Embarking on the keto diet can be a challenge. Yes, there are many benefits, but there are also many rules.
The most important keto rule is the macronutrient rule. To enter ketosis, your daily calorie intake should be around 60% fat, 30% protein, and 10% carbs.
This low-carb high-fat ratio keeps blood sugar and insulin levels low. Low insulin, in turn, triggers fatty acid oxidation and ketone production in the liver[*]. In other words, fat-burning mode.
Yet hitting your macros (not to mention your other nutrient requirements) isn’t easy — especially if you’re just starting out with keto. It requires thought, planning, and execution.
That’s where a good keto app comes in. Downloading a keto app is like inviting a health coach to come live in your pocket.
What’s the best keto app? Depends on which features you need.
Here we’ll be reviewing the top six keto apps, available on the Apple App Store for iOS devices and on Google Play for Android devices.
7 Best Keto Apps For Tracking Your Keto Goals
#1: Cronometer
Cronometer isn’t just for keto folks, but it’s usefulness lands it atop today’s list[*].
Here’s how it works. You log your meals in the app, then Cronometer tracks your micronutrient and macronutrient status with visually-pleasing charts and graphs.
Cronometer is unique for its vast database of nutritional info, gleaned from verified sources like the USDA. This is crucial because most nutrition databases lack detail, often excluding vitamins and minerals from the analysis.
If, for example, you aren’t accurately tracking your folate intake, you could end up deficient in this important B vitamin. This won’t be good for your energy levels[*].
You can also set specific micronutrient and macronutrient targets. Whether you’re trying to boost fat calories on a low-carb diet, or simply increase vitamin C intake, this is a sweet feature.
You can even set a weight loss target, and use Cronometer to track your progress. And yes keto dieters, Cronometer has a keto calculator to track your macros.
Rating: 4.7 on iOS, 4.6 on Android
Price: Free (premium version is $5.99 per month)
#2: Keto.app
If you’re looking for a digital keto coach, Keto.app may be the app for you[*].
Keto.app is all about helping you achieve your keto goals. You enter your body type, activity level, weight, goals, and more — then out pops a customized macro plan.
Next, you log your daily foods (using the Keto.app database or the Keto.app barcode scanner) to see if you’re hitting the previously-entered goals. While you’re tracking macro goals, you can also create shopping lists, access low-carb recipes, and calculate net carbs.
Net carbs, by the way, is just grams carbs minus grams fiber in any given food. For the most part, you only should be counting net carbs on keto.
To be clear, some of the best features on Keto.app are reserved for paying customers. For instance, you need a subscription to enter more than five foods per day into the tracker.
Rating: 4.6 on iOS, 3.6 on Android
Price: Free (premium version is $11.99 per year)
#3: Carb Manager: Keto Diet App
At its core, Carb Manager is a keto carb counter. You log your carbs, fat, and protein — and receive alerts if you’re going off track[*].
With Carb Manager, you take pictures of your meals and the app automatically recognizes the foods. Talk about technology making life easier!
But according to the app developer (Wombat Apps LLC), Carb Manager is more than just a macro calculator. It’s a community.
That’s right. Visit this app and you’ll find low-carb articles, recipes, meal planners, an intermittent fasting tracker, forums, and many more resources to support your keto lifestyle.
Rating: 4.8 on iOS, 4.7 on Android
Price: Free (premium version is $39.99 per year)
#4: MyFitnessPal
You’ve probably heard of MyFitnessPal. According to the app developers at Under Armour, it’s been the #1 health and fitness app for four years straight[*].
MyFitnessPal has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a food and fitness tracker.
Features include:
- Barcode scanner that recognizes over 4 million products
- Goal setting, with custom or recommended goals
- A food database with over 6 million foods
- The ability to import recipes for easy logging
- Macronutrient, micronutrient, and calorie counters
- Easy restaurant food tracking
- Vast functionality for logging workouts, with over 350 exercises to choose from
MyFitnessPal is not a keto app per se, but you can easily set your macronutrient goals to sync up with the ketogenic diet.
Rating: 4.7 on iOS, 4.5 on Android
Price: Free (premium version is $9.99 per month)
#5: Keto Diet Manager + Carb tracker
Download this app to set goals, calculate macros, create keto meals, and quantify your nutrition. Many of these features, incredibly enough, don’t require you to lift a finger[*].
That’s because Keto Diet Manager harnesses unique voice technology to help you log your meals. Simply say the food, ingredient, or recipe — and the app handles the rest.
Other bonuses include a net carb counter, live support from a keto-aligned nutritionist, and plenty of educational resources designed to increase your keto IQ.
Rating: 4.7 on iOS
Price: Free, with in-app purchases available
#6: Stupid Simple Keto Diet App
With the Stupid Simple Keto Diet App, the name says it all[*]. For every meal you log, the app breaks down your macros and displays them in easy-to-digest visuals.
There are more simple features to like about this app. For instance, you don’t need to query a massive database to log calories or carbs.
Nope. Adding foods to your daily tally is as easy as clicking an icon. Just tap images of almonds, avocados, steaks, and other keto-friendly (or keto-unfriendly) foods and the meal is logged.
And yes, all the standard features apply: a barcode scanner, a workout tracker, grocery lists, a goal setter, and even a tool to track water consumption. Plus the app will ping you if you approach your daily carb count.
One final feature deserves a special mention: the food bank. The food bank lets you “bank” calories so you can save up for a special event or a cheat meal. This comes in handy over the holidays.
Rating: 4.7 on iOS, 4.3 on Android
Price: Free, with in-app-purchases available
#7: KetoDiet App
The all-inclusive Keto Diet app doesn’t just offer macro and calorie tracking. It also serves free content daily, including recipes, articles, expert advice, and more.
As far as food tracking apps go, the KetoDiet App has more than 1.7 million popular foods, branded goods, and restaurant meals to choose from to make your tracking easier. And instead of crowdsourcing nutritional data, they provide diet plans created by real nutritionists.
Rating: 4.5 on iOS, 4.75 on Android
Price: Free, with in-app purchases available
The Best Keto App?
Going keto requires planning, assistance, and encouragement — especially early on. Your diet has been turned upside down.
Help is essential, but not everyone has the time or money to hire a keto-friendly nutritionist.
The good news is, you’re only a few taps away from the solution: a keto app.
A keto app helps you track macros, stay accountable to your goals, try different fasting regimens, connect with others, learn new keto recipes — the list goes on. It’s like a tiny keto coach that’s been shrunk down and stuffed into your phone.
In your search for the best keto app, you may try one, two, or ten keto apps. Refer back to this list for guidance.