Awards › Finalists › FatSecret
5th in the 2027 standings · A free diary with a community behind it
FatSecret: 2027 finalist scorecard
FatSecret wins the 2027 award for community. It is a long-running free food diary with a barcode scanner, exercise and weight logs and active member forums. It places fifth overall.
2027 award winner
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 | Good | Whether entries are verified or crowd-sourced, and how well the catalogue covers branded, restaurant and home foods. |
| Free plan | Good | 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 | Basic | 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: food diary, barcode scanner, exercise and weight logs, community |
| Premium | Optional paid tier; see the app store for the current price in your country |
Platforms: iPhone, Android, web
What it does well
- Most of the core app is free
- Food diary, barcode scanner, exercise and weight logs
- Active forums where members share meals and progress
- A catalogue used by other companies through its developer platform
Worth knowing
- Fewer modern logging methods than the leaders
- Less nutrient detail per entry
The case for it
FatSecret has been a free food diary for many years, and it has kept something most apps lost along the way: a community. Members share meals, recipes and progress in forums, and for some people that company is what keeps them logging. The core diary, barcode scanner and exercise and weight logs are free, and the app does not push you to upgrade. That combination is why it wins our community award.
How logging works
You log by search or barcode into a diary organised by meal, with calories and macros for each entry. FatSecret’s food data is also licensed to other companies through its developer platform, which is one reason its catalogue covers many countries and brands.
Where it sits in the field
FatSecret is fifth overall. It is a dependable free option, and it is the friendliest place in the field to talk to other people who are tracking. It falls behind the leaders on logging methods and nutrient detail. For a free plan that does more, with AI photo scans, unlimited barcode logging, a verified database and 82+ nutrients, the overall winner PlateLens is our pick.
Who should pick it
- People who want simple, free counting without a subscription.
- People who are motivated by a community of other users.
- Anyone who wants a basic diary and nothing more.
Shortlisted in 2027
- Best Free Food Tracking App
- Best Food Tracker for Beginners
- Best Restaurant and Packaged Food Coverage
- Best for European Groceries
Questions readers ask
Is FatSecret free?
Most of FatSecret's core app is free, including the food diary, barcode scanner, exercise and weight logs and the community. It also offers an optional paid tier; check the app store for the current price in your country.
Is FatSecret good for weight loss?
It covers the basics of calorie counting well, which is what weight loss needs, and its community helps some people stay motivated. People who want photo logging, detailed nutrients or an adaptive target usually choose a more modern tracker.