Fig vs Bobby Approved: Allergy Filters vs Ingredient Flags

Fig and Bobby Approved both scan food barcodes, but they answer different questions. Fig checks a product against a saved profile of diets and allergies, is free to download, and offers an optional Fig+ subscription. Bobby Approved applies one fixed list of more than 100 flagged ingredients to every product, returns an approved or not-approved result, and shows no in-app purchases on its App Store listing. This comparison sets the published facts side by side so you can weigh them yourself.

Key takeaways:

• Fig personalizes results to a saved profile covering allergies and diets. Bobby Approved applies one fixed rule set to every product.
• Bobby Approved returns a binary approved or not-approved result and highlights flagged ingredients in red.
• Fig is free to download with an optional Fig+ subscription that shows several price points. The Bobby Approved listing shows no in-app purchases.
• Store coverage is reported differently: Fig's App Store copy cites 100+ grocery stores and restaurants, its website says 50+ stores, and Bobby Approved's store search names Costco, Whole Foods, ALDI, and Trader Joe's.

How do Fig and Bobby Approved differ in what they check on a food label?

Fig checks a product's ingredients against a profile that you or your household build, while Bobby Approved checks every product against one fixed rule set. That difference shapes almost every other fact in this comparison.

Fig's App Store description says its barcode scanner can check 'if a product's ingredients are compatible with your diet in under a second.' The app also says it can hold a profile 'for everyone you care about,' so one shopper can see results for several people. Bobby Approved's App Store listing describes it as 'a free food scanner app that instantly shows if a food product is good for your health or not,' and it highlights ingredients on its flagged list in red.

For a related comparison of a subscription-based scanner, see Bobby Approved vs Olive: Free vs Subscription Scanner.

What does Fig's profile-based diet and allergy filtering actually cover?

Fig's App Store listing says it covers food allergies and specialized diets, naming Low FODMAP, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Low Histamine, and Alpha-Gal, plus 'any of our 2,800+ other options.' The listing also states that the app is 'the only app that supports EVERY dietary restriction and allergy.' That is a brand claim from the developer, and this comparison presents it as the developer's statement rather than an independent finding.

According to the listing, Fig's results are 'powered by millions of ingredient ratings and notes from our team of 11+ expert dietitians.' The listing does not disclose how many products are in Fig's database, so the size of its product coverage is unknown from the published facts.

Fig also lists features for shopping lists and multiple profiles. Its Fig+ subscription, described below, adds Restaurants, Multiple Figs, Unlimited Scans, and more.

How does Bobby Approved's flagged-ingredient pass/fail rule work?

Bobby Approved returns one of two results for a product: approved or not approved. The result is based on a list of 'over 100 harmful ingredients' that the developer says it has created.

The listing says flagged ingredients 'include natural and artificial flavors, fake sugars, food dyes, chemical additives, inflammatory seed oils, preservatives and more.' When a product is flagged, the bad ingredients are highlighted in red, and tapping them shows why. If a product is not Bobby Approved, the app says it will suggest healthy alternatives.

The Bobby Approved website says 'less than 10% of products found at most grocery stores qualify for the Bobby Approved stamp of approval.' Its '10 commandments' include being free of seed oils, refined or artificial sugars, GMOs, artificial or 'natural' flavors, artificial food colorings, and ultra processed ingredients. The listing describes the flagged list as based on scientific studies, but that is the developer's claim. The published facts do not describe an independent scientific review of the list.

How does the FDA's 'natural' policy relate to Bobby Approved's flagged list?

Bobby Approved's flagged list includes natural as well as artificial flavors, so the FDA's long-standing policy on the word 'natural' is a useful reference point. The listings do not state how much of a flagged ingredient triggers a not-approved result. The FDA has considered the term 'natural' to mean 'that nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food.' That definition addresses what the term means on a label. It does not state whether a product is healthy, and it does not rank ingredients. Readers who see 'natural' on a package can compare that meaning with how a scanner app defines a flagged ingredient.

How much do Fig and Bobby Approved cost, and what does Fig+ add?

Fig is free to download and use, and Bobby Approved is listed as free, with no in-app purchases shown on its App Store page. Fig's listing carries an 'In-App Purchases' label on both the App Store and Google Play.

The Fig App Store listing shows several Fig+ in-app purchase price points at once, from $5.99 to $69.99, including monthly and annual Fig+ options. Because the listing shows multiple price points, this comparison does not state a single definitive price. The listing describes Fig+ as unlocking 'Restaurants, Multiple Figs, Unlimited Scans and more.'

Several details are not disclosed in the published facts: Fig+'s single current price, the length of any free trial, and the number of free scans on Fig's free tier. The Bobby Approved listings show no paid tier, but the published facts do not establish whether one will exist.

Which platforms run Fig and Bobby Approved, and what do their store listings show?

Both apps have an App Store listing and a Google Play listing. The Fig and Bobby Approved App Store pages are each marked 'Only for iPhone.'

As displayed on the listings, Fig shows a 4.7 rating and about 17K ratings on the App Store, and a 4.6 rating, about 8.21K reviews, and 500K+ downloads on Google Play, last updated October 29, 2026. Bobby Approved shows a 4.9 rating and about 166K ratings on the App Store, and a 4.8 rating, about 20.2K reviews, and 1M+ downloads on Google Play, last updated September 24, 2026. Ratings and review counts change often, so readers should check the live listings.

Fig's Google Play listing includes a developer-declared note of 'No data shared with third parties.' The published facts do not include an equivalent data-sharing statement for Bobby Approved.

Which grocery stores and restaurants do Fig and Bobby Approved cover?

Fig and Bobby Approved describe their store coverage differently, and the figures come from different sources. Fig's App Store copy says it helps users 'discover a comprehensive list of foods that work for you at 100+ grocery stores and restaurants.' Fig's website says it helps users 'find thousands of products that fit your needs from 50+ stores.'

Bobby Approved's Google Play listing says users can 'search, browse and explore by store (Costco, Whole Foods, ALDI, Trader Joe's, and more), by brand, or by aisles.' The published facts do not provide a complete list of Bobby Approved's stores, and they do not state how many stores the app covers in total.

Do the apps replace reading the label for allergens?

Neither the published listings nor the FDA position the apps as a replacement for reading the label. The FDA's consumer guidance on food allergies is titled 'Have Food Allergies? Read the Label.' The FDA identifies nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.

Fig's allergy filtering is based on its own ingredient ratings and notes, and Bobby Approved's list is based on its own selection of ingredients. Neither app's published facts show how each would handle every allergen in every product, and the listings do not describe their accuracy rates. The evidence cannot establish whether any scanner catches every allergen in every packaged food, and individual responses to food vary. Anyone managing an allergy should read the Contains statement and ingredient list on the package and follow advice from a qualified clinician.

Fig vs Bobby Approved at a glance: which fact matters for your shopping?

The most important difference is whether the app personalizes results to a profile or applies one fixed rule set to every product. The table below lines up the disclosed facts for each app, with ratings shown as displayed on each listing.

Factor	Fig	Bobby Approved
Check style	Compatibility with a saved diet and allergy profile	One fixed list of over 100 flagged ingredients
Result shown	Compatibility with the profile	Approved or not approved, with flagged ingredients in red
Price	Free to download, optional Fig+ with several listed price points	Free, no in-app purchases shown on App Store
App Store rating	4.7, about 17K ratings	4.9, about 166K ratings
Google Play	4.6, about 8.21K reviews, 500K+ downloads	4.8, about 20.2K reviews, 1M+ downloads
Store coverage	100+ grocery stores and restaurants (App Store); 50+ stores (website)	Costco, Whole Foods, ALDI, Trader Joe's, and more
Data sharing	'No data shared with third parties' (developer-declared, Google Play)	Not disclosed

For how Fig compares with another scanner, see Fig vs Yuka: Allergy Match vs a 0 - 100 Health Score, and for more apps side by side, see Best Yuka Alternatives in 2026: 8 Food Scanner Apps Compared.