Why does this publication exist?
Calorie and macro trackers promise accuracy, guidance, and a habit that finally sticks — but those promises are rarely measured. We started The Calorie Guardian to do the unglamorous work: build a real dataset, run every app through the same tests, and publish the results whether or not they flatter anyone. Our reader is someone standing in the app store trying to pick a tracker they will still be using in two months.
What does The Calorie Guardian cover?
We focus on one thing and try to do it thoroughly:
- In-depth reviews of individual apps, each scored on all 10 criteria.
- The annual index, our headline ranking of every app we test.
- Best-of roundups and app alternatives for specific goals and situations.
- Head-to-head comparisons and test reports that show the raw numbers.
- Practical guides for switching apps, setting targets, and logging accurately.
How do you test the apps?
Every app is run against the same dataset — 1,400 meals and dishes from 24 countries, tested with 134,000 photos and dish descriptions — plus weeks of daily, real-life use. We measure calorie and portion error against weighed references, time how long logging takes, and submit real support tickets. The full protocol, the 10 criteria, and how they are weighted live on our methodology page.
How do you make money, and how does that affect scores?
Some links to apps on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you subscribe after clicking. That revenue keeps the testing running. It does not, and cannot, influence a score or a ranking: scores are finalized from the benchmark and hands-on testing before any commercial link is added, and the reviewer setting a score does not know or care whether an app has an affiliate program.
What is your relationship with the app developers?
We keep developers at arm’s length on purpose. No developer sees a score before it publishes. We buy or use the same subscriptions a normal user would, rather than relying on comped “press” accounts that can hide paywalls and upsells. When a developer disputes a finding, we will re-test — but we will not hand over the rubric in advance.
Who is behind the reviews?
Every review is produced by a named expert and checked by a second. Our team is based across Spain and Latin America and spans nutrition science, clinical dietetics, data engineering, coaching, and usability research. You can read each person’s credentials, focus area, and full list of work on their profile.
- Dr. Marisol Vega, PhD, Nutritional Science — Editor-in-Chief, Madrid, Spain
- Mateo Fernández, MSc, RD — Clinical Reviewer, Bogotá, Colombia
- Lucía Morales, MS, Data Science — Benchmark Lead, Santiago, Chile
- Joaquín Ríos, CPT, Precision Nutrition L1 — Coaching Editor, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Valentina Castro, Senior UX Researcher — UX Editor, Lima, Peru
Meet the full editorial team →
How do you handle corrections?
If we get something wrong, we fix it in public and note what changed and when, on our corrections page. Scores also move as apps ship updates; we date every change.
How do I get in touch?
Spotted an error, want to flag an app for testing, or have a question? Our contact page has the right address for each, or email editors@calorieguardian.com. See also our privacy policy.