Written by the Munoo team, so read it with that in mind. We describe other apps from their public App Store pages and our own testing in October 2026. Features and prices change; check each app’s App Store page before you pay.
What to look for
- Can you try it for free? Some apps ask for payment right after onboarding, before you see the app.
- Other ways to log. Photos are great for plates; packaged food is better with a barcode or label scan.
- Can you edit the estimate? You will need to fix portions and add oil or sauces.
- Extras you will actually use: weight trend, Apple Health, widgets, reminders.
The apps
Munoo
Photo, barcode, nutrition label and text or voice logging, all with editable results. Free plan with daily AI estimates (2 photo and 4 text), 5 barcode scans a day and unlimited manual logging. Apple Health, widgets, weight trend and an optional meal plan or programme as one-time purchases. Limits: iPhone and iPad only; a younger app with a smaller community food database than the big players.
Cal AI
One of the best-known photo calorie apps, built around snapping meals and a polished onboarding. Paid subscription after a trial. Good if you only want photo logging and are fine paying from day one.
Formo
A photo and voice calorie counter that is popular in Ukraine and Poland. At the time of writing it asks for a subscription right after onboarding, with no free mode, and it has no barcode scanner. Simple and quick if you are happy to pay upfront.
MyFitnessPal
The largest food database and many integrations. Photo-based meal logging is part of the paid tier. Best for people who like searching and weighing food precisely.
Lose It!
A long-running calorie counter with a photo feature (Snap It), barcode scanning and a big community. A free tier is available, with Premium for more features.
Yazio
Calorie counting with fasting tools and recipes, popular in Europe. AI photo logging and more features sit in the Pro subscription.
Quick comparison
| Photo | Barcode | Free plan | Platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Munoo | Yes, editable | Yes + label scan | Yes, daily AI estimates | iPhone, iPad |
| Cal AI | Yes | Yes | Trial | iPhone, Android |
| Formo | Yes | No | No | iPhone, Android |
| MyFitnessPal | Paid | Yes | Yes, basic | iPhone, Android, web |
| Lose It! | Yes | Yes | Yes | iPhone, Android, web |
| Yazio | Paid | Yes | Yes, basic | iPhone, Android |
How to choose
- If you want to try before paying and log mostly with photos, pick an app with a real free plan.
- If you eat a lot of packaged food, make sure barcode or label scanning is included.
- If you need Android or web, Munoo is not for you yet.
- Whatever you choose, the best calorie counter is the one you still open in week three.