5 Best Apps for Calculating Daily Calories

Many people now realise how important it is to manage their diet for long-term health. But counting calories by hand can be tiring, especially for people with busy lives.

That’s why calorie counter apps are so helpful. They let you record everything you eat each day and show the calorie count, nutrition details, and even daily targets you can set yourself.

These apps are not only for people on a diet. They are also useful for anyone who is doing a fitness programme or just wants to live a healthier life. Here are some calorie counting apps I recommend for Android users.

1. MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is one of the most popular health apps in the world. It works as a calorie counter and nutrition diary. The food database is very large, and you can even find calorie information for dishes from many countries, including local and traditional meals.

To start, you enter your information and set your goals, such as losing weight, gaining weight, or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Then you log your meals, and the app calculates your daily calorie intake.

One special thing about MyFitnessPal is that it also considers the calories you burn from exercise, which makes the calculations more accurate.

Most of its features are free to use, but the app does show banner ads in some places.

What I like about MyFitnessPal:

• Can track calories and daily nutrition
• Includes exercise calories in the calculation
• Many free features
• Works for different health goals
• Large food database from many countries

One thing to note:

• Banner ads appear in some parts of the app

2. Lose It!

Lose It! offers a complete log to help you track your daily nutrition. Besides calorie counting, it lets you record your water intake, sleep hours, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body fat.

It can also sync with other health apps like Google Fit, Fitbit, and Garmin. This means you don’t have to manually add your workout details if those apps are connected.

Lose It! also offers paid courses to improve your health and nutrition knowledge, and free articles you can read anytime. The community is active, and you can even send private messages to other users.

What I like about Lose It!:

• Complete daily nutrition and health log
• Syncs with Google Fit, Fitbit, and Garmin
• Courses and articles to learn more about health
• Active community with private messages

One thing to note:

• Some features and courses are only available in the paid version

3. Lifesum

Lifesum is easy to recognize with its fresh yellow and green design. But it’s not just nice to look at, the features are also personalized and complete.

Like other apps, Lifesum adjusts its suggestions based on your goals, whether you want to lose weight, gain muscle, or just improve your lifestyle. After you enter your data, it sets your calorie target, daily food log, and even recommends the best time to exercise each day.

It also has a tracker for fruit and vegetable intake, helping you meet your daily fibre and vitamin needs. Another interesting feature is the Life Score.

At the start, you take a short quiz about your eating habits and lifestyle. Lifesum then gives you a score and suggestions based on your results. The better your diet, the higher your score will be. Lifesum also recommends a diet plan suited to your habits, not just a one-size-fits-all plan.

What I like about Lifesum:

• Daily exercise recommendations
• Fruit and vegetable tracker
• Interactive Life Score feature
• Personalised diet plan based on your habits

One thing to note:

• Some features are only available in the premium version

4. Foodvisor

Foodvisor is a simple calorie counter and nutrition journal without many extra features. You can log your food in three ways, by taking photos, using voice input, or entering it manually. The app will then match your entry with its calorie database.

If you want a personalised programme based on your goals, you need to subscribe to the premium version, as this feature is not available for free users. Still, if you only need a basic calorie tracker and nutrition journal, the free version is enough. It’s practical and easy to use, even for beginners.

What I like about Foodvisor:

• Simple design
• Food can be entered via photos, voice input, or manually
• Free calorie tracker and nutrition journal
• Good for beginners who want a practical app

One thing to note:

• Personalised plans are only in the premium version

5. FatSecret

FatSecret not only helps you track your nutrition but also connects you with an active community of users. You can share your progress, exchange tips, and motivate each other.

The app also provides a collection of healthy recipes, which you can filter by calorie count, macronutrients, and cooking time. This is useful if you are busy but still want ideas for healthy meals that match your goals.

You can even share your own recipes with others through the Cookbook feature in the Diary menu.

What I like about FatSecret:

• Supportive user community
• Healthy recipe library with filters for nutrition and cooking time
• Option to share your own recipes through the Cookbook feature
• Great for users who like exploring new healthy meal ideas

One thing to note:

• Some features may take time to get used to

These calorie counting apps can help you keep track of your daily nutrition. Using them regularly can make it easier to reach your health goals. Give them a try and see which one works best for you.