MyFitnessPal Review
A nutrition and exercise tracking app that logs daily food, calories, and macros across a 14M+ food database.
Is MyFitnessPal Worth It?
MyFitnessPal is worth it for active macro trackers and anyone who needs a massive food database. The free version covers basic calorie counting with ads, and Premium at $19.99/month ($79.99/year) unlocks the barcode scanner and custom macro targets. The barcode paywall in North America limits the free tier’s utility.
About MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is a nutrition and exercise tracking app and website that records daily food consumption and physical activity. Albert Lee and Mike Lee founded it in 2005; Under Armour acquired it in 2015, and Francisco Partners bought it in 2020. It serves fitness enthusiasts, weight-loss beginners, and competitive athletes.
Users log meals from a database of over 14 million food items, and the system calculates remaining calories based on weight goals and activity. Core modules include a food diary, exercise log, and a progress dashboard, with image-recognition meal scanning and wearable sync to Fitbit, Apple Health, Garmin, and Google Fit.
Is MyFitnessPal safe, secure & legit?
MyFitnessPal is safe and legitimate under its current ownership, using secure servers and encryption under a published privacy policy. It suffered a major data breach in 2018 under Under Armour that exposed 150 million accounts; the company has since strengthened password hashing, with no major incidents since.
Our Verdict
Pros
- Massive food database covers international items
- Wearable integration syncs activity automatically
- Progress charts track calorie and weight trends
- Custom macro targets support muscle-growth goals
- Recipe builder imports nutrition from web links
Cons
- Barcode scanner paywall for free users in US/CA
- Steep premium cost on monthly billing
- In-app ads throughout the free version
- Syncing issues on older wearables
- Database has duplicate user-submitted entries
How It Works
Open app
Open MyFitnessPal and log in to your profile.
More tab
Select the More tab on the dashboard menu.
Goals
Click Goals to open the weight settings.
Choose macros
Open Calorie, Carbs, Protein & Fat Goals.
Enter targets
Enter updated calorie targets and macro percentages.
Save
Click the save checkmark to update the budget.
MyFitnessPal Features
Calorie counting
Logs daily food intake against a budget.
Food database
Searches 14M+ food items for nutrition facts.
Barcode scanner
Scans packaging to log nutrition (Premium).
Macro tracker
Sets daily protein, carb, and fat targets.
Meal scan
Logs food from photos via image recognition (Premium).
Wearable integration
Syncs activity from smartwatches and trackers.
MyFitnessPal Pricing
- Calorie counting & basic search
- Community forums
- Ad-supported
- No barcode scanner (US/CA)
- Barcode scanner
- Custom macro targets
- Ad removal
- Smart meal scan
- 1-month free trial
Who Is MyFitnessPal Best For?
Build a digital food log; accessible calorie counting and safe-rate tracking (1–2 lb/week).
Monitor protein, carb, and fat ratios for muscle building and clean eating.
Sync step data from Fitbit and Apple Health to adjust calorie targets.
MyFitnessPal Alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Price | Notes | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lose It! | Casual logging | $19.99/yr | Free barcode | vs → |
| Cronometer | Micronutrient tracking | $9.99/mo | Free barcode | vs → |
| Nutracheck | UK food products | £4.99/mo | Free barcode | vs → |
| MyFitnessPal — this review | Database size | $19.99/mo | No free barcode (US/CA) |
MyFitnessPal vs Lose It!
Lose It! includes a free barcode scanner and a polished, gamified interface; MyFitnessPal locks the scanner behind a paywall in North America but offers a larger global restaurant database. Free barcode → Lose It!; massive database → MyFitnessPal.
MyFitnessPal FAQ
Is MyFitnessPal actually free?
MyFitnessPal offers a free version for basic food logging and calorie counting. It excludes the barcode scanner in certain regions, and premium subscriptions start from $19.99 per month.
How much does MyFitnessPal premium cost?
MyFitnessPal Premium costs $19.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Premium removes ads, unlocks the barcode scanner, and enables custom macro targets.
How do I change my calorie goals on MyFitnessPal?
Go to the Goals menu under your profile settings, enter updated calorie targets and macro percentages, then save the changes.
Is MyFitnessPal safe to use?
MyFitnessPal is safe to use under its current ownership, using secure servers and data encryption, and adheres to GDPR compliance.
What is a safe weight loss rate to track?
A safe weight-loss rate is 1 to 2 pounds per week, a moderate deficit of 500 to 1,000 calories daily. Exceeding this without medical supervision is not recommended.
Ready to try MyFitnessPal?
Start free, or take the trial to explore premium features across all your devices.
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