Keeping track of macros can feel overwhelming. We get it. From the outside, it may seem pretty straightforward. But once you open up your calorie tracking app, there are countless options, features, and details to sort through. How do you even get started? Before you know it, your body composition goals are getting further away. So, How to track macros?
So, if you've opened MyFitnessPal only to be greeted by a confusing interface, you're not alone. You've come to the right place if you're looking for trusty MyFitnessPal alternatives. In this guide, we'll explore some handy options for tracking macros to help you reach your health goals without the stress. One such option is DietAI's solution, the AI calorie counter. This innovative tool uses artificial intelligence to help you track macros and calories without the overwhelming fuss. With its intuitive design and countless time-saving features, you can reach your health goals without the hassle.
Table of Contents
What is MyFitnessPal?
MyFitnessPal is a health and fitness app that helps users reach weight loss and other health goals. They provide food-tracking tools and curated meal and exercise plans that can be customized to fit your lifestyle. The central focus of MyFitnessPal’s program is the logging and tracking tools. The strategy is meant to help users pay closer attention to their food and water intake, discover new ways to transform their diet, and adopt healthier habits. Developers have recently added a new “Sleep” feature to help users understand how food and exercise impact sleeping habits.
Logging & Tracking Tools
The central focus of MyFitnessPal’s program is the logging and tracking tools. The strategy is meant to help users pay closer attention to their food and water intake, discover new ways to transform their diet, and adopt healthier habits. After logging each meal, I could see an analysis of my calories and macros consumed. This allowed me to understand how decreasing or increasing fats, proteins, and carbohydrates impact my weight, energy levels, and mood. It was easy for me to log food, water, and exercise. However, the app is very text-heavy, and the font is small, indicating a need for an upgrade soon. While I don’t think the food logging system is as easy as Noom’s, it is straightforward and provides accurate analyses. After logging food and exercise, I used the journal-like “Notes” feature to track my mood, challenges, and ideas for success for the following day.
Curated Meal & Exercise Plans
MyFitnessPal’s meal plans were a massive help to me. They lay out the objective of each plan, a reasonable timeline, and specific instructions. They even include a “Choose This Plan If…” section to help you determine if it’s right for you. I chose the two-week “Eat Green” plan, which focuses on eco-friendly meals, and the five-day “Eat Right, Sleep Tight” plan, which helps you understand how food affects your sleep habits. The plans made it easy for me to stick to healthier routines and helped me learn more about how my food choices impact the environment. While focusing more on creating more nutritious meals, I saw dozens of exercise plans for building muscle and flexibility, increasing daily steps, and burning calories. These premade plans can be incredibly effective if you hope to tackle diet and exercise to boost your overall health.
Community Connection
The community message boards seem like a secondary feature to some, but I witnessed a lot of empathy, compassion, encouragement, and motivation being exchanged in these forums. MyFitnessPal also makes it easy to invite friends and follow other members. Research shows that taking on weight-loss or exercise challenges with friends, family, or co-workers can significantly impact success, making this a powerful feature for many users.
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• Apple Diet
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• Best Macro Tracking App
• Best App to Track Macros
• Macro Diet Plan
• Macro Ratio for Weight Loss
MyFitnessPal Pricing Plans
MyFitnessPal Pricing: What You Get with Free and Premium Accounts
MyFitnessPal gives you two options for tracking macros: a free version and a premium version. You can track food, calories, activity, weight, and other metrics with a free account. You won’t get information about how eating a specific food at a particular time can affect your energy levels or progress toward your weight goals. The most significant change to the free account is that it no longer includes the barcode scanner—you use your phone camera to scan a barcode on any packaged food quickly, and it captures the nutritional information.
It works well worldwide, and it used to be included with a free account but is now behind the paywall. A representative for MyFitnessPal said some users outside the US who had created a free account before September 1, 2022, may still have access to the barcode scanner in their free account, which was the case with one of our test accounts. In our estimation, the free version of MyFitnessPal is ideally suited to helping people maintain their weight after a weight-loss program. It’s also perfect for helping you lose weight through calorie counting alone, although many people need more support and guidance from a complete weight-loss program to lose weight healthily.
MyFitnessPal Premium eliminates advertisements and adds macronutrient and other nutritional information, and of course, you get the barcode scanner. You also need Premium if you want to use MyFitnessPal to set up an intermittent fasting schedule. Premium lets you further customize the app, too. For example, you can keep your calorie goal fixed despite how many calories you burn during activity. You can set different goals based on the day of the week and have customized calorie intake goals for each meal. You can make the app display carbs, protein, and fat by meal. With a Premium account, you can export CSV files of your data. You also get exclusive content like short motivational videos and workout examples, though they aren’t compelling.
Download DietAI Today for 80% Off!
DietAI transforms calorie counting with our AI calorie counting app. Take a picture of your food, and our app instantly analyzes your meals from a simple photo, delivering accurate calorie and macro information without manual logging. Beyond photo recognition, the app provides comprehensive progress tracking, personalized nutrition insights tailored to your goals, and convenient barcode scanning for packaged foods. Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply maintain a balanced diet, DietAI makes nutrition tracking effortless by eliminating the tedious aspects of traditional food journaling. Download now to effortlessly track your calories and macros with DietAI, the AI-powered app that makes logging meals as simple as snapping a photo. Download today for 80% off!
22 Best MyFitnessPal Alternatives for Counting Calories
1. DietAI
DietAI transforms calorie counting through its AI-powered app. Simply taking a photo of your food, the app analyzes your meal from the image and provides accurate macro and calorie information without manual logging. In addition to photo recognition, the app offers personalized nutrition insights tailored to your goals, comprehensive progress tracking, and convenient barcode scanning for packaged foods. DietAI eliminates the tedious aspects of traditional food journaling to make nutrition tracking effortless, whether trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or maintain a balanced diet. Download now to effortlessly track your calories and macros with DietAI, the AI-powered app that makes logging meals as simple as snapping a photo.
2. Lifesum
Lifesum is a comprehensive health and fitness application that helps users monitor their diet, exercise, and overall health. This free MyFitnessPal alternative includes customized meal schedules, valuable tips and tricks for staying healthy, and regular workouts adapted for personal objectives. It also includes a barcode scanner.
Pros
User-friendly interface
Extensive food database
Personalized recommendations
Syncs with various devices and apps
Cons
Some features require a premium subscription
Occasional syncing issues with fitness trackers
Limited free version compared to competitors
3. MacroFactor
MacroFactor is a standout app in the macro tracking space, offering an incredibly intuitive user experience. As a nutritionist, I’ve been thrilled to see how this app goes beyond basic macro tracking to provide actionable insights that help users achieve their goals efficiently and sustainably. What makes MacroFactor unique is its science-backed algorithms that adapt to your progress. Unlike traditional macro apps, MacroFactor doesn’t just ask you to adjust your macros manually; it uses your input (like body weight changes and calorie intake) to update your targets dynamically. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a more innovative, data-driven way to track macros.
Pros
Automatically adjust macros based on your actual results.
Focuses on long-term sustainability, not crash dieting.
Excellent user interface with a clean, modern design.
Integrates with fitness trackers for accurate calorie burn estimates.
Cons
It's free for only 7 days.
4. Fatsecret
FatSecret is a free calorie-counting and diet tracking app that allows users to log their food intake, track their exercise, set weight goals, and connect with a supportive community. It offers many features comparable to premium alternatives.
Pros
Extensive food database
Free to use with no subscription required
User-friendly interface
Community support for motivation
Cons
Limited features compared to premium alternatives
Ads in the free version
Interface could be more modern
5. MyMacros+
MyMacros+ is the first paid-only macro tracking app on our list. However, it’s a one-off payment of $2.99, so it’s hardly breaking the bank! This provides access to the database of 5 million food items and a barcode and label scanner. The app is easy to use and includes an Apple Watch version, allowing you to track macros on the move. You can add your own recipes based on ingredient macros or include information available on labels, making it quick and easy to track your macros throughout the day.
The Pro version costs $1.99 a month and gives you access to deeper data analysis and a diet summary. The Macro Coach option ($9.99 monthly) tracks your weekly targets for better progress analysis. MyMacros+ is perhaps not the best option for newbies, as it’s helpful to have some starting information. But if this is you, it’s a great way to level up your macro tracking.
Pros
Despite being paid-only, the app offers many good features at a low price.
Comprehensive options for tracking macros and diet goals.
The Apple Watch app is a nice addition.
Macros Inc. verified entries within the food database.
Cons
It can be more time-consuming to learn.
6. Noom
Noom is a weight-loss app that helps users adopt healthy lifestyles and gradually reduce weight by combining techniques and specialized advice.
Pros
Personalized coaching for accountability.
Techniques to create lasting change.
A comprehensive approach to weight loss.
Supportive community.
Cons
Higher price compared to some alternatives.
Requires commitment to behavior change.
7. Macro Sync
Macro Sync is a completely free macro tracking app designed by the experts at Macros Inc., leaders in nutrition coaching. Unlike many competitors, which charge for premium features, everything in Macro Sync is free, including tools that other apps lock behind a paywall. With Macro Sync, you gain access to verified food entries, a barcode scanner for easy tracking, and the ability to set custom goals. It’s a simple, user-friendly app that helps you track your macros, create personalized goals, and measure your progress. The app is updated regularly based on user feedback, ensuring it remains responsive to the community’s needs. While it’s still growing, and the database isn’t massive, Macro Sync’s development is fast-paced, with more entries regularly added. Macro Sync offers a fantastic solution backed by a trusted name in the industry for anyone looking to level up their nutrition tracking without hidden fees.
Pros
Completely free with premium-level features.
Easy to use and customizable.
Integrated barcode scanner for quick tracking.
Verified entries by Macro Sync for accuracy.
Community support and constant updates.
Net carb tracking options for low-carb diets.
Cons
The database is still expanding, but more entries are being added frequently.
8. Nike Training Club
The Nike Training Club (NTC) app offers various fitness solutions to help users achieve their goals. This MyFitnessPal alternative free platform provides a variety of workouts, training plans, and expert guidance from Nike trainers.
Pros
A diverse range of workouts and training plans.
Expert guidance from Nike trainers.
User-friendly interface.
Integration with fitness devices.
Cons
Limited nutrition tracking capabilities.
Some premium content requires a subscription.
9. 1st Phorm App
The 1st Phorm App is such a dynamic app. I strongly recommend it for busy people who don't have time to piece together a custom diet plan on their own because it puts an entire weight-loss ecosystem at your fingertips with a catalog of passive and interactive features. You'll track apps, plan a personalized meal plan, follow along with all the best workouts, and get guidance from an advisor.
Let's start with the meal planning. This app allows you to select a custom macro plan based on your goals and lifestyle. Your barcode scanner is connected to the world's largest database of food! You can also save custom meals that you like for easy tracking. The workouts alone make this app worth its weight in gold. You're tapping into EMOM interval training, cross-training/functional fitness, strength training, traditional workouts, weight-loss workouts, and workouts tailored for home exercise. Your workouts are customized for tailored results. There's even a visual progress tracker that keeps you motivated.
The thing that ties it all together to make this app such a powerful tool for success is direct personalized access to your TransPHORMation advisor. Get direct support for any questions at any point in your journey. You're also getting encouragement, support, and knowledge that can help you see incredible progress from daily livestreams from registered dietitians and NASM-certified nutrition specialists. You can also join your fellow macro counters in competitions with opportunities to win up to $50,000.
Pros
It makes planning a custom meal plan so easy.
You're tapped into the largest food database in the world. Just scan food to get information on practically anything!
Incredible selection of cutting-edge relevant workouts for every type of fitness goal.
You can message advisors directly.
Livestreams are packed with helpful information.
You can customize your experience every step of the way.
I love the community aspect of the optional competitions.
Cons
While I love the weekly assessment, I'd love it if it went a little deeper because it's so valuable.
10. MyNetDiary
MyNetDiary is a comprehensive app that helps you manage your diet and weight loss goals. This MyFitnessPal alternative offers calorie tracking, meal planning, exercise tracking, and personalized coaching to support your health journey.
Pros
Extensive food database with barcode scanning.
Personalized coaching to keep you accountable.
Integrates with fitness devices and apps.
Cons
Some advanced features require a premium subscription.
Relatively higher price points compared to similar apps.
11. MacrosFirst App
MacrosFirst app is one of the easiest, most simplistic macro trackers out there, but it contains some of the most powerful and intuitive features. The best part? It offers some of the most coveted macro tracking app features for free! While MacrosFirst does offer a paid version of its app, it offers so much value in its free version that thousands of macro trackers have made the switch and are unlikely to go back. Two of the biggest pain points for macro trackers are tedious macro math, back-and-forth serving size adjustments, and manually entering foods into the database.
MacrosFirst tackles both of these problems in the free version of the app by offering the ability to auto-calculate food portions based on your macros. This means no more macro math and endlessly adjusting portions to fit your macros. This feature is exclusive to MacrosFirst and makes tracking exponentially easier. Furthermore, they have a Smart Label Scanner that instantly scans your nutrition label and automatically populates the nutrition information in the app for you—no more manual entries! These features and benefits are unheard of on other free apps, making this the best free and premium app on the market.
Of course, if you’re willing to shell out a few extra bucks each month to upgrade to the app's premium version, you’ll enjoy even more benefits, like the ability to adjust your macros by the day. So, for those who like to carb cycle or utilize high/low-calorie days, the app's premium version makes it a breeze to customize your macros in many ways, making it well worth the upgrade.
Pros
It has a simple, clean interface that’s easy to use.
Not bloated with ads and extras.
Auto-calculate food portions based on your macros.
A great database of foods that’s ever-expanding.
Free premium scanning tool that auto-populates nutrition information for you.
Ability to edit your daily goals based on your macro needs (with the paid version).
There is a very low monthly cost for the paid version of the app.
Cons
It’s not fully integrated with all fitness trackers yet.
There’s no body weight tracking option yet, but it's coming soon!
12. Runtastic
Runtastic is a flexible fitness app that helps you track your workouts, including running, cycling, and other outdoor activities. This MyFitnessPal Alternative offers specific training plans and a variety of workouts to cater to different fitness levels.
Pros
Precise GPS monitoring.
Tailored exercise regimens for different levels of fitness.
Synchronization with fitness gear and applications.
Cons
Accurate GPS tracking for reliable data.
Personalized training programs to suit your fitness goals.
13. LoseIt
LoseIt! focuses on weight loss rather than other diet plan goals. As such, it tracks metrics like water consumption and exercise and macro tracking. If you want an all-in-one location specifically for weight loss, it’s a great option. The base app is free, but a Premium version costs $39.99 annually. The free option provides macro tracking, goal-setting metrics, and an extensive food database. It also includes a barcode scanner and food suggestions. The Premium version offers device and app syncing, food insights, workout plans, and personalized goals. It’s a reasonable price to pay for these features, especially if you’re new to weight loss and don’t know how to start. Of course, if you have some experience, you likely won’t need them.
Pros
The food database includes everyday restaurant items.
The free option offers a good weight loss management platform.
Provides a holistic approach to weight loss.
Cons
Setting up and tracking all the metrics can be time-consuming.
14. Healthify Me
HealthifyMe is one of the top MyFitnessPal Alternatives and an Indian health and fitness app that provides personalized diet plans, nutrition tracking, workout routines, and access to certified coaches for guidance and support.
Pros
Tailored for Indian dietary preferences.
Personalized coaching to hold users accountable.
User-friendly interface.
Cons
Some premium features are only available with a paid subscription.
The food database may not be as extensive as global alternatives.
15. Coronometer
Do you like setting goals and looking forward to working towards them? Then, get this app to track macros. It's great if you want to set weekly goals and keep track of your caloric intake. It has the potential to be your following app to track macros. Cronometer is designed for people who are very serious about their nutrition and health-tracking game. This best free macro tracking app features various food databases and detailed nutrient tracking, including calories, macros, vitamins, and minerals. One can set highly customizable goals and get detailed nutritional reports. It syncs with various health devices and apps to give you a 360-degree view of your well-being. These set features are compatible with all systems, making it the best app for tracking macros.
Pros
Detailed nutrient tracking, including vitamins and minerals.
Highly customizable goals.
Syncs with many fitness devices and apps.
Comprehensive food database.
Cons
The interface can be complex for new users.
Some features are behind a paywall.
16. Fooducate
The Fooducate app focuses on helping users make better food choices by providing insights into the nutritional value of their products. This MyFitnessPal alternative free platform offers personalized recommendations to guide users toward healthier options.
Pros
Focuses on food quality, not just quantity.
Provides personalized recommendations.
Offers educational content on nutrition.
Cons
Some advanced features may require a premium subscription.
The food database may not be as extensive as other apps.
17. Food & Macro Tracker By Fittur
Food & Macro Tracker By Fittur is a next-generation app that moves away from the outdated “spreadsheet” style of tracking macros. This intuitive tracker updates your macro targets in real-time as your body composition changes. You can make good food and exercise decisions based on personalized data. You watch the food get subtracted from your macro targets as you eat. The app even adjusts for serving size. This user-friendly app has simple displays, finger-swipe controls, and automatic calculations. You can also plan your day's worth of meals in minutes.
You're not just tracking macros with this app. There are custom trackers for special health considerations. I love that Fittur lets you keep an accurate whole-health picture by providing a recipe macro calculator, water tracker, and intermittent fasting timer. You're also getting macro customization, a macro statistics tracker, weight charts, and more. This app even has unique settings for tracking pregnancy macros and breastfeeding macros. In addition, it builds diabetes management tools. If you share your fitness journey with others, you can encourage them to download the same food-sharing app with friends and family.
Pros
Streamlined and intuitive interface and features.
It lets you track macros for different stages of life, personal goals, and special health considerations.
You can share food with friends and family.
Cons
It's more complicated to use if you're basing your diet goals on BMI because it uses a proprietary system that considers personal stats.
18. Google Fit
Google Fit is a health and fitness tracking app that works smoothly with Google's suite of products. It allows you to track your physical activities, set goals, and gain insights into your overall well-being.
Pros
Easy integration with the Google ecosystem.
Works with a wide range of fitness apps and devices.
Offers knowledge into your overall health and wellness.
Cons
It may have fewer features than dedicated fitness apps.
Provides less personalized coaching and guidance.
19. WW
WW (formerly Weight Watchers) has nearly 5 million members and is considered by many to be the gold standard of weight management. Science is a driving factor behind everything the company does, and its approach to nutrition and health involves four pillars of wellness that can influence weight and overall health: food, activity, mindset, and sleep.
WW's personalized points program assigns each individual a daily allotment of points (which takes weight, height, and age into account). It incorporates a survey to identify which zero-point foods can fit into your plan. (For example, most lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, and fruits can be zero points if you identify these choices in the survey as foods you consume most often during the week.) To help educate members on making healthier food choices, foods with added sugar and saturated fat are higher in points. In contrast, foods with higher protein, fiber, and unsaturated fat are lower.
The app contains an easy-to-use barcode scanner. If a food isn't in the database, the scanner can offer entries logged by other WW members. You can also create and build your recipes. While the app encourages consuming more fruits, vegetables, and plant-based foods instead of processed foods, just be aware that some users may find the point-based system limiting and tedious.
Pros
Strong community support.
Scientific, holistic approach.
Easy-to-use barcode scanner.
Cons
A points-based system may be tedious for some.
20. CalorieKing
CalorieKing offers a comprehensive food database, search tools, mobile apps, and books to help people track their calorie intake and achieve their weight management goals.
21. SparkPeople
SparkPeople is an online platform that offers diet and health resources, exercise demos, calorie counter tools, and healthy recipes. It also provides articles and content related to nutrition, fitness, and motivation.
22. Yazio
YAZIO is a nutrition app designed to help users achieve their weight loss or muscle-building goals. With just 10 minutes of calorie counting daily, YAZIO makes it easy for individuals to track their nutrition and improve their eating habits. The app offers personalized plans and support for long-term, sustainable results.
Pros and Cons of MyFitnessPal
PROS
1. Become Mindful Of Your Eating Habits With MyFitnessPal
While eating is a daily activity we often don’t think much about, it can have a significant impact on how we feel, our performance, and our overall health. Tracking what we eat can help us become more mindful of our eating habits. MyFitnessPal can help you do this by giving you an idea (if used correctly) of how much you’ve eaten during the day or how many calories are in a particular food or drink. People notoriously underestimate how much they eat. You might be surprised at how such a simple activity can help you better understand your body and even change your mindset around food.
2. Immediate Feedback
Everyday life can be busy, and it’s easy to forget what we’ve eaten or how certain foods might affect our goals. MyFitnessPal gives you immediate feedback to adjust your food/drink intake according to your circumstances and objectives.
3. Helps You Stick to It
For people who like routines and targets, having to log food and activity each day can help them stick to their plan and provide a framework and structure. MyFitnessPal can give you something to stick to and goals and targets to achieve.
4. Self-awareness of Calories and Macros
Now, you can see how many calories are consumed in food and drink and how much protein, carbs, and fats are consumed. From here, you can adjust your targets. Be wary, though, as some of the nutrient data entered are incomplete or incorrect.
5. Useful Tool to Help Change Habits
You don’t have to use it forever. You can use MyFitnessPal to try and improve habits, see how many calories are in certain foods and drinks, and then change your habits and routines accordingly.
6. Can Be More Specific/Optimal/Advanced
For more advanced dieters, MyFitnessPal can allow you to hit specific calorie and macro targets to help achieve the best body composition or nutrient targets for sporting goals.
CONS
1. Misreporting
This can be anything from weighing inaccuracies, wrong portion sizes, or consciously or subconsciously not entering food and drink consumed. People may have entered correctly but have put in the wrong measuring weights, entered the wrong brands, forgotten about the food they picked when making dinner, eaten the kids' leftovers, those extra glasses of wine/beer/capriccios, etc. Sauces, condiments, and little extras.
Those bits of chocolate (do they count?), the calories in alcohol on nights out, the days you can’t be arsed tracking (probably because you know it has been a bad day. I could go on… This is very common; people underestimate how much they have eaten and drank and overestimate how many calories they have burned through physical activity. If you are not losing weight on 1000 calories a day, even if that is what has come upon My fitness pal, I can guarantee you have been misreporting your intake.
2. Some People May Find It Time-Consuming/Too Much of a Hassle
Some may find it a pain in the arse having to log every day or plan their intake. People can end up forgetting what they have. What tends then to happen is point 1.
3. Can Encourage Obsession
I have seen and been there. I get so focused on the numbers that I become a bit neurotic about the diet and numbers and sometimes do not rely on common sense and intuition. Social situations become daunting as you don’t want to mess up the calorie and macro targets unless you compete or go for a photo shoot.
4. Trying to Hit Calories Even If You Are Full
You have eaten good, wholesome food all day. You feel full and do not need to eat anymore, but you still have 300 calories left, so you think I will have a bar of chocolate just because I have those 300 calories left. This brings me to the next point.
5. May Stop Relying on Intuitive Eating
Intuitive eating is the idea that you should eat when you are hungry and stop when you’re full or stop eating when you start feeling hungry. Some may rely on the app and just the numbers instead of listening to your body's hunger signals.
Related Reading
• Low Carb Macros
• Macro Foods
• Macro Ratio for Muscle Gain
• Best Macros for Fat Loss
• 40 30 30 Diet
• Macro Split for Cutting
• Macro Ratios
Download DietAI Today for 80% Off!
DietAI is an AI-powered app that makes tracking macros easy. It allows you to take a picture of your food and instantly analyze it for calorie and macro information, eliminating the tedious aspects of traditional food journaling. The app also offers comprehensive progress tracking, personalized nutrition insights tailored to your goals, and convenient barcode scanning for packaged foods. Whether you're trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply maintain a balanced diet, DietAI makes nutrition tracking effortless.
How Can DietAI Help You?
You can use DietAI to track macros and calories to achieve specific health goals. This means you can use DietAI to track macros for weight loss, muscle gain, or even just maintaining a balanced diet. Whatever your diet goal is, DietAI can help you reach it faster. The app makes tracking nutrition easy and accurate, so you can achieve your goal instead of bogged down with boring food journaling.
Related Reading
• Macros for Dummies
• Macro Diet for Beginners
• Lean Bulk Diet Plan
• How to Track My Macros
• Top Calorie Counting Apps
