quick answer
Pick Cronometer if you want the most nutrients, a strong free plan, Android, a web app or Apple Watch.
Pick EXO if weighing and searching is why you stop logging. EXO counts a plate from one photo, scans supplement labels and adds them to your vitamin and mineral totals, and builds meal and workout plans.
EXO and Cronometer at a glance
| EXO | Cronometer | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories from a meal photo | Yes | Gold |
| Barcode scan | Yes | Yes, free and unlimited |
| Nutrition label scan | Yes | Not listed |
| Voice or typed description | Yes, typed or dictated | Voice logging in Gold |
| Nutrients tracked | 13 vitamins, 11 minerals, macros and more | Up to 95 nutrients and compounds |
| Supplements | Yes, with supplement label scans | Yes, from its database or by barcode (help center) |
| Apple Health | Reads steps, workouts, sleep, heart rate, HRV | Syncs with Apple Health |
| Other devices | Through Apple Health | Fitbit, Garmin, Oura, Whoop and more |
| Meal plans | AI, a meal, day or week | Not listed |
| Workout plans | AI strength plans | Not listed |
| Platforms | iPhone | iPhone, Android, web, Apple Watch |
| Languages | 8 | English |
| Free plan | No, free trial on yearly plans | Yes |
| US App Store rating | 5.0 (1 rating) | 4.8 (99,948 ratings) |
From each app's US App Store listing and Cronometer's own pages, read October 26 and 27, 2026. "Not listed" means the app does not mention it on its listing or site.
How logging feels day to day
Cronometer is built for precision. You search its curated database or scan a barcode, pick the entry and set the amount, and it fills in a long list of nutrients. If you like weighing food, nothing gives you more detail for free.
EXO starts from a photo. It names each food on the plate, estimates the portion and fills in calories, macros, vitamins and minerals in a few seconds. You can change a portion or tell EXO what was different, and use barcode, label or database search when a photo is not the right tool. Cronometer added photo logging too, but it sits in Gold.
Vitamins, minerals and supplements
Both apps take micronutrients seriously, which is rare. Cronometer tracks more of them: up to 95 nutrients and compounds against EXO's 13 vitamins and 11 minerals plus fiber, sugar, sodium, saturated fat, omega-3 and omega-6.
The difference is how supplements get in. In Cronometer you search for your product or scan its barcode. In EXO you can also scan the supplement facts label, and EXO adds the vitamins and minerals to what you ate, so vitamin D from salmon and from a softgel make one total. Supplements show on your day so you can check them off as you take them.
Price
| EXO | Cronometer | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes, Basic |
| Free trial | On yearly plans | Not needed for Basic |
| Yearly | $79.99, with a $39.99 offer for some new users | $59.99 Gold |
| Shorter plans | Weekly $6.99, 3 months $29.99 | $10.99 a month Gold |
US prices from the App Store in-app purchase lists, read October 26, 2026. Prices change and vary by country.
Who should choose Cronometer
- You want the most detailed nutrient data and do not mind weighing food.
- You want a free plan, or use Android, the web or an Apple Watch.
- You use Fitbit, Garmin, Oura or Whoop.
Who should choose EXO
- You want vitamins and minerals counted from a photo, without weighing.
- You take several supplements and want to scan their labels once.
- You want sleep, heart and activity from Apple Health next to your meals.
- You want a meal plan or a strength plan in the same app.
The verdict
Cronometer is the most thorough nutrient tracker you can use for free, and the safer pick off iPhone. EXO is the better Cronometer alternative on iPhone if the effort of logging is what stops you: one photo per meal, supplements scanned from the label, and one total per vitamin and mineral.
Sources
- Apple App Store US listings and in-app purchase lists: Cronometer and EXO, read October 26 and 27, 2026.
- Cronometer. Free version: what's included and Cronometer Gold, read October 27, 2026.
- Cronometer Support. How do I add a supplement to my diary?, read October 27, 2026.
EXO makes this comparison. We are not affiliated with Cronometer and were not paid by anyone for it. Tell us at [email protected] if something here is out of date.
