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Does Cronometer Track Net Carbs and How Can You Use It to Stay on Track?

If you’re following a low-carb or keto diet, keeping an eye on net carbs is probably high on your priority list. And if you’re using Cronometer to log your food, you might be wondering if it tracks net carbs for you. The short answer is yes – but there’s a bit more to it than that. Let’s break it down in simple terms.

What Are Net Carbs and Why They Matter

Before jumping into Cronometer’s capabilities, it’s important to clarify what net carbs actually are. Net carbs are the carbohydrates that your body can digest and use for energy. This excludes fiber and some sugar alcohols, which don’t impact blood sugar in the same way as other carbs.

For most people on a ketogenic diet, tracking net carbs is more helpful than tracking total carbs. That’s because it gives a more accurate picture of the carbs that actually affect your body’s ability to stay in ketosis.

Yes, Cronometer Tracks Net Carbs – And It Does It Well

Unlike some nutrition apps that make you do the math yourself, Cronometer has built-in net carb tracking. This is one of its standout features, especially for keto and low-carb users.

By default, Cronometer calculates net carbs as:

Net Carbs = Total Carbs – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols

But what makes Cronometer unique is that this formula is customizable. You can modify how net carbs are calculated based on your dietary needs or preferences. For example, you can choose to exclude or include ingredients like:

  • Fiber
  • Sugar alcohols
  • Allulose
  • Fructose

This flexibility allows you to fine-tune your tracking based on how your body reacts to different carb sources or based on specific goals, like glycemic control.

How to Enable and Customize Net Carb Tracking in Cronometer

To start tracking net carbs in Cronometer, follow these steps on the web or mobile app:

  1. Go to More > Targets + Profile
  2. Tap Advanced Settings
  3. Under Track Carbs As, select Net Carbs

You can further customize your settings by clicking the three dots next to the net carb display. This opens the option to:

  • Remove sugar alcohols, allulose, or fiber from the equation
  • Reset back to default calculation anytime

This setup gives you full control over how net carbs are measured based on what you eat and how your body responds.

Other Perks That Help You Stay on Track

Visual Macros and Progress Bars

Cronometer doesn’t just log your net carb numbers – it gives you a visual understanding of your day. Progress bars under each macronutrient show how close you are to your targets.

Want to see just your macros? Swipe the top banner to switch views. This makes it easy to:

  • Adjust your meals during the day
  • Avoid going over your net carb target
  • Plan your dinner if you know you’ve already hit your limit

Verified Food Database

One of the biggest issues with other apps is the inconsistency in food data. Many apps rely on user-generated entries that can be inaccurate or incomplete.

Cronometer takes a different approach. It uses verified databases like the USDA and NCCDB. Each food entry is curated and checked for accuracy, which is crucial when tracking something as specific as net carbs.

You can also tell how complete a food entry is by checking how many nutrient values are listed. If you see 50+ nutrients, that’s a solid, complete entry. And if a food isn’t listed, you can add it yourself or submit it for verification. This helps keep your own tracking consistent while also improving the app’s overall database.

Recipe Builder for Home Cooks

If you cook most of your own meals (which many keto folks do), Cronometer’s recipe builder is a game changer. You can:

  • Enter each ingredient and quantity
  • Set the number of servings
  • Get full nutritional data, including net carbs, for each serving

Once saved, your recipe becomes a custom food item you can log in your diary anytime. This is incredibly useful for meal prep or for tracking frequently eaten homemade dishes.

Keto Calculator and Flexible Macro Planning

Another major benefit of using Cronometer is the built-in Keto Calculator. Instead of using a general percentage-based goal like 5% carbs, 25% protein, 70% fat, you can:

  • Use Cronometer’s calculator to create a rigorous, moderate, or relaxed keto plan
  • Choose between fixed macros or macro ratios
  • Include an activity bonus for added carbs if you’re very active

This approach makes your goals more precise and realistic based on your body composition, lifestyle, and dietary intent.

Tracking Progress and Staying Accountable

It’s not just about logging food – it’s about using that data to stay motivated and adjust as needed. Cronometer gives you multiple ways to visualize your daily progress:

  • Daily diary with macro breakdowns
  • Net carb progress bars
  • Full nutrient reports
  • Graphs showing trends over time

Whether you’re using the free or Gold version, this data can be incredibly motivating. You can literally watch how well you’re sticking to your goals.

And if you connect it with a smart scale or fitness tracker, Cronometer can automatically pull in weight and activity data to show your full picture of progress.

A Smarter Way to Track Food: The ReciMe Advantage

Tracking progress is important, but we believe there’s an even better way to do it, one that starts in your kitchen, not your food log. We created ReciMe because most nutrition and meal tracking apps start with nutrients and macros, not with the food you actually cook. Our approach is different: we begin with the recipe itself. When you import or write a recipe in ReciMe, our engine instantly calculates the full nutrition panel – calories, protein, carbs, fats, and fiber, without any extra math on your end. If you love cooking at home and want an accurate snapshot of what you eat, this recipe‑centric workflow is faster and far more practical than manually adding ingredients to a diary.

What Makes ReciMe Different (and Better)

  • Recipe‑centric workflow: Drop in a TikTok reel, Instagram post or screenshot – our importer grabs the ingredients and steps, then builds the nutrition facts automatically.
  • Seamless grocery lists: One tap turns your weekly meal plan into a smart grocery list, sorted by supermarket aisle. No more juggling separate list apps.
  • Effortless meal planning: Drag and drop any saved recipe onto the calendar and we adjust serving sizes and nutrition totals in real time, so you always know how the week stacks up.
  • Built for healthy home cooks: Because nutrients come directly from the recipe, ReciMe is ideal for anyone who relies on whole foods and minimal processing. You see exactly what goes into your meals, no guessing, no missing data.

Switching from a macro tracker like Cronometer to ReciMe doesn’t mean abandoning precision. It means gaining a system that mirrors how you actually live and cook while still giving you the numbers you need to stay healthy.

Just try it – you’ll love it:

Download for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPad
ReciMe Android App

Tips to Stay Consistent with Net Carb Tracking

Using Cronometer is simple once you get the hang of it. Here are a few tips to make sure you stay on track:

  1. Log meals immediately: Get into the habit of logging your food right after you eat. It takes less than a minute and prevents forgotten entries, which can throw off your totals for the day.
  2. Use the barcode scanner: For packaged foods, this tool is a lifesaver. It instantly pulls up the correct product, saving you time and helping avoid inaccurate entries.
  3. Save your favorite meals: If you often eat the same meals or snacks, save them to your favorites. This makes future tracking quick and stress-free.
  4. Create recipes for home-cooked meals: If you meal prep or cook frequently, this is essential. Once a recipe is built and saved, logging meals becomes a one-click task.
  5. Review your day every evening: Make it a habit to check your diary at night. This helps you spot trends, stay aware of your intake, and prepare better for the next day.

Final Thoughts

If you’re following a keto or low-carb diet, Cronometer gives you the tools to stay informed and in control. From accurate data and full customization to helpful visuals and recipe tracking, everything is designed to make net carb tracking as easy and effective as possible.

Whether you’re just starting out or have been low-carb for years, using Cronometer can take the guesswork out of your diet and help you stay consistent long-term.

FAQ

Does Cronometer track net carbs by default? 

No, Cronometer tracks total carbs by default. But you can easily switch to tracking net carbs in the settings under “More > Targets + Profile > Advanced Settings.”

How does Cronometer calculate net carbs? 

Cronometer uses the formula: Net Carbs = Total Carbs – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols. You can also customize the formula to exclude allulose or fructose if needed.

Can I track net carbs separately from total carbs? 

Yes. Cronometer lets you view both total and net carbs in your diary and nutrient reports, so you can monitor them side-by-side.

Is Cronometer suitable for keto or low-carb diets? 

Definitely. Cronometer is one of the most accurate tools for keto users because of its curated food database and customizable macro tracking options.

Can I use Cronometer for free? 

Yes. The free version includes most tracking features, including net carbs. The Gold version offers advanced charts, trends, and custom biometrics.

Does Cronometer include a barcode scanner? 

Yes. The barcode scanner makes it easy to add packaged foods to your diary quickly and accurately.

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