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Fitness · head to head

Cronometer vs PT Distinction

Cronometer logo

Cronometer

Fitness

Track nutrition, not just calories

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PT Distinction logo

PT Distinction

Fitness

Professional personal training software

From
$19.9/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cronometer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cronometer free tier limited to 7-day report windows; PT Distinction the $19.90 per month Basic plan includes only 3 clients, with each extra client costing $6.00 per month after the first month
  • They diverge on capability: Cronometer covers 80+ nutrient tracking, PT Distinction covers Advanced programming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cronometer and PT Distinction actually diverge.

Attributes where Cronometer and PT Distinction differ
AttributeCronometerPT Distinction
Starting priceFree$19.9/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20112014

Identical on both: platforms (Ios, Android, Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Fitness).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cronometer

  • 80+ nutrient tracking
  • Verified food database
  • Custom recipes
  • Biometric tracking
  • Detailed reports
  • Fitbit
  • Garmin
  • Google Fit

Only in PT Distinction

  • Advanced programming
  • Client portal
  • Automation tools
  • Custom branding
  • Comprehensive tracking
  • MyFitnessPal
  • Stripe
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Apple Health
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cronometer

  • Workout trackingnot PT Distinction
  • Nutrition managementnot PT Distinction
  • Health monitoringnot PT Distinction
  • Fitness coaching
  • Wellness improvementnot PT Distinction

PT Distinction

  • Personal trainingnot Cronometer
  • Fitness coaching
  • Wellness managementnot Cronometer

Both are used for fitness coaching, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cronometer

  • Free tier limited to 7-day report windows
  • Photo and voice logging unavailable in free tier
  • Ad-free experience requires Gold subscription
  • Advanced features like macro scheduler and recipe importer locked to paid tier

PT Distinction

  • The $19.90 per month Basic plan includes only 3 clients, with each extra client costing $6.00 per month after the first month
  • The per-extra-client rate falls with the plan, from $6.00 on Basic to $2.40 on Pro and $1.60 on Master, so smaller coaches pay the most per client
  • Custom branded iOS and Android apps require the Pro plan at $59.90 per month; Basic ships unbranded apps
  • There is no free plan; the entry point is a one-month free trial
  • Client counts included are 3, 25 and 50, so growing past a tier means either an upgrade or per-client overage

Pricing, plan by plan

Cronometer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full micronutrient tracking (82+ nutrients)
    • Unlimited food logging
    • Barcode scanning
  • Gold$4.99/month
    • All Free features
    • Ad-free experience
    • Photo and voice logging

PT Distinction

$19.9/month
  • Basic$19.9/month
    • 3 clients included
    • Extra clients at $6.00/month
    • All features included
  • Pro$59.9/month
    • 25 clients included
    • Extra clients at $2.40/month
    • All features included
  • Master$89.9/month
    • 50 clients included
    • Extra clients at $1.60/month
    • All features included

Which should you pick?

Choose Cronometer if

  • You need 80+ nutrient tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want verified food database.
Cronometer review

Choose PT Distinction if

  • You need advanced programming.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want client portal.
PT Distinction review

Questions people ask

Is Cronometer or PT Distinction better?
Neither clearly leads. Cronometer starts at Free and PT Distinction at $19.9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cronometer or PT Distinction?
Cronometer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cronometer and $19.9/month for PT Distinction.
Does Cronometer or PT Distinction run on more platforms?
Both run on Ios, Android, Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Cronometer for free?
Yes. Cronometer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PT Distinction starts at $19.9/month.
What is Cronometer best used for?
Cronometer is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching. Of those, workout tracking and nutrition management are not what PT Distinction is typically brought in for.
What can Cronometer do that PT Distinction cannot?
Cronometer covers 80+ nutrient tracking, Verified food database, Custom recipes, Biometric tracking. PT Distinction covers Advanced programming, Client portal, Automation tools, Custom branding. Both handle Apple Health, Ios support, Android support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cronometer: Is Cronometer truly free and what are its limitations?

Cronometer Free is completely free forever with full micronutrient tracking across 82+ nutrients, unlimited food logging, barcode scanning, custom recipes, and basic reports. The 7-day report window is the main limitation.

Source
PT Distinction: How much does PT Distinction cost?

PT Distinction offers three tiers: Basic at $19.90/month (3 clients), Pro at $59.90/month (25 clients), and Master at $89.90/month (50 clients). Additional clients cost extra depending on tier.

Source
Cronometer: What features are included in Cronometer Gold?

Gold ($4.99/month billed annually at $59.99 or $10.99/month) adds photo logging, voice logging with Siri, Crono Coach AI assistant, custom charts, macro scheduler, fasting timer, recipe importer, and unlimited historical data access.

Source
PT Distinction: What is included in PT Distinction plans?

All features are included in every tier with no hidden fees or extra costs. Tiers differ only in the number of included clients.

Source
Cronometer: Can I log meals with photos in Cronometer?

Photo logging is a premium feature available only in Cronometer Gold, allowing users to snap and automatically log meals through their camera.

Source
PT Distinction: Does PT Distinction offer a free trial?

Yes, PT Distinction offers a one-month free trial that can be cancelled anytime without penalties or notice requirements.

Source
Cronometer: Does Cronometer track beyond just macronutrients?

Yes, Cronometer tracks up to 84+ nutrients including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. All tiers include this comprehensive micronutrient tracking.

Source
Cronometer: Can I see historical data in the free tier?

Free tier reports are limited to the past 7 days. Gold subscription ($4.99/month annually) provides unlimited historical data access for trend analysis.

Source
Cronometer: Does Cronometer have professional or pro versions?

Yes, Cronometer Pro is available for healthcare providers, researchers, and educators with specialized features for professional nutrition analysis.

Source
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