Bobby Approved vs GoCoCo with type 2 diabetes: what is the difference?
Bobby Approved is a free ingredient checker: scan a barcode and it says approved or not, based on its list of over 100 flagged ingredients. Its listing does not mention diabetes and shows no carbohydrate figure. If you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, GoCoCo is the better fit. It is built for you: it scores the product out of 10 on nutrients, processing and warning labels, flags refined grains and high added sugar once you declare diabetes in your profile, with no paid plan needed, keeps glucose readings next to your meals and gives you product lists for your supermarket.
We make GoCoCo, so read this knowing that. Facts about Bobby Approved come from its own public pages, linked in the footer of this page, and were checked on 2026-11-06. Prices and features change, so check the store before you pay. This comparison is based on those pages, not on a clinical test.
| What we looked at | Bobby Approved | GoCoCo |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Checking grocery ingredients, for anyone | People with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes |
| Barcode scan on the free plan | Yes, listed as free with no limit stated | Yes, 5 a week, plus 1 meal photo |
| Paid plan (US App Store) | None stated, the app is listed as free | $9.99 a month. Yearly plans listed from $24.99 to $79.99, depending on the offer |
| Carb tracking | Not listed | A meal photo gives estimated calories and carbohydrates. The product sheet lists carbohydrates, sugars and fibre |
| Food quality score | Approved or not, with the flagged ingredients in red | Out of 10: WHO nutrient profile, NOVA processing level, warning labels |
| What the verdict looks at | Ingredients. Its 10 published rules set no carbohydrate or sugar amount | Nutrients per product, processing level and warning labels |
| Ultra-processed food flag | Yes, "free of ultra processed ingredients" is one of its 10 rules | Yes, through the NOVA classification |
| Diabetes alert on products | Not listed | If you declare diabetes in your profile, it flags refined grains, high added sugar, juice and dates, and caps those products at 8 out of 10. No paid plan needed |
| Glucose log | Not listed | Log glucose next to your meals |
| Supermarket product lists | Browse products by store | Lists by food category and supermarket. Top picks on the free plan, the rest with Plus |
| Better options | Suggests healthy alternatives when a product is not approved | After a low score, a list of similar products with a better score |
| Recipes and meal plans | Not listed | Recipes, full library with Plus |
| App Store rating (US) | 4.9 from 166K ratings | 4.7 from 13K ratings |
| Languages | English | English and Spanish |
Where Bobby Approved is the better pick
- You want a free scanner with no scan limit stated. GoCoCo gives you 5 barcode scans a week before Plus.
- You want a fast yes or no on ingredients, and nothing else to read.
- You follow Bobby and already shop by his ingredient rules.
Where GoCoCo is the better pick
- You have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. GoCoCo is built around them, and Bobby Approved does not mention diabetes on its listing.
- You want to look at nutrients as well as ingredients. Its 10 published rules set no carbohydrate or sugar amount, and GoCoCo shows carbohydrates, sugars and fibre on the product sheet.
- You want the diabetes alert on the product, with no paid plan.
- You want your glucose readings next to your meals, in one diary.
- You want lists for your supermarket that filter by your declared profile, diabetes included.
How to choose
Bobby Approved answers one question: do the ingredients pass its rules? If you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, you also need to see the carbohydrates and sugars in the product, so GoCoCo is the better fit, with the alert, the glucose log and the lists built around that. Neither app replaces your healthcare team.
What people ask
Is Bobby Approved good for people with diabetes?
Its listing does not mention diabetes or show a carbohydrate figure. For type 2 diabetes, GoCoCo is the better fit: alerts on the product with no paid plan needed once you declare diabetes in your profile, carbohydrates on the product sheet, and glucose readings next to your meals.
Does "Bobby Approved" mean a product suits type 2 diabetes?
It means the ingredients pass its rules. Those rules cover things like seed oils, refined sugars, dyes and flavors, and they set no carbohydrate amount. So check the carbohydrates on the label too, or scan the product in GoCoCo.
Is GoCoCo free?
The download is free and the free plan includes 5 barcode scans and 1 meal photo a week, with the diabetes alert. Unlimited scans and the full supermarket lists come with GoCoCo Plus.