# NIH BMI Calculator vs BMI Calculator

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BMI Calculator at 83% against NIH BMI Calculator's 31%. BMI Calculator also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 13 months vs every 30 months). NIH BMI Calculator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BMI Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NIH BMI Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

BMI Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BMI Calculator has 377 ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of NIH BMI Calculator's written reviews are positive against 83% of BMI Calculator's.

NIH BMI Calculator ships an update every 30 months, BMI Calculator every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NIH BMI Calculator | BMI Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nih-bmi-calculator/id446441346/reviews) | **[4.8 (377 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bmi-calculator-weight-tracker/id1572432663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 52 | **377** |
| Positive reviews | 30.7% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 30 months | **Every 13 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/446441350) | [Leap Health](https://appshunter.io/developer/1687598595) |

## What reviewers say

### NIH BMI Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nih-bmi-calculator/id446441346)

This tool helps screen for weight categories that may indicate potential health problems. It provides a fully functioning Body Mass Index calculator directly on your phone, along with access to valuable health resources.

**Highlights:** Body Mass Index calculation, Weight category screening, Access to NHLBI health resources, Downloadable phone application

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and straightforward
- ✅ Calculates BMI correctly
- 🔗 Links to helpful information
- 🚫 No ads
- 💯 Works as intended (when functional)

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Cannot key decimal points
- ❌ Unusable in metric mode
- ❌ App crashes/won't open
- ❌ Outdated and not maintained
- ❌ Ignores physical fitness/gender

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately on launch
- App does not open
- Input fields non-responsive on active call
- App closes before loading
- App no longer works with latest iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Add decimal point input for weight
- Allow recording of daily weight and view as a graph
- Include gender input for BMI calculation
- Add option for recording daily exercise
- Add option for tallying fruit/vegetable intake


### BMI Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bmi-calculator-weight-tracker/id1572432663)

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) using age, gender, height, and weight. Track your health progress, find your ideal weight, and receive tips for weight control. Supports metric and imperial units and syncs with Apple Health.

**Highlights:** Calculate BMI scientifically, Find ideal weight, Log BMI history, Track health progress, Sync data to Apple Health, Metric and imperial support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- ✅ Accurate BMI calculation
- 📈 Helpful for tracking weight
- 😊 Improves self-esteem
- ✨ Pleasant visual design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Discrepancy with doctor's advice
- ⚠️ Can cause insecurity about weight
- 📉 Graph scale not ideal for weight loss
- 🚫 Ads can be intrusive
- 🤷‍♀️ Some users disagree with weight categorization

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when entering decimal weight
- App crashes when entering second day's weight
- App crashes when pressing the 'day' button
- App crashes on second day's input

**Requested features**

- Add messages and tips for different weight categories (underweight, overweight, obese)
- Implement dark mode
- Allow data storage for multiple users
- Adjust graph scale for better visibility of weight loss
- Allow input of decimal numbers for weight


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NIH BMI Calculator free?

NIH BMI Calculator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is BMI Calculator free?

BMI Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NIH BMI Calculator or BMI Calculator?

BMI Calculator is rated higher. NIH BMI Calculator averages 2.9 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while BMI Calculator averages 4.8 from 377 ratings.

### Do NIH BMI Calculator or BMI Calculator have ads?

BMI Calculator shows ads; NIH BMI Calculator does not.

### Which is updated more often, NIH BMI Calculator or BMI Calculator?

NIH BMI Calculator ships an update every 30 months, and BMI Calculator every 13 months. Most recently, NIH BMI Calculator was updated on November 1, 2026 and BMI Calculator on November 5, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
