Best Intermittent Fasting Apps: Reviews and Comparisons
Honest comparison of the best intermittent fasting apps in 2026 — Fasted, Zero, Simple, BodyFast, Fastic, and Life. Features, pricing, and which app fits your needs.
Quick Answer: The best fasting app depends on what you need. If you want a clean fasting timer with weight tracking, meal logging, and multiple schedule options without aggressive upselling, Fasted is a strong choice. Zero is the most established name. Simple offers AI-powered meal suggestions. BodyFast focuses on personalized weekly plans. No single app is best for everyone — this guide helps you find the right fit.
The intermittent fasting app market has matured significantly. What started as simple countdown timers has evolved into full health platforms with meal tracking, educational content, community features, and AI-driven recommendations.
That's good news for users. It also means there are dozens of options and a lot of marketing noise to cut through. This page provides an honest, feature-by-feature overview of the major fasting apps to help you make an informed decision.
Full disclosure: this site is associated with Fasted. We'll be straightforward about what Fasted does well, what it doesn't, and where competitors may be a better fit for certain users.
What to Look for in a Fasting App
Before comparing specific apps, it helps to know which features actually matter for long-term fasting success. Based on user behavior data and adherence research, these are the features that correlate with sticking to a fasting practice:
Essential features:
- Fasting timer with clear start/stop functionality
- Multiple schedule presets (16:8, 18:6, 20:4, OMAD, custom)
- Progress tracking and history
- Notifications and reminders
Valuable but not essential:
- Weight tracking
- Meal logging
- Stats and insights dashboard
- Streak tracking
- Educational content
Nice to have:
- Community features
- Integration with other health apps
- AI-powered recommendations
- Mood and energy logging
For a detailed breakdown of which features drive results, see fasting app features that matter.
The Major Fasting Apps in 2026
Fasted
Fasted is built around the idea that a fasting app should do its core job exceptionally well without overwhelming you with features you don't need.
Core features: Fasting timer with multiple schedule options (16:8, 18:6, 20:4, OMAD, and custom schedules), weight tracking, meal logging, stats and insights dashboard, and streak tracking. The interface is clean and focused — you open the app, start or check your fast, and get on with your day.
Strengths: The combination of fasting timer, weight tracking, and meal logging in one app means you don't need separate tools. Streak tracking provides motivation without gamifying the experience to the point of anxiety. The stats view shows trends over time, which is more useful than daily snapshots.
Considerations: Fasted is a newer entrant compared to Zero or Simple, which means a smaller community and less third-party content. If extensive educational articles or a large social community within the app are important to you, more established apps may have an edge.
Zero
Zero is the most recognized name in fasting apps, having been one of the first dedicated fasting timers on the market. It was co-founded with input from Dr. Peter Attia and has a strong brand association with the science of longevity.
Core features: Fasting timer, fasting history, journal, educational content from medical professionals, and a "Fasting Score" that rates each fast based on duration and consistency.
Strengths: Extensive educational library. The brand credibility is high. The Fasting Score feature provides a simple motivational metric. Zero Plus (premium) adds advanced stats and personalized coaching content.
Considerations: Some users find the free tier limited. The premium subscription is priced at the higher end of fasting apps. The Fasting Score, while motivating, can create pressure to extend fasts beyond what's appropriate.
Detailed comparison in Fasted vs Zero.
Simple
Simple positions itself as an AI-powered fasting and nutrition app. It's one of the more feature-rich options, combining fasting tracking with meal logging, water tracking, and personalized recommendations.
Core features: Fasting timer, AI nutrition assistant, meal tracker with food recognition, water tracker, daily insights, and educational content.
Strengths: The AI meal analysis is genuinely useful for people who want nutritional feedback. The onboarding process is thorough, creating a personalized plan based on your goals, experience level, and health information. The interface is polished and approachable.
Considerations: Simple is one of the more expensive fasting apps. The AI features require the premium subscription. Some users report that the onboarding process feels like a long sales funnel. The app does a lot, which can feel overwhelming if you just want a timer.
Detailed comparison in Fasted vs Simple.
BodyFast
BodyFast differentiates itself with personalized weekly fasting plans created by what it calls a "Coach" algorithm. Rather than picking a fixed schedule, the app generates a custom plan each week based on your progress and preferences.
Core features: Fasting timer, weekly coaching plans (premium), progress tracking, challenges, and educational content.
Strengths: The weekly plan variation can prevent plateaus and keep the experience fresh. The challenge feature adds social motivation. BodyFast has a large user base, particularly in European markets.
Considerations: The free version is quite limited — the weekly coaching plans require a premium subscription. Some users find the algorithm's plan changes disruptive when they've found a schedule that works. The interface, while functional, feels busier than some competitors.
Detailed comparison in Fasted vs BodyFast.
Fastic
Fastic combines fasting tracking with a strong community element. It includes a social feed where users can share progress, recipes, and motivation.
Core features: Fasting timer, water tracker, step counter, community feed, educational content, and meal suggestions.
Strengths: The community aspect is genuinely engaging for people who are motivated by social accountability. The app includes a broader health tracking approach with water and step tracking. The educational content is presented in bite-sized, accessible formats.
Considerations: The social features can be distracting if you prefer a focused tool. Premium pricing for full feature access. The step counter and water tracker are basic compared to dedicated apps for those functions.
Detailed comparison in Fasted vs Fastic.
Life Fasting Tracker
Life (originally "Life Fasting Tracker") focuses on the science of fasting with features that track which metabolic zone you're in during a fast — fat burning, ketosis, autophagy, etc.
Core features: Fasting timer with metabolic zone tracking, social circles for group fasting, educational content, and integration with Apple Health and Google Fit.
Strengths: The metabolic zone visualization is unique and educational. Social circles allow friends or family to fast together and see each other's progress. The science-forward approach appeals to users who want to understand what's happening in their body.
Considerations: The metabolic zone timelines are estimates based on general research, not personalized biomarker data. The app has undergone several ownership changes, which has affected consistency. The interface feels dated compared to newer competitors.
Detailed comparison in Fasted vs Life Fasting Tracker.
Free vs Paid: What Are You Actually Getting?
Every major fasting app offers a free tier, but the value varies dramatically. Some free versions are fully functional timers with basic tracking. Others are essentially demos designed to push you toward a subscription.
Here's a general framework for thinking about this:
Worth paying for: Advanced analytics, personalized plans, meal logging with nutritional data, and quality educational content that changes your behavior.
Not worth paying for: Basic timer functionality (this should always be free), access to common fasting schedules, and generic educational articles available elsewhere.
The price range for premium fasting apps runs from about $3/month to $15/month depending on the app and subscription length. Annual plans are typically 40-60% cheaper per month than monthly subscriptions.
Full breakdown in free vs paid fasting apps.
What About Apps with Meal Tracking?
Some users want an all-in-one solution that tracks both fasting windows and nutritional intake. This is a reasonable desire — fasting and nutrition are deeply connected.
Apps that offer integrated meal tracking include Fasted (meal logging), Simple (AI food recognition), and Zero (limited, through journal entries). Dedicated calorie tracking apps like MyFitnessPal or Cronometer are more powerful for detailed nutritional analysis but don't include fasting timers.
The tradeoff: all-in-one apps sacrifice depth for convenience, while using separate apps gives you better tools but adds friction. Most people do better with a simpler setup they'll actually use.
More in intermittent fasting apps with meal tracking.
How to Choose
Here's a practical decision framework:
- You want a clean, focused fasting tool with weight and meal tracking: Fasted
- You want brand credibility and science-backed education: Zero
- You want AI-powered nutrition guidance alongside fasting: Simple
- You want weekly personalized plans that change over time: BodyFast
- You want community and social accountability: Fastic
- You want to understand fasting science and metabolic zones: Life
The best app is the one that helps you fast consistently. Try the free versions of two or three that appeal to you, use them for a week each, and commit to the one that fits your workflow.
For our annual roundup, see best intermittent fasting app 2026 and best fasting timer app.
How Fasted Helps
Fasted was designed with a simple philosophy: your fasting app should make fasting easier, not become another source of complexity. The fasting timer supports all common protocols and custom schedules. Weight tracking and meal logging are integrated so you can see how your eating patterns relate to your results. Streak tracking keeps you motivated, and the insights dashboard helps you spot trends over time. It's a focused tool that does what a fasting app should do — help you fast consistently and see your progress.
If you're new to fasting, start with our getting started guide. For tips on fitting fasting into your daily routine, visit our lifestyle pillar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a fasting app to do intermittent fasting?
No. You can fast with nothing more than a clock. However, research on health behavior change consistently shows that tracking improves adherence. A fasting app reduces friction by automating the tracking, providing reminders, and showing you patterns you might not notice otherwise.
Are paid fasting apps worth the money?
It depends on what you're paying for. If premium features like detailed analytics, meal tracking, or personalized plans help you stay consistent, the cost is likely worthwhile compared to the health benefits of sustained fasting. If you only need a basic timer, most free tiers are sufficient.
Can I use a regular timer instead of a fasting app?
You can, but you lose the tracking history, pattern recognition, and progress visualization that make fasting apps valuable. Seeing your streak, reviewing your fasting history, and tracking weight trends alongside fasting data provides context that a phone timer cannot.
Which fasting app is best for beginners?
Apps with good onboarding experiences and educational content — like Simple and Zero — are strong choices for beginners. Fasted is also beginner-friendly due to its clean interface and straightforward setup. The most important thing is choosing an app that doesn't overwhelm you with features before you've established a basic fasting habit.