Lose It! Review UK (2026)
The American calorie counter with millions of downloads - but a rocky 2.0/5 Trustpilot rating raises concerns.
What is Lose It!?
Lose It! is a US-based calorie counting app that launched in 2008 alongside the iPhone App Store. It takes a straightforward approach: set a calorie budget based on your weight loss goal, then track what you eat. No complex psychology, no meal plans - just simple calorie maths.
The app claims to have helped users lose over 125 million pounds (US unit) collectively. It launched in the UK and Ireland in 2015, though the database remains predominantly American.
The Lose It! Approach
Lose It! operates on a simple premise: weight loss comes down to eating fewer calories than you burn. The app:
- Calculates your daily calorie budget based on your goal
- Tracks food intake via search, barcode scan, or photo
- Shows you remaining calories for the day
- Lets you "bank" calories for special occasions (weekly budget view)
Key Features
- Calorie tracking: Simple daily budget with remaining calories shown
- Photo meal logging: Snap a photo and AI estimates the meal
- Barcode scanner: Scan products (now Premium only for new users)
- Food database: Millions of items (US-focused)
- Weekly calorie budget: See weekly totals, not just daily
- Exercise logging: Add workouts to earn extra calories
- Goal setting: Set target weight and timeline
- Challenges: Join community weight loss challenges
UK Food Database
This is where Lose It! struggles for UK users. The database is heavily American, and UK users frequently encounter issues:
- Biscuits listed as "sugar cookies"
- Fizzy drinks called "soda"
- Barcode scans returning American products instead of UK equivalents
- Measurements in cups rather than grams
- UK supermarket products (M&S, Tesco, etc.) often missing or incorrect
If you eat mostly whole foods, this matters less. If you eat branded UK products, you'll spend time adding items manually or finding workarounds.
Lose It! Pricing UK
Lose It! UK Pricing (January 2026)
| Plan | Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | £0 | Basic tracking, photo logging, search (no barcode scanner) |
| Premium Monthly | ~£8/month | Barcode scanner, meal planning, detailed insights |
| Premium Annual | ~£30-40/year | Same as monthly, ~60% savings |
| Lifetime | ~£150 | One-time purchase, all Premium features forever |
Note: Lose It! uses dynamic pricing - loyal users often get discounts. Prices shown in USD on website.
Is Premium Worth It?
For UK users, the main Premium benefit is the barcode scanner - but given the US-centric database, you may find many UK products aren't in there anyway. The meal planning and insights features are useful but not essential for basic calorie tracking.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Simple, straightforward interface
- Weekly calorie budgeting
- Photo meal logging works well
- Lifetime purchase option
- Challenges and community
- Clean design
- Some UK success stories
Cons
- US-centric food database
- Barcode scanner now Premium-only
- 2.0/5 Trustpilot rating
- Billing and cancellation issues reported
- Recent UI updates polarising
- Limited macro tracking on free
- UK products often missing
From the makers of HomeCooks
Reach your goals with friends. Effortlessly.
Balance is the nutrition tracker that doesn't feel like homework. Snap a photo, scan a barcode, or just type what you ate. Log meals in seconds, not minutes.
Track with mates who are on the same journey. Get coaching that suggests real swaps, not guilt. And it's completely free - no 7-day trial that quietly charges you.
Download Balance Free
What Real Users Say
Lose It! has a concerning 2.0/5 rating on Trustpilot from 81 reviews, with 54% giving 1 star:
"There must be a difference between the UK and US versions. Lose It helped me lose 2 stone/28lb, having previously tried other apps and some slimming clubs with no success. It works on the simple premise of 'calories in v calories out'." - UK user review
"The app is very American-focused - biscuits called 'sugar cookies', fizzy drinks called 'soda'. Barcode scans sometimes bringing up items from American stores instead of UK products like Marks & Spencer items." - UK Trustpilot review
"The worst update or 'facelift' I've ever seen from an app. Despite having a lifetime membership, features I valued are no longer offered. I can only see 3 macronutrients at a time." - Trustpilot review, January 2026
Common praise: Simple approach, some genuine weight loss success, weekly budget feature useful
Common complaints: US-focused database, billing issues, features removed in updates, cancellation difficulties
Who Lose It! Is Best For
Simplicity Seekers
If you want basic calorie counting without psychology programmes or complex features.
Whole Food Eaters
If you cook from scratch, the US database bias matters less since generic foods are universal.
Weekly Planners
The weekly calorie budget feature is useful if you like to save calories for weekends.
Lifetime Deal Seekers
The one-time lifetime purchase (~£150) can be good value if you'll use it long-term.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- UK packaged food eaters: The database frustration will be constant
- Free tier users: Losing the barcode scanner significantly impacts usability
- Detailed trackers: Limited macro visibility in recent updates
- Billing wary: Multiple reports of cancellation and billing issues
The Bottom Line
Lose It! offers a straightforward calorie counting experience, and some UK users have genuinely achieved their weight loss goals with it. The weekly budget feature and photo logging are useful, and the lifetime purchase option provides long-term value.
However, the US-centric database is a real limitation for UK users, and the low Trustpilot rating reflects genuine frustration with recent changes. Moving the barcode scanner to Premium and the controversial UI updates have damaged the app's reputation.
Our verdict: Try the free version to see if the database works for your typical meals. But if you're paying for a calorie tracker, UK-built alternatives may serve you better.
High Protein Prep Meals, Macro Counted
Chef-prepared meals with 30-50g protein. Full nutritional info on every meal - ready in 3 minutes.
See Our MenuHow it works - Healthy Eating Made Easy.
Pick Your Weekly Plan
Choose from a wide variety of flavours. 250+ meals per month and counting.
Our Chefs Get Cooking
Our partner chefs cook in small batches with ingredients you'd find at home.
Delivery to your Door
Healthy meals for the week, fully prepped, delivered to your door.
Heat, Eat & Repeat
Quality, balanced meals ready in minutes. No prep. No mess. Enjoy!
Popular High Protein Meals
Customer favourites with 30g+ protein per serving
Chargrilled Butter Chicken
Indonesian Beef Rendang
Chicken Tikka Masala
