Best Free Weight Loss Apps in 2026: 9 Apps Compared

MyFitnessPal remains the most familiar name in food logging, thanks to its huge database and easy search. If you eat packaged foods, restaurant items or common recipes, you will often find a close match without typing nutrition data by hand. Weight tracking, basic goals and device connections are available on the free tier.

Free use is narrower than it once was. Barcode scanning and some advanced features sit behind Premium for many new users, and free logging can feel restricted compared with Cronometer or FatSecret. We would still consider MyFitnessPal Free if you already have history in the app, or if database size matters more than free scanning. New users who scan often should compare it with Cronometer first.

Lose It suits people who want a diary that does not demand much thought. Set a goal, get a calorie budget, log meals and watch weight trend over time. The interface is calmer than many rivals, which helps when logging feels like a chore. Progress photos and weight charts give a fuller picture than the scale alone.

The free tier has tightened. Barcode scanning, Snap It photo logging and voice logging are Premium features for new accounts, so free logging relies more on search and manual entry. Custom macro targets also need Premium. If you value simplicity over scanning, Lose It Free is still a good start. If you scan every meal, check Cronometer or FatSecret instead.

Cronometer Free is our pick for users who want the most from a free tier. Barcode scanning is included, macro targets can be set by grams without paying, and nutrient detail goes far beyond calories and protein. That depth helps people who track fibre, minerals or specific nutrients for health reasons, as well as people who simply want accurate data.

Depth is also the drawback. Dashboards show many numbers, and beginners can feel overwhelmed by nutrient charts they do not need. Photo logging sits behind Gold. We would recommend Cronometer Free to anyone who scans packaged foods, wants verified entries and does not mind a busier screen. It is the strongest free tier on this list for most users.

FatSecret is the quiet value pick in this list. Its free tier covers food logging, weight tracking and community features without pushing every basic tool behind a paywall. Barcode scanning is available free in many cases, which makes daily logging faster than on MyFitnessPal Free or Lose It Free for new users.

The interface is less polished than Lifesum or Lose It, and food entries vary in quality because the database includes user-submitted items. Check entries for portion size and nutrition before you trust them. If you want a free tracker that simply works, with less paywall friction, FatSecret deserves a trial week.

MyNetDiary Free stands out for macro control without payment. You can set custom targets by grams or percentages on the free tier, and verified search filtering helps you avoid low-quality entries. The app has no third-party ads in many free setups, which makes daily logging calmer than on ad-heavy rivals.

The food database is smaller than MyFitnessPal, so unusual items may need manual entry. Premium adds coaching and advanced tools, but the free diary itself is solid. We would recommend MyNetDiary Free to users who care about protein and macro targets, and who prefer a clean diary over a large social community.

Yazio Free covers the basics: calorie tracking, weight logging and activity records in a tidy interface. It also offers fasting timers, which appeal to users who follow time-restricted eating patterns. For a simple start, Yazio is easy to understand and quick to set up.

Free limits appear quickly. Barcode scanning and many recipe and plan features need Pro, so free logging relies on search. If you mainly eat home-cooked meals and log by search, that limit matters less. If you scan packaged foods daily, Cronometer or FatSecret will feel freer. Yazio suits users who want a simple diary plus fasting tracking.

Lifesum is the most polished app on this list, with a design that makes healthy habits feel approachable. Guided plans, habit tracking and a clean diary can help users who respond to structure and visual feedback. Weight, activity and basic food logging are available without paying.

The free tier is the least generous here for serious logging. Barcode scanning, detailed meal plans and many advanced features need Premium, so free users hit paywalls often. We would recommend Lifesum Free only as a design trial, or for users who already plan to pay for Premium. For free-only use, Cronometer, FatSecret and MyNetDiary offer more.

Carb Manager Free is built for low-carb and keto eaters, with net carb counts, carb-focused foods and recipes that general trackers handle less clearly. If your eating pattern centres on carb limits, the app saves time by showing the numbers that matter to you first. Fasting tools and weight tracking add useful context.

Users who do not follow low-carb eating may find the carb focus distracting, and some advanced features still need Premium. The interface packs in many tools, which can feel busy at first. For keto and low-carb users, Carb Manager Free is the natural first trial. For general calorie tracking, Cronometer or Lose It may feel simpler.

Fooducate takes a different angle from calorie-only apps. It grades foods by quality, so a user can see why one snack scores higher than another, beyond calories alone. Barcode scanning helps in shops, and the app tracks food, weight and activity in a simple layout. That educational angle suits users who want to improve food choices, not only count calories.

Grades are general guidance, not a personal health assessment. A grade does not account for allergies, medical conditions or total diet pattern. Database depth also varies by product. Use Fooducate Free as a learning tool alongside a fuller tracker if you need detailed macros, or on its own if food quality is your main focus. This is general information only, not medical advice.