Comparison September 2026 · 6 min read

Updated October 2026. Cronometer prices are US prices; app prices vary by region.

Where they are the same

Both apps are free to download from the App Store and sell a subscription as an in-app purchase. Both run on iPhone (CalMePlease needs iOS 15.0, Cronometer iOS 15.5). Both can log a meal from a photo, by voice or from a barcode, and both connect to Apple Health. Both let you set your own calorie and macro targets, and both now include an AI assistant that turns your logged food into personal guidance.

The difference is in what each app starts from. Cronometer starts from a verified food database and the full nutrient breakdown that comes with it. CalMePlease starts from the camera and a coach that reads your meals.

The comparison

Rows are limited to features both apps' own pages describe. Cronometer's free version contains ads; Gold is ad-free.

Where Cronometer is better

• Depth of nutrients. Cronometer tracks up to 84 nutrients and compounds on the free plan and up to 95 with Gold. If you track iron, B12 or magnesium on purpose, CalMePlease does not show that level of detail.
• Verified food data. Cronometer is built on a curated database of more than 1.1 million lab-analyzed or verified foods. For packaged food and recipes you weigh, a database entry is closer to the label than any photo estimate.
• A useful free plan. Barcode scanning, custom recipes, custom macro and micro targets, and syncing with apps and devices are all free in Cronometer.
• Devices and platforms. Cronometer has apps for iPad, Apple Watch and Android, a web version, and direct connections to Fitbit, Garmin, Oura and Whoop. CalMePlease is listed for iPhone only and reaches wearables only through Apple Health.
• Extra tools in Gold. Fasting timer, recipe import from a URL, nutrition scores, custom charts and printable reports.
• Track record. Cronometer has 4.8 stars from about 100,000 ratings on the US App Store.

Where CalMePlease is better

• Logging without a search box. Point the camera at the plate, record a short video, or say what you ate. Video recognition is not among the logging methods Cronometer describes, and photo and voice logging are part of Cronometer Gold.
• A coach built around meals. CalMePlease's AI coach explains how each meal affects your energy and wellbeing, gives per-meal feedback, and sends daily and weekly summaries with recommendations based on your actual eating patterns.
• The metrics most people act on. Fiber, sugar, sodium and water sit next to calories and macros on the main view, instead of in a list of 95 nutrients.
• Native-language input. Voice and text work in nine languages with no translation step in between.
• Goals beyond weight. Weight loss, muscle gain, body recomposition, energy and diet adherence are built-in goals, with custom calorie and macro targets.

Pricing

Cronometer prices checked on October 20, 2026 on cronometer.com/gold and its US App Store page. CalMePlease subscription prices vary by region; check the App Store page for the current price in your country.

Cronometer's US App Store page lists these in-app purchases: Gold Monthly $10.99, Gold Annual $59.99, Gold Subscription $10.99 and Cronometer Gold $10.99. Neither cronometer.com/gold nor its App Store page mentions a free trial.

CalMePlease is free to download and you can log meals right away; a subscription unlocks the AI coach, full statistics and unlimited photo recognition.

Who should choose which

Choose Cronometer if:

• You want to track micronutrients in detail, for example on a plant-based diet or with a doctor's targets.
• Most of what you eat has a barcode or is a recipe you weigh.
• You use Android, an iPad, the web, a Garmin, Fitbit, Oura or Whoop.
• You want a strong free plan and don't need photo logging.

Choose CalMePlease if:

• You have stopped logging because searching a database takes too long.
• You cook, eat out, or eat mixed plates that are hard to find as one entry.
• You want a coach that tells you what a meal means for the rest of the day.
• You want to log by voice or text in your own language.

FAQ

Is CalMePlease a Cronometer alternative? Yes, if your main goal is calories, macros and a few key metrics such as fiber, sugar, sodium and water, logged as fast as possible. It is not a replacement if you need Cronometer's full list of up to 95 nutrients.

Is Cronometer free? Yes. The free Basic plan includes food logging, the barcode scanner, custom recipes and targets, device sync and up to 84 nutrients. Photo and voice logging, Crono Coach, the fasting timer and an ad-free experience require Gold, which costs $10.99 a month or $59.99 a year in the US.

Does Cronometer have AI photo logging? Yes. Gold includes Photo Log: you take a photo of your meal and Cronometer identifies the key ingredients and servings.

Which is more accurate, CalMePlease or Cronometer? It depends on how you log. A verified database entry or a barcode, which both apps support, is closer to the label than any photo estimate. Photo logging is an estimate in any app, so correct it when you know the real portion. We explain why in How accurate is AI calorie counting by photo?

Does CalMePlease work on Android or Apple Watch? No. On the App Store CalMePlease is listed for iPhone, Apple silicon Macs and Apple Vision. Cronometer has iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Android apps and a web version.

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Data: cronometer.com/gold, US App Store page of Cronometer: Calorie Counter, App Store page of CalMePlease AI Calorie Tracker, calmeplease.com; checked October 2026.

Related: CalMePlease vs MyFitnessPal · Best AI calorie tracker apps · How accurate is AI calorie counting by photo?

CalMePlease logs a meal from a photo, video, voice or barcode and tells you what it means for the rest of your day. Free on the App Store.