Is Kalo a good FatSecret alternative?
Yes, if what you want is faster logging and someone to track with. No, if you want to pay nothing and are happy to build your log from a food diary. We make Kalo, so weigh this accordingly, but we'll say plainly where FatSecret is the better pick.
FatSecret's pitch is simple: a calorie counter you don't have to pay for. Free is the thing Kalo does not try to beat.
FatSecret facts on this page come from its App Store listing and are as of October 2026.
Where FatSecret wins
- A generous free plan. Its App Store listing says the app is free and lists a food diary, a barcode scanner and photo recognition. Premium adds meal plans and water tracking.
- Barcode scanning in the free app. If most of your food comes in packets, a scanner you don't pay for is hard to beat. Kalo has no barcode scanner.
We haven't tested how well FatSecret's photo recognition works, so we can't say how it compares with Kalo's. Check what your own app shows before you decide, because plans and prices can differ by country.
Where Kalo is different
Logging starts with the camera. Photograph your plate and Kalo returns calories and macros in seconds. You can add context by voice or text ("there's mayo in it") and the estimate updates. Like every photo tracker, it can't see hidden oil or the cheese inside a wrap, so treat the number as a fast first draft you can correct.
It has nothing you didn't ask for. Kalo does one job: log what you eat and show you the day. There is no feed of strangers, no store, no ads between your meals.
You can track alone or with someone. Kalo works on your own. If you want, pair with a partner or add up to five friends and see each other's days side by side, react, nudge and build streaks together. One friend can be starred as your partner, and the Couple plan covers both of you on one subscription.
Side by side
| FatSecret | Kalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Main way to log | Food diary and barcode scanner, with photo recognition listed | Photograph the plate, or voice and text |
| Free to use | Free app; Premium adds meal plans and water tracking | Free to download; logging meals needs Premium (3-day free trial on the annual plans for first-time subscribers) |
| Photo recognition | Listed among the free app's features in its App Store listing; quality not tested by us | Core way to log, included in Premium |
| Track with others | A community, per its App Store listing | Optional partner and up to five friends |
| Paying as a couple | Nothing to pay for the free app | One Couple plan covers you and your partner |
Which one should you pick?
Pick FatSecret if you want to pay nothing, you scan a lot of packaged food, and you don't mind building your log from a food diary.
Pick Kalo if typing food is why you quit before, you want the quickest possible log, or you'd like the person you eat dinner with to see your day.
How to decide in a week
- Log every meal in one app for seven days, including the messy ones.
- Check two or three estimates against a label or a food scale.
- Count the days you skipped logging. That number matters more than accuracy.
- Before starting any trial, write down the renewal date and the price you see on your own screen.
The best calorie counter is the one you're still opening in week six. Kalo is free to download on iOS and Android at hellokalo.com, and logging meals starts with a 3-day free trial on the annual plans for people who have never subscribed.