LogmaFatSecret has been around a long time, and it does something most calorie apps no longer do: it's free. Its own App Store description says so, and in the US it averages 4.7 stars from 15,450 ratings.
So this page is a little different from my other alternative pages. Price is rarely why people leave FatSecret. Reading the low reviews, the loudest topic right now is a recent update and redesign. Below is what the reviews say, when staying put is the smart move, and when a different way of logging makes sense.
Quick disclosure: I'm Batu, and I build Logma, an iPhone calorie tracker you talk to. I'm biased, so the numbers below come straight from the App Store, with sources at the bottom.
“A turkey and cheese sandwich on sourdough with mayo, an apple and a plain Greek yogurt.”
Example: Logma splits this into the sourdough, turkey, cheese and mayo, then the apple and the yogurt, and logs about 730 kcal with macros.
Why people leave FatSecret
Of the newest 1 and 2 star App Store reviews we read in November 2026 (169 reviews from the US store), the usual complaint themes barely show up:
- Slow logging, too many taps: about 4%, the biggest single theme.
- The paywall, crashes, and sync or login: about 2% each.
- Billing, ads, the barcode scanner and wrong food data: about 1% each.
For comparison, in the same research the paywall came up in about 34% of MyFitnessPal's low reviews and about 33% of Lifesum's. FatSecret's free version is simply not what people are angry about.
So what is? Reading the reviews themselves, it's mostly one thing: a recent update. People write that search stopped finding everyday foods, sometimes even by barcode, that the app lags or freezes, and that the new design makes adding a meal harder than before. One App Store review sums it up: "Bring the old UI back, it is horrible to add food".
In Turkey, where FatSecret has a Turkish interface and 10,747 ratings, crashes and bugs come up in about 21% of the 53 low reviews we read, next to the same complaints about the new interface.
FatSecret vs Logma
| FatSecret | Logma | |
|---|---|---|
| How you log | Search with auto complete, scan a barcode, or photograph the meal for image recognition | Say or type what you ate in one sentence |
| Where the food data comes from | FatSecret's food database, which it says is customized for US foods and brands | No database to scroll. The AI estimates each item from what you said |
| Ads | Ads come up in about 1% of the low reviews we read | No ads |
| Free version | Yes. The description says "fatsecret is free", with Premium extras such as dietitian meal plans | No. The yearly plan starts with a 3 day free trial |
| Price (US App Store) | Premium monthly listed from $10.49 to $14.99, quarterly from $19.99 to $28.99, annual from $38.99 to $59.99 | $9.99 a month or $49.99 a year |
| Extras | Apple Watch app, Health app and Fitbit sync, community, journal, sharing with a health professional | Focused on logging: calories and macros for every item |
| Turkish | Has a Turkish interface | English and Turkish, and it knows Turkish dishes |
| Best for | A free tracker with a community and a watch app | Logging a whole meal in one sentence |
The row that matters most is the free one. If FatSecret's free version still works for you after the update, you don't need to pay for anything, Logma included.
How logging works in Logma
Most FatSecret complaints right now are about adding food: search that misses, more taps than before. Logma skips search entirely. You tap the mic and say what you ate, or type it:
"A turkey and cheese sandwich on sourdough with mayo, an apple and a plain Greek yogurt."
Logma splits that into items, estimates each one from what you said, and logs the calories and macros in about 3 seconds. There's no list of near matches to pick from, and nothing to find twice. Say a weight when you know it, like "150 grams of chicken", and skip it when you don't.
FatSecret also has image recognition, where you photograph the meal. That's handy, but a photo can't see the mayo inside the sandwich, the butter in the pan or the dressing on a salad. In a sentence you just say it, and it's counted.
The limits, plainly: Logma has no barcode scanner and doesn't read photos, so a packaged snack is logged by describing it, and the estimate depends on what you tell it. It knows dishes from everywhere, Turkish dishes and portions included, works in English and Turkish, and has no ads. More on the speed side in logging meals in 3 seconds, and on skipping the scale in tracking calories without weighing food.
When FatSecret is the better choice
Honestly, for a lot of people, it still is. Stay if:
- You want a free app. FatSecret is free, with Premium as an option. Logma has no free version.
- You wear an Apple Watch. FatSecret has a watch app with complications for your watch face.
- You use Fitbit or want a watch app. FatSecret connects to Fitbit, has an Apple Watch app, and syncs steps, calories burned, weight and foods with the Health app.
- You eat a lot of packaged food. It has a barcode scanner, and a database built around US foods and brands.
- You like company. There's a community, a journal, and fatsecret Professional for sharing your log with a health professional.
- You want your log online. FatSecret syncs your account online so you can access your info anywhere. Logma is an iPhone app, and Android launches on November 14, 2026.
If the update is your only problem and everything else fits, it can be worth giving the new design a couple of weeks before you move. If you want to see the field first, my comparison of calorie tracking apps in 2026 lays it out.
How to switch from FatSecret without being charged again
If you only used the free version, there's nothing to cancel. If you pay for FatSecret Premium through the App Store:
- Cancel Premium. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, tap FatSecret, then tap Cancel Subscription. If there's no Cancel button, or you see an expiration message in red, it's already cancelled. Apple's steps are here.
- Deleting the app doesn't cancel it. Only cancelling stops the renewal.
- Not listed there? You may pay another way. Apple's advice is to check your bank or card statement to see who bills you, then cancel with that company.
- Charged for a renewal you meant to stop? Request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com: sign in, choose "I'd like to", then "Request a refund", pick a reason and the subscription. Apple says to wait 24 to 48 hours for an update, and it decides each request (Apple's refund steps).
- Mind any new trial. Apple's guidance is to cancel at least 24 hours before a trial ends if you don't want it to renew. Logma's 3 day trial on the yearly plan is no different.
- Keep your target. Write down your calorie goal, or get a fresh number from the calorie calculator.
FAQ
Is there a free FatSecret alternative?
FatSecret is already free, which is hard to beat. If you want to stay free, staying on FatSecret or trying another app with a free tier, such as Yazio's free calorie counter, makes the most sense. Logma has no free version. The yearly plan starts with a 3 day free trial, then it's $49.99 a year, or $9.99 a month.
How much does FatSecret Premium cost?
The US App Store lists FatSecret monthly subscriptions from $10.49 to $14.99, quarterly from $19.99 to $28.99, and annual from $38.99 to $59.99. Premium is optional.
Why are people unhappy with FatSecret right now?
In the low reviews we read in November 2026, the common topic is a recent update: search that misses everyday foods, lag and freezing, and a new design that makes adding food harder.
Does Logma have a barcode scanner?
No. Logma logs from a sentence you say or type. If you mostly eat packaged food, an app with a barcode scanner, like FatSecret, may suit you better.
Is Logma available on Android?
Not yet. Logma is on iPhone with iOS 17 or later, and Android launches on November 14, 2026.
Sources: Calorie Counter by fatsecret on the US App Store · FatSecret website · Apple Support, cancel a subscription from Apple · Apple Support, request a refund for apps or content · Logma on the App Store. Numbers are approximate and can change; nothing here is medical advice.
