MyFitnessPal used to be great.

Now it’s bloated, expensive, and full of features you don’t need.

You want to track calories. Here are apps that do that without the noise.

Why People Are Leaving MyFitnessPal

  1. Premium lock-out — Macros, bar code scans without limits, and more require $80/year
  2. Cluttered interface — Features everywhere, hard to find what you need
  3. Ads — Free version is full of them
  4. Complexity — It’s trying to be everything instead of doing one thing well
  5. Inaccurate database — User-submitted data is often wrong

You just want to log food. You shouldn’t need a PhD.

Quick Comparison

AppPriceDatabaseSimplicityBest Feature
CronometerFree/$50/yrExcellentMediumAccuracy
Lose ItFree/$40/yrGoodHighClean design
MacroFactor$72/yearGoodMediumSmart coaching
YazioFree/$45/yrGoodHighEuropean foods
FatSecretFreeGoodMediumCompletely free

The Best MyFitnessPal Alternatives

1. Cronometer

Price: Free (Gold $50/year) Best for: Accuracy and micronutrients

The most accurate food database in the game.

Why it’s better:

  • Database is verified (not user-submitted garbage)
  • Tracks micronutrients (vitamins, minerals)
  • Clean interface
  • Great for specific diets (keto, etc.)

What it doesn’t do well:

  • Smaller database than MFP
  • Learning curve
  • Not as social

Best for: People who want accurate data, especially micronutrients.

2. Lose It

Price: Free (Premium $40/year) Best for: Simple calorie tracking

Does one thing well: tracking calories without clutter.

Why it’s better:

  • Much cleaner interface than MFP
  • Good free tier
  • Barcode scanner works well
  • Social features for accountability

What it doesn’t do well:

  • Micronutrient tracking is weak
  • Premium still has some locked features

Best for: People who want simple calorie tracking, nothing fancy.

3. MacroFactor

Price: $72/year (no free tier) Best for: Smart calorie recommendations

Actually adjusts your calories based on your progress.

Why it’s better:

  • Learns your metabolism
  • Adjusts targets automatically
  • No misleading “1200 calorie” recommendations
  • Evidence-based approach

What it doesn’t do well:

  • No free tier
  • Database smaller than MFP
  • Learning curve

Best for: Serious trackers who want intelligent coaching built in.

4. Yazio

Price: Free (Pro $45/year) Best for: European users, meal planning

Popular in Europe, solid overall.

Why it’s better:

  • Clean, modern interface
  • Good European food database
  • Fasting tracker built in
  • Meal planning features

What it doesn’t do well:

  • Some features locked
  • US database less robust

Best for: European users, people who want meal planning.

5. FatSecret

Price: Completely free Best for: Budget option

No premium tier. Everything free.

Why it’s better:

  • Actually free (ad-supported but reasonable)
  • Large database
  • No feature lock-out

What it doesn’t do well:

  • Dated interface
  • Ads (though not terrible)
  • Less polished experience

Best for: People who won’t pay anything.

CalorieCalculator: Quick Estimates

Sometimes you don’t need an app — just a quick calculation.

CalorieCalculator calculates your TDEE (calories to maintain weight) and suggests targets for loss/gain.

Use it once to get your numbers, then track with a simple app.

What MyFitnessPal Does Better

To be fair, MFP still wins in some areas:

  • Largest database — More foods than anywhere else
  • Recipe import — Import recipes from URLs
  • Social features — Large friend community
  • Integrations — Connects to everything

If these matter to you, MFP might still be worth the frustration.

My Recommendation

For most people: Lose It Clean, simple, does the job.

For accuracy obsessives: Cronometer Verified data, micronutrient tracking.

For smart coaching: MacroFactor Worth $72/year if you want the app to think for you.

For free: FatSecret Gets the job done without premium.

For Europeans: Yazio Better database for European foods.

Do You Even Need to Track Calories?

Tracking works for:

  • Losing weight with precision
  • Gaining muscle without getting fat
  • Understanding what you’re actually eating
  • Building awareness before intuitive eating

Tracking might not be for you if:

  • You have history of disordered eating
  • It creates anxiety
  • You have good intuition about portions
  • You’re maintaining, not changing

If you’re unsure, try tracking for 2 weeks. You’ll quickly know if it helps.

FAQ

Is MyFitnessPal still the best? No. It was. Now there are better options for most use cases.

Is premium worth it for any of these apps? Cronometer Gold and MacroFactor are worth it for serious users. Others, debatable.

Which has the best barcode scanner? Lose It and MFP are both excellent. Cronometer is good but smaller database.

Can I import my MFP data to other apps? Most apps don’t support MFP imports. You’ll start fresh.

What about tracking without an app? Paper journals, spreadsheets, or even photos of meals work for some people.

Related reads:

— Dolce