Dietitians Say These Are the Best Intermittent Fasting Apps You Can Find
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If you’re new to intermittent fasting, it can be hard to keep track of your eating schedule to set yourself up for success. Thankfully, an intermittent fasting app can help you on your way to your goals. These health apps have a variety of features designed for those following a time-restricted eating plan.
“Intermittent fasting involves eating for a set period of time throughout the day and fasting for the remainder,” explains Keri Gans, R.D.N., author of The Small Change Diet and podcast host of The Keri Report. “There are many variations of intermittent fasting,” she adds, noting the 5:2 fasting diet, the 16:8 diet, and more iterations. “During fasting, you can consume only water or non-calorie beverages,” she explains.
Meet the experts: Keri Gans, R.D.N., author of The Small Change Diet and podcast host of The Keri Report; Melissa Prest, D.C.N., R.D.N., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Jim White, R.D.N., A.C.S.M. Ex-P, owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios
In this technologically advanced age, smartphones and smartwatches “can provide us with a good way to get reminder alerts and keep track of behaviors or food intake,” explains Melissa Prest, D.C.N., R.D.N., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Some app-based reminders track your goals visually so you can see how far or close to your goal you are, which can be motivating for many people.”
If you’re looking for a little extra support in your intermittent fasting journey, keep reading for the best intermittent fasting apps worth downloading according to experts.
Note: We recommend checking with your healthcare provider before starting any new diet program. We also want to note that weight loss, health, and body image are complex subjects—before starting a diet, we invite you to gain a broader perspective with our exploration of rethinking body weight.
DoFasting
This all-in-one intermittent fasting app “promotes other healthy habits, such as exercise and sleep, [and] also includes lots of healthy recipes,” Gans says. It has everything you need in an app, including a variety of different fasting plans to choose from, a step tracker, workout routines, and educational materials.
Cost: Free to download and for basic features; $33 for one month full access or a $11 per month for six months full access
Fastic
“You can do a lot more with this app with the free version than most of the other apps offer with their free versions,” explains Jim White, R.D.N., A.C.S.M. Ex-P, owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios. “The interface is easy to use and there are tutorial videos to help as well. There are free lessons on intermittent fasting and other topics.” White also notes that the free version has tools that allow you to track water intake and exercise, while the premium version has additional tracking options and nutrition coaches available.
Cost: Free to download and for basic features; $12 per month for full access
Simple
Simple is special because it asks a variety of questions before the sign-up process, Gans notes. It even told Gans that intermittent fasting was not recommended for her due to her height and weight, she explained. But for those who are sure they are suited for the diet, White recommends this easy-to-use app that allows you to log your food and fasting, has a “start/stop fasting” button, and helps you come up with an intermittent fasting plan.
Cost: Free to download and for basic features; $50 per year or $30 per three months of full access
Window
“This app allows scheduling of your eating/fasting windows and notifies you when your windows open and close,” White explains. “You can connect the app to your Health app on your iPhone and to your Apple Watch and you have the option to add daily journal logs and view advice blogs with the upgrade.” It also has an easy-to-use weight tracker to help you keep track. “The downfall, as with many of these apps,” White notes, “is that there is not much to do on the free version, most features require you to purchase the upgrade.”
Cost: Free to download and for basic features; $40 per year for full access
Vora
If you’re looking for support that comes from a community of like-minded people, Vora is the app for you. Gans recommends it for this reason, noting that it also has a handy mealtime tracking feature. It’s a basic app with not many bells and whistles, but it is easy to use and connects you with an intermittent fasting community that encourages you to set goals, make notes, and post about your progress.
Cost: Free to download and for basic features; $5 for full access
Get it for iOS
Ate Food Journal
“If you prefer keeping a visual food diary, Ate is the best option,” White says. “You can snap a picture of your food and the app will help you to look back on the food choices you’ve made,” and easily share your progress to other social media. Gans also notes that a positive aspect of this app is that, “It wants you to reflect on emotions,” through a feelings-based journal feature, “which can be very important with weight loss.”
BodyFast
With an overall rating of 4.7 out of five stars and over 40 million downloads, BodyFast is a popular option for those looking for a little help during their intermittent fasting journey. It has an abundance of free features like access to an array of fasting styles, a weight, water, and body measurement tracker, and educational materials. “This app has single-handedly made fasting easy and allowed me to make my initial weight loss goal,” wrote one reviewer. “I’ve lost over 50 lbs. and kept it off for almost a year now. I am ecstatic about the success of using this app.”
Cost: Free to download and for basic features; $17 per month for full access
FastHabit
FastHabit is completely customizable and works with all intermittent fasting programs. It also offers several different ways to track your progress and view your stats—not to mention an array of great features like fasting reminders, Apple Health syncing, and Apple Watch syncing. “This app doesn’t get the love it deserves in fasting app listicles. I bothered to upgrade because it’s not a subscription and I think the service is worth it,” wrote one reviewer. “The interface is lovely and clean (I like blue, personally) and easy to use. If you’re looking for a simple, clean, fasting app this one is for you.”
Fastient
Another minimalist option suitable for beginners or intermittent fasting pros, this app is well-loved for its journaling feature that allows users to keep track of things like mood, sleep, exercise, and other factors that influence one’s intermittent fasting journey. It also features a well-designed and easy-to-use fasting tracker, plus the option to set goals or add progress pictures. It has an overall 4.6 out of five stars on the Apple app store, with one reviewer noting: “It keeps me accountable,” and that the journal feature allows them to “See where I succeeded and where I stumbled.”
Cost: Free to download and for basic features; $5 per year or $12 one-time payment for full access
Get it for iOS
FastEasy
If you’re not sure where to start, FastEasy removes any uncertainty. The app onboards you with a quiz to determine the best way to reach your goals—whether that’s losing weight, maintaining your weight, eating mindfully, or cultivating a more healthy lifestyle overall. While the app isn’t free, it offers an abundance of features like a customized eating plan, meal and water tracking, fasting tips and timers, meal plans, and healthy recipes. “I found this app about six months ago and I have lost 60 lbs.!” one reviewer wrote. “It helps me remember to drink more water, I do use their exercises sometimes, and of course the recipes. Haven’t had any issues with the app itself, always works. It has everything all in one place instead of using multiple apps. If you’re looking to give fasting a try, this app is the best”
Cost: Free to download and seven-day free trial; $38.95 for one month, $66.65 for 3 months
Zero
Zero is a top-ranking intermittent fasting app in the iOS app store for a reason. It describes itself as a science-backed app, created with peer-review studies in mind and with the help of its own scientific advisory board. It works with any type of intermittent fasting plan you choose (even one you’ve come up with) and has an array of tools to help you succeed—like timers, trackers, and journals. “This app has been literally life-changing! I accidentally stumbled upon it, just wanted something SIMPLE to log my fasting hours when I first started learning about intermittent fasting but it has sparked my interest in all things related to fasting and health,” one reviewer wrote.
Cost: Free to download; seven-day free trial (or 1 month at $3.99) then $69.99 per year
Fastin
Fastin is a simple, easy-to-use app that not only helps you track your fasting periods but has a number of different health trackers available as well. The app has a water tracker, step tracker (compatible with Apple Health), weight tracker, and more. It even offers educational materials as a part of the free plan, and a user-friendly interface. “I have tried so many different fasting apps and this one is the absolute BEST. The widgets are unbelievable and they work well with the light/dark mode on the iPhone,” one reviewer wrote. “The app gives the best breakdown about what is going on in your body and at what times. They let you track every step of the fast and inform your about them as well.”
Cost: Free to download and for basic features; $19.99 for 3 months or $6.99 per week
How to choose the best intermittent fasting app
When choosing the right app for you, Prest suggests thoroughly reviewing the features and fees associated with each one to make the right decision. However, “the most important feature would be a timer that reminds you when to eat and when to fast,” Gans says. Everything else is just a bonus and should be selected based on your unique needs.
Depending on your goals, certain apps are likely to stick out to you over others. For example, if you’d like to lose weight, Window or another app with a weight tracker might be a good option. Or if you feel you need assistance in tracking your meals, Ate Food Journal is likely the way to go.
Considering the cost is often an important deciding factor as well. While most apps offer free trials for their premium plans (which is a great way to try a few different options out!), you’ll need to determine if you can factor any potential cost into your monthly or yearly budget.
Is intermittent fasting right for you?
Before you jump in, familiarize yourself with the possible intermittent fasting side effects and know that “intermittent fasting is not right for everyone,” Prest explains. While many use it for reasons beyond weight loss, it can be triggering for some.
“The best intermittent fasting diet is one that enables you to achieve your weight loss goals in a healthy way,” Gans says. “In other words, you should meet your daily nutritional needs with foods and beverages rich in beneficial vitamins and minerals while also managing your daily life without feeling stressed by the diet.”
If you are considering intermittent fasting, Gans suggests consulting a registered dietitian to help determine whether the diet is appropriate for you and design a program that ensures you meet your body’s needs.
How we chose the best intermittent fasting apps
We spoke to Keri Gans, R.D.N., author of The Small Change Diet and podcast host of The Keri Report; Melissa Prest, D.C.N., R.D.N., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; and Jim White, R.D.N., A.C.S.M. Ex-P, owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios. We also sifted through countless reviews of highly-rated options to select the best intermittent fasting apps.
Why trust us
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
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