Is Cronometer Free? Gold, Basic and Pro Pricing in 2026

The question is not just what Cronometer costs. It is whether paying changes the nutrition data you get, or mainly adds convenience and longer reporting. Cronometer earns real credit for making detailed nutrients, custom targets and barcode scanning available without a subscription. This guide breaks down the US plans, shows the longer-term math and explains how to leave without mistaking cancellation for a refund.

Cronometer pricing at a glance

These are the standard US prices published on Cronometer's Gold page, the US Apple listing and its professional pricing page.

Gold is a personal subscription; Pro is a separate professional workspace and is not required for an individual food diary. Standard US web and iPhone Gold prices match at these two purchase lengths. Location, taxes and individual promotions can change what you see at checkout. An annual price divided by 12 is a comparison, not an available monthly installment.

Is Cronometer free? What Basic actually includes

Yes. Cronometer's Basic feature page says its free account has no time limit and includes unlimited barcode scanning. That is a meaningful advantage when you want to check packaged foods without paying just to scan. The free offering also has real micronutrient depth, not merely calories and protein.

• Track food, calories, macros, vitamins, minerals, exercise, weight and other biometrics.
• Look up foods in a database of more than one million entries, including lab-analyzed or otherwise verified data.
• Set custom macro and micronutrient targets; create your own foods, meals and recipes.
• Use the barcode scanner without a premium subscription or a published scan cap.
• Sync supported devices and apps, and organize the diary using groups.
• Generate reports and charts within a seven-day window.
• Export raw account data, according to the official subscription guide.

The limits are mostly about workflow and analysis. Basic shows ads and does not include Gold's photo and voice logging, recipe URL importing, fasting timer, or long-range nutrition reports. A seven-day report window does not mean Cronometer deletes older diary entries after seven days. For a closer look at the tracking differences, see our Cronometer vs MyFitnessPal comparison and apps with a free barcode scanner.

Cronometer Basic vs Gold: feature comparison

The official feature comparison and Subscription Types guide show how much of the core tracker is already free.

The Basic page includes detailed nutrient tracking. Basic already tracks micronutrients, while Gold adds more ways to log, organize, analyze and review them.

How much does Gold cost over 1, 2 and 3 years?

At $10.99 billed monthly, 12 payments add up to $131.88. The published $59.99 annual option costs about $5.00 per month when averaged across a full year. Cronometer labels the annual option as saving about 54% against the monthly rate, but you pay the full $59.99 upfront. (Gold pricing; US App Store purchase options)

This math assumes unchanged list prices, continuous service and no discounts or taxes. It does not predict future renewals. Monthly billing offers more flexibility if you only want to try Gold features briefly; the annual plan costs much less if you will use them for a full year.

Is Cronometer Gold worth it?

Stay on Basic if detailed calories, macros, vitamins, minerals, custom recipes and free barcode scans cover your needs. There is no reason to buy Gold just to get a barcode scanner or to see nutrient information. The free plan is substantial, especially if you care more about nutritional completeness than convenience features.

Consider Gold if you will use photo or voice logging frequently, prefer an ad-free diary, import online recipes, vary macro targets by weekday, track fasting, or need trends across months rather than a seven-day report. Custom charts, Nutrition Scores, Oracle nutrient search and Crono Coach may matter if you regularly review nutrients and want guidance informed by the entries you log. These are paid workflow and analysis features, not proof that the free food database is inferior.

Keep your priorities separate. Cronometer has considerably deeper micronutrient analysis and device integrations than a basic photo-first iPhone diary. For a lighter approach to protein and macro logging, read our iPhone protein tracker guide.

Cronometer Pro pricing for dietitians and coaches

Cronometer Pro is for people managing other users' food diaries, not simply an upgraded Gold account for personal tracking. It costs $39.99 per month and includes 10 client seats. Each seat beyond 10 adds $2.50 per month. It advertises a 30-day free trial and monthly billing based on seats used.

Pro includes a professional web workspace for client nutrition reports, secure messaging, custom branding and optional HIPAA-related documentation. Clients receive Gold while listed on the Pro account. If a practitioner removes a client, Cronometer says the client keeps their personal data but loses the Gold entitlement supplied by that Pro account. The Pro getting-started guide also explains that practitioners manage the Pro workspace through the web, while clients can use the mobile app. No annual Pro price is published on the current pricing page.

Gold free trial, discounts and using multiple devices

Is there a free trial of Cronometer Gold?

Cronometer does not show a guaranteed, standard Gold trial on its public Gold page or US App Store listing. Its terms allow promotional or trial accounts at Cronometer's discretion, without specifying universal eligibility or duration. You can ask support about current offers, but do not assume checkout includes free Gold days. The explicit 30-day offer on the Pro page is for professionals.

Are there discounts?

There is a documented referral benefit, not an unconditional discount for everyone. According to Cronometer's Refer a Friend rules, eligible new users referred by a friend can receive a one-time $5 Gold discount, and eligible Basic referrers can earn a similar discount after a successful referral. The referred person must be new to Cronometer. Check the offer terms before assuming it applies to your account.

Does one Gold purchase work on web, iPhone and Android?

Cronometer staff have explained that Gold is tied to the account, not to an individual device: sign into the same account to access it across supported platforms. (Cronometer staff answer) The price you pay and where you must manage renewal still depend on where the subscription was purchased.

How to cancel Cronometer Gold and request a refund

Cancel at the billing provider. Removing the app does not cancel a renewal. These steps come from Cronometer's current support articles:

1. iPhone or iPad: Open Settings, tap your Apple Account, choose Subscriptions, select Cronometer, then cancel. (iOS cancellation guide)
2. Android: Open Google Play, tap your profile, open Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions, select Cronometer and choose Cancel subscription. (Android cancellation guide)
3. Cronometer website: Sign into cronometer.com, select More, then Account, find Subscriptions and choose Do Not Auto-Renew. (web cancellation guide)

Cronometer's terms say cancellation takes effect at the end of the current paid period, with Gold access continuing until then. Apple's US subscription notice says to cancel at least 24 hours before renewal.

Are Cronometer subscriptions refundable?

Cancellation is not an automatic refund. Cronometer's terms generally exclude refunds for cancellation, while allowing discretionary case-by-case review and recognizing applicable withdrawal rules. For website charges, its support page directs refund requests to support@cronometer.com. For an Apple purchase, use Apple's refund process. For Google Play billing, follow Google's refund instructions. Approval is not guaranteed.

What happens to my data after I cancel?

Turning off Gold renewal is separate from deleting your account. The account settings guide provides separate controls for subscription changes and account data. You keep Gold until the billing period ends; after paid access ends, Basic remains available with ads and its limited report window. The Basic support guide explicitly includes raw data export. Cronometer does not clearly spell out what happens to every saved Gold-only chart or setting, so export anything important before downgrading rather than relying on a particular premium view staying available.

Alternatives if Cronometer Gold is too much

Some alternatives are cheaper; others cost more but offer a different workflow. This table compares standard US prices rather than temporary checkout promotions. App names lead to their US App Store listings.

Price sources: ProTrack AI plans; Cronometer Basic; MyFitnessPal plans and US in-app purchases; MacroFactor prices; MyNetDiary plans; and Lose It! standard pricing. Individual promotions, legacy subscriptions and local taxes may differ.

1. ProTrack AI: private iPhone tracking with a lifetime option

ProTrack AI focuses on everyday calorie and macro tracking without requiring a cloud account. Meal-photo analysis runs on the iPhone, photos stay on the device and the food diary remains local. You can also log meals manually, scan barcodes, relog previous foods and review goals, charts and widgets. New barcode lookups need an internet connection to query Open Food Facts.

It is free to try with a limited scan allowance, $5.99 per week or $39.99 for a lifetime purchase. Weight logging, 7-, 30- and 90-day weight trends and a Weight widget are free. The limitations matter: this is an iPhone app requiring iOS 26 or later, with no Apple Watch or Apple Health integration and no micronutrient analysis comparable to Cronometer's. (pricing; US App Store) Compare other nonrenewing options in our lifetime calorie tracker guide.

2. Cronometer Basic: best for nutrients without paying

If you want minerals, vitamins, barcode scanning and synced health-device data, Cronometer Basic is an unusually capable free option. Its seven-day report window and ads are the trade-off. For nutritional depth, staying on Basic is often a better first move than buying a simpler paid app.

3. MyFitnessPal Premium: broader food logging, higher list price

MyFitnessPal Premium lists $19.99 per month or $79.99 per year at standard US prices. Premium adds barcode, meal and voice logging, macro customization and ad-free use. Its plan costs more than Gold annually; compare the tools rather than assuming a large brand has the cheaper subscription. See our MyFitnessPal pricing guide.

4. MacroFactor Nutrition: adaptive macro coaching

MacroFactor Nutrition is a subscription-only tracker with a seven-day trial and no lasting free plan. Its coaching algorithm uses intake and weight trends to update calorie and macro targets. It is more appropriate if you want adaptive targets than if your primary goal is reviewing vitamin and mineral coverage. Read our MacroFactor pricing breakdown or the full MacroFactor vs Cronometer comparison.

5. MyNetDiary: another generous free tier

MyNetDiary offers a free barcode scanner in its free app, while regular Premium costs $8.99 monthly or $59.99 annually. The separate Premium Plus annual option adds AI coaching and voice features at a higher cost. Its free tier deserves a look alongside Cronometer Basic if you want a detailed diary without paying for scanning.

6. Lose It!: weight-loss planning and Premium scanning

Lose It! has a free calorie-budgeting tier; standard Premium costs $79.99 yearly and adds barcode scanning, custom goals and photo and voice logging. It also lists a separate lifetime purchase, with pricing that depends on membership status. Its support center cautions that discounts and promotions vary by account, so the in-app checkout matters.

For broader no-cost options, see our free calorie tracking apps without a subscription.

Verdict: should you pay for Cronometer Gold?

If your question is simply is Cronometer free?, the answer is yes, and its free version deserves serious consideration. Cronometer Basic gives you meaningful micronutrient tracking, verified food data and unlimited barcode scanning. Gold is worth $59.99 yearly if you will consistently use ad-free logging, photo or voice entry, recipe import, fasting, or longer-term analysis. Paying $10.99 every month makes less sense for continuous year-round use, but offers a shorter commitment.

Professionals who need to monitor clients should assess Pro's $39.99 monthly starting price separately. If your needs are limited to private iPhone calorie and macro tracking, with optional on-device photo analysis and a one-time purchase, a simpler alternative may fit better. Do not trade away Cronometer's micronutrient detail if that is the reason you use it.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Cronometer Gold: US price and Basic vs Gold features
• Cronometer Pro: professional pricing, seats and trial
• Cronometer Basic: free nutrition and barcode tracking
• Cronometer on the US App Store: Gold in-app purchases
• Cronometer Subscription Types
• Cronometer Pro getting-started guide
• Gold cancellation on iOS
• Gold cancellation on Android
• Gold cancellation on the web and website refund contact
• Cronometer account settings and data export
• Cronometer terms: billing, trial conditions and refunds
• Cronometer referral discount rules
• Cronometer staff on Gold access across devices
• Apple App Store refund instructions
• Google Play refund instructions
• MyFitnessPal Premium plans and US App Store listing
• MacroFactor subscription prices and US App Store listing
• MyNetDiary published plan prices and US App Store listing
• Lose It! published standard prices and US App Store listing
• ProTrack AI purchase options and ProTrack AI on the US App Store