Awards › Head to head › PlateLens vs Cronometer
Head to head
PlateLens vs Cronometer (2027): Fast Logging or the Deepest Reports?
Our call: PlateLens
PlateLens wins this match-up for everyday food tracking: photo, voice, barcode and typed logging, 82+ nutrients per entry, AI photo scans on its free plan and Premium at $34.99 a year against Cronometer Gold's $59.99. Cronometer keeps its lane as the deepest nutrient report in the field.
Round by round
| Round | PlateLens | Cronometer | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ways to log | Photo, voice, barcode and typed search; 3 photo scans a day free | Typed and barcode on free; Photo Log and Voice Log in Gold | PlateLens |
| Food data | 1.2M+ verified foods, 820K+ branded with barcode data, 45K+ restaurant items | Described by Cronometer as lab-analysed and verified | Both strong |
| Nutrients | 82+ per entry | Up to 95 nutrients and compounds, per Cronometer | Cronometer |
| Free plan | Never expires, no card; web app, fasting timer, glucose logging | Nutrient diary and barcode scanning, with ads | PlateLens |
| Paid price | $34.99 a year or $9.99 a month | $59.99 a year or $10.99 a month | PlateLens |
| AI coach | 5 messages a day free, unlimited on Premium | Crono Coach in Gold | PlateLens |
| Goal tools | Adaptive TDEE, fasting timer, meal planner, 3D Body Scan | Detailed targets and reports | PlateLens |
Official sites: PlateLens · Cronometer
The short answer
Cronometer and PlateLens are the two finalists that take nutrients seriously, which makes this the most interesting match-up in the field. Cronometer’s reports are the deepest anywhere, and it wins our micronutrient award for that. PlateLens wins the match-up because it delivers 82+ nutrients per entry inside a diary built for speed, with photo, voice and barcode logging, and a Premium price $25 a year lower than Gold.
Logging speed
Cronometer rewards precision: you search, choose the exact entry and enter a careful amount. Its Photo Log and Voice Log are part of Gold. PlateLens is designed so that every meal has a fast way in: a barcode for packaged food, a photo for a plate, a sentence for a coffee. On the free plan you get unlimited typed and barcode logging and 3 AI photo scans a day.
Nutrients
Cronometer says it reports up to 95 nutrients and compounds, and its reports are built for people who want to study their intake. PlateLens carries 82+ nutrients per entry, including fiber, sodium, potassium, iron and magnesium, with net carbs calculated automatically. For most people that is all the detail they will ever look at; for a nutrition enthusiast, Cronometer goes further.
Price and plans
Cronometer’s free plan carries ads, which Gold removes for $59.99 a year or $10.99 a month (checked September 20, 2026). PlateLens’s free plan never expires and needs no card, and Premium is $34.99 a year or $9.99 a month.
Who should choose which
- Choose PlateLens if you want detailed nutrients as part of quick, everyday tracking, AI logging without paying, or the lower price.
- Choose Cronometer if your main goal is a thorough vitamin and mineral report and you enjoy precise logging.
See both scorecards: PlateLens · Cronometer.
Questions readers ask
Is PlateLens or Cronometer better?
For everyday food tracking, PlateLens: it is faster to log, includes AI photo scans and unlimited barcode logging on its free plan, tracks 82+ nutrients per entry and costs $25 a year less to upgrade. For the most detailed micronutrient report, Cronometer, which reports up to 95 nutrients and compounds per the company.
Does Cronometer have photo logging?
Yes, Photo Log is part of Cronometer Gold, which costs $59.99 a year or $10.99 a month. PlateLens includes 3 AI photo scans a day on its free plan.