Lifesum is a food-tracking app that can be used to help lose, maintain, or gain weight—or reach other health goals entirely. In the app, you can track your nutrition and exercise, access recipes, and use a variety of other tools. Calorie-counting apps like Lifesum can help you achieve whatever a healthy lifestyle means to you.
But considering that the definition of health varies from person to person, we've decided to do a Lifesum review so you can get the low-down on this popular app. That includes a look into the paid features for a Lifesum premium review as well as a review of the free version. Regardless of whether your goal is to lose weight or simply make healthier food choices, keep reading to see if the Lifesum app is right for you.
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A Quick Look at Lifesum
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SPECS
- Platforms: Available on iOS and Android
- Features: Food and exercise tracking, recipe database, customized plans for countless dietary needs
Founded in 2013, Lifesum's founders Tove Westlund, Martin Wählby, Henrik Torstensson, and Marcus Gners worked together to create a concept that aims to simplify the path to a healthy lifestyle. During their collaborations, they decided to take a proactive approach and create a tool that empowers people to take control of their health using technology.
The Lifesum app enables users to make conscious decisions that lead them to a more healthy and balanced lifestyle that can be maintained long term. While it can help you lose weight if that's your goal, it goes far beyond that by creating personalized plans that also accommodate the body type, nutritional level, exercise habits, and dietary needs of the user.
What We Like
- Simple, user-friendly interface
- Great for beginners or more advanced users
- Food is tracked easily using the database or barcode scanning feature
- You can choose whether or not you want your activity level to modify your daily food goal
- Plenty of plan options that support dietary needs and restrictions
What We Don't Like
- No desktop version available
- There is a limited number of fitness trackers you can connect to sync your activity
- Basic nutritional information doesn't include the micronutrients of foods you log
A Closer Look at Lifesum
What is Lifesum?
Lifesum is a tracking app that records your food, exercise, and other behaviors to help build healthy habits. In addition to tracking, Lifesum supports users with food ratings, meal plans, recipes, and has reminders that can help keep you on the path to success.
Lifesum Plans
There is a free and premium version of this app. Even though the premium version is very affordable in comparison to other calorie-counting apps, such as MyFitnessPal, the free version has a lot of great features. You can log food easily using the food database or barcode scanner, and you can save a limited amount of food items or recipes in the Favorites section. Tracking your body measurements and exercise is also included and you can see a limited view of your daily nutritional intake. Lifesum generates your daily goals based on your personal information and goal, however, if you want to customize it further you might want to consider the premium version.
The premium version allows you to set your own daily goals for macronutrients if you'd like along with daily calorie goals. You can choose whether or not you want your daily goals to be adjusted based on the calories burned from exercise. The personalized meal plans available with a premium subscription include a shopping list or you can browse their tasty recipes for ideas. With the food, meal, and day ratings you'll learn which foods are helping you reach your goals effectively and sustainably.
How does Lifesum work?
After downloading the app, you'll fill in your weight, height, and other personal information. Lifesum also asks about any dietary restrictions you may have including allergies or other preferences. From there, your daily goals are generated and you're ready to start tracking. If you need some meal ideas and recipe suggestions, the premium version offers meal plans, shopping lists, and more.
Food Diary
The diary section of the app shows a simplistic overview of your daily goals breaking down how many calories you've eaten, burned, and how many you have left to consume. To log food, you can choose the corresponding meal or the big plus sign to access the search for the food database and barcode scanner.
After finding or scanning your food, you can adjust the portion size to match how much you ate. It's really that simple! One feature that we really like is the ability to add a custom food item if you can't find what you're looking for. You can also choose whether or not you want to add this item to the database for other users to access. For the most part, Lifesum gives you the basic nutritional information which is protein, carbohydrates, and fat. With a premium subscription, you'll see a more detailed breakdown.
Diet Plans
The free version offers the Lifesum Standard Diet which includes macronutrient intake goals that are based on government recommendations. This is a general plan that promotes eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats.
The premium subscription offers an assortment of diet plans you can choose from based on your preferences and needs. These can be selected manually or diet plans can be suggested based on your Life Score, which is generated by a questionnaire. These plans include popular diets along with intermittent fasting plans.
The diet plan options are:
- Climatarian Diet
- Mediterranean
- Scandinavian
- Clean Eating
- 6:1 (intermittent fasting)
- 5:2 (intermittent fasting)
- Lifesum Standard
- High Protein
- Ketogenic Easy
- Ketogenic Medium
- Ketogenic Strict
Meal Plans
If you choose to subscribe to the premium version you'll also have access to Meal Plans that come equipped with shopping lists for your convenience. Most Meal Plans can support any goal but there are a few that are optimized for losing and maintaining weight only.
The current meal plan options are:
- Paleo
- Sugar Detox
- Eat like Denice (crafted by Denice Moberg, a health and lifestyle icon)
- 3 Weeks Weight Loss
- Keto Maintain
- Keto Burn
- Vegan for a Week
- Protein Weight Loss
- 16:8 Morning Fasting
- 16:8 Evening Fasting
Exercise Tracking
Logging your exercise in the app can be done manually or if you have a compatible app that you use to record your workout you can connect it to the app. Tracking your exercise can help you establish healthy habits and see your progress over time. If you'd like, your daily caloric goal can take into account the calories you burn from activity but this is a premium feature.
Who Should Try Lifesum?
Anyone who has a wellness goal they're trying to achieve can benefit from Lifesum. Since the app is easy to use, it's great for people who have never tracked before. The customization features also make this app an excellent option for experienced trackers. If you opt for the premium version, there are so many meal plan options available to explore along with delicious recipes that can help you from getting bored. The ability to track exercise, water intake, and daily servings of fruits and vegetables helps build healthy habits long term.
Lifesum Alternatives
MyFitnessPal is comparable to Lifesum but has additional features and a more extensive food database. Its list of compatible apps to track exercise is pretty extensive and offers all users access to a limited number of recipes and meal plans. That being said, the additional features come at a higher price point.
If you're looking for more support through coaching and community, WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers) and Noom provide a coach that you meet with regularly to work through any hurdles or questions you may have. Choosing a plan with coaching is also a great way to stay accountable. Noom focuses on helping you establish healthy habits long term and understand your behaviors through daily readings and interactive quizzes.
ACTIVE-approved app alternatives include:
Our Verdict
Lifesum is a useful tool that can be used to lose, gain, or maintain your weight and can also help you implement a more healthy lifestyle. It has many customizable features that make it suitable for any dietary needs or lifestyle, plus it’s easy to use. However, if community or coaching are must-have features for you, you might want to seek out an app like WW for more support.
FAQs About Lifesum
What is Lifesum?
A mobile app that helps you forge good habits that can lead to a more healthy, balanced lifestyle.
What are the Lifesum Plans?
There is a free version and a premium version available.
How does Lifesum work?
Lifesum helps you meet your overall health goals by enabling you to track food, exercise, water intake, measurements, and other metrics.
Who Should Try Lifesum?
Anyone who has a health and wellness goal or wants to establish healthy habits can benefit from using Lifesum.
About the Author
Rachael Gonzalez is a Staff Writer for ACTIVE. She spent five years in education before she joined the ACTIVE team in 2022. In this role, she is still able to make a positive impact on others by writing about something she loves: health and wellness.
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