Free Food Diary App UK 2026

Free Tier Comparison: What You Actually Get

This table compares the free tier of each app — not what you get on a trial, but what remains available permanently without paying.

Prices as of February 2026. All prices in GBP. Nutracheck operates on a subscription model with a free trial period rather than a permanent free tier.

What to Look for in a Free Food Diary App

Not all free tiers are created equal. Here is what actually matters when choosing a food diary app you will not have to pay for:

1. A reliable UK food database

This is the single most important factor for UK users. An app with a US-centric database will not recognise products from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or Aldi. It also may not use UK nutritional reference values. NutraSafe and Nutracheck have purpose-built UK databases; MyFitnessPal has UK products but accuracy varies because entries are user-contributed.

2. Barcode scanning

Scanning a barcode is dramatically faster than manually searching for foods. Most free tiers include barcode scanning, but some (like MyFitnessPal) slow it down or restrict how quickly you can scan consecutive products unless you upgrade.

3. Usable without ads

Advertisements in a food diary app are not just annoying — they interrupt the flow of logging, which makes you less likely to stick with the habit. NutraSafe and Cronometer are ad-free on their free tiers. MyFitnessPal and Lose It! show ads on free plans.

4. Enough daily logs

Some apps limit how many food items you can log per day on the free plan. If you eat three meals plus snacks, you need at least 5-8 log entries per day to track meaningfully. Check whether the app’s free tier covers your typical day.

5. More than just calories

Calories alone do not tell you much. Macro tracking (protein, carbs, fat) is available for free in most apps. But if you want vitamins, minerals, or additive information, the options narrow significantly. Cronometer is the best free option for micronutrients; NutraSafe is the only one offering free additive checking.

App-by-App Breakdown

NutraSafe (Free Tier)

NutraSafe’s free plan gives you 5 food diary entries per day, unlimited barcode scanning, full additive and E-number analysis, food reaction tracking, and use-by date reminders — with no advertisements. The UK-curated database means you will find products from British supermarkets accurately represented. Premium adds unlimited logging, micronutrient tracking, AI nutritional coaching, and export features.

MyFitnessPal (Free Tier)

MyFitnessPal remains one of the most popular food trackers globally. The free tier allows unlimited food logging and basic calorie/macro tracking. However, the free version now shows frequent ads, restricts barcode scanning speed, limits meal insights, and locks micronutrient data behind Premium (£15.99/month). The database is large but user-contributed, so accuracy for UK products can be inconsistent.

Lose It! (Free Tier)

Lose It! offers unlimited free logging with calorie and macro tracking. The interface is clean and straightforward. However, the food database skews heavily towards US products, making it less useful for UK shoppers. Advanced features like meal planning, nutrient insights, and integrations are Premium only. The free tier includes ads.

Cronometer (Free Tier)

Cronometer stands out for including full micronutrient tracking for free — 82 vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. The database uses verified nutritional data rather than user submissions, so accuracy is excellent. The downside is a smaller UK product selection compared to NutraSafe or MyFitnessPal, and no additive or ingredient analysis.

Nutracheck (Free Trial)

Nutracheck is UK-specific with an excellent British food database. However, it does not have a permanent free tier — it offers a 7-day free trial, after which you must subscribe (£4.99/week). If budget is the primary concern, this is the most expensive option for ongoing use.

Why Free Tiers Exist

It is worth understanding why apps offer free plans. There are generally three models:

• Freemium (NutraSafe, Cronometer): A genuinely useful free version that gives you the core experience. Premium adds power-user features. The idea is that once you see the value, you may choose to upgrade — but you are not forced to.
• Ad-supported (MyFitnessPal, Lose It!): The free version is funded by advertising. You get the features, but with interruptions. This model is common but can make daily use feel frustrating over time.
• Trial-based (Nutracheck): A time-limited free trial designed to get you invested before the paywall appears. There is no ongoing free option.

When It Is Worth Paying

A free food diary app is perfectly adequate if you are:

• Casually tracking to build awareness of what you eat
• Logging a few meals per week rather than every meal every day
• Focused on basic calorie and macro counting
• New to food tracking and want to try it before committing financially

Consider upgrading to a paid plan if you want:

• Unlimited daily entries without any restrictions
• Full micronutrient tracking — vitamins, minerals, fibre
• AI-powered weekly nutritional assessments and coaching
• An ad-free experience with no interruptions
• Advanced features like food reaction analysis or data export

How to Get the Most from a Free Food Diary

• Log as you eat, not at the end of the day. Real-time logging is far more accurate than trying to remember what you had for lunch six hours later.
• Use barcode scanning whenever possible. It is faster and more accurate than manual search. Even if you eat the same breakfast every day, scanning takes seconds.
• Do not aim for perfection. Missing a meal or a snack is fine. Consistent, imperfect tracking beats sporadic, obsessive tracking.
• Review weekly, not daily. Day-to-day variation is normal. Look at your averages over a week to spot patterns and trends.
• Use the free tier to build the habit first. The most expensive app in the world is useless if you stop using it after three days. Get the habit established on a free plan, then decide if premium features would genuinely help.
• Check out the best calorie counter apps UK 2026 guide for a broader comparison including paid options.

NutraSafe’s Free Tier in Detail

Here is exactly what you get with NutraSafe without paying anything:

• 5 food diary entries per day — enough for three meals and two snacks
• Unlimited barcode scanning — scan as many products as you like
• Full additive and E-number analysis — see what is in your food
• Calorie and macro tracking — protein, carbs, and fat
• Food reaction tracking — log how foods make you feel
• Use-by date reminders — reduce food waste
• No advertisements — a clean, uninterrupted experience
• UK-curated food database — products from British supermarkets

Premium (£4.99/month) adds unlimited daily logging, full micronutrient tracking (26 vitamins and minerals), AI weekly nutritional assessments, and data export. But the free tier is designed to be genuinely useful on its own — not a stripped-down demo.

Frequently Asked Questions

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