Diets Keto Diet The Best Keto Apps of 2023 Carb Manager is the best overall keto app based on its detailed features By Nicole Bonaccorso Nicole Bonaccorso Twitter Nicole is a writer who covers topics in health and lifestyle. She has written for Mashable, Upworthy, AskMen, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 29, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Mia Syn, MS, RDN Medically reviewed by Mia Syn, MS, RDN Mia Syn, MS, RDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a master of science in human nutrition. She is also the host of Good Food Friday on ABC News 4. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Sean Blackburn Fact checked by Sean Blackburn LinkedIn Sean is a fact-checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. The keto diet (or ketogenic diet) has become one of the most popular diets in recent years. Ketogenic eating encourages the body to burn fat (including belly fat), as opposed to glucose, by avoiding carbs and focusing on a high-fat diet. While high fat may seem intimidating and even counter-productive, it’s important to remember that some fats are better for your body than others. Fatty fish, avocados, nuts, and olive oil are all sources of healthy fats that are ideal for the keto diet. Keto fans may want to steer clear of oils high in polyunsaturated omega-6 fats, such as soy, corn, cottonseed, and safflower, which are less healthy than the fat sources listed above. Typically, those following a keto diet consume 70% to 75% of their calories from fat, 5% to 10% of calories from carbohydrates, and the rest from protein. The math can be hard to figure out, but there are a lot of apps out there to help you track your macronutrients (often called macros), or your percentage of fats, carbs, and proteins, to give you awesome meal ideas, to find community encouragement when things get tough and more. Starting the keto diet may require a bit of an investment. Proteins, in general, tend to cost more at the grocery store than other items. You may find your grocery bills increasing as you add in more protein and fewer carbs, but there are ways to save money while shopping for a keto lifestyle. Apps, for example, can help you plan your meals and strategically track your food intake. We love the Carb Manager app because it helps you track keto metrics, lifestyle habits, and all food, but there are plenty of other options as well. We’ve listed the best apps to help maintain an effective keto diet below. Best Keto Apps of 2023 Best Overall: Carb Manager Best for Tracking Nutrients: MyMacros+ Best for Beginners: Senza Best for Finding Recipes: Total Keto Diet Best for Community: KetoDiet Best for Integrating Fitness: 8fit Best for Goal Setting: FatSecret Best for Meal Planning: PlateJoy The Best Keto Apps of 2023 View All The Best Keto Apps of 2023 Our Top Picks Carb Manager MyMacros+ Senza Total Keto Diet KetoDiet 8fit FatSecret PlateJoy See More (5) Final Verdict How to Choose the Best Keto App What Is a Keto Diet? Can a Keto Diet Help Me Lose Weight? How Much Do Keto Diet Apps Cost? What Does the Research Say About the Keto Diet? Methodology Best Overall : Carb Manager Carb Manager Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: Premium version is about $40 per yearSupported Devices: Fitbit, Apple WatchFeatures: Tracks all major keto and lifestyle metrics, includes barcode scanning, photo logging, and voice command logging Why We Chose It Carb Manager focuses on the minute details of a ketogenic diet so that you can track exactly how your body is doing on the diet. Pros & Cons Pros Enables tracking of several useful keto metrics (macronutrients, blood sugar levels, ketones, etc.) Easy to log food through voice command, photo, or barcode scanning Can be synced with smartphone apps or fitness trackers Lets you track other lifestyle habits, like water intake and exercise Cons The food database is not as extensive as other keto apps Premium version gets pricey (about $40/year) Nutrient data isn't always accurate because it's entered by other users Barcode scanner can be too quick to correctly scan the food item Overview Carb manager is one of the most comprehensive on the market. You can track all of the basic metrics that are critical to the keto diet—like total carbs, net carbs, and fats—but you can also track ketones, blood glucose, insulin, glycemic load, and more. On top of all that, you can track metrics that aren’t necessarily related to your diet but help you to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle, including water intake, exercise, and body weight. Carb Manager has a food database that’s more than one million foods strong and offers barcode scanning, photo logging, and voice command logging. You can sync Carb Manager to your Fitbit, Apple Watch, or other supported device, as well as connect it to several other health and fitness apps. This app also offers a wealth of recipes, educational content, grocery list building, and a community platform. Best for Tracking Nutrients : MyMacros+ MyMacros+ Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: Free, with in-app purchasesSupported Devices: iPhone, iPad, AndroidFeatures: Tracks all major keto metrics, includes 5 million foods in the database, allows logging of foods without the internet Why We Chose It MyMacros+ has a huge food database, which creates precise tracking. Pros & Cons Pros Internet isn't required for food logging Large database of over 5 million foods My Circle feature lets you connect with friends on the app in real time A body fat estimation calculator is now available Macro Coach guides you on which food choices to make Cons Costs money to download the app, and you have to pay an additional fee to unlock the full features Some functionality is better on the iPhone versus Android phones Not always easy to find the foods you're searching for Overview MyMacros+ has held a steady reign in the nutrient-tracking world, due largely in part to its massive food database (more than 5 million foods!) and simple app interface. With MyMacros+, tracking is easy, quick, and honestly quite fun when you see all of your great progress. MyMacros+ supports everything a keto follower would need. For instance, you can log all of your macronutrients, including carbohydrates and net carbs, protein, and fats. The app supports the logging of other nutrients that are important to the keto diet, too, such as sugar and fiber. With this app, you can log unlimited meals throughout the day and see how your dietary choices affect your set goals (which you can modify at any time in your settings). MyMacros+ shows you the nutritional breakdown of every ingredient, meal, and day. Plus, the logging feature is usable without the internet, so if you find yourself eating somewhere without service, you can still accurately log your meal. Best for Beginners : Senza Senza Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: Free, with in-app purchasesSupported Devices: iPhone, iPad, AndroidFeatures: Delivers beginner-friendly introductory keto program, tracks all major keto metrics, recommends keto-friendly restaurants as you travel Why We Chose It Senza helps walk you through the first couple of days on a keto diet with ease. It’s also great for traveling, with its keto-friendly restaurant suggestions. Pros & Cons Pros Simple to use for beginners Helps you make gradual changes Other lifestyle factors can be tracked (like sleep) and synced with fitness trackers Suggests keto-friendly restaurants while traveling Cons Nutrient data is entered by users so it's not always accurate No option for other users to edit inaccurate nutrient data Overview Senza values simplicity, making it an ideal keto diet platform for beginners. With the introductory “5 Days to Keto” program, Senza guides you through the transition from your current diet to the keto diet without making you feel miserable. In your Senza Food Journal, you’ll track carbs and net carbs, as well as other keto nutrition metrics such as glucose and ketones. You can scan barcodes, search restaurant menus, or select from more than one million keto items in the food database. On top of those great features, you can track mood and sleep, and connect Senza to your Fitbit or Apple Watch to integrate other metrics. Oh, and if you’re traveling? The app’s Keto Radar feature maps out keto-friendly restaurants near you—no more sifting through hundreds of Google search results to find a compliant restaurant. Best for Finding Recipes : Total Keto Diet Total Keto Diet Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: Free, with in-app purchasesSupported Devices: iPhone, iPad, AndroidFeatures: Built-in keto calculator and macro tracker, keto recipe library, and shopping list Why We Chose It This app’s features make meal planning easy and fun. You can even customize your meal plan to your needs. Pros & Cons Pros Recipe library with thousands of recipes Customized keto meal plans tailored to your preferences Educates users about the ins and outs of a keto diet Weekly grocery list creator Cons Some users complain about poor app functionality after installing updates Food database is not as large as other apps (less than a million foods) Barcode tracker sometimes makes the wrong selection Overview Total Keto Diet by Tasteaholics is fantastic for beginners and keto experts alike. Tasteaholics is a free low-carb educational resource with thousands of recipes, keto news, blog articles, and more. The Total Keto Diet app encompasses the educational aspect of Tasteaholics while also providing a keto calculator, macro tracker, food database, and beginner’s keto guide. On the app, you’ll also find an expansive recipe library and a shopping list feature where you can add ingredients from Total Keto Diet recipes or your own recipes. Total Keto Diet shares recipes that adhere to three main goals: They’ll keep your net carb count to under 25 grams daily, help you increase your protein intake to at least 60 grams daily, and satisfy both your taste buds and your belly. Best for Community : KetoDiet Keto Diet Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: Free, with in-app purchasesSupported Devices: iPhone, iPad, AndroidFeatures: Tracks all major keto metrics, provides KetoDiet Challenges, and social media support group Why We Chose It The KetoDiet app provides motivation, offering challenges and creating an online community atmosphere. We also love the accuracy of its food database for proper diet tracking. Pros & Cons Pros Nutrient data is verfied for accuracy Competitive challenges and Facebook support group for accountability Recipes are tasty Intuitive user interface, easy to use Cons Customer service is lacking if you have issues with your account Not possible to customize meal plans using different macros Overview KetoDiet offers all of the critical components of a keto diet app: carb and net carb tracking, macro tracking, body weight and body fat tracking, recipes, and more. But it also offers KetoDiet Challenges and a Facebook support group, both of which can keep you motivated to stick to your low-carb diet. Another great thing about KetoDiet is the accuracy of its food database. The app centers around the idea that accuracy is crucial for success on keto. That means KetoDiet gets all of its nutrition information from trustworthy, verified sources (such as the USDA) rather than allowing app users to upload nutritional information into a common database. Best for Integrating Fitness : 8fit 8fit Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: Free; Pro version is about $30 for 3 months or roughly $60 for 1 yearSupported Devices: iPhone, iPad, AndroidFeatures: Tracks macronutrients, provides educational resources, and nutritionist-approved recipes Why We Chose It 8Fit combines meal planning, macro tracking, and exercise for whole-body wellness. Pros & Cons Pros Efficient workouts that don't require equipment Shopping list and meals plans provided Customized meal plans tailored to your preferences Workout assessment determines your starting level Step counter syncs with Google Fit Cons Not all recipes are geared towards a keto meal plan Expensive to access Pro version: $30 for 3 months or $60 for 1 year Auto renew can lead to unexpected charges Overview 8fit brings the best of both worlds—fitness and nutrition—together. With 8fit, you can keep track of your fitness goals and your nutrition goals in one organized place. While not necessarily built just for keto fans, 8fit allows you to track macronutrients, including carbohydrates and net carbs. With nearly a thousand nutritionist-approved recipes, you can use the diet filter to build out a healthy keto meal plan on 8fit and then use the shopping list feature to plan your trip to the grocery store. On 8fit, you’ll find educational content (such as guides and tip sheets) on nutrition and fitness, research-backed workout plans, meal plan templates, instructional videos, and much more. Best for Goal Setting : FatSecret FatSecret Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: Free; Pro version is about $30 for 3 months or roughly $60 for 1 yearSupported Devices: iPhone, iPad, AndroidFeatures: Provides food and exercise diaries, healthy recipes, community motivation, and notifications to check in Why We Chose It FatSecret focuses on your own personal goals, from overall weight loss to smaller goals like weekly macro intake with journaling, push notifications, and community support. Pros & Cons Pros Community platform provides support and accountability Image recognition for faster logging Lots of free features offered Doesn't "fat shame" or judge your choices Easy to use Cons Nutritional info for database foods cannot be edited on the app (only on the website) Some app functions work better with Apple than Android Paid upgrade required to access recipes Overview FatSecret has all of the features you need to cultivate a perfectly healthy keto lifestyle. You can set overarching goals and smaller goals for each individual macronutrient. Just a few of FatSecret’s great features include a comprehensive food diary to keep track of your food intake; an exercise diary to record your exercise sessions, calories burned, and fitness goals; a robust collection of healthy recipes; a weight chart to view your progress over time; and image recognition of foods to make food logging even easier. Reminders and push notifications for meals, weigh-ins, and journal entries help you stay on track; a community platform helps you remain motivated to crush your diet goals; and a detailed overview of your daily, weekly, and monthly macronutrient breakdown helps you stay on top of your nutrition. Best for Meal Planning : PlateJoy Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: Starts at roughly $8 per monthSupported Devices: iPhone, iPad, AndroidFeatures: Features tracking for macronutrients, keto meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists Why We Chose It This app helps to take all the frustration out of it, and you’ll be able to customize it to your needs. Pros & Cons Pros Customized plan based on your lifestyle and preferences Can accommodate different dietary restrictions Meal planning helps you to buy only what you need and reduce food waste Helpful video content Menu can be synced with your Google calendar Cons Vegetarian meals are lacking Overview PlateJoy isn’t designed only for people on a keto diet, but it certainly supports them. Starting at just $8 per month, you can get nutritionist-developed keto meal plans, recipes, and grocery lists that can save you so much time and frustration. When you download PlateJoy, you’ll start by taking a lifestyle quiz that asks about your taste preferences, health and fitness goals, dietary restrictions, allergies, and schedule. For keto, you’d want to make sure to highlight carbohydrate intake when the app asks about dietary restrictions. After you take the quiz, PlateJoy uses a smart algorithm to create a customized meal plan based on the information you provided. In the case of a keto meal plan, you’ll get hundreds of low-carb or zero-carb recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Final Verdict Whether you’re new to a ketogenic diet or have been maintaining a keto lifestyle for some time, the best keto apps can greatly assist you in tracking your macros and keeping you on the path to reaching your health goals. Our favorite apps on this list are Carb Manager and MyMacros+. We think the most important thing to pay attention to when starting a keto diet is your macros by keeping a detailed food diary. Carb Manager’s comprehensive approach allows you to track detailed fitness information, keeping you informed of your progress. We also love MyMacros+ because of its food database, which keeps you accurate in your meal logging. How to Choose the Best Keto App While there are many keto apps out there, choosing the best one for you depends on your own individual health and wellness goals. Keep these factors in mind when looking for a keto app. Health Goals If you're looking to achieve certain goals — whether you want to lose weight, improve health concerns, or track your habits — it's important that the app you choose has the features to support you on your journey. For example, if you're looking to lose weight, choose an app that provides personalized nutrition coaching and weight tracking. Food Library & Recipes If you're using a keto app to track your macros and all food intake, you'll want to make sure that the app you choose has a large and growing library of foods to help you efficiently log your meals. Some apps have meals from restaurants already logged so you can easily add them to your daily tracker. You'll also want to make sure you can add in your own recipes into the app, especially if you'll be cooking your own keto-friendly meals. Price While there are both free and paid keto apps on the market, learn which features are available without a premium subscription. Some apps will require an upfront payment and other may have an annual subscription, so it's important to know what you'll be getting in a free and paid version. As always, it’s best to consult your doctor and/or a nutritionist before starting any new diet. The ketogenic diet may not be appropriate for patients with certain medical conditions, such as pancreatitis, liver failure, disorders of fat metabolism, among others, according to medical professionals. The diet also may not be safe during pregnancy. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Keto Diet? A ketogenic diet, also known as a keto diet, is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that’s designed to force your body to become more efficient at burning fat for energy. Proponents of the diet as well as some research have shown that this type of diet can help you lose weight and improve some health conditions. But some experts worry that a keto diet is too strict and difficult to maintain for many people. Can a Keto Diet Help Me Lose Weight? While the ketogenic diet may be effective for significant and rapid weight loss, it’s unclear if the eating plan is sustainable for ongoing weight loss maintenance. If you do try a keto diet to jump-start your weight loss efforts, try to stick to healthier sources of fat and protein, such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts such as almonds and walnuts. How Much Do Keto Diet Apps Cost? Some keto diet apps are free or charge a very small fee to download, but you’ll have to make in-app purchases to get access to premium features. Most offer a monthly or yearly subscription fee, which can range from approximately $2 to $10 per month. The more expensive keto diet apps usually offer more advanced features, including customized food plans, recipes, and access to a community of other members. What Does the Research Say About the Keto Diet? Following a keto diet may help you lose weight, which can lead to improved overall health. Research shows that keto diets may help improve cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting blood sugar levels and can lessen the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. This diet also may help with some seizure and neurological disorders.However, a keto diet severely limits your consumption of carbohydrates, so it can be hard to reach your recommended daily intake of nutrients such as fiber, and other vitamins and minerals that you’d get from eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Methodology To find the best keto apps, we looked at eight different apps that are available for Android and Apple users. All of the apps were chosen for their nutrient-tracking capabilities, pricing, meal-planning capabilities, and educational resources. We also looked at how these keto apps synced with other devices and if workouts were available. Additional reporting by Nicole Bonaccorso. Oscar Wong / Getty Images Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Batch JT, Lamsal SP, Adkins M, Sultan S, Ramirez MN. Advantages and disadvantages of the ketogenic diet: A review article. Cureus. 2020;12(8):e9639. doi:10.7759/cureus.9639 McDonald TJW, Cervenka MC. The expanding role of ketogenic diets in adult neurological disorders. Brain Sci. 2018;8(8):148. doi:10.3390/brainsci8080148 By Nicole Bonaccorso Nicole is a writer who covers topics in health and lifestyle. She has written for Mashable, Upworthy, AskMen, and more. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit