Index
Last Updated on August 10, 2026
Zero helped make intermittent fasting mainstream, and it is still one of the best-rated fasting timers around (about 4.8 stars from 445K ratings on the App Store as of 2026). So why look for an alternative? A few honest reasons. Zero’s most useful analytics and its content library sit behind its paid plan, Zero Plus; its calorie and macro tracking is limited for a “Food Tracker,” and its Google Play rating (around 3.8) reflects recurring complaints about bugs — fasts that won’t start or stop, entries you can’t edit, and sync issues. If you want fasting plus full food tracking, coaching, or a more complete weight-loss system, another app may fit better. Below are four alternatives we can recommend honestly. Every rating and feature was verified against the live app stores in 2026.Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free tier | Rating (App Store) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kompanion | All-in-one: fasting + calories + GLP-1 + coach | Yes — generous | 4.7 |
| Fastic | Guided fasting for beginners | Yes (freemium) | 4.8 |
| Simple | AI fasting and weight-loss coaching | Yes (freemium) | 4.7 |
| MyFitnessPal | Largest food database | Yes — ad-heavy | 4.7 |
| Zero (for reference) | Simple, well-loved fasting timer | Yes | 4.8 (Play 3.8) |
What Zero does well (and where it stops)
Let’s be fair: Zero is a polished, science-minded fasting timer with a huge, loyal community. Its free tier covers the essentials — a fasting timer, mood journal, weight tracking, progress stats, articles, and wearable sync — without nagging you to upgrade on every screen. The limits show up when you want more than a timer. Deeper analytics and the full content library require Zero Plus; food, calorie, and macro tracking are basic; and functionality complaints (fasts not starting/stopping, uneditable entries, sync problems) are common enough to drag its Google Play rating well below its App Store score. If any of those matter to you, one of the apps below will serve you better.1. Kompanion — best all-in-one alternative
Best for: people who want fasting, calorie and macro tracking, GLP-1 support, and coaching in one app — with a free tier they can actually use. Where Zero is a fasting timer with light food tracking, Kompanion is a complete weight-loss companion. It has a full intermittent fasting tracker (12:12, 16:8, 18:6, 24h, 36h and custom) with five fasting stages — and that timer is free. On top of it, Kompanion adds a calorie and macro counter with AI meal analysis, a GLP-1 medication tracker (useful if you’re on Ozempic or Wegovy), water and mood logging, weight tracking, and an AI coach (“KAI”). The free tier is generous: the fasting timer and all plans, water and mood logging, basic stats, a daily meal log, AI-coach messages, and articles, with an optional Kompanion Plus subscription for unlimited logging and detailed nutrition. Ratings sit at 4.7 on the App Store and 4.4 on Google Play. If you liked Zero’s fasting timer but wished it also handled your food, macros, and coaching, this is the closest upgrade.2. Fastic — best guided fasting for beginners
Best for: newcomers who want fasting with hand-holding. Fastic is one of the most popular fasting apps in the world (around 4.8 stars from 246K App Store ratings) and leans into guidance — structured programs, daily tasks, water and step tracking, and educational content that eases beginners into fasting. Like Zero, it’s freemium: a usable free tier with a premium subscription for the full experience. Choose it if you want a friendly, guided on-ramp to intermittent fasting.3. Simple — best AI coaching
Best for: people who want conversational AI guidance alongside fasting. Simple (rated about 4.7 from 393K App Store ratings) pairs intermittent fasting with an AI coach that answers questions and nudges your habits, plus food logging and hydration tracking. It’s freemium, with the coaching and deeper features on the paid plan. Pick it if an always-on AI assistant is the feature you’d use most.4. MyFitnessPal — largest food database
Best for: people whose priority is precise food and calorie logging. If Zero’s weak spot is food tracking, MyFitnessPal is the opposite — one of the largest food and restaurant databases anywhere, and it also has an intermittent fasting tracker. Be aware of the paywall, though: the free tier is ad-heavy, and the barcode scanner and fasting tracker are Premium-only. It’s rated 4.7 on the App Store. Choose it if database breadth matters most.How to choose
- You want everything in one app (fasting + calories + GLP-1 + coach), free to start: Kompanion.
- You’re new to fasting and want guided programs: Fastic.
- You want conversational AI coaching: Simple.
- You want the biggest food database: MyFitnessPal.
- You only want a clean, well-loved fasting timer: Zero is still an excellent choice — just know the food tracking is basic and the best features are paid.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Zero?
Yes. Kompanion, Fastic, and Simple all offer free tiers with a fasting timer and core tracking. Kompanion’s free plan is the most all-in-one, adding calorie/macro logging, water, mood, and an AI coach alongside fasting.Why do people look for a Zero alternative?
The most common reasons are value (some of Zero’s best analytics and content require its paid plan), limited calorie and macro tracking, and functionality complaints such as fasts not starting or stopping correctly — issues reflected in Zero’s lower Google Play rating.Which Zero alternative also tracks calories and macros?
Kompanion and MyFitnessPal both do. Kompanion combines fasting with calorie/macro tracking and an AI coach in one app; MyFitnessPal has the largest food database but keeps its barcode scanner and fasting tracker behind Premium.Is Zero still worth it?
Yes, if you mainly want a clean, well-loved fasting timer — Zero is one of the highest-rated on the App Store. It’s less ideal if you want full food tracking, GLP-1 support, or coaching without paying, where an all-in-one app like Kompanion fits better.Ratings, prices and features verified against the App Store and Google Play in 2026. App-store ratings vary by country and change over time.
