Counting carbs is a core part of managing diabetes and dosing insulin, and picking the right app makes a big difference. Over the years, I’ve tried several tools and learned that what works for one person might not be ideal for another. Here’s a look at some go-to carb counting apps, plus how to choose the best one for your diabetes tech setup.

MyFitnessPal is super popular—and for good reason. It has a massive food database, barcode scanning, and macro breakdown (including carbs). You can log meals manually or scan food labels, and it even supports net carbs, which makes it useful for carb-focused diabetes care. 

Then there’s CalorieKing, which is more focused on nutrition data. Its app lists thousands of foods, including restaurant items, and clearly shows carb, fiber, and other macronutrient content. That makes it really useful for estimating your carb needs for insulin dosing.

Another app worth mentioning is Figwee, which is especially helpful for visual learners. Instead of relying only on numbers, Figwee uses portion-based images to show what different carb amounts actually look like on a plate. This makes estimating carbs for foods like pasta, rice, snacks, or mixed meals much more intuitive—especially when you don’t have exact measurements. It’s one of the easiest ways to improve carb accuracy when eating at home or out, and it’s become a favorite for simplifying everyday decisions.

It’s also worth noting that voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant can be surprisingly useful for quick carb lookups. Asking questions like “How many carbs are in a medium-sized apple?” or “Carbs in a slice of pizza” can give fast, ballpark answers when you’re on the go. While these tools aren’t a replacement for a dedicated carb-counting app, they’re a convenient backup when you need quick information without opening an app or manually searching.

Carb-counting isn’t one-size-fits-all. Try a couple of apps, see how they fit with your insulin routine, and pick the one that helps you feel confident with your numbers.

If you want a quick guide through some of these apps, check out my YouTube video (linked above) — it walks you through how to use them, why they work for diabetes, and which might be best for your daily life.

Disclaimer: Diabetech content is not medical advice—it’s for educational purposes only. Always consult with a physician before making changes to your healthcare.