Comparisons
Best MyFitnessPal Alternatives in 2026
If you’re looking for a MyFitnessPal alternative, you probably have a specific reason: the feature you relied on moved behind a paywall. Barcode scanning, custom macro targets, and meal scanning are Premium now, and the free app still runs ads. Here are the best alternatives, compared on what each one actually includes.
Why people are leaving MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal still has the largest food database in the category, and for years it was the default free tracker. What changed is the free tier. Barcode scanning, custom macro goals, and the newer meal-scan feature all sit behind Premium, and the free app shows ads. For a lot of people, barcode scanning was the whole reason they used it, so paying to get it back feels like a downgrade dressed up as an upgrade.
The good news: the category is crowded, and several apps do the core job well without charging for the basics. The difference is what they add on top.
Feature by feature: what each app includes
Here is what each app includes today, free versus paid. Countwell is the only one that keeps the everyday basics free and adds coach sharing and AI-assistant logging on top. Details change, so confirm on each app before you switch.
| Feature | Countwell | MyFitnessPal | Cronometer | Lose It! | MacroFactor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | not included | ||||
| Food log + calorie tracking | |||||
| Barcode scanning | Premium | Premium | |||
| Custom macro goals | Premium | Basic | |||
| No ads | not included | not included | not included | ||
| Full web app | not included | not included | |||
| Itemized restaurant meals | not included | not included | not included | not included | |
| Share your log with a coach | Premium | not included | not included | not included | not included |
| Log via an AI assistant | Premium | not included | not included | not included | not included |
| AI photo food scan | Premium | Premium | not included | Premium | |
| Micronutrient detail (80+) | not included | not included | not included | ||
| Adaptive TDEE coaching | not included | not included | not included | not included |
The features people miss most from MyFitnessPal are the ones it started charging for.
The alternatives, one by one
Countwell, the most complete pick
Countwell keeps the everyday basics free: custom macro goals, a full web app, search over a million real foods, and no ads, all of which MyFitnessPal now charges for or interrupts. Then it adds three things no other tracker here offers. You can itemize restaurant and takeout meals instead of logging one lumped total, which is the food most people can’t weigh or scan. You can share your log with a coach through a private link, no account required on their end. And you can log meals and ask about your week from an AI assistant like Claude or ChatGPT through its connector. Its AI photo scan, barcode scanning, coach sharing, and the AI connector live in Countwell Premium; the core log stays free.
Cronometer, for micronutrient detail
Cronometer is the choice if you care about more than calories. It tracks 80+ micronutrients against high-quality data, and both barcode scanning and custom targets are free. The trade-off is that all that depth makes it slower to log, so it suits precision over speed. The free tier shows ads and limits reports to the last seven days.
Lose It!, for simple weight-loss tracking
Lose It! keeps things clean and beginner-friendly, built around a straightforward weight-loss goal. The free tier covers logging and basic macros; photo and voice logging and advanced macros are Premium. If MyFitnessPal felt cluttered, Lose It! is the calmer version of the same idea.
MacroFactor, for adaptive coaching
MacroFactor is the best paid option. It adjusts your targets based on your real intake and weight trend, has no ads, and includes barcode scanning, photo logging, and detailed micronutrients. The catch is that there is no free tier beyond a seven-day trial, so it is only worth it if you will use the coaching.
How to pick the right one
- Want your free barcode scanner back? Cronometer and Lose It! include one for free. Countwell offers barcode scanning with Countwell Premium.
- Log a lot of restaurant and takeout meals? Countwell itemizes them instead of logging one opaque total.
- Work with a coach or trainer? Countwell is the only one that shares your log through a link.
- Live in an AI assistant? Countwell lets you log and review your day from Claude or ChatGPT.
- Care about vitamins and minerals? Cronometer, by a wide margin.
- Want a coach that adjusts for you? MacroFactor, if you are willing to pay.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free alternative to MyFitnessPal?
- For most people, Countwell. It keeps custom macros and itemized restaurant meals free with no ads, while barcode scanning, coach sharing, and AI-assistant logging are part of Countwell Premium. If you want deep micronutrient data instead, Cronometer's free tier is the strongest.
- Does MyFitnessPal still have a free barcode scanner?
- No. Barcode scanning moved to MyFitnessPal Premium, along with custom macro goals and meal scanning. That change is the main reason people go looking for an alternative, since barcode scanning was often the feature they used most.
- Is there a better app than MyFitnessPal for restaurant meals?
- Countwell is built around this. It logs restaurant and takeout meals item by item instead of as one lumped total, which is more accurate for the food most people can't weigh or barcode-scan.
- Which MyFitnessPal alternative is the most accurate?
- Accuracy comes from the food data plus how carefully you log. Cronometer is strongest on nutrient detail, while Countwell focuses on an accurate everyday log with itemized restaurant meals. The most accurate app is the one you will actually keep using.