MyFitnessPal Review (2026)
The category giant: unmatched database, community gravity — and the paywall everyone talks about.
Pricing and features checked October 18, 2026
MyFitnessPal
The biggest food database in the game — if you scan it, MyFitnessPal probably knows it.
What we like
- Largest community and food database (millions of scanned items)
- Barcode scanning makes logging fast
- Works with nearly every fitness tracker
Worth knowing
- Barcode scanning moved behind Premium (a 2023 change that stung)
- Free tier shows ads; Premium runs around $80/year — check current pricing
MyFitnessPal is the default answer to "should I track my calories," and the default deserves scrutiny rather than reflex. The database is genuinely unmatched: hundreds of millions of logged foods (community-contributed, so quality varies), restaurant chains, global brands. If your diet involves packaged food, scanning a barcode and finding your exact item is the fastest logging experience in the category — or was, until March 2023.
That is the review in one sentence: March 2023 moved barcode scanning behind Premium. Free users lost the single feature that made the app feel magical. The free tier remains a capable diary — search-based logging, daily budget, basic nutrient summary, weight charts — wrapped in ads. Premium (around $80/year, with monthly and promos — verify current pricing) restores scanning, adds intermittent-fasting tools, ad removal and deeper reports.
Who fits: households with established MyFitnessPal history (years of data matter), heavy users of the community/forums, and people whose diets are scanned-packaged-food-heavy AND are willing to pay. Who should look elsewhere: barcode-dependent free users (Cronometer and Lose It! include scanning free), and micronutrient-curious people (Cronometer gives vitamins and minerals away).
Underneath everything, the same math powers the budget: BMR × activity, minus a deficit. Do not skip our TDEE calculator just because the app sets a target — apps tune goals for engagement, and a number you chose from the formula beats a number chosen for you by a retention team.
| Dimension | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS / Android / Web |
| Food database | Huge (community-sourced) |
| Free tier | Solid diary + basic insights |
| Premium (hedged) | ~$80/yr (varies) — check current pricing |
| Best for | People who eat packaged foods and want the largest possible database. |
Frequently asked questions
Is MyFitnessPal free?
Yes — the calorie diary, database search, budget and weight charts are free (with ads). Barcode scanning, fasting tools, ad removal and deep reports need Premium, around $80/year — check current pricing.
Why did barcode scanning become paid?
A March 2023 business decision that moved scanning to Premium — the most criticized change in the category's history. Cronometer and Lose It! still include scanning free.
Is MyFitnessPal worth the Premium price?
If barcode scanning is your core logging motion and you track daily: probably, for one year, to see if the habit holds. If you search-type your foods anyway: the free tier covers you.
Is MyFitnessPal accurate?
The database is enormous and community-sourced — accuracy varies by entry. Verified checkmarks and cross-checking staples you eat weekly (our Cronometer review covers the curated alternative) keep the noise down.