Staying healthy in today’s fast-paced world can feel like a juggling act. Between busy schedules, conflicting diet advice, and the endless array of food choices, many people struggle to maintain balanced nutrition. Fortunately, apps like Lifesum are changing that. With over 60 million users worldwide, Lifesum has become one of the most popular health and nutrition apps — and for good reason.
In this in-depth Lifesum review, we’ll explore how this app simplifies healthy eating, what features make it stand out, its pros and cons, pricing, and how it compares to other diet and nutrition apps. By the end, you’ll know whether Lifesum is the right tool to help you reach your health goals.
What Is Lifesum?
Lifesum is a nutrition and wellness tracking app that helps you eat better, live healthier, and build sustainable habits. Founded in Sweden, it has grown into a global platform that blends science, design, and personalization to make nutrition tracking both easy and enjoyable.
Available on both iOS and Android, Lifesum allows users to:
- Track calories and macronutrients
- Log meals with a barcode scanner
- Follow personalized meal plans
- Track water intake and exercise
- Get recipe suggestions based on goals and preferences
Whether your goal is to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply eat more mindfully, Lifesum tailors its approach to your unique lifestyle and needs.
Why Lifesum Stands Out
Unlike many other calorie-counting apps, Lifesum focuses on education and simplicity rather than just numbers. It encourages users to make smarter food choices without feeling restricted.
Here are a few reasons Lifesum stands out:
1. Intuitive and Beautiful Design
Lifesum’s clean, modern interface is one of its biggest strengths. The app’s visuals make tracking meals and progress enjoyable rather than tedious. Each day’s summary displays colorful circles showing your calorie and nutrient balance, motivating you to stay consistent.
2. Personalized Nutrition Plans
When you first sign up, Lifesum asks about your age, gender, height, weight, activity level, and goals. Then, it creates a personalized plan that suggests calorie intake, macronutrient ratios, and food types that fit your lifestyle — from keto and Mediterranean diets to clean eating or high-protein plans.
3. Easy Food Logging and Barcode Scanner
Logging food can be the hardest part of tracking, but Lifesum makes it effortless. The barcode scanner quickly identifies packaged foods and imports accurate nutrition information. You can also search the extensive database or add custom recipes and meals.
4. The Lifesum “Food Rating” System
One of Lifesum’s unique features is its food rating system, which grades your meals from A to E based on nutritional quality. It encourages mindful eating by helping you visually understand how healthy your choices are, without being judgmental or confusing.
5. Healthy and Delicious Recipes
Lifesum’s recipe section is a goldmine for anyone wanting to eat better without getting bored. From quick breakfasts to hearty dinners, every recipe includes calorie and macro breakdowns. You can filter recipes based on dietary preferences (e.g., vegan, low-carb, high-protein).
6. Integration with Fitness Apps and Devices
Lifesum integrates seamlessly with Apple Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, Garmin, and more. This allows automatic syncing of your activity, making it easy to track both calories consumed and calories burned in one place.
How Lifesum Helps You Build Better Habits
Healthy living is more than just tracking calories — it’s about developing lasting habits. Lifesum takes a holistic approach with features that go beyond food logging.
Habit Tracking
You can track daily habits like:
- Drinking enough water
- Eating fruits and vegetables
- Getting adequate sleep
- Avoiding sugary drinks
These small check-ins help reinforce consistency and mindfulness.
The “Life Score”
Lifesum assigns a Life Score — a single number reflecting your overall wellness habits, including diet quality, activity, and hydration. It gives you a snapshot of your progress and motivates you to keep improving.
Mindful Eating Encouragement
Instead of demonizing certain foods, Lifesum promotes balance. It recognizes that all foods can fit into a healthy diet — it’s about proportion and awareness. This approach makes it more sustainable than restrictive diets.
Lifesum Free vs Premium
Lifesum offers both a free version and a premium subscription. While the free plan is great for getting started, the premium version unlocks more advanced features and personalized guidance.
Free Version Includes:
- Basic calorie and macro tracking
- Barcode scanner
- Water tracking
- Food ratings
Premium Version Adds:
- Personalized meal plans (Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Mediterranean, etc.)
- Recipe library
- Detailed macro and micro tracking
- Habit and goal tracking
- Integration with wearables
- Life Score insights
Pricing (as of 2025)
- 1 month: $12.99/month
- 3 months: $8.99/month (billed quarterly)
- 12 months: $4.17/month (billed annually)
The annual plan offers the best value for serious users.
Pros and Cons of Lifesum
✅ Pros
- User-friendly and visually appealing interface
- Flexible plans for different goals and diets
- Strong integration with fitness apps
- Encourages mindful, not obsessive, tracking
- Excellent food database with barcode scanning
- Great recipe collection
❌ Cons
- Some core features locked behind premium
- Meal plan variety could expand further
- Limited community interaction compared to other apps (e.g., MyFitnessPal forums)
Lifesum vs Other Nutrition Apps
| Feature | Lifesum | MyFitnessPal | Noom | Lose It! |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | Modern & fun | Functional but dated | Coaching-based | Simple |
| Focus | Nutrition & habit balance | Calorie tracking | Psychology & habits | Weight loss |
| Free Plan | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Premium Price | $4.17/month (annual) | $9.99/month | $59/month | $5/month |
| Recipes | Excellent | Average | Moderate | Few |
| Personalization | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Basic |
Verdict: Lifesum finds a sweet spot between MyFitnessPal’s detailed tracking and Noom’s behavioral coaching — offering a simpler, more enjoyable experience.
Who Should Use Lifesum?
Lifesum is ideal for:
- Beginners who want an easy way to start eating healthier
- Busy professionals who need quick meal ideas
- Fitness enthusiasts looking to balance macros
- Anyone tired of complicated calorie counting apps
If your goal is to develop healthy eating habits, not just count calories, Lifesum is an excellent choice.
Tips to Get the Most Out of Lifesum
- Set realistic goals: Start small and increase gradually.
- Use the food rating system: Learn which foods nourish your body best.
- Track daily habits: Water, sleep, and steps all matter.
- Explore recipes: Try a few new meals each week to stay motivated.
- Sync with fitness devices: Automate tracking for accuracy.
- Review your Life Score weekly: Focus on overall wellness, not perfection.
Real User Feedback
Many users praise Lifesum for its balance between simplicity and effectiveness. Here’s what people are saying:
“Lifesum made me realize that eating healthy doesn’t have to mean giving up everything I love.”
— Sarah W.
“I’ve tried many apps, but Lifesum is the first one that feels positive instead of punishing.”
— David M.
“I love how the app grades my meals — it makes me think before I eat but without guilt.”
— Emily R.
Final Verdict: Is Lifesum Worth It?
Absolutely — if you’re looking for a friendly, motivating, and visually beautiful way to improve your diet, Lifesum is worth every penny. It turns healthy eating into a rewarding lifestyle rather than a strict diet.
With its science-backed insights, customizable meal plans, and seamless integrations, Lifesum empowers you to make better choices effortlessly. It’s not just about losing weight — it’s about feeling good, staying energized, and living well.
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5
Best For: Everyday users who want to eat better without stress
Standout Feature: Food rating system + personalized meal plans
Price: Free (with optional Premium upgrades)
