Calorie counter apps with a free barcode scanner

Is the MyFitnessPal barcode scanner free?

No, MyFitnessPal's barcode help article says scanning needs a Premium subscription, and its Free, Premium and Premium+ comparison marks the scanner for the two paid plans only. The barcode article dates the change to October 1, 2022.

For the other subscription features, see MyFitnessPal Premium costs. The FatSecret and MyFitnessPal comparison covers their broader differences.

Why do Lose It's pages give different answers?

The published answers conflict. About Lose It, edited October 12, 2026, includes barcode scanning in the free version. Tiers and Pricing, edited September 9, 2026, places it in Premium, as do the App Store listing and Google Play listing.

A separate article edited April 1, 2026 says scanning is moving to Premium, with some free members retaining access during the change. Those are different descriptions of access, so this comparison keeps each one visible. More subscription details are on Lose It Premium costs.

Which apps say free scans are unlimited?

Cronometer explicitly allows unlimited scanning on Basic. MyNetDiary also describes its free scanner as unlimited. A number of free scans is not stated for the other apps in the checked pages.

Yazio advertises barcode entry, but its Pro feature list does not mention scanning. Neither establishes a free scanning allowance. The Yazio review covers the app beyond barcode access.

What happens if the barcode finds no product?

MyFitnessPal asks for the package's nutrition details, and the new food links that barcode for other members. Lose It saves a Custom Food with optional community sharing, using nutrition entered by the member. Cronometer offers Create New and asks for label and package photos before public database review.

FatSecret first points to the selected region. Its Add New Food help separates a Branded Food submitted for review from an entry kept private. Yazio says an unrecognized product is usually absent from its database and can be added. An entry created with a barcode becomes public.

MyNetDiary may offer a similar generic item when the barcode is not assigned. Its help describes linking an existing item or sending package photos for a custom food, with a stated aim of adding it within 24 hours.

Lifesum offers attaching the barcode to an existing item or creating a food, without naming a plan in that instruction. Its Premium help lists creating foods as a paid feature. TrueCal's barcode miss behavior is Not stated.

Do the free versions show ads?

MyNetDiary says its free tier has no ads. MyFitnessPal says advertising pays for free access. Lose It's Eliminate Ads purchase removes full-page and Log banner ads.

Cronometer calls Gold ad-free and Yazio includes ad-free use in Pro. Their Google Play listings also mark ads, as linked in the table. Ads on the free versions of FatSecret, Lifesum and TrueCal are Not stated.

What prices do the paid scanner plans list?

MyFitnessPal lists Premium at $79.99 a year or $19.99 a month. Lose It's help center lists Premium at $79.99 a year, without a monthly price. TrueCal Pro is $29.99 a year or $9.99 a month.

A paid plan is not required for the scanning described on Cronometer's Basic page. The Cronometer price guide covers its plans, and the comparison directory links to more app details.

What does TrueCal include with barcode logging?

TrueCal keeps manual calorie entry free and includes barcodes in Pro. Pro also accepts typed meals, voice and photos, and includes macros. Its FAQ names FatSecret and Open Food Facts among barcode nutrition databases and describes label photos as reading the package directly. It does not state a barcode miss response or whether the free version shows ads.

What else do readers ask about free scanning?