A good calorie counter for Vietnamese food needs real dishes with adjustable portions, a clear explanation of how the numbers were estimated, and basic logging that is not behind a paywall. Test any app with the three dishes you eat most. If you have to enter a bowl of pho one ingredient at a time, you will stop logging quickly.
We make FitArchive, so read this with that in mind. Details about other apps come from their App Store pages, checked on 31 October 2026, and may have changed.
What to check in a calorie app
Real Vietnamese dishes. Large international databases often rely on user-added entries for Vietnamese food, so the numbers can vary widely. Search for “com tam”, “bun bo hue” and “banh mi” and see whether the results have clear portions.
Adjustable portions. A bowl of pho varies a lot from one restaurant to the next. You should be able to pick a size or change the grams.
Honest estimates. Restaurant dishes have no nutrition label, so every number is an estimate. A trustworthy app says where its numbers come from.
What is actually free. Check whether barcode scanning, macro goals and removing ads need a subscription, since these are often charged for.
MyFitnessPal, Caloer and FitArchive compared
| MyFitnessPal | Caloer | FitArchive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese dishes | General database, not Vietnamese-focused | Lists thousands of Vietnamese foods | 260+ Vietnamese dishes with adjustable portions |
| App languages | Listing does not include Vietnamese | Vietnamese | English and Vietnamese |
| Paid plan (US App Store) | Premium about $49.99 to $79.99/year | Premium $17.99/year | Logging is free. Plus and Pro are optional |
| Barcode scanning | Premium | Not stated | Free on the web. In the next iPhone update, not yet on Android |
| Ads | On the free plan | Not stated | None |
| Workout logging | Basic | Level-based programs | Yes, every set with RIR |
Sources: MyFitnessPal and Caloer on the App Store. “Not stated” means that page does not say, not that the app lacks it.
Which one to choose
MyFitnessPal suits you if you eat mostly packaged international food and want the largest database.
Caloer suits you if you read Vietnamese, mainly want to lose weight, and like a Vietnamese-focused app with programs included.
FitArchive suits you if you lift and want calories and macros in the same log as your training. You can read a stalled lift next to that week’s food without opening two apps, as covered in logging food and workouts together. Food logging, your full history and sync are free, with no ads and no account needed to start.
If you are unsure, install two, log the same day in both, and keep the one that is faster for you. An app you keep using beats one with more features.
Where FitArchive’s Vietnamese numbers come from
Dishes are built from recipes and ingredient data, so they are estimates and not lab measurements of a restaurant’s bowl. Two examples at a regular size:
- Beef pho: about 418 kcal and 38 g protein.
- Banh mi with meat: about 526 kcal and 25 g protein.
See the wider Vietnamese food calorie guide. If your bowl is bigger, adjust the portion before saving.
Common questions
Is there a free calorie counter with Vietnamese food? Yes. MyFitnessPal, Caloer and FitArchive all have free versions, but they differ in what is free. In FitArchive, food logging and full history are not locked.
Can an app count calories from a photo? FitArchive does this in its Plus plan on iPhone and Android: AI drafts the foods and portions for you to check. A photo only gives an estimate, so always review the portion.
How accurate are calorie apps for restaurant food? None is exact, because recipes and portions differ. Log consistently and judge by your bodyweight trend over several weeks.
MyFitnessPal and Caloer are trademarks of their respective owners. FitArchive is not affiliated with or endorsed by either.
