If you are a nutrition coach that is looking for a nutrition tracking app that provides robust nutrition tracking capabilities and the ability to fully customize your clients nutrition plan - then two nutrition tracking apps worth considering are Cronometer Pro and LogEat Pro. These apps share many striking similarities but also some unique differences which will be covered in this review including not only client-facing features but also how the platform stacks up if you use them as nutrition coach, dietitian, or other health and wellness professional.

Features on Cronometer Pro versus LogEat Pro 

Below is a detailed comparison of features between Cronometer Pro and LogEat Pro:

Key Similarities between Cronometer Pro vs LogEat Pro

Integrity-Driven Data

Both Cronometer Pro and LogEat Pro take pride in using only verified sources of nutrition data. While Cronometer Pro obtains its data from 10 different data sources LogEat sources all of its data via 1 source - powered by Nutritionix. That said, no matter which app you use you can rest assured that nutrient entries are accurate, which is crucial for clients closely monitoring their intake and trying to achieve specific goals like weight-loss, muscle gain, or even blood sugar control - as inaccurate values can compromise a user’s ability to see progress. 

In addition to using verified data, both apps employ the ability to safeguard the integrity of a clients nutrition data by calculating nutrition averages off of fully complete days. This ensures that nutrient averages aren’t artificially lowered when a user logs for example ‘breakfast’ and then forgets to log the rest of their meals. As a coach this is a very helpful feature to have as it takes the guesswork out of wondering whether your clients nutrient averages have been skewed by missed meals. 

Comprehensive Nutrient Tracking & Diet Analysis

 Another similarity between LogEat Pro and Cronometer Pro is that coaches are able to have visibility to more than simply macros and calories. Both apps track a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals, though Cronometer Pro’s nutrition analysis is more in-depth because it exposes subcategories of certain nutrients. 

For example, with Cronometer you are not only able to see total protein but you are able to look at the quantity of specific amino acids. The same thing can be said for certain vitamins, with Cronometer you’ll be able to see more than simply total Vitamin A but specific types of vitamin A (e.g beta-carotene, retinol). That said, having this more in-depth information may be helpful for troubleshooting a specific health condition if it’s within scope of your practice area. With Cronometer Pro users can track 80 + nutrients and with LogEat Pro you are able to track 40+ nutrients. 

Customizable Tracking Experience

With both apps, nutrition coaches have full control over customizing a client's calories, macronutrients, and other nutrient targets.  In addition, with both platforms coaches are able to hide or display what nutrients you want your clients to focus on. This is a nice feature that both platforms provide especially when you don’t want to ‘overload’ your client with nutrition data. By giving the coach the ability to toggle on or off certain nutrients - clients can stay focused on what nutrients matter most to their particular goals and/or getting results. 

Seamless Client Management

Another advantage that both Pro platforms provide to coaches is the ability to manage multiple clients nutrition plans with their web app. With both apps, clients are invited by email to get connected to their coaches account; once a connection is established coaches have full control over setting up the client’s nutrition plan and viewing their nutrition and progress metrics overtime. Currently, Cronometer Pro and LogEat Pro are the only nutrition tracking platforms that we are aware of that have a coaching backend that provides a seamless connection to clients' food logs and in-depth nutrition analytics. Other coaching platforms that offer integrations with nutrition tracking apps don’t provide nearly the level of nutrition insights that Cronometer Pro or LogEat Pro provide because of limitations in accessing the app’s code. Because of this choosing a coaching software with a native tracking app is a huge perk.  

Advantages to Cronometer Pro

Program Different Nutrition Targets for Different Days

For nutrition coaches who utilize carb-cycling or work with athletes requiring different nutrition targets on various days (e.g., one target for rest days and another for training days), Cronometer Pro offers the ability to set unique nutrition targets for each day of the week. 

While LogEat Pro does not support programming different nutrition targets for different days, it offers an alternative approach with its dynamic weekly macro chart. Instead of setting specific macro targets for individual days, this feature allows users to track their weekly calorie and macro averages. The chart aggregates the user's dietary intake over the week, indicating whether they are under or over their weekly calorie goal. This method provides flexibility, enabling users to eat more or less on certain days without being confined to specific high or low-calorie days. 

Wearable/Device Integrations: 

Another potential advantage to using Cronometer Pro is that its nutrition tracker can be synced with a variety of wearables for tracking exercise, sleep, body weight. For users who like to monitor activity and other health markers in tandem with their diet this may be useful.

Yet there are some downsides when it comes to integrating specifically with fitness trackers. This is because calories burned by fitness trackers are often added back to a user’s calorie budget. This is not necessarily a problem if a user has burned additional calories beyond their usual level of activity but it’s problematic if the calories burned simply represent their typical level of activity - as coaches often will already account for usual activity levels in their calorie calculations. Cronometer Pro has attempted to solve this very issue by having the option to ‘exclude exercise calories’ from impacting their clients calorie budget which is helpful, nonetheless, it can be a source of confusion for clients and coaches alike when not applied correctly. 

Share Custom Foods & Recipes

Another perk of Cronometer Pro is your ability to share custom recipes and foods as a coach. Within the web app, you are able to create custom foods and recipes and then share them with your client to use. Cronometer Pro also has a recipe link importer which helps create recipes more efficiently. 

Printable Nutrition Reports

The last noteworthy feature unique to Cronometer Pro is your ability to create customized nutrition reports for sharing with your clients. This may be useful to provide when performing an initial client assessment or preparing a progress report after working with your client for a number of weeks. Reports can be generated as pdfs and be sent electronically or printed out for in-person meetings.

Advantages to LogEat Pro

As a nutrition coach, choosing the right tool for tracking and managing your clients' progress is crucial. While Cronometer Pro is a popular option, LogEat Pro offers a suite of features that streamline other nutrition coaching tasks that makes LogEat Pro more or less an all-in-one solution for nutrition coaches.

Streamlined Client Communication

LogEat Pro stands out with its first-class in-app chat functionality. Unlike the basic chat features offered by many apps, including Cronometer Pro, LogEat Pro's chat mimics the experience of using a smartphone. You can communicate with clients through text, share links, photos, videos, and even react with emojis and GIFs. This enhanced communication tool means you can keep all client interactions within the app, eliminating the need to share personal phone numbers or use additional apps like Whats App or Voxer to communicate.

Additionally, LogEat Pro supports mass messaging and the creation of message templates, streamlining your communication process, especially if you manage a large client base. These features make LogEat Pro an indispensable tool for maintaining seamless client interactions.

Automated Forms and Check-Ins

LogEat Pro enables coaches to create custom forms and send them directly to clients within the app. Whether it's gathering feedback or conducting routine check-ins, you can send these forms with a single click, schedule them for a specific date and time, or set up recurring forms for regular check-ins. This automation frees up your time, allowing you to focus on more critical tasks and provide better support to your clients. Plus, all of your clients' form responses can be referenced directly within the client’s profile and any historical responses are charted overtime - allowing you to see where your client may be struggling and/or excelling. 

Effortless Resource Sharing

Sharing resources with your clients has never been easier. LogEat Pro allows you to create shareable links for meal plans, workout guides, courses, payment links, and more. These resources are easily accessible within the client's mobile tracking app, ensuring they have everything they need for success at their fingertips.

Mobile App for Coaches 

With LogEat Pro, you can take your coaching on the go! In addition to its web-based app, LogEat Pro offers a mobile app for coaches, as well. On the mobile app, you can track your own nutrition in the same way your client does - as well as view clients' food logs and progress metrics, take notes, and chat with clients—all from your smartphone. This flexibility ensures you can stay connected with your clients wherever you go.

User-Friendly Design

One of the most significant differences between LogEat Pro over Cronometer Pro is its ease of use and intuitive design from both a coach and client perspective. As a former Cronometer Pro user, I found Cronometer's tracking app to feel cluttered and overly technical, which can be frustrating for novice users. In contrast, LogEat Pro offers a clean, simple, and intuitive interface that makes tracking nutrition straightforward. Food search is also more accessible with photo images and clear nutrition facts, making it easier for clients to identify foods and ‘digest’ nutrition information.

Which is the Best: Cronometer Pro or LogEat Pro?               

Choosing between Cronometer Pro and LogEat Pro depends largely on the types of clients you work with and the specific nutrition and health data you prioritize.

Cronometer Pro is an excellent choice for functional health practitioners seeking detailed, in-depth nutrition insights or for researchers tasked with closely monitoring subjects' dietary intake. And while it excels in providing comprehensive dietary analysis it has virtually no coaching features. As a result, users of Cronometer Pro often need to purchase additional coaching or practice management software.

On the other hand, LogEat Pro is tailored to nutrition professionals who focus on weight loss, body recomposition, or overall diet quality improvement. It combines a robust nutrition tracking experience with essential coaching features, making it an all-in-one solution for managing your clients. Plus, LogEat Pro's user-friendly interface is ideal for those who are less experienced with nutrition tracking, whereas Cronometer Pro may feel intimidating and overly-technical for the average user.

In summary, Cronometer Pro is ideal for those needing only advanced dietary analysis. However, LogEat Pro is the perfect solution for nutrition coaches who want both extensive nutrition insights and a suite of coaching features that help streamline workflows enabling coaches to more easily scale their practice.