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Two apps compared, not ranked

Cronometer vs MyFitnessPal

Both are long-running food diaries with a free tier. They split the free and paid lines in different places: Cronometer puts its barcode scanner and a large nutrient list in the free account, and MyFitnessPal lists its barcode scanner, Meal Scan and voice logging under Premium.

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Head to head

Cronometer and MyFitnessPal compared on 8 points, in alphabetical order
CronometerMyFitnessPal
Free planYes. A Basic account, "completely free of charge"[1]Yes. A free tier with nutrition, weight and exercise tracking[3]
Barcode scannerYes. Unlimited use of the scanner in the free Basic account[1]Yes. Barcode scan, a Premium feature[3]
Logs a meal from a photoYes. AI Photo Logging is listed; which plan includes it is not stated[2]Yes. Meal Scan, a Premium feature[3]
Voice loggingYes. Log by speaking to the app or Siri; which plan includes it is not stated[2]Yes. Voice Log, a Premium feature[3]
Your own nutrition targetsYes. A built-in nutritional target wizard[2]Yes. Macro tracking with custom goals, a Premium feature[3]
Vitamins and mineralsYes. Up to 95 nutrients and compounds, plus calories, in the free Basic account[1]Not listed. Not listed on the pages checked[3]
Free trialNot listed. Not listed on the pages checked[2]Yes. A 7-day free Premium trial for accounts that have not had one[3]
Where it runsYes. Web, iOS and Android[2]Not listed. Not listed on the pages checked[3]

Last verified . Numbers in brackets point to the sources below. The apps are in alphabetical order.

One app at a time: MyFitnessPal alternative, Cronometer alternative. CalorTracker features mentioned here: Macro tracker, AI food scanner.

Where each one is stronger

Where Cronometer is stronger

  • Barcode scanning without a subscription: "unlimited use" of the scanner is part of the free Basic account.[1]
  • A long nutrient list in the free account: up to 95 nutrients and compounds, plus calories.[1]
  • Runs on the web as well as iOS and Android, and describes its database as over 1M verified foods.[2]

Where MyFitnessPal is stronger

  • States its plan structure plainly: the Premium page lists exactly which features are paid (barcode and Meal Scan, Voice Log, custom macro goals, ad-free logging, fasting).[3]
  • Offers a 7-day free Premium trial for accounts that have not had one, so you can test the paid features before paying.[3]
  • Lists intermittent fasting among its Premium features, which Cronometer's pages checked do not mention.[3]

Who each one suits

  • Cronometer suits someone who wants to track micronutrients and use a barcode scanner without paying.
  • MyFitnessPal suits someone who wants a free basic diary and is willing to pay for scanning, voice and custom macro goals, or wants to try them on a trial first.

These are suggestions drawn from the table, not a verdict. The right app depends on which row matters to you.

And if you want something else, CalorTracker

CalorTracker is a third option, from the team that wrote this page. What it does for the points above, from our own code:

  • If you want to log a meal from a photo without a paid plan: 1 photo scan and 2 text logs a day.
  • If you want calories and macros free, plus a net carbs toggle: Net carbs toggle on the dashboard.
  • If you want a coach-style assistant, meal plans and a shopping list in the same diary: Premium; batch prep with macros per portion.

Where CalorTracker falls short

  • No barcode scanner; reads the label from a photo.
  • Web app and Android app; the iOS app is not public yet.
  • Voice logging is Premium.
  • The free plan has daily limits: 1 AI photo scan and 2 AI text logs a day.
  • AI results are estimates to check before you save them.

Sources and last verified

Every fact about the two apps on this page comes from that app’s own site, checked on . “Not listed” means we found nothing on the pages cited; it does not mean the app lacks the feature. Prices are left out because they change and differ by country, so check each app before you decide.

We re-verify this page every quarter. Next review due by . We also re-read every source before a page goes live if its facts are more than 90 days old.

  1. Cronometer: what the free version includes: https://www.cronometer.com/features/free-nutrition-tracking-app.html (checked )
  2. Cronometer home page: https://cronometer.com/ (checked )
  3. MyFitnessPal Premium page: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/premium (checked )

Frequently asked questions

Is the barcode scanner free in Cronometer and MyFitnessPal?
In Cronometer, its free-version page says unlimited use of the barcode scanner is included in a Basic account. MyFitnessPal's Premium page lists barcode scan as a Premium feature.
Which app tracks more nutrients?
Cronometer says up to 95 nutrients and compounds in its free account. MyFitnessPal's Premium page does not give a nutrient count, so we cannot compare the numbers.
Do both have a free trial?
MyFitnessPal's Premium page offers a 7-day free trial. Cronometer's home page does not mention a trial, and does not list a Gold price either.
Does CalorTracker have a barcode scanner?
No. Packaged food is logged from a photo of its nutrition label, which the AI reads, or by typing the numbers in yourself.

Try it on your own meals

Start free, log your first meal from a photo, and see whether it suits the way you track.

Start free on the web

Every app name is a trademark of its respective owner; this page is an independent comparison.