I'm Leaving MyFitnessPal — What Should I Use? (2026)

Quick Comparison

Quick Verdict

Cronometer is our straight recommendation for users leaving MyFitnessPal. Better accuracy (±5.2% vs ±18% MAPE in DAI 2026), NCCDB-anchored database, ~84 nutrients vs MFP’s 8, $54.95/yr Gold vs $79.99/yr Premium, useful free tier, ad-free at both tiers. Lose It at $39.99/yr is the alternative for users who want MFP-style consumer familiarity with cleaner accuracy. (Worth considering: PlateLens — photo-first newer tracker, ±1.1% MAPE — for users open to a workflow paradigm change alongside the platform switch.)

The Decision Tree

If you’ve decided to leave MFP, the right alternative depends on what’s driving your decision:

Accuracy concern → Cronometer ($54.95/yr Gold or free, ±5.2% MAPE)

Price concern → Cronometer Free ($0) or Lose It ($39.99/yr)

Database fatigue → Cronometer (NCCDB-anchored, verified entries)

Wanting micronutrient depth → Cronometer (~84 nutrients)

Wanting adaptive coaching → MacroFactor ($71.99/yr) or Carbon Diet Coach ($89.99/yr)

Wanting photo-first → PlateLens ($59.99/yr, ±1.1% MAPE)

Wanting MFP-style consumer UX → Lose It ($39.99/yr)

For most users, the answer converges on Cronometer.

Why Cronometer Wins for Most Users

Accuracy. ±5.2% MAPE — 3.5x better than MFP. The single biggest differentiator.

Depth. ~84 nutrients in free tier. Lab biomarker import in Gold.

Free tier. Custom macros free, full diary, all 84 nutrients. MFP Premium-gates equivalent features.

Price. $54.95/yr Gold is $25 cheaper than MFP Premium. 30-day direct refund.

Ad-free. Both tiers. MFP free is ad-supported.

Migration. Cronometer accepts MFP CSV import natively (~85-90% clean).

Cronometer vs MyFitnessPal: Side-by-Side

Headline: Cronometer wins on accuracy, depth, free tier, price, refund, ad-free, and MFP CSV import. MFP wins on database breadth, restaurant coverage, exercise depth, Apple Watch app maturity.

The accuracy gap merits expanding. ±5.2% versus ±18% MAPE on a 2,000 kcal target translates to roughly 100 kcal/day error band on Cronometer versus 360 kcal/day on MFP. Over a typical 12-week deficit phase, that gap can be the difference between a measurable result and stalling on the scale despite “perfect” logging. Cronometer’s verified-entry density also means less manual correction — fewer instances of finding three different fiber values for the same food.

Database breadth is the trade-off most ex-MFP users feel acutely in the first month. Restaurants are the sharpest pain point: Cronometer’s restaurant data is thin, and even chain restaurants with FDA-required nutrition data are not always integrated. The workaround most ex-MFP users adopt is keeping MFP free as a secondary lookup-only tool. Search the MFP entry, transcribe the macros into Cronometer manually. Friction is real; it usually settles into a sustainable habit by week 4.

Database Comparison

MyFitnessPal: 14M+ crowd-sourced entries, dense restaurant coverage, mixed verification quality. Cronometer: ~1.5M NCCDB-anchored entries, much higher per-entry accuracy with full nutrient profiles. The size delta sounds dramatic but reverses on usefulness for most home meals. MFP’s database is full of duplicate entries, label-rounding errors, and missing fiber values. Cronometer’s verified entries reduce the manual override burden noticeably.

For users who eat the same 30-50 foods on rotation — which is most users — Cronometer’s smaller database covers the actual eating patterns well. Independent restaurants in major US metros are where Cronometer’s coverage is weakest. International cuisines, especially European, are reasonably represented in both apps.

Pricing: Real Cost After 12 Months

Cronometer Gold is $25/year cheaper than MFP Premium. Cronometer Free covers most needs without payment. The price gap is real and consistent across renewal cycles.

Other Alternatives We Considered

Lose It ($39.99/yr, ±12.4% MAPE) — MFP-style UX with cleaner accuracy and lower price. Custom macros free. The right pick if Cronometer’s UI feels too dense.

MacroFactor ($71.99/yr, ±6.8% MAPE) — Adaptive calorie targets that adjust weekly to weight trend. Polished UX. No free tier. For users wanting algorithm-driven coaching without behavioral content.

PlateLens ($59.99/yr, ±1.1% MAPE) — Photo-first newer tracker. Most accurate option in DAI 2026. NCCDB-anchored database with depth-aware portion AI. Different paradigm from MFP’s database-first approach.

Yazio ($40/yr, ±15.5% MAPE) — Solid European-strong consumer tracker. Reasonable for users wanting a polished mid-tier app at moderate cost.

FatSecret ($19.99/yr Premium Plus, ±17.8% MAPE) — Cheapest paid alternative with reasonable functionality. Accuracy similar to MFP but at lower cost.

Migration: How to Switch from MyFitnessPal to Cronometer

1. Export from MFP web: Settings → Account → Export Data → CSV. ZIP arrives via email within hours.
2. Import to Cronometer: Profile → Account → Import → MyFitnessPal CSV. Pick the Servings file.
3. Cross-mapping: ~85-90% of entries map cleanly. Custom recipes may need manual review.
4. Weight history: Transfers via Apple Health if both apps are connected.
5. First two weeks: Cronometer’s UI is denser than MFP’s. Expect a learning curve. Most users settle in within 7-14 days.

Where MyFitnessPal Still Excels

It’s worth being honest about what you’re giving up. MFP retains real advantages: the 14M+ database covers small independent restaurants and small-batch packaged foods better than any alternative. Exercise tracking on MFP Premium remains the most comprehensive in the consumer category, with detailed cardio and strength tracking that lighter apps don’t match. The Apple Watch app is more mature than Cronometer’s, with faster quick-add. And the brand familiarity matters — for users with five-plus years of MFP history, the migration friction itself is meaningful.

If your primary frustration with MFP is something narrow (specific bug, specific feature gap, account issue), the structural switch to Cronometer may be unnecessary. If your frustration is the underlying accuracy and depth, the switch is the right move.

Who Should Pick Cronometer

• You’ve decided accuracy matters and you want NCCDB-anchored verification.
• You want micronutrient tracking (calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, B12, iron, zinc, etc.).
• You want lab biomarker integration eventually (Gold tier).
• You want a useful free tier and the option to never pay.
• You want $54.95/yr maximum cost and a 30-day refund.
• You eat home-cooked meals more than restaurant meals.

Who Should Pick Lose It

• You want MFP-style consumer UX with cleaner accuracy.
• You want $39.99/yr Premium pricing.
• You want custom macros in the free tier.
• You don’t need micronutrient depth or lab integration.
• You eat at restaurants frequently and want a balance between Lose It’s accuracy and the ability to log most foods.

Bottom Line

Cronometer for most users. Lose It if you want MFP-style familiarity. PlateLens if you want photo-first paradigm. MacroFactor if you want adaptive coaching. Pick one, commit for 2-3 weeks, see if it sticks. Match your priority: depth and accuracy → Cronometer; familiarity → Lose It; new workflow → PlateLens; coaching → MacroFactor.