Ranking updated
Best food scanner apps in 2026
For a scanner that reads barcodes and photographed labels, explains additives in words and checks ingredients against conditions like diabetes or allergies, Nutly. For food and cosmetics ratings with healthier alternatives and no ads, Yuka. For an open, collaborative database with Nutri-Score, NOVA and Eco-Score, Open Food Facts. For a list of flagged ingredients highlighted in red, Bobby Approved. Full breakdown below.
How we picked: we read each app’s own App Store description for how it scores a product, what it checks in the ingredients, whether it personalises the result, and how it is paid for. We do not quote prices; check them in the store for your country.
A scanner that explains what is inside
Nutly, from a developer in Kharkiv, Ukraine, scans a barcode and gives a health score from the available product data, with ingredient classifications, recognized E-number additives with explanations and named sources, and sugar, salt, fat and saturated fat rated low, moderate or high per 100 g or 100 ml. When a barcode does not match, you photograph the label and Nutly reads it. You can tell it once about conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease, allergens like gluten, peanuts or milk, or pregnancy, and it points out ingredients that may matter for you; that health profile is encrypted and can be deleted in Settings. Barcode scanning is unlimited on the free plan, with weekly allowances for label photos and personal analyses that Nutly Plus raises. It works in English, Ukrainian and Polish, and it says its scores are guidance, not medical advice.
Yuka and its open alternative
Yuka scans food and personal care products and rates food on nutritional quality, additives and whether it is organic, while cosmetics are judged ingredient by ingredient; when a product scores poorly it suggests a similar, healthier one. It calls itself an independent project with no in-app advertising. Open Food Facts is a collaborative, open project: you set food criteria such as health, additives and ultra-processed foods, salt, allergens, Nutri-Score and Eco-Score, and each scan shows green when a product matches them and red when there is a problem, with the NOVA group for processing and quick comparisons between products on the shelf.
Flagged ingredients
Bobby Approved shows whether a product is made with ingredients it approves: harmful ones are highlighted in red, you tap each to learn why, and a list of over 100 flagged ingredients is available to explore. You can search products and ingredients, browse by store, and get healthier alternatives when a product is not approved. For tracking what you eat, see calorie counter apps.
| App | Best for | What it checks | Personal profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| NutlyCensuusApp Store | barcodes and labels, explained in words | health score, additives with sources, sugar, salt and fat | conditions, allergens, pregnancy, young children |
| YukaApp Store | food and cosmetics | nutrition, additives, organic; cosmetic ingredients | no |
| Open Food FactsApp Store | open data and comparisons | Nutri-Score, NOVA, Eco-Score, allergens | food preferences |
| Bobby ApprovedApp Store | avoiding flagged ingredients | a list of over 100 flagged ingredients | no |
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to Yuka?
Nutly also scans barcodes and adds label photos and checks against your own health profile, Open Food Facts is the open, collaborative option with Nutri-Score and NOVA, and Bobby Approved focuses on flagged ingredients.
Is there a food scanner for people with diabetes or allergies?
Nutly lets you add conditions like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure and allergens like gluten, peanuts or milk, then shows which ingredients may matter for you. It says its scores are guidance, not medical advice, and not for allergy decisions.
Can a food scanner read a label without a barcode?
Nutly can: if there is no barcode match, you photograph the label and it reads the ingredients.
Is there a food scanner in Ukrainian?
Nutly works in English, Ukrainian and Polish, and Open Food Facts lists Ukrainian among its many languages.