How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Cronometer and FatSecret offer the most generous free tiers, keeping barcode scanning free while rivals charge for it.
- MyFitnessPal remains the biggest food database, but its barcode scanner and photo logging now require Premium.
- Noom and WW are coaching programs rather than free trackers, so judge them on support and structure, not on free features.
- The best app is the one you keep using past week three, so start free and pay only for features you actually miss.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 MyFitnessPal | Largest food database | Free | Yes |
 Lose It! | Simple daily calorie budget | Free | Yes |
 Cronometer | Detailed nutrient tracking | Free | Yes |
 FatSecret | Best completely free tracking | Free | Yes |
 Yazio | Meal planning on a budget | Free | Yes |
 Lifesum | Guided healthy eating plans | Free | Yes |
 Noom | Psychology-based coaching | See website | Free trial |
 WW (WeightWatchers) | Points system and community | See website | Free trial |
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The best free weight loss apps for women
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
MyFitnessPal is the default calorie tracker for a reason: its food database is enormous, covering restaurant menus, packaged foods, and home recipes, and it connects to fitness trackers, smart scales, and health apps. The free version covers manual food logging, weight tracking, and macro goals, which is enough for many women starting out.
The honest catch is the paywall creep. Barcode scanning, meal scanning, and voice logging moved to Premium, which costs $79.99 per year, and the free version carries ads. If you eat mostly packaged foods and hate typing, that paywall stings. If you cook at home and log by search, the free tier still does the job well.
What we like- 20.5M foods in the database
- Syncs with 40+ apps and devices
- Simple manual logging free
Watch out for- Barcode scanner requires Premium
- Free version shows ads
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Lose It! keeps weight loss simple: it assigns a personalized daily calorie budget based on age, height, weight, and goal, then lets you log food against it. The interface is calmer than MyFitnessPal's, and features like patterns and reports show how your habits change over time. The app is free to download with an optional Premium subscription.
The honest catch is that the most convenient logging tools, barcode scanning and the Snap It photo feature, sit behind Premium, which recent comparisons put around $79.99 per year. Manual search logging stays free. For women who want a clear daily number and a low-friction diary, Lose It! is still one of the easiest apps to stick with.
What we like- Personalized calorie budget from your stats
- Clean, simple interface
- Photo and voice logging options
Watch out for- Barcode scanner and photo logging require Premium
- Premium price has risen sharply
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Cronometer is the pick for women who want accuracy over simplicity. Its database emphasizes lab-verified entries, and the free plan tracks a wide range of vitamins and minerals alongside calories and macros, with barcode scanning included at no cost. That combination makes it the most generous free tier in this comparison.
The honest catch is density. Cronometer shows more numbers than most people want, and its interface takes longer to learn than Lose It! or FatSecret. Gold, at $59.99 per year, adds photo and voice logging plus deeper trends. If you care about nutrient quality, not just calories, Cronometer is the strongest free option here.
What we like- Barcode scanning free
- Tracks up to 95 nutrients from verified data
- No barcode paywall
Watch out for- Interface is denser than rivals
- Photo and voice logging require Gold
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
FatSecret is the quiet bargain of this list. Its core app, including calorie and macro tracking, weight logging, barcode scanning, and community access, is completely free, with Premium offered as an optional upgrade for meal plans and advanced tools. For women who want a genuinely free tracker without a paywall on the basics, FatSecret delivers.
The honest catch is polish. The app looks and feels older than MyFitnessPal or Lifesum, and some Premium features and pricing vary by region. If design matters less than cost, though, FatSecret is the best free weight loss app in this comparison on features per dollar, since the dollar amount is zero.
What we like- Core tracking completely free
- Barcode scanner free
- Large global food database
Watch out for- Design feels dated next to newer apps
- Premium features vary by region
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Yazio, from Germany, builds a custom plan around your goal, then pairs tracking with fasting timers, diet plans, and recipes. Its free tier covers basic logging and planning, and its PRO subscription adds barcode scanning, photo logging, and deeper analysis. With more than 100 million users, its food database is especially strong for European foods.
The honest catch is regional pricing. PRO prices vary by country and promotion, so check the in-app price before subscribing. The free tier is also thinner than Cronometer's or FatSecret's for scanner users. For women who want a guided plan with fasting and meal ideas included, Yazio is a friendly, affordable option.
What we like- Custom plans in minutes
- Fasting and diet plans included
- Large European food database
Watch out for- Barcode scanner and photo logging require PRO
- PRO pricing varies by region and promotion
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Lifesum frames weight loss as healthy eating rather than pure calorie math. It offers meal plans for lifestyles from Mediterranean to keto, a life score that rates your week, and multimodal logging by photo, voice, barcode, or typing. The free tier covers basic tracking, while Premium adds full plans and deeper feedback.
The honest catch is pricing transparency. Lifesum shows Premium pricing inside the app rather than publishing a single list price, so compare carefully during the trial. For women who want guidance on what to eat, not just a calorie number, Lifesum's plans and feedback make it a warm, supportive choice.
What we like- Meal plans for many lifestyles
- Photo, voice, and barcode logging
- Life score feedback system
Watch out for- Best features require Premium
- Premium pricing is shown in-app rather than on the site
#7Noom
Best for: Psychology-based coaching3.3/5 on
G2 (4 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit noom.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Noom is a coaching program, not a free tracker. Its daily lessons teach the psychology behind eating habits, portion awareness, and motivation, with coaches available for support, and food logging supports the lessons rather than leading them. Pricing is set after an onboarding quiz and varies by plan length, with annual costs reported around $209.
The honest catch is cost and fit. There is no meaningful free tier, only a trial, and women who just want a food diary will find cheaper tools here. Noom suits those who have tried tracking alone and want structured help changing habits. Judge it on whether the lessons keep you engaged, since that is what you are paying for.
What we like- Daily psychology lessons on habits
- Coaching support
- Focus on long-term behavior change
Watch out for- No useful free tier
- Pricing varies by quiz result and plan length
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
WW replaces calorie counting with a Points system that steers members toward nutritious foods, with more than 350 ZeroPoint foods that need no tracking. Members get app tracking, coach chat, workshops, and, through its clinic program, access to weight loss medication support. Pricing varies by plan and promotion, so check the current offer before joining.
The honest catch is the absence of a free tier and the moving price. WW runs frequent promotions, and the best price depends on timing and plan length. For women who dislike calorie counting and want community support, the Points system and workshops remain a proven combination with decades of research behind them.
What we like- Simple Points system instead of calorie counting
- Workshops and coaching
- Large supportive community
Watch out for- No free tier
- Pricing and plans change often with promotions
How we chose
We compared apps that women actually use for weight loss, drawing on vendor pricing pages, app store listings, and recent independent comparisons of free tiers. We favored apps with a real free plan, since the keyword is free, but included Noom and WW because many readers compare them against free trackers before deciding. Prices reflect published annual rates where available; where pricing varies by quiz, region, or promotion, we say so rather than quoting a number that may not apply to you.
A short note on health
This article is not medical advice. Calorie targets from any app are estimates, and they can be too low for some people, including anyone pregnant, breastfeeding, managing an eating disorder, or living with a medical condition. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian before starting a weight loss plan, especially if you take medication or have a health condition. If tracking ever feels stressful or obsessive, pausing is a reasonable choice, and support from a professional beats any app.
What to check before you commit
Start with the free tier and log for two weeks before paying. That trial tells you more than any review: whether the database covers your foods, whether logging feels fast, and whether the app's tone motivates or irritates you. Pay attention to which features you actually miss. If you never scan barcodes, a paywalled scanner should not drive your choice.
Consider your eating pattern honestly. Women who eat packaged foods benefit most from a free scanner, which points to Cronometer or FatSecret. Women who cook from scratch may care more about recipe import and meal planning, where Yazio and Lifesum shine. And if past attempts failed on motivation rather than information, a coaching program like Noom or WW may be worth the higher price.
Watch for subscription traps
Free trials convert to paid plans automatically, and annual plans bill upfront. Set a reminder before any trial ends, and check whether the app offers a monthly option before committing to a year. Also confirm what happens to your data if you cancel: most apps let you export your history, but the process varies, and losing years of logs is a real frustration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best completely free weight loss app?
FatSecret and Cronometer offer the most generous free tiers, since both keep barcode scanning free. FatSecret is simpler, while Cronometer gives deeper nutrient data. Either one works well without paying anything.
Do I need to pay for MyFitnessPal to lose weight?
No. The free version covers manual food logging, weight tracking, and macro goals, which is enough for many people. Premium adds barcode scanning, photo logging, and an AI coach, but weight loss comes from consistent logging, not from paid features.
Is Noom worth the cost compared with free apps?
Noom suits people who want coaching and psychology lessons alongside tracking, while free apps suit people who only need a food diary. If you have tried free trackers and struggled with consistency, Noom's structure may justify its price. If tracking alone works for you, a free app saves money.
How accurate are calorie counts in these apps?
Accuracy depends on the database and your portion estimates. Cronometer's verified entries tend to be more reliable than crowd-sourced databases, and a food scale improves accuracy more than any app choice. Treat all counts as estimates, not exact measurements.
Can I use these apps while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Calorie targets from apps are not designed for pregnancy or breastfeeding, and restrictive tracking can be harmful in those situations. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian for appropriate nutrition guidance instead of following an app's default target.
What happens if I stop logging for a few days?
Nothing bad. Weight loss is a long-term pattern, not a daily streak, and most apps let you resume without penalty. If a missed week makes you want to quit entirely, that is a sign the app's approach may be too rigid for you, and a gentler tool or a break may serve you better.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://www.myfitnesspal.com
- https://www.loseit.com
- https://cronometer.com
- https://www.fatsecret.com
- https://www.yazio.com
- https://lifesum.com
- https://www.noom.com
- https://www.weightwatchers.com
- https://ampsu.eu/blog/best-calorie-tracker-app-2026
- https://agiletech.vn/blog/best-weight-loss-apps/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.