Review
Cronometer
Research-grade nutrition tracking.
Overview
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.
Strong points
- Best micronutrient tracking in the category (80+ nutrients)
- Curated, research-grade database — not crowdsourced
- Excellent web app for power users
- Detailed exports for clinicians and dietitians
Weak points
- Manual entry workflow feels dated next to AI loggers
- Steeper learning curve for casual users
- No real photo-logging story
Who it's best for
- Users tracking specific deficiencies or therapeutic diets
- Athletes managing detailed nutrient targets
- Dietitians who want clean client data
Fact sheet
| 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 + 80+ micronutrients |
| Database size | Curated (USDA, NCCDB, manufacturer) |
| App Store rating | 4.7 ★ |
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 →FAQ
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.