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Nov 09, 2023

These Apps Make It *So* Easy To Stay On Top Of Your Intermittent Fasting Diet

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16:8. 5:2. The eat-stop-eat diet. Ringing any bells? These are a few of the most popular forms of intermittent fasting (IF), a go-to diet for weight loss that celebs and many others tout as the best way to shed pounds and feel better. You can pick one that works best for your routines specifically; you just have to keep your fasting and feeding windows straight. Don't want to worry about setting alarms each day to remind yourself it's time to eat? Intermittent fasting apps can do all of that for you.

But before we get into the apps, a quick reminder: Check in with a pro like a dietitian or doctor to make sure IF is a suitable weight loss method for you, because that's not necessarily the case for everyone. "If you're on certain medications or have certain medical conditions, it can actually be extremely dangerous," says Seattle-based Ginger Hultin, RDN, the owner of ChampagneNutrition and author of Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep and How to Eat to Beat Disease Cookbook. An expert can help you find a plan that's right for your body—then, an app can keep you on track.

Meet the experts: Ginger Hultin, RDN, is a Seattle-based registered dietitian nutritionist, the owner of ChampagneNutrition, and author of Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep and How to Eat to Beat Disease Cookbook. Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, is the author of Belly Fat Diet For Dummies. Colleen Moltzen, RD, is of Keatley MNT in New York.

Another thing to keep in mind: As effective as IF has been for many people, there's no set number of pounds you can expect to lose by doing a fasting diet, says Hultin. Plus, you may not get the same results as someone else who's on your chosen IF plan.

Look for apps that cater to your specific needs. "When looking for an app for your intermittent fasting plan, first consider what your goals are," says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, author of Belly Fat Diet For Dummies. "Do you want the app to just track your fasting time? Track your progress? Or help you with meal planning?"

Here are 12 dietitian-approved intermittent fasting apps designed to take the stress out of following any IF plan.

Window is jam-packed with features that make intermittent fasting as simple as possible. It lets you schedule your eating windows, notifies you when eating windows open and close, lets you sync your data with the Apple Health app and Apple Watch, and provides a blog with tips on how to be healthier.

"If you're unsure of where to begin, the Window app can help with that," says Colleen Moltzen, RD, of Keatley MNT in New York, adding that the app can "keep you motivated with visuals" that easily allow you to monitor your weight loss progress.

The basic app is free, but you can also subscribe to the premium version for $9.99 monthly or $39.99 yearly. The upgrade unlocks all IF plans, individual meal plans, challenges that help you build new habits, and nutrition and mood trackers.

Price: Free to download. Premium version costs $9.99/month or $39.99/year.

Available for iOS & Android

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Download for Android

Fastin has various capabilities to fuel your IF success, including a step-by-step guide to intermittent fasting, a comprehensive set of trackers, including weight, water, sleep, and activity, and reminders to help you hit your goals.

"Success is driven by motivation," Moltzen says, and those mini reminders "can keep you alert and interested."

You can enjoy basic features of this app for free. Upgrading (for $19.99 quarterly) will give you access to a personalized fasting plan that includes a nutrition guide.

Price: Free to download. Upgrade available for $19.99/quarter.

Available for iOS & Android

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Download for Android

Fastic has more than 400 recipes incorporating many healthy, filling foods to help you make the most of your eating windows. It also tells you what your body is doing during your fast and offers a fasting timer and step counter, as well as connection with a large community of fellow fasters.

The community element is clutch, says Moltzen, because motivating one another can make success easier.

The app is free, but you can also join Fastic PLUS for a one-month, three-month, six-month, or yearly membership—prices vary. With a premium membership, you'll gain access to the full recipe book, a personalized fasting plan, daily and weekly challenges to keep you motivated, and more.

Price: Free to download. PLUS price varies based on selected membership.

Available for iOS & Android

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Download for Android

Zero can be customized to track your fasting times, which means it works regardless of the type of IF plan you’re on (even if you’ve sort of made up your own schedule). And this can make sure you stay consistent, says Palinski-Wade. You can choose from several pre-set fasting windows or create your own schedule for up to seven days.

The interface is clean and simple, making it super easy to navigate. The app also has a dashboard that can help you analyze your fasting habits over time.

You can use the app for free or sign up for Zero Plus. With a $9.99 one-month subscription or a $69.99 one-year subscription, you can track advanced statistics, create custom fasting plans, and connect with your FitBit or Oura ring.

Price: Free to download. Plus subscriptions cost $9.99 for a month or $69.99 for a year.

Available for iOS & Android

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Download for Android

If you want to track your fasting times and keep an eye on your diet, Fastient has some of the most comprehensive tracking functions out there, allowing you to maintain a record of your food intake and stay on top of your overall progress. It features a wide, open interface that leaves plenty of room for you to journal, view your data in easy-to-read graphs, and access your info within the app or on your desktop.

"When it comes to following a meal plan for results, tracking is key for progress and accountability," says Palinski-Wade, who likes that Fastient allows you to manage all your goals in one place and adjust as needed for different fasting styles.

This one is free for download, with the option to buy Fastient Premium. A yearly subscription costs $4.99, while a lifetime subscription costs $11.99. The purchase grants you access to a dark mode along with "quick-tag" emojis for recording your moods, and allows you to upload progress pictures.

Price: Free to download. Premium costs $4.99 for a yearly subscription or $11.99 for a lifetime subscription.

Available for iOS & Android

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Download for Android

BodyFast gives you 10 different IF plans to choose from—and also serves up loads of coaching and meal planning tips. If you’re committed to IF but struggling with the daily mechanics of it, this app might give you what you need to troubleshoot your challenges.

Palinski-Wade says she loves all the support BodyFast offers, but warns that it could be a little misleading. "The BodyFast coach provides tips based on data such as your age and weight-loss goals, but this is not a replacement for working with a medical professional like a registered dietitian who can truly customize your meal plan for your own unique needs," she notes.

The app comes with a set of free features. Getting the BodyFast Coach will unlock even more tools. Pricing varies, but you can choose from one-month, three-month, six-month, and yearly plans. You'll have access to over 100 recipes, weekly challenges, and the ability to build a personal plan.

Price: Free to download. Coach pricing varies based on selected plan.

Available for iOS & Android

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Download for Android

This is a pretty standard IF tracking app (providing daily fasting or goal timing and weight loss progress). But Palinski-Wade points out it includes one unique—and important—component: community support.

"Research has shown that accountability and social support lead to greater success when it comes to making behavior change," she says. "By engaging in a community of people with similar goals, this app may help you stick with your IF plan long-term for the best results."

So, if you’re the only one of your friends who's doing IF and could use some peer support, Vora might be your perfect fit.

Another great thing about this app is that you can use it for free or upgrade to Vora Pro for just $4.99. The upgrade will give you more ways to track your progress, access to the community forum, and the ability to measure your own statistics.

Price: Free to download. Pro costs $4.99

Available for iOS

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DoFasting provides a customized IF plan, a library of educational articles and workouts, and over 5,000 recipes. "They also have a bunch of workout videos embedded," Hultin adds, so all of your fitness and wellness advice is in one place.

Plus, the app will help you track your calories, water intake, and steps.

The app is free to download, but you'll need to purchase a plan. Currently, plans start at a rate of $11.50/month if you opt to be billed every six months.

Price: Free to download. Plans start at $11.50/month.

Available for iOS & Androi

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Download for Android

If you change up your fasting goals all the time (like doing 5:2 one week and alternate day fasting the next), then FastHabit is one of the best ways to keep up with your shifting preferences. Just set up your desired fasting window in the app when you’re ready to begin and go.

You can also set reminders and notifications for yourself or check out your fasting stats over the past 10 days via the simple dashboard, but tracking more than that will require a premium membership.

FastHabit Pro costs $2.99. The upgrade will allow you to sync the app with your Apple Watch.

Price: Free to download. Pro upgrade costs $2.99.

Available for iOS & Android

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Download for Android

If you're following the keto diet at the same time, the LIFE Intermittent Fast Tracker can help you track how long you've likely been in ketosis. Plus, you can connect with others who use the app to fast together and keep each other going.

The basic features are free. Subscribing to LIFE+ for $2.99 per month will allow you to create custom fasting schedules, get notifications when it's time to start and end your fast, access your monthly and yearly IF history, and more.

Price: Free to download. $2.99/month for LIFE+

Available for iOS & Android

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Download for Android

The Ate Food Diary helps you keep a visual food diary, showing you how much time has lapsed between meals and snacks and helping you look back on the food choices you've made and how they made you feel. If you're into social media accountability, Ate makes it easy to share what you've been eating on your channels.

The app's free trial lasts seven days. After that, you'll have to sign up for a paid plan billed monthly or yearly.

Price: Free to download. Prices vary based on selected plan.

Available for iOS & Android

Shop Now

Download for Android

Simple: Intermittent Fasting is a very (as the name implies) simplistic, all-encompassing fasting app, according to Hultin. The app offers features including recipes, articles, and a progress tracker. It also connects to the Health app on your iPhone to track your steps, weight, sleeping patterns, and water intake—so those important numbers stay in one place.

It's a free app to download, but you can also upgrade to Simple Premium for "full access to features and content." Subscription prices vary based on your selected subscription period.

Price: Free to download. Premium upgrade prices vary based on subscription period.

Available for iOS & Android

Shop Now

Download for Android

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