Best 10 Food Diary Apps in 2026: Feature Comparison

MyFitnessPal is the best overall food diary app, thanks to its large food database and barcode scanner. This list covers 10 apps, from simple free diaries to coaching and photo logging.

Quick comparison table

Comparisons are based on official listings, not hands-on testing.

1. MyFitnessPal

Best for: a general-purpose calorie counter and diary with the biggest food database.

MyFitnessPal logs your meals and calories in a simple daily diary. It's free with premium options on iOS and Android. The barcode scanner is the best part, because you can log packaged foods without typing anything. If you want more, there's a premium tier.

2. Lifesum

Best for: people who want a good-looking, easy-to-read diary.

Lifesum is a food diary and calorie tracker, free with premium options on iOS and Android. Its stylish interface is the main draw. Other apps in this list lean harder on data. Lifesum puts design first, which makes daily logging feel less like homework.

3. Cronometer

Best for: people who care about micronutrients and fiber, not just calories.

Cronometer keeps its diary mostly free and runs on iOS and Android. Micronutrient and fiber tracking is what sets it apart. It suits anyone tracking nutrition for dietary reasons rather than only counting calories.

4. Lose It!

Best for: people logging food mainly to lose weight.

Lose It! combines calorie counting and food logging with weight-loss goals. It's on iOS and Android. Barcode scanning is the standout, so adding packaged foods to your diary is quick.

5. Yazio

Best for: people who also want fasting tracking in the same app.

Yazio is a calorie counter and food diary with built-in recipes, on iOS and Android. Fasting tracking is the standout. Keeping recipes inside the app also means less switching between apps.

6. FatSecret

Best for: people who want a free diary with a community.

FatSecret is a free food diary and calorie counter with a food database, on iOS and Android. The community is its standout. Since it's free, it fits people who don't want a subscription.

7. MyNetDiary

Best for: people who want a straightforward diet-tracking diary.

MyNetDiary is a calorie counter and food diary with diet tracking, on iOS and Android. Barcode scanning is the standout. It covers similar ground to MyFitnessPal and Lose It!, so your pick may simply come down to which interface you like best.

8. Noom

Best for: people who want coaching on habits alongside food logging.

Noom is a weight-management app that pairs food logging with psychology-based coaching, on iOS and Android. That coaching is the standout. It's more of a program than a plain diary, so skip it if all you want is to log meals.

9. Foodnoms

Best for: iPhone and Apple Watch users who want a diary tied to Apple Health.

Foodnoms is a food and nutrition tracker made for Apple devices only. Apple Health integration is the standout. Android users can skip it.

10. Bitesnap

Best for: people who would rather snap a photo than search for foods.

Bitesnap is a photo-based food journal that recognizes meals and logs them, on iOS and Android. Photo recognition is the standout. We make no claims about pricing or accuracy beyond what the listing says.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions about food diary apps.

What is a food diary app?

It's a mobile app that logs your meals and snacks, often with calories and nutrients. Barcode scanning and food databases are common features.

Are there free food diary apps?

FatSecret is free, and Cronometer's diary is mostly free. Several others, including MyFitnessPal and Lifesum, are free with premium options.

Which food diary app works on both iPhone and Android?

Nine of the ten apps cover both platforms. Foodnoms is the iOS-only exception.

Which app is best for more than calories?

Cronometer is the pick for micronutrients and fiber. Noom adds coaching, and Yazio adds fasting tracking.

The verdict

MyFitnessPal is the best overall pick, thanks to its large food database and barcode scanner. Cronometer is the runner-up for nutrient detail, and Lifesum is the runner-up for interface.

For niches: Foodnoms for Apple Health, Noom for coaching.