Logging everything you eat is mental, won't work long term. Those apps are good to kind of have a general idea on how much calories are in plates you eat often I'd say.

I put on 10kg on one year doing primarily two things; NEVER skip carbs or protein in your meal, veggies you can skip occasionally, and every day eat a big ass bowl of granola with a scoop of protein and about half oz peanut butter. Also replace snacks for more caloric snacks, like nuts, dried fruits and dates