Guides

Plain-English guides to the health apps and devices behind the prizes: how they work, who they suit and how to compare them.

Calorie Counter Apps

AI Calorie Trackers: How Photo Logging WorksHow AI calorie trackers turn a photo into calories, what helps them get it right, and which apps do it best: PlateLens leads for photo plus verified food data.
Best Food Tracking Apps of 2026The best food tracking apps of 2026 for keeping an honest food diary: PlateLens leads, with Cronometer for nutrient detail and MyFitnessPal for eating out.
Best Macro Tracker Apps of 2026The best macro tracker apps of 2026: PlateLens for most people, MacroFactor for lifters on weekly targets, Cronometer for detail. How to set your macros too.
Best Weight Loss Apps of 2026The best weight loss apps of 2026: PlateLens for tracking that adapts as you lose, Noom and WeightWatchers for structured programs, and when each approach fits.
Free Calorie Counter Apps: What You Get Without PayingWhich free calorie counter apps are really free? PlateLens puts every feature on its free plan; Lose It!, MyFitnessPal, Cronometer and FatSecret keep some for members.

Best Step Counter Apps of 2026The best step counter apps of 2026, from the free counters built into iPhone and Android phones to Pedometer++, Pacer and StepsApp for goals and challenges.

Oura Ring Alternatives: Smart Rings Worth a LookFour Oura alternatives on sale in the US: RingConn Gen 2, Samsung Galaxy Ring, Ultrahuman Ring Pro and Circular Ring 2, compared on fees, battery and phones.

Abbott Lingo vs. Dexcom Stelo: The Over-the-Counter CGMs ComparedLingo and Stelo both skip the prescription. See who each glucose sensor is for, how long it lasts, what the apps show and which one fits type 2 diabetes.
CGMs for People Without Diabetes: What They Show and Who They HelpWhat a glucose sensor shows if you don't have diabetes, what normal readings look like in research, what the evidence says, and when a short trial may help.

Apps Like Yuka: Food Scanner Apps ComparedFour Yuka alternatives for US shoppers: Open Food Facts, EWG's Healthy Living, Fig and Bobby Approved, compared on scoring method, scope, cost and privacy.
Open Food Facts: How the Free Food Database WorksHow Open Food Facts collects product data, who runs it, how it calculates Nutri-Score, NOVA and Green-Score, and what its open license lets apps do with it.

AirPods Pro as a Hearing Aid: How the Feature WorksHow the FDA-authorized Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 works, who it is for, what you need to set it up and when to see a professional.
Best Habit Tracker Apps of 2026The best habit tracker apps of 2026: Streaks for iPhone, Loop for Android, Habitica, Habitify and Finch, compared on free tiers, platforms and privacy.
Telehealth Dietitians: How Online Nutrition Counseling WorksHow online nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian works, what licensing rules apply across state lines, and when Medicare or private insurance pays.