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 and 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, including olive oil, avocados, and nuts such as almonds and walnuts.
How Much Do Keto 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.