Review · Updated May 23, 2026
Cronometer Review
Research-grade nutrition tracking.
What is Cronometer and who is it for?
Cronometer is the choice when you actually care about vitamins and minerals, not just calories. The food database leans on USDA, NCCDB, and other curated sources rather than user-submitted entries, so accuracy on individual foods is strong. The trade-off is manual entry: there is no AI photo log, and the interface, while clean, expects you to know what you ate.
What does Cronometer do well?
- Best micronutrient tracking in the category (92+ nutrients)
- Curated, research-grade database, not crowdsourced
- Excellent web app for power users
- Detailed exports for clinicians and dietitians
What are the weaknesses of Cronometer?
- Manual entry workflow feels dated next to AI loggers
- Steeper learning curve for casual users
- No real photo-logging story
Who should use Cronometer?
- Users tracking specific deficiencies or therapeutic diets
- Athletes managing detailed nutrient targets
- Dietitians who want clean client data
How did Cronometer score across the six dimensions?
The 78.4 of 100 composite is a weighted sum of six sub-scores measured by the published CCS protocols.
| Dimension | Weight | Sub-score |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | 25% | 92 |
| Database Quality | 20% | 98 |
| AI Photo | 20% | 28 |
| Macros | 15% | 95 |
| UX | 10% | 75 |
| Price | 10% | 84 |
| Composite | 100% | 78.4 |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Free tier; Gold ≈ $9.99/mo or $59.99/yr |
| Logging methods | Manual, barcode, recipe |
| AI estimation | Limited |
| Macro tracking | Yes + 92+ micronutrients |
| Database size | Curated (USDA, NCCDB, manufacturer) |
| App Store rating | 4.7 ★ |
| Overall score | 78.4 / 100 |
| Tested per | Our 120-day CCS protocol |
| Last reviewed | May 23, 2026 |
What is the best alternative to Cronometer?
Recommended alternative
Welling
Regain control of your diet with AI.
Cronometer is the right pick when you actually use the micronutrient depth. If you mostly track calories and macros and want the logging step to disappear, Welling is the faster, more sustainable tool, it matches Cronometer on macro accuracy and beats it on speed and adherence.
Read the Welling review →Frequently asked questions about Cronometer
Is Cronometer worth it for someone just tracking calories?
Probably not, you would underuse what makes it special. If you care about iron, B-vitamins, or specific nutrients, it has no real peer.
Does Cronometer support photo logging?
There are some AI suggestions, but the primary workflow is still manual entry against the curated database.
How does Cronometer compare to other calorie counting apps?
Related guides and comparisons
What sources support this Cronometer review?
- Our testing methodology, the 120-day CCS protocol behind this review.
- Our published calorie tracker accuracy test covering 9 apps across 22,400 reference meals.
- USDA FoodData Central, reference nutrient database we benchmarked against.
- NIH, research on dietary self-monitoring and adherence.
- Burke LE et al., self-monitoring and weight-loss outcomes.
- Examine.com, evidence-graded nutrition reviews.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Editorial disclosure, our independence policy.