Many UK users are switching to alternatives like NutraSafe (£2.99/month) which offers UK-specific foods, vitamin tracking, and additive scanning that MyFitnessPal lacks.
Which calorie counter has the best UK food database?
Nutracheck has the most comprehensive UK-specific database, manually verified by nutritionists. NutraSafe also focuses on UK supermarket products (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, etc.). MyFitnessPal has a large database but includes many US foods and user-submitted entries that may be inaccurate.
What calorie counter app tracks vitamins and minerals?
NutraSafe and Cronometer both track comprehensive vitamins and minerals. NutraSafe tracks vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, K plus minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Cronometer is considered the gold standard for micronutrient tracking. MyFitnessPal only tracks basic macros unless you pay for premium.
📱 Ready to Start Tracking?
Try NutraSafe free – scan unlimited products and log up to 5 foods daily. No ads, no credit card required.