While you may think you need expensive personal trainers, nutritionists or fancy gyms to lose weight, the truth is that technology has made it easier than ever to achieve your goals without breaking the bank. In fact, free weight loss apps offer many of the same benefits, from personalized coaching and food tracking to guided exercises and community support. Expert advice, progress trackers and more are all at your fingertips—without the extra costs.
Not sure which app is right for you? We asked fitness experts to share their top picks and why they stand out. Here are some of the best free apps to help you count calories, track food and stay active so you can reach your weight loss goals. The best part? These are all available on Apple and Android.
MyFitnessPal
With over 250 million users, it’s not surprising that experts recommend MyFitnessPal as one of the best weight loss apps. Its free version includes daily calorie tracking via barcode scanning, macro and micronutrient breakdown of your diet, a step tracker, sleep and water logs, recipe ideas for meal planning, workout routines, networking with friends and a larger community to stay motivated, says Joey Jones, CPT, CEO at Way-Up.Blog.
Besides all of the features to help you modify your eating habits for the better, Jones especially loves the social support users get from the networking feature. “All of my clients who are trying to lose weight use this,” he says. “They are all connected and can see one another’s body weight [an optional feature] and progress, which helps keep everyone motivated.”
Lose It!
Another option to help with weight loss in the long term is Lose It! Like MyFitnessPal, it also offers barcode scanning and a manual search for food logging, goal setting, exercise logging, water tracking and social features. With the premium paid version, you can access extra features such as macronutrient breakdown and more advanced scanning. This app is also great for beginners just getting started in their weight loss journeys. The interface feels simple and less intimidating, making tracking effortless and less overwhelming, explains Chrystiana Lynn, certified nutritionist at Eden.
Trainerize
This free app is excellent for both fitness professionals and those embarking on a health journey. You can easily track your food intake, plan meals, follow online training plans, sync it with other fitness devices (such as a smartwatch or tracker) and participate in real-time coaching with trainers and other community members.
Olya Schaefer, founder and CEO of The Athleticus Personal Training Studio, always recommends Trainerize for tracking workouts. “You can see how much weight, reps or sets you had previously done for each exercise,” she says. “So you’re given the option of repeating the same sets, reps and weight or going for a slight increase in one of these factors.” This gamification is motivating and can be helpful for weight management, too.
Nike Training Club
Nike Training Club (NTC) isn’t strictly a weight loss app. Essentially, it’s a free workout app that approximately 1.8 million people use daily. “NTC is a database of over 200 strength, yoga and HIIT workout routines,” says Jones. You sign up, input your body weight, goals, any past experiences and age and then NTC will then recommend the best workout for you and give you step-by-step instructions for every exercise.
Additionally, it has community access, integration with Apple Health and Google Fit devices and guided videos to ensure proper form movement. “If you want to train at home and have little to no experience with exercise, then NTC can be a great way to have a structured workout,” says Jones.
What to look for in free weight loss apps
If you’re shopping around for a free app, Lynn says to look for these key features:
- Easy, intuitive food and workout logging
- Goal-setting options (such as basic macro tracking)
- Some level of education or feedback on your personal health trends
- Tracking beyond the scale (like sleep, energy or other measurements)
- Optional accountability or community features, if that helps you stay on track
Since most free weight loss apps use generic formulas to estimate your calorie and macro needs, she recommends using a total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) calculator for more accurate results. “That way, you can set goals aligning with your energy demands, then fine-tune from there based on real-world feedback.”
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
