MyFitnessPal Is Too Expensive — What Else Can I Use? 6 Cheaper Alternatives by Budget

You are not imagining it — MyFitnessPal IS too expensive. MFP Premium now costs $19.99 per month. That is $239.88 per year. For a calorie tracking app. To put that in perspective, you could pay for Netflix, Spotify, and a gym membership for less than MFP charges to remove ads and add a few extra nutrients to your food diary.

The price has been climbing steadily since Francisco Partners acquired MFP in 2020. It went from $9.99 per month to $19.99 per month — a 100 percent increase — while the core product has barely changed. If you are frustrated and looking for alternatives, this guide sorts every option by budget so you can find the right replacement in under five minutes.

How MFP Premium Went From Reasonable to Absurd

A brief history of MFP pricing:

Year	Monthly Price	Annual Cost	What Changed
2015-2019	$9.99/mo	~$120/yr	Under Armour era, reasonable pricing
2020	$14.99/mo	~$180/yr	Francisco Partners acquisition
2021-2023	$14.99-$19.99/mo	~$180-$240/yr	Gradual increase to current price
2024-2026	$19.99/mo	~$240/yr	Current price, highest in category

The product in 2026 is not twice as good as the product in 2018. The same crowdsourced database (with the same accuracy issues). The same basic interface. A few incremental features. But twice the price.

Meanwhile, competitors have launched apps with verified databases, AI logging, 100+ nutrient tracking, and zero ads — at a fraction of MFP's cost. The market has moved forward. MFP's price has moved upward. The gap between price and value has never been wider.

What You Are Actually Paying For With MFP Premium

Before switching, it helps to understand what $19.99 per month buys you versus what MFP's free tier offers.

MFP Free includes:

• Food diary with calorie and basic macro tracking.
• Barcode scanning.
• Food search in a 14 million+ crowdsourced database.
• 6 to 12 ads per session.
• 15-20 nutrients tracked.

MFP Premium adds:

• Ad-free experience.
• 20-30 nutrients tracked (expanded from 15-20).
• Meal plans.
• Food insights and analysis.
• Priority support.

MFP Premium does NOT include:

• A verified database. Premium uses the same crowdsourced data as free (15-25% error rates).
• AI photo or voice logging.
• 100+ nutrient tracking.
• Recipe import from URLs.

The honest summary: you are paying $19.99 per month primarily to remove ads and get a modest nutrient upgrade. The database — the foundation of the entire app — does not improve when you pay.

6 Alternatives Sorted by Budget

Budget: $0/Month — FatSecret

Annual cost: $0 | Annual savings vs MFP: $240

If your budget is literally zero, FatSecret is the best option. It is completely free with a full food diary, barcode scanning, recipe tools, and community features.

What you get:

• Full calorie and macro tracking.
• Barcode scanner.
• Large food database (crowdsourced, so accuracy varies).
• Recipe creation and community sharing.
• Weight and exercise logging.

What you give up:

• Accuracy (crowdsourced data, 15-20% error rates).
• Ads are present (less aggressive than MFP).
• Micronutrient tracking is basic.
• The interface looks dated.
• No AI features.

Honest take: FatSecret is functional and genuinely free. But "free" comes with the same fundamental accuracy problem as MFP. If bad data was not your concern with MFP and price was your only issue, FatSecret solves that.

Budget: €2.50/Month (~$2.70/Month) — Nutrola

Annual cost: €30 ($32) | Annual savings vs MFP: ~$208

Nutrola is the best value in calorie tracking. At €2.50 per month, it delivers a feature set that does not just match MFP Premium — it exceeds it in every measurable category except raw database size.

What you get:

• 1.8 million+ verified food database (3-5% error rates vs MFP's 15-25%).
• AI photo logging — snap a picture, the app logs your meal.
• AI voice logging — speak your food, it is recorded.
• Barcode scanning with verified data.
• 100+ nutrients tracked (vs MFP Premium's 20-30).
• Zero ads on every plan.
• Apple Watch and Wear OS integration.
• Recipe import from any URL.
• 15 languages supported.
• 2 million+ users, 4.9 app store rating.
• Free trial with full access to test before committing.

What you give up:

• MFP's larger raw database (14M vs 1.8M entries — but Nutrola's are verified).
• MFP's brand familiarity.

The math: You save approximately $208 per year compared to MFP Premium. For that $208, you lose nothing and gain verified data, AI logging, 70+ additional tracked nutrients, and zero ads. The value comparison is not close.

Start your free trial of Nutrola — save $208/year and get a better app in the process.

Budget: ~$3.33/Month — Lose It Premium

Annual cost: ~$40 | Annual savings vs MFP: ~$200

Lose It Premium is a clean, simple calorie tracker at a budget-friendly price. It does not try to be the most feature-rich — it tries to be the most user-friendly.

What you get:

• Ad-free experience.
• Snap It photo logging.
• Expanded nutrient tracking (20-30 nutrients).
• Meal planning features.
• Clean, fast interface.

What you give up:

• Partially crowdsourced database (10-15% error rates).
• Limited micronutrient depth.
• No voice logging.
• Limited international food coverage.

Honest take: Lose It is a solid budget option if simplicity is your priority. It is roughly the same price as Nutrola but with fewer features and less data accuracy.

Budget: $5.49/Month — Cronometer Gold

Annual cost: ~$66 | Annual savings vs MFP: ~$174

Cronometer Gold is for users who prioritize data quality and micronutrient depth above all else. Its database is sourced from government agencies and tracks 82+ nutrients.

What you get:

• Verified database from USDA and NCCDB sources.
• 82+ nutrients tracked.
• Ad-free experience.
• Timestamp logging and fasting features.
• Custom charts and detailed reports.
• Lab result tracking.

What you give up:

• AI photo and voice logging.
• Database size (smaller than MFP, Nutrola, or FatSecret).
• Consumer-friendly logging speed.
• Multilingual support is limited.

Honest take: Cronometer is excellent if data depth is your top priority. But at $5.49 per month — more than double Nutrola's price — you get fewer tracked nutrients (82 vs 100+), no AI logging, and a smaller database.

Budget: €6.99/Month — Yazio Pro

Annual cost: €84 ($91) | Annual savings vs MFP: ~$149

Yazio bundles calorie tracking with meal planning, making it appealing if you want your app to tell you what to eat, not just track what you ate.

What you get:

• Ad-free calorie and macro tracking.
• Built-in meal plans for various goals.
• Fasting tracker.
• European food database coverage.
• Recipe suggestions.

What you give up:

• Database accuracy is mixed.
• No AI photo or voice logging.
• Micronutrient depth is moderate.

Honest take: Yazio is worth considering if meal planning is important to you. But at €6.99 per month, it costs nearly three times what Nutrola charges while offering less accuracy and fewer nutrients.

Budget: $11.99/Month — MacroFactor

Annual cost: ~$144 | Annual savings vs MFP: ~$96

MacroFactor is the most expensive alternative on this list but offers something unique: an adaptive algorithm that adjusts your targets based on real results.

What you get:

• Adaptive TDEE algorithm.
• Verified food database.
• Zero ads.
• Weekly macro adjustments.
• Expenditure analytics.

What you give up:

• AI logging.
• 100+ nutrient tracking (tracks 30-40).
• Multilingual support.
• Smartwatch integration.

Honest take: MacroFactor's algorithm is genuinely useful if you do not want to manually adjust your macros. At $11.99 per month, you still save $96 per year compared to MFP, but you pay significantly more than Nutrola for fewer features outside the algorithm.

Annual Savings Table: What You Save by Switching

Switch To	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost	Annual Savings vs MFP	% Cheaper
FatSecret	Free	$0	$240	100%
Nutrola	€2.50 (~$2.70)	~$32	~$208	87%
Lose It	~$3.33	~$40	~$200	83%
Cronometer	$5.49	~$66	~$174	73%
Yazio	€6.99 (~$7.60)	~$91	~$149	62%
MacroFactor	$11.99	~$144	~$96	40%

Even the most expensive alternative saves you $96 per year. The best value option (Nutrola) saves you $208 per year while delivering more features and better data than MFP Premium.

What You Gain by Switching to Nutrola Specifically

Since Nutrola represents the best combination of savings and features, here is a direct comparison of what changes when you switch from MFP Premium to Nutrola.

Dimension	MFP Premium ($19.99/mo)	Nutrola (€2.50/mo)	Advantage
Annual cost	~$240	~$32	Save $208/year
Database accuracy	15-25% error (crowdsourced)	3-5% error (verified)	Nutrola
Nutrients tracked	20-30	100+	Nutrola
AI photo logging	No	Yes	Nutrola
AI voice logging	No	Yes	Nutrola
Ads	None (Premium)	None (all plans)	Tie
Barcode scanning	Yes	Yes (verified data)	Nutrola
Smartwatch	Limited	Apple Watch + Wear OS	Nutrola
Recipe import	No	Yes (from URL)	Nutrola
Languages	20+	15	MFP
Database size	14M+ entries	1.8M+ entries	MFP (but less accurate)

You save $208 per year. You gain verified accuracy, AI logging, 70+ additional tracked nutrients, and smartwatch integration. You lose MFP's larger (but less accurate) database and broader language support. For the vast majority of users, this is a massive net gain.

How to Cancel MFP Premium and Switch

Step 1: Cancel Your MFP Subscription

On iPhone: Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions > MyFitnessPal > Cancel. On Android: Google Play Store > Profile > Payments & Subscriptions > Subscriptions > MyFitnessPal > Cancel. On web: Log in to myfitnesspal.com > Account Settings > Subscription > Cancel.

Cancel before your next billing date to avoid another $19.99 charge.

Step 2: Export Your MFP Data

While still logged in, go to Settings > Download Your Data. MFP will email you an export file with your food diary, weight log, and exercise history.

Step 3: Download and Set Up Your New App

Install your chosen alternative and enter your calorie targets, macro goals, weight, and activity level. Match the settings you had in MFP for a seamless transition.

Step 4: Log Your Common Foods

Spend 10 minutes searching for and logging your 20 to 30 most frequently eaten foods. This populates your recently used and favorites lists, which makes future logging fast.

Step 5: Track for Two Weeks Before Evaluating

The first three days always feel awkward with a new app. By day seven, logging speed normalizes. By day fourteen, most users report the new app feels natural. Do not judge the experience based on the first 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did MyFitnessPal get so expensive?

MFP was acquired by private equity firm Francisco Partners in 2020. Since the acquisition, Premium pricing has increased from $9.99/mo to $19.99/mo. The price increases appear driven by monetization strategy rather than proportional product improvements.

Is MyFitnessPal worth $19.99 per month?

No. At $19.99/mo, MFP Premium is the most expensive calorie tracker on the market while using a crowdsourced database with documented accuracy issues. Every competitor offers comparable or superior features at lower prices. Nutrola provides verified data, AI logging, 100+ nutrients, and zero ads for €2.50/mo — 87% less.

What is the cheapest good calorie tracking app?

Nutrola at €2.50/mo offers the best combination of low price and high features. It includes verified data (3-5% error rates), AI photo and voice logging, 100+ nutrient tracking, and zero ads. FatSecret is free but has accuracy and feature limitations.

Can I use MyFitnessPal for free?

MFP has a free tier, but it includes 6-12 ads per session, tracks only 15-20 nutrients, and uses the same crowdsourced database as Premium. The free experience has become increasingly ad-heavy, which is why many users feel pressured toward the $19.99/mo Premium.

How much money will I save by switching from MFP?

Depending on your choice, you save $96 to $240 per year. Switching to Nutrola saves approximately $208 per year while upgrading your data accuracy, feature set, and ad-free experience.

Is there an annual plan for MyFitnessPal that is cheaper?

MFP occasionally offers annual billing at a slight discount, but even the annual rate works out to approximately $13 to $17 per month depending on promotions. This is still significantly more expensive than every alternative listed in this guide.

The Bottom Line: $19.99 Per Month Is Not What Calorie Tracking Costs

MyFitnessPal has set an artificially high price anchor that does not reflect the actual market. Calorie tracking does not cost $19.99 per month. It costs €2.50 per month for a verified database with AI logging and 100+ nutrients (Nutrola). It costs $0 per month for basic tracking with a crowdsourced database (FatSecret). MFP's pricing is an outlier, not a standard.

You deserve better data for less money. Start your free trial of Nutrola and save $208 per year while getting the most accurate, feature-rich calorie tracker available. That is not a trade-off — it is an upgrade.