Share
This content contains affiliate links, which helps hangrywoman.com to provide free recipes and resources. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support of the blog.
While these apps may be free to download, some may have in-app purchase components, or require subscriptions to access all of the available features.
Each year, I look to start fresh and align my health goals with my new year’s goals.
I pick healthier foods, I try my best to make better habits, and I aim for a better mindset when it comes to my body.
I’m also always actively checking my blood sugars and carb counting as someone with diabetes.
When I’m trying to control my blood sugar, the best route for me is watching my carbohydrate intake.
Ingesting excess carbohydrates can lead to high blood sugar, which as all kinds of complications for someone with type 2 diabetes.
There are lots of free carb counter apps out there that can help you reach your goals.
Hey! A quick note before you start reading!
I’m Mila Clarke, The Hangry Woman! I help people like myself living with diabetes find our strength and feel less shame and loneliness, so we can face diabetes head-on without fear, or judgment.
I do this via YouTube videos, and diabetes-friendly recipes, support, and encouragement, so join my channel or click here to subscribe to my mailing list, for exclusive content and perks.
What’s the benefit of using a carb counter app?
Whether you’re trying to get a handle on your blood sugar, or you’re trying to lose weight, there are tons of free apps out there that help you measure your macros.
Why make it hard when you can help some help doing the manual
Sometimes, you can also overeat without knowing it. For instance, a 1/4 cup of rice is generally the serving size for the dish.
Many of us probably eat double or trip that without knowing.
Carb counter apps help us understand servings, as well as measure out the proper servings to stay within our goals.
Here are some free carb counter apps that I found helpful.
Limits to the apps
Some apps will allow you to use the apps in a basic mode for free, but you’ll have to. upgrade for significant feature use.
If you’re looking for basic carb counting without the extras, these apps can fit the bill.
Carb Manager: Keto Diet App
This app has readings that are easy to display and keeps things easy to read at a glance.

This app is the world’s most comprehensive and easy to use net and total carb counter according to the developers.
One benefit of this app is that it counts net carboydrates, so you don’t have to do the calculation on your own.
They have compiled over 1 millions foods with verified carb counts to help you keep track with your low carb lifestyle.
One thing I didn’t like about this app is how tracking net carbs can be a little confusing. The app is also very much geared toward the Keto Diet, but can be useful to others.
KETO.app – Keto Diet Tracker

This app allows you to personalize your macro goals to your body type and activity level.
You can use their simple search engine to input food and beverages and scan product barcodes.
The search suggestions even mark foods to avoid so that you can maintain your daily goal.
Though I don’t like to think of foods in a restrictive way, I think this is more of a guide than a “must not eat.” As always, take suggestions with a grain of salt.
Its interface is simple and easy to read.
It also has options for exercise tracking and water tracking.
Ketogenic Keto Diet food list

This app helps you plan out what foods you can purchase, and gives you a checklist on keto-friendly items.
Although not a complete tracker, it can help you with your grocery shopping and show you what items to stick with.
I do wish it had full tracker functionality, and other apps could take a lesson from the education a user could get by knowing which items may work for their diet.
Keto diet & Ketogenic recipes

This app puts Keto recipes at your fingertips. It’s a helpful app when you get stuck about what to eat and you need some inspiration.
The app also provides some essential info about the Keto diet like what is ketosis, how to reach ketosis and track it, the benefits of Keto based on science.
It includes food lists to help you prepare to get into ketosis. It’s great for keto beginners who need a little more explanation about the process.
MacroTrak – Macro Tracker

This app is simple and easy helping you to track your
It doesn’t store personal information on servers, so your data stays safe on your phone.
You can use the built-in macro calculator to determine macros or input the numbers you choose.
Then just pick your foods and your stats will change as you add things.
Lifesum: Diet Plans & Recipes

This free carb counter app is great as a diet planner, food tracker, calorie counter and healthy recipes app.
You can track the small habits and make a big difference.
The app will help you find a diet plan best suited for your lifestyle and give you tips, reminders and a food diary to help you stay on track.
Senza

Senza is also keto-focused, and it does a good job of teaching you the basics of the diet upfront.
If you’re new and just starting, it’s a helpful way to go.
The barcode scanner doesn’t seem to be that accurate, but as more items are added to the database, that could be fixed over time.
MyFitness Pal

My fitness pal is a tried and true food tracking app. While it does have a free version, the benefits of paying for the app are plenty.
More customizations, net carb counts, meal plans and more.
This app also tracks your workouts and water intake. It’s one of the best because it looks at the holistic picture of health – not just one aspect of your overall health.
So which app should you choose?
No matter which free carb counter apps you use – you have to choose one that works best for you your lifestyle.
All of these apps have great features, it’s just up to you to choose which one will work best for you.
Just keep in mind, that you can always change until you find something that works for you.
PIN IT

16 Responses
You might want to update this page. For instance, as of 4/23, there is no free basic use of Carb Manager. You can’t use it unless you pay $40.00 yearly. Thanks.
This information is still accurate. Carb Manager has two plans – a Free plan and a Premium plan. The Premium plan offers all of the apps features, while the free plan offers basic useage of the app. See their pricing page here: https://www.carbmanager.com/premium
I’m newly-diagnosed type 1 and tried a few free apps, but found that they mostly had way more information than I needed or wanted! For example I don’t have any interest in tracking fat or protein, as I generally eat pretty healthily, but wanted the option to count carbs. I bit the bullet and splashed out the 5 euros for “Carbs & Cals” and love it. It’s super simple and basically just gives you the carbs and calories for everything, with a v extensive food list, and the option to add exercise.
Not free unfortunately, but it takes away a lot of the (for me) overwhelming amounts of information that I don’t need yet!
Nicola,
I’ve had type 1 for over 30 years! Finding accurate carb content is tough. I use MyFitnessPal but I dislike all the diet and weight loss focus. I know you’re newly diagnosed and probably still learning, but fat and protein do affect the absorption of carbs so that info can also be really helpful when dosing your insulin! (For instance, a low carb food could spike blood sugar 2-8 hours after consumption if the food contains a lot of fat and/or protein!)
Best of luck and there are lots of great groups on Facebook for type 1 diabetics! One of my favorites is the JuiceBox Podcast (fb gorup and also, as you might’ve guessed, a podcast. I’ve learned a lot from it!)
These are not free looked into several and they were not free
Sad. Very sad
They all offer free base use of the app, with in-app purchases to upgrade your account with more features.
Thanks to share your knowledge with us. I highly appreciate your work.
How do I get one of these apps
Hi Barb, you can download them from the Apple, or Google Play Stores.
I have used My Fitness Pal for over a year and just got tired of it not tracking my Net Carbs. Now, I am using Carb Manager and I am getting used to it and like it a lot.
Same here! I love MFP, and I will totally go back to it if they ever track net carbs, but it was such a pain to do it myself.
I can see these apps being really helpful for people to reach their nutritional goals. I haven’t had much luck tracking my daily intake, it does require some discipline to make sure you enter everything!
All of these are great apps to keep track of your daily carb intake.
Such an informative post! I need to try out one of these apps!!
Honestly, I should get these apps even though I don’t limit my carbs—because so many people I know and love do! It’s tough to balance everyone’s dietary needs when they come over for dinner, but having a list of keto-friendly ingredients, for example, would make it easier.
I really need to try out one of these apps because I am trying to cut down on my carb intake. The struggle is REAL.