How does the food barcode scanner work?

Point your smartphone camera at any product barcode (UPC, EAN-13, EAN-8). Our app instantly scans it, retrieves product information from our extensive database of over 1 million products, and displays detailed nutrition facts, complete ingredient lists, allergen warnings, and health scores within seconds.

Is Ingredient Helper free to use?

Ingredient Helper is free to download and use. Core features like barcode scanning, ingredient analysis, allergen detection, and recipe discovery are available for free. Premium subscribers ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) unlock advanced features including AI food recognition, detailed health grades, and unlimited nutrition tracking.

What allergens can the app detect and warn about?

Our app automatically detects and highlights all major allergens: milk/dairy, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.), peanuts, wheat/gluten, soybeans, sesame, and sulfites. We analyze ingredient lists in real-time and provide clear allergen warnings to keep you safe.

Can I use this app without an internet connection?

Currently, an internet connection is required to scan products and retrieve nutrition information from our database. We're working on offline mode for future updates so you can scan previously viewed products without internet.

What platforms does Ingredient Helper work on?

Ingredient Helper works on all platforms: any web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox), iPhone/iPad (iOS 13+), and Android devices (Android 8.0+). One account works everywhere with automatic cloud sync.

How accurate is the nutrition information?

We source data from official databases including USDA, FDA, Open Food Facts, and manufacturer-provided information. All nutrition facts come directly from product labels. Our AI-powered food recognition provides estimated nutrition for fresh foods with 90%+ accuracy.

Ingredient Helper — AI Food Scanner, Nutrition Tracker & Recipe Finder

Scan any barcode or snap a photo — instantly see ingredients, full nutrition, allergen alerts, health grades, and AI-powered recipes. Free food scanner for iPhone, Android and web.

Barcode Scanner

Point your camera at any product barcode to get instant nutrition facts, ingredient lists, allergen warnings, and health scores. Supports UPC, EAN-13, and EAN-8 barcodes.

AI Food Recognition

Take a photo of any food and our AI identifies it instantly, providing estimated nutrition facts with 90%+ accuracy.

Nutrition Tracker

Track calories, protein, carbs, fat, fiber, and 20+ micronutrients daily. Set goals, monitor streaks, and sync with Apple HealthKit or Health Connect.

Recipe Finder

Discover healthy recipes personalised to your dietary preferences, nutrition goals, and available ingredients.