FatSecret Review UK (2026)
The genuinely free calorie counter with 62 million downloads - but how does it compare to premium alternatives?
What is FatSecret?
FatSecret is an Australian-founded calorie counting app that's been around since 2006. With 62 million downloads and a database of over 2 million verified foods, it's one of the largest free nutrition trackers available.
The app takes a no-frills approach: track your food, log your weight, and use the community for support. Unlike many "freemium" apps that paywall core features, FatSecret keeps the fundamentals free and only charges for optional extras like meal planning.
What's Actually Free
Unlike many apps that cripple the free tier, FatSecret includes:
- Calorie and macro tracking
- Barcode scanner
- Weight logging
- Food diary
- Recipe logging
- Community access
- Exercise logging
- Image recognition for food
Key Features
- Calorie and macro tracking: Full nutrition logging including protein, carbs, fat, fibre
- Barcode scanner: Scan UK products with image recognition backup
- Food database: 2M+ verified foods including UK supermarkets and restaurants
- Custom foods: Add your own foods with nutritional values
- Recipe calculator: Enter recipes and calculate per-serving nutrition
- Weight tracking: Log weight with progress charts
- Community: Forums and support from other users
- Regional versions: UK-specific food database
UK Food Database
FatSecret offers tailored regional versions covering almost 30 countries including the UK. This means the database filters out American foods you won't find here and prioritises UK supermarket products and restaurant chains.
Users report the database includes data from many popular UK supermarkets and restaurant chains, making it more practical for British users than some US-focused alternatives.
FatSecret Pricing UK
FatSecret UK Pricing (January 2026)
| Plan | Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | £0 | Full calorie/macro tracking, barcode scanner, weight log, community |
| Premium | Variable | Meal plans by dietitians, advanced meal planning, water tracking, custom meal headings |
Premium pricing varies by region and promotional offers. The free version is fully functional for calorie tracking.
Is Premium Worth It?
The free version covers everything most people need for calorie tracking. Premium adds dietitian-created meal plans (keto, Mediterranean, intermittent fasting, high protein, etc.), advanced meal planning features, and water tracking.
Unless you specifically want structured meal plans, the free tier is sufficient for straightforward tracking.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Genuinely free core features
- Good UK food database
- 62M downloads - established app
- Barcode scanner included free
- Recipe calculator
- Active community
- No pressure to upgrade
- Custom macro targets
Cons
- Interface feels dated
- Some database accuracy issues
- No verification indicator on entries
- Ads on free version
- Less polished than premium apps
- No adaptive algorithm
- Basic compared to MacroFactor/Cronometer
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What Real Users Say
FatSecret has 11 UK Trustpilot reviews and 4.5/5 on app stores:
"The best app made ever for people who need to monitor their diet. Easy data entry and ability to add custom food with nutritional values that the app will calculate." - UK Trustpilot review
"I lost 25 kgs using only the free version of the app from September 2024 to September 2025." - User testimonial
Common praise: Free features, UK database, community support, long-term use success
Common complaints: Dated interface, occasional database inaccuracies, ads
Who FatSecret Is Best For
Budget Trackers
If you want comprehensive calorie tracking without paying anything, FatSecret delivers.
No-Frills Approach
If you just want to log food and track weight without gamification or psychology lessons.
Community Seekers
The active community forums provide support and accountability.
Long-Term Trackers
Users report using FatSecret for 8+ years - it's reliable for ongoing tracking.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Design-conscious: The interface is functional but dated compared to newer apps
- Accuracy obsessed: Database accuracy isn't verified like Cronometer
- Micronutrient trackers: Focuses on macros, not vitamins/minerals
- Adaptive algorithm seekers: No MacroFactor-style metabolic adjustment
The Bottom Line
FatSecret proves you don't need to pay for effective calorie tracking. The free tier includes everything most people need - calorie/macro logging, barcode scanning, weight tracking, and community support. The UK-specific database makes it practical for British users.
It's not the prettiest or most advanced app, but for straightforward tracking without subscription fees, FatSecret is hard to beat.
Our verdict: The obvious choice if you want free calorie tracking that actually works. Download it, use it, and only consider premium alternatives if you need specific features FatSecret doesn't offer.
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