LogmaLifesum is one of the best known calorie apps around. In the US App Store it averages 4.6 stars from 150,986 ratings, and its newer versions lean into AI: you can log by photo, voice, text or barcode.
That AI turn is part of why some long time users are leaving, but it isn't the main reason. Below is what the newest 1 and 2 star reviews actually say, and which kind of app fixes each problem.
Quick disclosure: I'm Batu, and I build Logma, an iPhone calorie tracker you talk to. I'm biased, so every number here comes from the App Store, and the sources are listed at the bottom.
“Grilled salmon with a cup of rice, broccoli roasted in a tablespoon of olive oil, and a glass of white wine.”
Example: Logma splits this into the salmon, the rice, the broccoli, the olive oil and the wine, and logs about 780 kcal with macros.
Why people leave Lifesum
Of the newest 1 and 2 star App Store reviews we read in November 2026 (282 reviews from the US store), these themes came up most. One review can hit several.
- The paywall, about 33%. The biggest one by far. Reviewers say small things need Premium, and free users describe an upgrade pop up every time they open the app. One App Store review puts it simply: "Can't even set a custom daily calorie goal".
- Crashes and bugs, about 24%. The app freezing on launch, taking ages to open, or glitching after an update. One reviewer keeps an old version installed because the new one is unusable for them.
- Wrong food data, about 18%. Calorie and macro numbers that are off.
- Billing, about 11%. Charged after a trial, trouble cancelling, refunds.
- The photo AI misreading food, about 8%. Some reviewers call the new AI tracker inconsistent and hard to handle.
- Price and the barcode scanner, about 7% each. Then sync and login at about 6%, slow logging at about 4% and ads at about 3%.
Notice what's on top. Two of the three biggest reasons, the paywall and the bugs, have nothing to do with how you log. If you want a free app, Logma is not the answer: it has no free version, only a 3 day free trial on the yearly plan.
If you're in Turkey, one more thing: Lifesum has no Turkish interface in the Turkish App Store.
Lifesum vs Logma
| Lifesum | Logma | |
|---|---|---|
| How you log | Snap a photo, speak, type, scan a barcode, or use quick tracking | Say or type what you ate in one sentence |
| Where the food data comes from | Lifesum's food database, plus AI that reads your photo | No database to scroll. The AI estimates each item from what you said |
| Ads | Ads come up in about 3% of the low reviews; Premium pop ups are the bigger complaint | No ads |
| Free version | Yes, reviewers describe a free version with frequent Premium prompts | No. The yearly plan starts with a 3 day free trial |
| Price (US App Store) | Premium 1 year listed from $99.99 to $119.99, 3 months from $29.99 to $39.99, 6 months at $69.99 | $9.99 a month or $49.99 a year |
| Extras | Meal plans with grocery lists, keto, paleo and high protein plans, Life Score, water and fruit and vegetable tracking | Focused on logging: calories and macros for every item |
| Turkish | No Turkish interface | English and Turkish, and it knows Turkish dishes |
| Best for | Meal plans, recipes and a broad wellness score | Logging a whole meal in one sentence, extras included |
The App Store lists several more Premium prices, from $21.99 to $44.99, without a plan length next to them. The price you're offered depends on the deal in front of you, so check the paywall before you start a trial.
What a photo can't see, and how Logma handles it
Lifesum's headline feature is snapping a photo to get nutrition details. That's quick, and for a plain plate it can land close. The trouble is what a camera can't see:
- the oil the vegetables were roasted in
- the butter melted into the rice
- the dressing already mixed into a salad
- what's inside a wrap or a sandwich
A tablespoon of olive oil is about 120 calories, and on a photo it looks like nothing. Miss it once a day and your log runs low every single day.
Logma works from what you say instead. Tap the mic, or type, and describe the meal the way you'd tell a friend:
"Grilled salmon with a cup of rice, broccoli roasted in a tablespoon of olive oil, and a glass of white wine."
Logma splits that into items, estimates each one, and logs the calories and macros in about 3 seconds. The oil is counted because you said it. There's no food database to scroll and no entry to pick.
The honest flip side: the estimate is only as good as your sentence. Leave the oil out and it isn't counted. Lifesum also lists voice and text logging, so if that already works well for you there, the method alone isn't a reason to switch. I compared the two approaches in voice vs photo calorie tracking.
When Lifesum is the better choice
Lifesum does a lot that Logma doesn't try to do. Stay if one of these is why you use it:
- You want meal plans. Lifesum has meal plans with grocery lists, and nutrition plans for keto, paleo or high protein eating. Logma doesn't make meal plans.
- You like a wider health picture. Its Life Score rates your habits, and it tracks water, fruit, vegetables and fish.
- You scan packaged food. Lifesum has a barcode scanner. Logma doesn't.
- You prefer pointing a camera. If your meals are simple and visible, photo logging suits you, and Logma doesn't read photos.
- You use fitness trackers. Lifesum connects to Apple Health and fitness trackers.
For the whole field side by side, see my comparison of calorie tracking apps in 2026.
How to switch from Lifesum without being charged again
- Cancel Lifesum Premium first. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, tap Lifesum, then tap Cancel Subscription. No Cancel button, or an expiration message in red, means it's already cancelled. Apple's steps are here.
- Deleting the app is not cancelling. The subscription keeps renewing until you cancel it.
- Can't find it in the list? You may be billed by someone other than Apple. Apple suggests checking your bank or card statement for who bills you, and cancelling with that company.
- Charged when you didn't mean to be? Ask Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com: sign in, choose "I'd like to", then "Request a refund", pick a reason and the subscription. Apple says to expect an update in 24 to 48 hours, and it approves or declines each request (Apple's refund steps).
- Watch the next 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 works the same way.
- Bring your target, not your history. Note your calorie target, or work out a new one with the calorie calculator, and start clean.
FAQ
Is there a free Lifesum alternative?
If free is what you need, look at an app with a free tier, such as FatSecret, which describes itself as free. Logma has no free version. The yearly plan starts with a 3 day free trial, then it's $49.99 a year, or you can pay $9.99 a month.
How much does Lifesum Premium cost?
In the US App Store, Lifesum Premium for 1 year is listed from $99.99 to $119.99, 3 months from $29.99 to $39.99, and 6 months at $69.99. Other Premium listings range from $21.99 to $44.99.
Does Logma log food from photos?
No. Logma logs from a sentence you say or type. A sentence can include the oil, the sauce and what's inside a wrap, which a photo can't show.
Can Logma count the oil and sauce in my food?
Yes, when you mention them. Say "roasted in a tablespoon of olive oil" or "with extra garlic sauce" and they're counted with the rest of the meal.
Is Logma available on Android?
Not yet. Logma is on iPhone with iOS 17 or later, and Android launches on November 14, 2026.
Sources: Lifesum: AI Calorie Counter on the US App Store · Lifesum 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.
