Cronometer is the gold standard for nutrition data depth: it tracks 80+ micronutrients from lab-verified sources and is the app of choice for people who want to know their zinc intake. GramsIn is the opposite philosophy — one metric, protein, logged by text message with zero app friction. Choose Cronometer for data completeness; choose GramsIn if detailed tracking has always collapsed into not tracking at all.
| Feature | GramsIn | Cronometer |
|---|---|---|
| What it tracks | Protein only | 80+ nutrients: macros, vitamins, minerals |
| How you log | Reply to a text with what you ate | Open app, search verified food database, weigh portions |
| Data accuracy | AI estimate, typically within 5–10% | Lab-verified database entries (very high when you weigh food) |
| Platform | SMS (any phone) + web dashboard | iOS / Android app + web |
| Price | $8/mo or $80/yr, 14-day free trial | Free tier; Gold roughly $9/mo or $50/yr |
| Best for | Hitting a daily protein number with minimum effort | Micronutrient completeness, medical/keto tracking, data nerds |
Cronometer details last verified 2026-07-20. Their pricing and features may have changed since.
No — and it doesn’t try to be. Cronometer with a food scale is more accurate. GramsIn’s AI estimates protein from meal descriptions, typically within 5–10%, which is more than enough precision for hitting a daily protein target. For packaged foods you can text the label amount for exact tracking.
Some people do: Cronometer for periodic deep-dives on diet quality, GramsIn for the daily protein habit. The daily habit is what drives results, and it’s the part apps struggle to sustain.
GramsIn sends and receives real SMS messages, which cost money per message. You’re paying for the delivery mechanism that makes the habit stick — not for database size.
14-day free trial, no credit card required. Not sure what your protein target should be? Start with our free protein calculator.
Start Free Trial