Awards › Finalists › Carb Manager
8th in the 2027 standings · Net carbs first
Carb Manager: 2027 finalist scorecard
Carb Manager is commended in the 2027 awards as a keto and low-carb specialist. It puts net carbs at the centre of the diary and pairs logging with a large library of low-carb recipes. It places eighth overall.
2027: Commended as a keto and low-carb specialist. Commendations go to apps that do one job notably well without winning a category.
Scorecard
Every finalist is marked on the same eight criteria. How we judge explains each one and what the marks mean.
| Criterion | Mark | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Ways to log | Basic | How many fast, reliable ways in: photo, voice, barcode, typed search, saved meals and recipes. |
| Food data | Not confirmed | Whether entries are verified or crowd-sourced, and how well the catalogue covers branded, restaurant and home foods. |
| Free plan | Basic | What you can do without paying, and whether the free plan expires. |
| Paid plan value | Not confirmed | What the paid tier costs per year and what it adds. |
| Nutrient depth | Basic | How many nutrients each entry carries beyond calories and macros. |
| Goal tools | Good | Targets, adaptive adjustments, fasting, meal planning and coaching. |
| Platforms | Good | Phone, web and watch, and whether they share one diary. |
| Data control | Not confirmed | Export, health-platform sync, deletion and privacy controls. |
Plans and price
| Plan | What it costs and includes |
|---|---|
| Free | $0: net-carb diary and food search |
| Premium | Optional paid tier; see the app store for the current price in your country |
Platforms: iPhone, Android, web
What it does well
- Net carbs front and centre, with keto-friendly macro targets
- A large library of low-carb and keto recipes
- Food search and barcode scanning
- Available on the web as well as phones
Worth knowing
- Designed around low-carb eating, so less suited to other approaches
- Meal plans and many advanced features are part of Premium
The case for it
Carb Manager is unapologetically a low-carb app. From setup onwards it frames your day around net carbs, with fat and protein targets built for a ketogenic or low-carb plan, and the diary shows how many net carbs you have left, which is the number keto eaters check most. Its recipe library is large and entirely low-carb, which helps keep a restrictive way of eating interesting over months. It is commended this year as the field’s dedicated keto specialist.
How logging works
Food is logged by search or barcode, with net carbs shown for every entry and for the day. Carb Manager runs on phones and on the web, so you can plan meals or review your log on a computer.
A note on keto and health
Very low-carbohydrate diets can work for weight loss for some people but are not right for everyone. People with diabetes, especially those on insulin or certain medications, people who are pregnant and anyone with kidney or liver conditions should talk to a doctor before starting.
Where it sits in the field
Carb Manager is eighth overall because the overall award rewards breadth, and Carb Manager is deliberately narrow. If you might move away from low-carb later, a general tracker that handles net carbs well is the safer home for your history. PlateLens calculates net carbs automatically as total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols and shows a macro view in grams and percentages, inside an app built for every kind of eating.
Who should pick it
- People following a strict keto or low-carb diet.
- People who want a large low-carb recipe library in the same app as their log.
Shortlisted in 2027
Questions readers ask
Is Carb Manager good for keto?
Yes. Carb Manager is built for keto and low-carb diets, with net carbs at the centre of the diary, keto macro targets and a large low-carb recipe library. It is commended in our 2027 awards as a specialist.
What is the difference between net carbs and total carbs?
Net carbs are total carbohydrate minus fiber, and usually minus sugar alcohols too. Many low-carb diets count net carbs because fiber has little effect on blood sugar.