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Fitness · head to head

Cronometer vs Sleep Cycle

Cronometer logo

Cronometer

Fitness

Track nutrition, not just calories

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sleep Cycle logo

Sleep Cycle

Fitness

Phone based sleep tracking app that uses the microphone or accelerometer to detect sleep phases and wake you in a light sleep window

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cronometer free tier limited to 7-day report windows; Sleep Cycle sleep stage detection is inferred from sound and motion rather than measured with dedicated physiological sensors, so accuracy is lower than a ring or watch based tracker like Oura.
  • They diverge on capability: Cronometer covers 80+ nutrient tracking, Sleep Cycle covers Sound and motion sleep analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cronometer and Sleep Cycle actually diverge.

Attributes where Cronometer and Sleep Cycle differ
AttributeCronometerSleep Cycle
Pricing modelUnknownFree with a Premium subscription
PlatformsIos, Android, WebiOS, Android
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Apple Health

Only in Sleep Cycle

  • Sound and motion sleep analysis
  • Smart alarm
  • Sleep quality trends
  • Snore and sleep talk recording
  • Sleep aid sounds and stories
  • Apple Health and wearable integration

What people use each for

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

Cronometer

  • Workout trackingnot Sleep Cycle
  • Nutrition managementnot Sleep Cycle
  • Health monitoringnot Sleep Cycle
  • Fitness coachingnot Sleep Cycle
  • Wellness improvementnot Sleep Cycle

Sleep Cycle

  • Someone who wants sleep tracking without buying a ring or watch, using a phone they already ownnot Cronometer
  • A person who struggles with grogginess from alarms and wants to be woken during a light sleep window insteadnot Cronometer
  • Someone who wants to check whether they snore or talk in their sleep, which requires the Premium subscriptionnot Cronometer
  • A buyer comparing upfront cost against Oura or a smartwatch before deciding whether hardware-free tracking is good enoughnot Cronometer

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

Sleep Cycle

  • Sleep stage detection is inferred from sound and motion rather than measured with dedicated physiological sensors, so accuracy is lower than a ring or watch based tracker like Oura.
  • The app needs to run overnight with the microphone active or the phone on the mattress, which raises its own privacy consideration for anyone uncomfortable with a phone microphone recording an entire room overnight.
  • Most of the features that make the sleep data actionable, detailed trends and snore analysis, are behind the Premium subscription rather than included free.
  • Battery drain overnight from continuous microphone or motion sensing is a real practical issue for anyone who also wants to use the phone as a normal alarm without charging it.
  • Detection can be disrupted by a shared bed, a partners movement or snoring, or ambient household noise, all of which reduce accuracy for the primary user.

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

Sleep Cycle

Free
  • Sleep Cycle Premium$39.99/year
    • Basic sleep tracking and the smart alarm are free, no hardware required
    • Premium unlocks detailed trends, snore recording playback and most sleep sounds
    • Annual Premium commonly around $39.99, with a higher effective rate if billed monthly

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 Sleep Cycle if

  • You need sound and motion sleep analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want smart alarm.
Sleep Cycle review

Questions people ask

Is Cronometer or Sleep Cycle better?
Neither clearly leads. Cronometer starts at Free and Sleep Cycle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cronometer or Sleep Cycle?
Cronometer starts at Free and Sleep Cycle at Free.
Does Cronometer or Sleep Cycle run on more platforms?
Cronometer runs on Ios, Android, Web. Sleep Cycle runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Cronometer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Sleep Cycle is typically brought in for.
What can Cronometer do that Sleep Cycle cannot?
Cronometer covers 80+ nutrient tracking, Verified food database, Custom recipes, Biometric tracking. Sleep Cycle covers Sound and motion sleep analysis, Smart alarm, Sleep quality trends, Snore and sleep talk recording.

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
Sleep Cycle: Do I need to buy any hardware for Sleep Cycle?

No. It uses your phones microphone or accelerometer, placed on the nightstand or mattress, with no separate device to buy.

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
Sleep Cycle: Is Sleep Cycle free?

Basic tracking and the smart alarm are free. Detailed trends, snore recording and most sleep sounds require Sleep Cycle Premium.

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
Sleep Cycle: How accurate is phone based sleep tracking compared with a ring or watch?

Less accurate, since it infers sleep stages from sound and motion rather than measuring heart rate or temperature directly, which dedicated wearables like Oura do.

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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