Most weight loss apps in the UK are either too basic to be genuinely useful or hide their best features behind expensive subscriptions. The genuinely free options that work are fewer than the app stores make them appear — but they’re good. This guide compares every major free weight loss app available to UK users in 2026, what each actually tracks, where each falls short, and which combination gives you the most complete picture for GLP-1 treatment specifically.
Quick comparison: best free weight loss apps UK 2026
| App | Best for | Free tier quality | UK food database | Micronutrients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cronometer | GLP-1 users, micronutrient tracking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Verified, excellent | 84 nutrients tracked |
| MyFitnessPal | General calorie counting | ⭐⭐⭐ | Large but user-submitted errors | Basic only (paid) |
| Nutracheck | UK-specific tracking | ⭐⭐⭐ | Good UK focus | Limited |
| Lose It! | Barcode scanning, simplicity | ⭐⭐⭐ | Moderate UK coverage | Basic only (paid) |
| NHS Weight Loss Plan | Structured 12-week programme | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A (meal plans provided) | N/A |
| Noom | Behavioural coaching | ⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
| MyPlate (Livestrong) | Simple tracking | ⭐⭐⭐ | Good | Limited |
| FatSecret | Community and tracking | ⭐⭐⭐ | Good | Basic |
Cronometer: the best free app for GLP-1 users
For anyone on Mounjaro or Wegovy, Cronometer is the clear first choice — and the free tier is genuinely excellent, not a crippled trial version.
What the free tier includes:
- Verified food database tracking 84 nutrients simultaneously — macros, vitamins, minerals, trace elements
- Custom macro targets in grams (essential for GLP-1 protein tracking)
- Barcode scanner for packaged UK food
- Custom food and recipe creation
- Exercise diary with energy expenditure
- Water and supplement tracking
- Wearable sync (Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin)
Why it’s essential for GLP-1 users specifically: micronutrient depletion is the main under-managed risk of GLP-1 treatment. Cronometer is the only mainstream free app that tracks all 84 nutrients with a verified (not user-submitted) database. When your B12 or zinc shows as low — which it will for most users by month 3–6 — you see it in Cronometer before symptoms develop.
See the full setup guide: How to Track Macros on Mounjaro UK and Cronometer Setup for Mounjaro UK.
MyFitnessPal: big database, significant caveats
The most widely used calorie tracker globally. The free tier in 2026 has become more limited than it was — macros are still available but micronutrients require premium (£19.99/month), and the database quality issues (user-submitted entries with inconsistent data) mean you can log the same food in three different ways and get three different protein counts.
Still useful for: users who prefer a larger social community, restaurant meals (usually have MFP entries), and users who’ve been using it for years and have their custom foods saved.
Not useful for: anyone who needs accurate micronutrient data, or whose primary tracking metric is protein (the database errors matter most here).
Nutracheck: the UK-specific option
Nutracheck is built specifically for UK foods and UK packaging. The free tier allows 7 days of tracking per month — which is a genuine limitation for daily users. The food database is UK-focused and generally accurate for branded UK supermarket products.
Best use case: users who primarily eat branded UK supermarket products and want confidence their log is accurate. Not suitable as a primary daily tracker on the free tier due to the 7-day monthly limit.
NHS Weight Loss Plan app
A structured 12-week programme rather than a tracking app. The NHS app provides daily meal plans, behaviour change exercises, and weekly weigh-in prompts. Free, NHS-developed, and evidence-based.
Best for: users who want structure rather than tracking flexibility. Less useful for GLP-1 users because the meal plans assume a standard appetite that the medication removes. The behaviour change content remains valuable regardless.
The app combination that works best on GLP-1
Two apps together cover everything:
- Cronometer (free) — daily nutrition tracking. 84 nutrients. Accurate protein data.
- NHS Weight Loss Plan — behaviour change and weekly structure during the first 12 weeks of treatment
These two together are free, cover both the nutritional data and the behavioural support angles, and complement rather than duplicate each other. Cronometer covers the data; NHS app covers the habit structure.
Paid apps worth the cost
Two paid options that earn their subscription fee for specific users:
Cronometer Gold (~£6–8/month): adds trend data, blood test syncing, and Oracle (nutrient gap recommendations). Worth it once habits are established and you want deeper analytical insight. See Cronometer Gold Review UK.
Noom (~£40–50/month): psychological coaching and behaviour change focus rather than calorie tracking. The most expensive option but the only one specifically addressing the emotional relationship with food. Worth considering for users whose barriers are psychological rather than informational — see Mounjaro and Stress Eating UK.
What no app tells you: the supplement gap
Every app listed above tracks what you’re eating. None of them tells you what specific supplements you need based on your symptoms. That’s what the free Lily & Loaf lifestyle analysis does — five minutes, no account required, personalised supplement recommendations based on your specific symptom profile. Use it alongside Cronometer: the app shows your dietary gaps; the analysis shows which symptoms need addressing independently of diet.
Pairing apps with audio: the walking habit combination
The most effective daily routine for GLP-1 users: log in Cronometer (2 minutes per meal), take the walking pad session while listening to a relevant audiobook or podcast. Audible’s free trial gives the first audiobook free — Atomic Habits or The Obesity Code are the most immediately applicable for GLP-1 users establishing daily tracking and walking habits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free weight loss app in the UK?
Cronometer free tier for nutritional tracking — particularly for GLP-1 users where protein and micronutrient accuracy matters. NHS Weight Loss Plan app for structured 12-week behavioural support. Both together for free comprehensive coverage.
Is Cronometer better than MyFitnessPal?
For GLP-1 users: yes, significantly. The verified database (versus user-submitted entries), the full micronutrient tracking, and the accurate protein data make Cronometer far more useful for managing the nutritional risks of GLP-1 treatment. MFP has a larger community but worse data quality. See Cronometer vs MyFitnessPal UK.
Do I need a paid app to lose weight on Mounjaro?
No. The Cronometer free tier covers everything essential for GLP-1 nutritional management. Paid features (Cronometer Gold, premium apps) add analytical depth but the free foundation is complete. Start free, upgrade only when you’ve confirmed daily tracking is a sustained habit.
Which app is best for tracking protein on Mounjaro?
Cronometer. Set a gram target (not percentage) under Profile → Targets → Macronutrients. The verified database gives protein data you can trust. See Protein Calculator UK for your specific target.
App routines that actually stick for GLP-1 users
The apps that get used are the ones with the lowest friction to log. The barrier to daily Cronometer use isn’t motivation — it’s the seconds it takes to find the app, search for a food, and confirm the entry. Three habits that reduce friction to near-zero:
Save custom meals. Every recipe or meal you cook regularly should be saved as a custom food in Cronometer. The first time you enter a meal from scratch takes 3 minutes. Every subsequent logging of that meal takes 5 seconds. After two weeks, most GLP-1 users have their 10–15 most common meals saved and daily logging takes under 2 minutes.
Pre-log the day in the morning. Spend 3 minutes each morning entering your planned meals for the day. This confirms whether your planned day hits protein targets and creates the intention to follow through. Adjust if the day doesn’t go to plan — the point is the habit of checking.
Pair logging with meals. Log immediately when you serve food — not after eating, when you’ve moved on to something else. The food is in front of you; the barcode is on the packet. This timing requires almost zero additional effort.
For personalised supplement recommendations to address any gaps Cronometer identifies: take the free Lily & Loaf lifestyle analysis → And for the education layer that makes the tracking feel purposeful rather than bureaucratic: Audible’s free trial with The Obesity Code explains exactly why the protein number you’re tracking matters so much.
The apps that work alongside GLP-1 medication
The best app combination for GLP-1 users is simple: one tracking app (Cronometer) plus one behaviour-change resource (NHS Weight Loss Plan or an Audible audiobook series). Apps that try to do both tracking and behaviour change simultaneously tend to do neither particularly well.
The key question isn’t “which app is best” but “which app will I actually use daily.” The answer is almost always the one with the lowest friction to log. For most GLP-1 users, Cronometer’s barcode scanner, saved custom meals, and accurate protein data make it the lowest-friction accurate option. Start with the free tier. Add structure from the NHS app or an audiobook. Review monthly with the Lily & Loaf lifestyle analysis to catch the supplement gaps the apps don’t address.
Should I pay for a weight loss app on Mounjaro?
Not initially. The Cronometer free tier is comprehensive for GLP-1 use. Cronometer Gold (~£6–8/month) adds trend data worth having at month 3+. Paid apps like Noom (£40–50/month) are worth considering specifically for users with psychological eating challenges. Start free; upgrade only after confirming the daily tracking habit is established. See Cronometer Gold Review UK for the full upgrade assessment.
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