Comparison

18 grams vs CarbPal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

18 grams

Features
Read full description

The app calculates the snack serving for the desired amount of carbohydrates based on the product's barcode.

About

CarbPal

Features
Read full description

CarbPal is a simple carb-counting and meal logging app designed for families managing Type 1 Diabetes. CARB COUNTING • Record total carbohydrates for meals and snacks • Combine multiple foods into one saved meal • Save serving descriptions and carb values • Organize meals by breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack SAVED MEALS • Quickly reuse familiar family meals • Mark favorite meals for easier access • Edit foods, servings, and carb totals • Store carb-ratio information as a reference MEAL HISTORY • Review previous meal logs by date • Record notes and optional insulin amounts manually • Export meal history to CSV • Delete individual history entries PROFILE AND SAFETY • Maintain caregiver-entered carb-ratio references • Configure time-of-day references • Protect access using an optional PIN or Face ID • Keep treatment decisions separate from carb counting CarbPal does not calculate, recommend, suggest, or prescribe insulin doses. Any insulin amount recorded in CarbPal is manually entered by the user for personal logging only. CarbPal is not medical advice. Always follow your diabetes care plan and consult your healthcare provider before making treatment decisions. A CarbPal Basic monthly subscription is required to access carb logging, saved meals, meal history, exports, and profile settings. Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. Subscriptions can be managed or canceled through your Apple account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://carbpal.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://carbpal.app/privacy.html

Screenshots

18 grams4 screens
CarbPal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 18 grams at none against CarbPal's 1. 18 grams also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CarbPal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. 18 grams asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
18 grams versus CarbPal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter18 gramsCarbPal
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB47 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperAurelie JeunejeanALEX MICHAEL HERNANDEZ

In-app purchases

None

18 grams

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

CarbPal

Subscriptions1
  • CarbPal Basic$0.991 Month

Questions

Is 18 grams free?
18 grams is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CarbPal free?
CarbPal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do 18 grams or CarbPal have ads?
Neither 18 grams nor CarbPal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 18 grams or CarbPal?
18 grams ships an update every 3 weeks, and CarbPal every 3 weeks. Most recently, 18 grams was updated on October 16, 2026 and CarbPal on October 25, 2026.

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