Skip to content
Get the app

Two apps compared, not ranked

Cronometer vs MacroFactor

Two trackers for people who care about the numbers. Cronometer has a free account with a long nutrient list; MacroFactor has no free version and builds its plan around your weight trend. Here is what each one's own pages say about the rest.

Try CalorTracker free

Head to head

Cronometer and MacroFactor compared on 10 points, in alphabetical order
CronometerMacroFactor
Free planYes. A Basic account, "completely free of charge"[1]No. No free version: "there isn't (and will never be) a free version"[3]
Free trialNot listed. Not listed on the pages checked[2]Yes. A 7-day free trial[3]
Barcode scannerYes. Unlimited use of the scanner in the free Basic account[1]Yes. Scans barcodes and nutrition labels; coverage varies by country[3]
Logs a meal from a photoYes. AI Photo Logging is listed; which plan includes it is not stated[2]Yes. AI calorie tracking: snap a photo or describe your meal[3]
Voice loggingYes. Log by speaking to the app or Siri; which plan includes it is not stated[2]Yes. Speech-to-text food logging[3]
Vitamins and mineralsYes. Up to 95 nutrients and compounds, plus calories, in the free Basic account[1]Yes. Track vitamins and minerals and set custom targets[3]
Food databaseYes. Over 1M verified foods, by its own description[2]Yes. More than 1.36 million verified food entries, by its own count[3]
Targets that adjust to your weight trendNot listed. Not listed on the pages checked[2]Yes. Weight trend and an energy expenditure estimate; the macro plan auto-adjusts every week[3]
AdsNot listed. Gold is described as ad-free; Basic's ads are not stated[1]Yes. None: "we will never serve ads"[3]
Where it runsYes. Web, iOS and Android[2]Yes. iPhone and Android apps; no desktop version at present[3]

Last verified . Numbers in brackets point to the sources below. The apps are in alphabetical order.

One app at a time: Cronometer alternative, MacroFactor alternative. CalorTracker features mentioned here: Macro tracker, Weight progress tracker.

Where each one is stronger

Where Cronometer is stronger

  • A free Basic account with unlimited barcode scanning, custom meals and recipes and up to 95 nutrients and compounds.[1]
  • Runs on the web as well as iOS and Android; MacroFactor says it has no desktop version at present.[2]
  • A built-in nutritional target wizard on the home page.[2]

Where MacroFactor is stronger

  • Estimates energy expenditure from your intake and weight change, shows a weight trend and auto-adjusts the macro plan every week.[3]
  • Says it will never serve ads, and describes more than 1.36 million verified food entries.[3]
  • Photo or described-meal AI tracking, speech-to-text logging and barcode scanning are described on one page.[3]

Who each one suits

  • Cronometer suits someone who wants detailed nutrient tracking with a free tier, on the web or a phone.
  • MacroFactor suits someone who will pay from the start for targets that move with their weight, on a phone.

These are suggestions drawn from the table, not a verdict. The right app depends on which row matters to you.

And if you want something else, CalorTracker

CalorTracker is a third option, from the team that wrote this page. What it does for the points above, from our own code:

  • If you want to start free and test AI photo logging before paying: 1 photo scan and 2 text logs a day.
  • If you want calories, macros, sugar, fiber and sodium on a free plan: Sugar, fiber and sodium beside the macros.
  • If you want targets you set yourself, without weekly adjusting: Custom calorie and macro targets.

Where CalorTracker falls short

  • No barcode scanner; reads the label from a photo.
  • Web app and Android app; the iOS app is not public yet.
  • Voice logging is Premium.
  • The free plan has daily limits: 1 AI photo scan and 2 AI text logs a day.
  • AI results are estimates to check before you save them.

Sources and last verified

Every fact about the two apps on this page comes from that app’s own site, checked on . “Not listed” means we found nothing on the pages cited; it does not mean the app lacks the feature. Prices are left out because they change and differ by country, so check each app before you decide.

We re-verify this page every quarter. Next review due by . We also re-read every source before a page goes live if its facts are more than 90 days old.

  1. Cronometer: what the free version includes: https://www.cronometer.com/features/free-nutrition-tracking-app.html (checked )
  2. Cronometer home page: https://cronometer.com/ (checked )
  3. MacroFactor app page: https://macrofactor.com/macrofactor/ (checked )

Frequently asked questions

Is MacroFactor free?
No. Its app page says there is no free version and offers a 7-day free trial. Cronometer's free-version page describes a Basic account that is completely free of charge.
Which tracks vitamins and minerals?
Both say so. Cronometer says up to 95 nutrients and compounds; MacroFactor says you can track vitamins and minerals and set custom targets. Neither page gives the same kind of count, so we do not compare the numbers.
Which adjusts targets to your weight trend?
MacroFactor says it auto-adjusts your macro plan every week. Cronometer's home page does not describe that.
Does CalorTracker adjust targets from weight?
No. Targets come from your profile and goal, and you can set your own.

Try it on your own meals

Start free, log your first meal from a photo, and see whether it suits the way you track.

Start free on the web

Every app name is a trademark of its respective owner; this page is an independent comparison.