All living things need water which is why for our health and wellness we need to make sure we're drinking enough. Hydrating before and after a workout is especially important because dehydration can lead to fatigue and muscle cramping. The best electrolyte drinks can help with that due to their many benefits, and drinks like the tasty Liquid IV make drinking plain old water seem unsatisfactory. Despite this, drinking water is essential to your body's everyday functions which is why you might want to consider using a water drinking app to track your consumption.
A water tracking app can remind you to drink as you go about your busy day. The idea is that eventually, you won't need these reminders anymore since tracking can help you establish a healthy habit. The ACTIVE Reviews Team has researched and found five options to help you decide which is the best water drinking app for you.
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The Best Water Drinking App - Our Top Picks
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MyFitnessPal
SPECS
- Platforms: Android, iOS desktop
- Features: Tracks hydration, food, exercise, and other metrics
MyFitnessPal can track how much water you drink daily along with other metrics. This can be done using the app or on their website. After signing up for a free account, you'll see the option to track one cup, two cups, three cups, or a custom amount. You can change the unit of measurement to milliliters or fluid ounces if you'd like.
Under the settings, there's an option to set a custom reminder that will notify you if you haven't logged anything that day. If you want to be reminded to drink water throughout the day, you have to create one for each time you'd like to be notified. One callout we have is that there is no water-specific label for a reminder, so you have to choose a more vague label.
What We Like
- Clean and simple interface
- You can use the app or desktop site to track
- Several units of measurement to choose from
- Ability to track other metrics such as your food intake, exercise, weight, and more
What We Don't Like
- Other beverages tracked do not count toward water intake goals
- All reminders need to be created manually
BUY: MyFitnessPal
Cronometer
SPECS
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Features: Macro and micronutrient tracking, fasting timer, custom diet settings
Tracking your water intake with Cronometer is as easy as finding water in their extensive food and drink database and inputting the amount you want to record. We love this app because it displays all your tracking data and metrics using visually appealing charts and graphs. After setting your custom water target, you'll see your short-term progress in the Daily Report and your long-term progress in your Nutrition Report.
If you also use Cronometer to track food, your water intake reports will reflect foods that contain water along with other beverages you consume. This is a great option if you're trying to maximize your hydration through food as part of your plan to train for a half marathon or to help you reach other fitness goals.
What We Like
- Ability to track water from foods with a high water content
- Daily reminders can also be sent to compatible devices
- Reminder timer can go off every hour or you can set a custom reminder
What We Don't Like
- More metric tracking available in the paid version
- May not be compatible with all devices
BUY: Cronometer
DoFasting
SPECS
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Features: Set daily water goals, calorie, weight, step, and food tracking, recipe database
DoFasting is a well-known intermittent fasting app that many people use for weight loss, hence why it has an excellent water tracking feature since this plays a huge role in fasting. Before tracking your water intake, you can create a custom goal. From there you input each time you drink and watch as the progress bar moves closer and closer to your goal.
You can add reminders to drink water throughout the day which will help keep you on track and establish the habit of drinking regularly. This app can track other metrics such as food and step goals and is compatible with other devices.
What We Like
- You can set a custom water goal
- Reminders keep you on track throughout the day
- Progress toward your goal is easy to see
What We Don't Like
- May not be suitable for those who do not follow intermittent fasting diets
- Other beverages tracked do not count toward water intake goals
BUY: DoFasting
WaterMinder
SPECS
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Features: Simplistic design, visuals display progress toward your goal
WaterMinder generates a custom water goal for you based on your gender, weight, activity level, and local climate. This is a great option since the amount of water you should drink can vary based on your needs and other specifications. After your goal is set, you can begin tracking and see your progress on the home screen each time you open the app.
In the History section of the app, you can look back to see if you achieved your goal on previous dates. You can also earn achievements and badges which can motivate you towards reaching your daily goals, and you can celebrate your successes by sharing them with your family and friends.
What We Like
- Easy to use
- You can customize the layout for a personalized experience
- Different types of reminders can help you stay hydrated
What We Don't Like
- May not be compatible with all devices
- No free trial
Aqualert
SPECS
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Features: Custom water intake goal based on activity, reminders
Aqualert will send you notifications throughout the day to remind you to drink water along with motivational messages. The app will generate a water goal for you based on your activity level to ensure you're getting the appropriate amount of water you need.
The colorful display has a lot of nice visuals and when it's time to wrap things up for the day, you can view your daily progress before putting it into bedtime mode which stops all notifications. Aqualert Rewards allows you to earn badges each time you reach a new milestone encouraging you to meet your daily target.
What We Like
- Hydration goal generated based on your activity level
- You can add or remove serving sizes to make logging simple
- Graphics and logs show your progress over time
What We Don't Like
- Colorful display is a little busy
- Other beverages do not count toward water intake goals
How Much Water Should You Drink a Day?
Even though eight glasses a day is something we've likely heard at some point, there's no easy answer. That's because the amount of water you need can vary depending on your activity level, where you live, medical conditions, and other factors. If you want to set a daily goal we recommend consulting with your primary care physician to make sure you're on the right track.
What to Look for in a Water Drinking App
Platforms
Which app you choose will depend on what kind of device you use. Each water drinking app mentioned on this list is compatible with Android and iOS. However, if you find that you also want to track using a computer as well, you might consider an app that offers desktop access such as MyFitnessPal.
Features
Tracking water can be tedious, especially at first, which is why finding an app with an easy-to-use interface is key. When you open the app, one of the first things you should see is the one-click button that allows you to track water. It's also nice to be able to see how you're progressing towards your goal on the home screen too.
Reminders are a great way to build this healthy habit long-term and choosing an app that lets you set custom reminders is great if you have a busy schedule. At the end of the day, being able to view your metrics using charts, graphs, and other nice visuals is helpful as well.
FAQs About Water Drinking Apps
Is there a free water drinking app?
Yes, MyFitnessPal and Cronometer are a couple of excellent free options mentioned on this list.
How much water should I drink a day to lose weight?
Drinking more water can help with weight loss since it can temporarily increase your metabolic weight, however, it's important to consult your doctor about how much you should drink.
Can you lose belly fat by drinking water?
Drinking water along with regular exercise and eating a healthy diet consistently can help you lose weight which in turn can help reduce body fat.
About the Author
Rachael Gonzalez is a Staff Writer for ACTIVE. She spent five years in education before she joined the ACTIVE team in 2022. In this role, she is still able to make a positive impact on others by writing about something she loves: health and wellness.
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