Nerva vs Macro & Calorie Calculator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Nerva
This app offers a personalized gut-brain therapy program to manage symptoms of IBS, FD, GERD, and other gut-brain disorders. It aims to retrain the nervous system and improve communication between the gut and brain through daily sessions and practical tools.
- Personalized gut-brain therapy program
- Daily 15-minute retraining sessions
- Flare-up management tools
- Long-term symptom maintenance plan
- AI-driven personalization
- Evidence-based clinical research
Read full descriptionHide full description
Address the miscommunication between your gut and brain. Designed for people living with IBS, functional dyspepsia (FD), GERD, bloating symptoms, and other gut–brain disorders - as well as those seeking additional support alongside IBD care - Nerva is a personalized gut–brain program that supports symptom management through daily sessions, practical tools, and structured guidance. Target the root cause Many people spend years cutting out foods in an effort to calm their gut - a difficult path that can miss what’s really driving symptoms. In disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBIs), the root cause is gut–brain hypersensitivity. After a trigger like illness, antibiotics, or prolonged stress, the nerves in the gut can become over-reactive. Even once the gut tissue heals, the nervous system may keep the alarm turned up. Normal digestion, gas, or movement are then misread as danger - leading to pain, bloating, reflux, urgency, constipation, or diarrhea. Diets and medications can reduce symptoms temporarily, but they don’t retrain this signaling system. That’s why symptoms often return or shift over time. Lasting relief means calming the nervous system and restoring healthy gut–brain communication - where the symptoms actually start. How Nerva helps Nerva is a structured gut–brain program that helps you practice brain-gut techniques shown to support a calmer response to gut sensations. Over the program you'll learn to: - Respond differently to uncomfortable gut signals - Practice calming the gut–brain stress response - Build daily habits that support digestive comfort Tailored to you No two guts are the same. Nerva adapts your program to your symptoms, triggers, and progress - using AI to adjust the coaching and guidance as you go. The sessions, the tools you receive, and the coaching you follow are all shaped around your experience. Evidence-based Unlike most apps, Nerva is built on clinical research. In a randomized controlled trial at Monash University, Nerva helped 81% of people significantly manage their gastrointestinal symptoms. Since then, more than 300,000 people have used Nerva, and over 11,000 healthcare providers recommend it. Features of Nerva - Daily 15-minute sessions designed to retrain gut-brain miscommunication - Flare-up tools for pain, bloating, constipation, reflux and diarrhea - Long-term maintenance plan to keep symptoms under control after the program - AI personalization to tailor the program to your selected triggers and progress Who is the team behind Nerva? Nerva was built by Dr. Simone Peters, GI psychophysiologist, together with clinicians, dietitians, and researchers. Many of us live with gut conditions ourselves. Member stories “Nerva has really worked for me. I’ve been using the app for several months now, and I’ve noticed that I’m experiencing less negative instances with my stomach. I would highly recommend to anyone - absolutely worth the subscription” Disclaimer: Nerva is a self-guided program that may help people self-manage and live well with a diagnosed disorder of the gut-brain interaction. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment, and has not been evaluated by the FDA, TGA, MHRA, or equivalent bodies. Do not change prescribed medication or treatment without professional advice. Some content is personalized or generated by AI for educational and wellness purposes only. It is not therapy or mental health care, is not from a licensed professional, and is not monitored in real time. If you are in distress or thinking of harming yourself or others, call your local emergency number right away. Subscription and trial 7-day free trial After the trial, your account is charged according to the plan you choose Subscriptions renew until cancelled Cancel anytime in iOS Settings, Apple ID, Subscriptions Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.mindsethealth.com/privacy
Macro & Calorie Calculator
This app transparently calculates your daily calorie and macro targets, showing every step of the process. It also provides personalized fluid intake recommendations and BMI analysis, helping you understand the data behind your health goals.
- Detailed calorie calculation with Mifflin-St Jeor equation
- Customizable macro split with grams and kcal updates
- BMI-integrated calorie and macro recommendations
- Personalized fluid needs based on weight, BMI, and age
- Transparent 'Show the math' feature for all calculations
- No food logging, ads, or account required for core features
Read full descriptionHide full description
The calorie calculator that shows its work. Most calorie and macro calculator apps give you a number. This one shows you exactly how it got there — every formula, every multiplier, every step. No black box. No account required. CALORIE CALCULATOR Enter your age, sex, weight, height, activity level, and goal. Your daily calorie target is calculated using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation — the most accurate BMR formula for the general population — then adjusted for activity (TDEE) and your goal (fat loss, maintenance, or muscle gain). Safety floors are applied automatically. MACRO CALCULATOR Get a recommended protein, carb, and fat split based on your goal and BMI — or drag the sliders to set a fully custom macro split. Grams and kcal update instantly. Your macro percentages always total 100%. BMI CALCULATOR Your BMI isn't just a number here — it actively adjusts your calorie deficit tier and macro recommendations. Larger deficits are applied at higher BMI ranges where they're appropriate and safe. FLUID NEEDS CALCULATOR Your daily water target is calculated from your effective body weight, activity level, BMI, and age — not a generic "8 glasses a day." See exactly why your number is what it is. SHOW THE MATH Every screen has a "Show the math" toggle. Tap it to see the full equation with your actual numbers plugged in. Understand what you're being told. Share your results with one tap. WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT Mifflin-St Jeor equation, not the outdated Harris-Benedict Fluid needs adjusted for BMI and age, not a flat rate Macros that account for your body composition No food logging, no ads, no account Built for people who want to understand the numbers, not just follow them WHO IT'S FOR Whether you're tracking macros for fat loss, calculating TDEE before a bulk, checking your BMR, or just figuring out how much water to drink — this is the calculator that treats you like an adult. Simple. Transparent. Evidence-based. MACRO CALCULATOR PRO (OPTIONAL) Everything above is free, including up to 4 saved profiles. Macro Calculator Pro adds unlimited saved profiles and supports a small, independent, ad-free app. It is a monthly or yearly auto-renewable subscription: payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase, and it renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID account settings. Privacy Policy: https://calicoach.pages.dev/macrocalculator-privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ This app provides general nutrition education and estimates only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a licensed healthcare provider or registered dietitian.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Macro & Calorie Calculator at 100% against Nerva's 72%. Macro & Calorie Calculator also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Nerva's advantage is ratings volume (15K vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Nerva sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $99.00 per month and Macro & Calorie Calculator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Macro & Calorie Calculator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nerva has 15K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Nerva's written reviews are positive against 100% of Macro & Calorie Calculator's.
| Parameter | Nerva | Macro & Calorie Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (15K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 15K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 139 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mindset Health Pty Ltd | Principia Partners LLC |
Customer experience
Nerva
Macro & Calorie Calculator
Bugs and requests
Nerva
Reported bugs
3 issues- App getting stuck on certain days
- Difficulty accessing previous sessions
- Inconsistent user experience across devices
Requested features
4 requests- More variety in guided visualizations
- Ability to skip or replace certain sessions
- Maintenance plan with reduced pricing
- Offline access to recordings
Macro & Calorie Calculator
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Nerva
- Nerva IBS program (Monthly)7 Days trial$99.001 Month
- Nerva IBS program (3 Month)7 Days trial$149.003 Months
- 30% Off Nerva IBS (3 Month)7 Days trial$149.003 Months
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Nerva Full Access7 Days trial$199.001 Year
Macro & Calorie Calculator
- Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
- Pro Annual$9.991 Year
Questions
Is Nerva free?
Is Macro & Calorie Calculator free?
Which has better reviews, Nerva or Macro & Calorie Calculator?
Do Nerva or Macro & Calorie Calculator have ads?
Other comparisons















