Quick Summary
- Yuka: Scans products to show health scores. French database. Also scans cosmetics. No daily tracking.
- NutraSafe: Scans products AND tracks daily nutrition. UK database. Tracks vitamins, reactions, expiry dates.
- Best for: Use Yuka for quick product checks + cosmetics. Use NutraSafe for ongoing nutrition tracking with UK foods.
The Key Difference
Yuka and NutraSafe are fundamentally different apps that happen to share one feature: barcode scanning.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | NutraSafe | Yuka |
|---|---|---|
| Barcode Scanning | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Health Scores | ✓ A+ to F grades | ✓ 0-100 colour-coded |
| Additive Detection | ✓ E-numbers explained | ✓ Risk levels shown |
| Food Database Focus | UK supermarkets | French/European (4M products) |
| Daily Calorie Tracking | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Vitamin/Mineral Tracking | ✓ All major vitamins | ✗ No |
| Food Diary | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Cosmetic Scanning | ✗ No | ✓ Yes (2M products) |
| Food Reaction Tracking | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Expiry Date Reminders | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Fasting Timer | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Alternative Recommendations | ✗ No | ✓ Suggests healthier options |
| Organic Status in Score | ✗ No | ✓ 10% of score |
| Offline Mode | ✗ Requires connection | Premium only |
| Free Version | Unlimited scans, 5 logs/day | Unlimited scans |
| Premium Price (UK) | £2.99/month | £10-15/year |
Where Yuka Wins
Yuka has genuine advantages:
- Cosmetic scanning: Yuka scans skincare, makeup, and personal care products (2 million items). NutraSafe is food-only.
- Healthier alternatives: When you scan a poor-rated product, Yuka suggests better alternatives. NutraSafe doesn't recommend products.
- Larger database: 4 million food products vs NutraSafe's smaller UK-focused database. Though Yuka's strength is Europe, not UK specifically.
- Organic consideration: Yuka factors organic certification into health scores (10% of total). NutraSafe doesn't consider organic status.
- Cheaper premium: £10-15/year vs NutraSafe's £2.99/month (£36/year).
- Independence: Yuka is completely independent with no industry funding - they're transparent about this.
Where NutraSafe Wins
- Daily nutrition tracking: NutraSafe is a complete food diary. Track calories, macros, vitamins, and minerals over time. Yuka only shows product info - no daily tracking.
- UK food focus: NutraSafe's database is built specifically for UK supermarket products. Yuka was created in France and its database is strongest for European products.
- Vitamin and mineral tracking: NutraSafe tracks all major vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, K) and minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc). Yuka doesn't track micronutrients at all.
- Food reaction tracking: Log symptoms and discover patterns between foods and how you feel. Yuka doesn't have this.
- Expiry date tracking: Get reminders before food expires. Unique to NutraSafe.
- Fasting tools: Built-in intermittent fasting timers. Yuka doesn't offer this.
Database Comparison: UK Coverage
This matters if you're in the UK. Yuka was created in France in 2017 and expanded internationally. Its database is strongest for:
- French products
- Major European brands
- International products sold across Europe
NutraSafe was built specifically for UK users. Its database focuses on:
- Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, M&S own-brand products
- Aldi, Lidl, Co-op, Iceland products
- UK restaurant chains (Greggs, Nando's, Costa, Pret)
In practice: Yuka will likely find most branded products. But for UK supermarket own-brand items (often the cheapest options), NutraSafe typically has better coverage.
How the Health Scores Differ
Yuka's Scoring (0-100)
- 60% nutritional quality (using Nutri-Score system)
- 30% additive presence and risk level
- 10% organic certification
Yuka shows: Excellent (75-100, dark green), Good (50-75, light green), Poor (25-50, orange), Bad (0-25, red)
NutraSafe's Scoring (A+ to F)
- Processing level (ultra-processed vs whole foods)
- Additive safety (E-numbers with explanations)
- Nutritional value (sugar, fibre, protein balance)
NutraSafe doesn't consider organic status - only the actual nutrition and additives.
Our Verdict
Use Yuka if you want to quickly check product health scores while shopping, scan cosmetics, or find healthier alternatives. It's a great scanning app.
Use NutraSafe if you want to track your daily nutrition, monitor vitamins and minerals, track food reactions, or need reliable UK supermarket product data.
Use both: Many people use Yuka for cosmetics and quick shopping decisions, and NutraSafe for daily food logging. They complement each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yuka good for UK products?
Yuka works with UK products but coverage varies. Major brands are usually found. UK supermarket own-brand products (Tesco Finest, Sainsbury's Taste the Difference, etc.) may have gaps. NutraSafe is more reliable for UK-specific products.
Does Yuka track calories?
No. Yuka shows calorie information on products when you scan them, but doesn't track your daily intake. It's a scanning app, not a food diary. Use NutraSafe or MyFitnessPal for calorie tracking.
Does Yuka track vitamins?
No. Yuka shows basic nutrition (calories, fat, sugar, protein, fibre, sodium) but not vitamins or minerals. NutraSafe tracks vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K and minerals including iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Is Yuka free?
Yes, the core scanning feature is free with unlimited scans. Premium (£10-15/year) adds search, offline mode, and dietary alerts. NutraSafe free includes unlimited scans plus 5 food logs per day.
Which app is more accurate for additives?
Both are reliable. Yuka uses European food safety research and shows risk levels. NutraSafe identifies E-numbers specifically and explains what each additive does. Neither is definitively "more accurate" - they present information differently.