Do I need to count calories on keto or just carbs?

Both camps are right under different circumstances. Here's the complete picture:

Calories don't matter as much when: You're fully fat adapted and eating whole foods to satiety. Ketones and fat adaptation naturally regulate appetite and most people spontaneously eat at a deficit without counting. This is one of keto's biggest advantages — the hunger suppression makes calorie restriction effortless rather than willpower-dependent.

Calories do matter when: You're not losing weight despite "doing keto right." Some people overeat fat, thinking fat is unlimited because it doesn't affect ketosis. It does affect weight loss — a calorie surplus from fat still gets stored. If you're eating 3,500+ calories of keto food daily and not losing weight, the math explains it.

Start without counting calories. Eat keto foods to satiety. If results plateau after 4+ weeks, then add calorie tracking for 2 weeks to find out if over-eating is the issue.

The "eat until full" approach works for most people because keto foods are so satiating. Fat and protein are the most filling macronutrients. In practice, most people naturally end up in a calorie deficit without trying. But "most people" isn't everyone — some people over-eat even satiating foods, especially high-calorie keto snacks like nuts.

Track for 2 weeks when you start just to get baseline awareness. Not obsessively, but to understand what 20g net carbs looks like in real food and roughly where your calories land. Then stop tracking if it's stressing you. The awareness you gain from 2 weeks of tracking is valuable without making it a permanent habit.