Best Nutrition Tracker Apps of 2026

Cal AI was one of the first AI-powered nutrition trackers to gain mainstream attention, and it remains a solid option. The photo recognition is good for straightforward meals, and the interface is clean and modern.

However, Cal AI shows its limitations when compared to newer competitors. The biggest issue is the lack of flexibility—if you forget to take a photo, you're out of luck. There's no text input option, which feels like a significant oversight.

The pricing is also hard to justify. At $9.99/month with no free trial on the monthly plan, Cal AI costs twice as much as NutriShot AI while offering fewer features. The annual plan is competitively priced at $29.99, but you only get a 3-day trial to evaluate.

Micronutrient tracking is basic, and there's no nutrition coach to provide personalized guidance. Cal AI does one thing (photo recognition) reasonably well, but competitors now do more for less.

MyFitnessPal was the king of nutrition tracking for over a decade. Its massive user-contributed food database remains unmatched in size, making it easy to find almost any food item.

However, MyFitnessPal has struggled to keep up with AI innovation. While competitors let you snap a photo and get instant results, MyFitnessPal still relies primarily on manual searching and barcode scanning. The AI features that have been added feel bolted on and lack the accuracy of purpose-built AI trackers.

The free tier is hampered by intrusive ads, and the premium tier at $19.99/month is expensive for what you get. Micronutrient tracking is locked behind premium, which feels like nickel-and-diming for a basic feature.

MyFitnessPal remains a viable option for users who prefer manual logging or need access to its vast database, but for AI-powered convenience, newer apps have leapfrogged it.

Cronometer is the choice for serious nutrition enthusiasts who want detailed micronutrient data. Its database is curated for accuracy rather than size, and the level of micronutrient detail is unmatched.

However, Cronometer completely lacks AI features. There's no photo recognition, no barcode scanning for packaged foods—everything must be manually searched and logged. This makes daily tracking tedious compared to AI-powered alternatives.

The interface has a steep learning curve and feels outdated compared to modern apps. Cronometer is powerful but not user-friendly, which limits its appeal to dedicated users who prioritize data over convenience.

For most users, NutriShot AI offers comparable micronutrient tracking with the added convenience of AI recognition. Cronometer remains the best choice only for users who distrust AI accuracy and prefer complete manual control.

Lose It! is a straightforward calorie tracking app that's been around for years. It offers a functional free tier and simple goal-setting features that appeal to casual users.

The AI features are minimal and often inaccurate. Photo recognition exists but frequently misidentifies foods or portion sizes. For reliable tracking, you'll still need to manually search and verify.

The interface feels dated compared to modern competitors, and the app lacks advanced features like detailed micronutrient tracking or an AI coach. Lose It! is fine for casual calorie counting but falls short for serious nutrition tracking.

Given that NutriShot AI offers a free trial with dramatically better AI accuracy and more features, Lose It!'s main advantage—being free—is less compelling than it used to be.