Zero is the most downloaded fasting app.

But at $70/year for premium, is it worth it? Or would a simple timer work just as well?

Let’s compare.

Zero Fasting App: What You Get

Free tier:

  • Basic fasting timer
  • Limited history (7 days)
  • Basic fasting zones
  • Community

Premium ($70/year):

  • Unlimited history
  • Full fasting zone details
  • Coaching content
  • Advanced insights
  • Custom fast types

The Case for Zero

Pros:

  • Beautiful design
  • Educational content
  • Robust zone tracking
  • Large community
  • Built by fasting experts (Dave Asprey involved)

Cons:

  • Best features require $70/year
  • Can feel bloated for simple tracking
  • Free tier is very limited
  • Constant premium upsells

Simple Alternatives

FastTrack (Free)

Full-featured fasting timer without paywalls.

What you get:

  • Unlimited fasting tracking
  • Fasting zones (fat burning, ketosis, autophagy)
  • History and statistics
  • Widget
  • Apple Watch
  • No subscription

What you don’t get:

  • Coaching content
  • Community features

Verdict: Does 90% of what Zero Premium does, for free.

Download FastTrack →

Life Fasting (Free + Premium)

Good middle ground with social features.

What you get free:

  • Fasting timer
  • Basic zones
  • Circles (group fasting)
  • Unlimited tracking

Premium ($50/year):

  • Advanced insights
  • More detailed stats

Verdict: Better free tier than Zero. Cheaper premium.

Your Phone’s Built-in Timer

The simplest option.

What you get:

  • A timer

What you don’t get:

  • Zones
  • History
  • Any fasting-specific features

Verdict: Works if you don’t care about tracking or zones.

Feature Comparison

FeatureZero (Free)Zero ($70)FastTrackLife (Free)
Timer✅✅✅✅
Fasting zonesBasicFullFullBasic
History7 daysUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Widget✅✅✅✅
Apple Watch✅✅✅✅
Coaching❌✅❌❌
PriceFree$70/yrFreeFree

Who Should Use What

Use Zero Premium if:

  • You want coaching content
  • You value the brand/community
  • $70/year doesn’t bother you
  • You’re new to fasting and want education

Use Zero Free if:

  • You want to try Zero before committing
  • You only need basic tracking
  • You don’t mind limited history

Use FastTrack if:

  • You want full features without paying
  • You know how fasting works, don’t need education
  • You prefer clean, simple apps
  • You want fasting zones included free

Use Life Fasting if:

  • You want to fast with friends
  • You want cheaper premium option
  • Social accountability motivates you

Use a basic timer if:

  • You’re just trying fasting once
  • You don’t care about tracking
  • You have strong discipline without data

The Real Question

Do you need premium fasting app features?

You probably don’t need premium if:

  • You know your fasting schedule
  • You’ve been fasting for a while
  • You just need a timer and zones
  • You’re self-motivated

You might benefit from premium if:

  • You’re new to fasting and need guidance
  • You want detailed health insights
  • You value community features
  • You find coaching content helpful

The Honest Take

Zero is a well-made app. But $70/year for a timer with features that free apps include?

That’s a tough sell.

FastTrack gives you:

  • Unlimited tracking ✅
  • Full fasting zones ✅
  • History ✅
  • Widget ✅
  • Apple Watch ✅
  • For free ✅

The main things Zero Premium has that free alternatives don’t:

  1. Coaching content (which you can learn free on YouTube)
  2. Brand prestige
  3. Community (which Life Fasting also has)

If you’re paying for knowledge, fine. If you’re paying for a timer, look elsewhere.

FAQ

Is Zero worth $70/year? For most people, no. The free alternatives have the core features you need.

What’s the best free Zero alternative? FastTrack for features, Life Fasting for social features.

Does the free version of Zero work? Yes, but 7-day history is limiting for tracking progress.

Can I switch from Zero to another app? Yes, but you can’t export your history. Start fresh.

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— Dolce