Quitting and cutting back

# Best Alcohol Tracker Apps for Drinking Less in 2026

Compare five alcohol tracker apps for drinking less: logging, units, goals, privacy, costs and the trade-offs that matter before you choose.

By the Pour Decision team · Updated November 10, 2026 · 7 min read

> **Quick answer:** choose Pour Decision if you want drink tracking alongside a plan to quit or custom limits to cut back. This guide compares its tracking, goals and costs with DrinkControl, Try Dry, Sunnyside and Less, focusing on the tools for drinking less.

A sober counter tells you how long it has been since your last drink. An alcohol tracker tells you what you drank, when, and how it adds up. If your goal is fewer drinks rather than an immediate stop, that difference matters. Here are five options for keeping a useful record.

## The five trackers at a glance

| App | Best fit | Access and cost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pour Decision | A private tracker with a plan to quit or cut back | Pro: $2.99/month or $19.99/year; lifetime option |
| DrinkControl | Standard units and drink history | Free core; paid upgrades, including $11.99/year Premium |
| Try Dry | A free tracker for dry challenges or drinking less | Free, no ads |
| Sunnyside | Weekly planning and drink logging | 15-day trial; paid membership afterwards |
| Less | Quick logging, weekly limits and visual feedback | Free; latest listed release September 2021 |

Prices are examples from US listings checked on 10 November 2026. Store pages can show several purchase options; availability, renewal terms and prices vary. Confirm the offer in the app before paying.

## How we compared them

We reviewed the linked US App Store listings and publisher websites, focusing on logging, goals, useful feedback, cost and limitations. This is a comparison of documented features, not a hands-on trial or clinical effectiveness ranking. Pour Decision is our own app.

A tracker needs to make sense of the drink you actually have, not just count glasses. Our guide to [standard drinks and units](https://pourdecision.app/blog/what-is-a-standard-drink) explains why the volume and ABV matter.

## Pour Decision: tracking with a plan

[Pour Decision](https://pourdecision.app/) combines a drink library, country-specific units or grams, calories, money and weekly-to-yearly charts. Set custom daily and weekly limits to drink less, or follow a personal quit plan whose weekly goals step down to zero. Your data stays on your device and no account is required.

Look at the daily pattern as well as the weekly total.

It is a good fit if you want a private record and structure in the same app. It is currently for iPhone. It is free to download; the plan and features are part of Pro, with subscription and lifetime options.

## DrinkControl: units and drink history

DrinkControl converts logged servings into standard alcohol units, shows drink history and dry-day streaks, and tracks calories and spending. The publisher says logged data stays on your phone.

Check the upgrade boundary: historical charts, widgets, custom servings and CSV export are listed among Premium features. The US listing includes several purchase options, so do not assume every displayed price buys the same bundle.

For the detailed trade-offs, read [DrinkControl vs Pour Decision](https://pourdecision.app/blog/drinkcontrol-vs-pour-decision).

## Try Dry: free, year-round tracking

Try Dry is the charity-funded app from Alcohol Change UK. It tracks units, calories and money saved, with planned drinking, custom goals and charts. It is not limited to January: its listing explicitly supports cutting back, breaks and longer-term changes throughout the year.

It is a strong place to start if cost is the main concern. The app is free with no ads. Its help centre describes account-based access; check the unit definitions in its user guide if you live outside the UK.

See [Try Dry vs Pour Decision](https://pourdecision.app/blog/try-dry-vs-pour-decision) for the side-by-side comparison.

## Sunnyside: weekly drink planning

Sunnyside combines weekly drink planning with in-app logging. You can adjust the weekly plan and review your progress over time.

The trade-off is an ongoing paid service after the advertised 15-day trial. The US listing shows Membership at $99.99 and Premium Membership at $299.00; check the billing period and included features before subscribing. Its current marketing spans moderation and quitting, so choose the programme that matches your goal.

Our [Sunnyside comparison](https://pourdecision.app/blog/sunnyside-vs-pour-decision) looks more closely at the tracking approaches.

## Less: a simple visual drink diary

Less offers adjustable weekly limits, quick drink logging, drink-free streaks, calendars and graphs, with estimated calories and spending.

The US listing is free, but its latest listed release is version 1.1.10 from September 2021. That does not prove it cannot work on your phone; it is a reason to check current compatibility and support before committing your history to it.

Read [Less vs Pour Decision](https://pourdecision.app/blog/less-vs-pour-decision) for a closer comparison.

## How to choose an alcohol tracker

- **Start with your goal.** Do you want awareness, a lower weekly limit, alcohol-free days, or a path to zero?
- **Check logging friction.** A detailed record is useful only if you keep entering drinks. Look for portions you can adjust and history you can correct.
- **Look beyond the headline chart.** Country units, export, cost estimates and paid history access help you judge whether a tracker fits your routine.
- **Consider privacy.** Check how your logs are stored and whether an account is required.
- **Check the purchase screen.** A free download is not a promise of free access to every feature.

If you want a broader mix of counters, courses and recovery tools, see our [best quit drinking apps](https://pourdecision.app/blog/best-quit-drinking-apps) guide instead.

## Your first week of tracking

Log honestly, including the top-up you nearly forgot. Record the actual drink size, then review a normal week: which evenings account for most of the total, and where would one small change be easiest? Our [cut-back guide](https://pourdecision.app/blog/how-to-cut-back-on-drinking) helps turn that record into a plan.

A tracker can organise information; it cannot tell you that a drink is safe or assess dependence. If you drink heavily every day or get shaky, sweaty or sick when you stop, talk to a doctor before cutting back sharply. Do not use an app's BAC estimate to decide whether to drive.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best alcohol tracker app?

It depends on the job. Pour Decision combines private drink tracking with a quit plan or custom limits. DrinkControl, Try Dry, Sunnyside and Less also offer drink tracking; compare their goals, logging, costs and limitations before choosing.

### Is there a free alcohol tracker?

Yes. Try Dry is charity-funded and free with no ads. Less is listed as free, and DrinkControl offers free core tracking with paid upgrades. Check which features you need before deciding: a free download does not always include the full app.

### Should I track drinks or alcohol units?

Track the actual size and strength of what you pour, then use your country's units or standard drinks when comparing totals. A large wine or strong beer can contain more alcohol than a single standard drink.

### Can an alcohol tracker help if I do not want to quit?

Yes. All five apps here offer tools relevant to drinking less. A tracker can make a pattern visible and help you follow a limit, but it cannot guarantee a particular outcome or replace medical support.

## Sources

- [Pour Decision: US App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pour-decision-drink-less/id6499468185)
- [Pour Decision: product features and FAQ](https://pourdecision.app/)
- [DrinkControl: US App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drinkcontrol-alcohol-tracker/id456207840)
- [DrinkControl: product website](https://drinkcontrolapp.com/)
- [Try Dry: US App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/try-dry-the-dry-january-app/id1441293755)
- [Alcohol Change UK: Try Dry user guide](https://alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/managing-your-drinking/dry-january/support/user-guide)
- [Sunnyside: US App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sunnyside-drink-less-alcohol/id1593489083)
- [Sunnyside: mindful drinking app](https://www.sunnyside.co/product/mindful-drinking/)
- [Less: US App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/less-alcohol-tracker/id1484828892)
- [Less: product website](https://lessdrinks.com/)

This article is for general information only and isn't medical advice. If you're worried about your drinking, or you drink heavily every day, talk to a doctor before you cut back or stop: stopping suddenly can be dangerous.

Source: https://pourdecision.app/blog/best-alcohol-tracker-apps