MyFitnessPal vs Lose It: Which App Is Actually Better for Tracking Macros?

When it comes to tracking your macros, the app you choose matters. Not because one will magically get you results, but because the one you will actually use consistently is the one that works for you.

As a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and busy mom, I get asked about MyFitnessPal vs Lose It constantly. From clients, from readers, and from people just getting started with macro tracking. I’ve been using MyFitnessPal since before they even had an app. Then I switched to Lose It exclusively for three weeks to test it properly. Then I switched again.

I’ve now tested both apps side by side, logged the same meals in both, and used them with real clients. So this isn’t a feature comparison I pulled from a website. This is what actually happens when you use these apps every day to track your macros as a busy mom trying to eat well without spending hours in the kitchen.

The answer to which app is better is not as simple as most comparison posts make it sound. It depends on your budget, how you cook, how you eat, or how your brain works. I’m going to walk you through every category so you can make the right call for your life.

But first, before we get into anything else, I need to say something important that most app review posts completely skip over:

The daily calorie goal these apps give you is most likely not high enough. If your app is telling you to eat 1,200 calories, please stop and go calculate your actual needs using a TDEE calculator or the Manage Your Macros Calculator. Undereating is one of the most common mistakes I see as a nutritionist and an app defaulting to a dangerously low number is a big reason why. Use these apps as a tool, not as the authority on what your body needs.

I am NOT an affiliate for either app (I don’t believe they have an affiliate program). This post was written because it’s a common question that pops up from clients. The overview comes from me testing out each app and is based on my personal and professional opinion.

MyFitnessPal vs Lose It App

Both apps can also be used as a fitness tracker as well as you can log your workouts on the app (I recommend turning off the setting where you can eat back any exercise calories you burn).

*Lose It barcode scanner is free for legacy accounts but Premium only for new signups as of 2026.

Pricing changes happen on both apps, so I recommend checking the app store listing for current rates. That said, Lose It has consistently been the more affordable option and also offers a lifetime subscription that MFP does not.

Ease of Use:

This is a more personal criteria to judge the apps on. It comes down to what you are used to and how your brain works.

I have been using MyFitnessPal since before they even had an app, so it feels easier to me. My sister started with Lose It and thought it was more intuitive right away. So take my opinion here with that context in mind.

However, after testing Lose It exclusively for three weeks I will say it got significantly easier once I got used to the layout. My biggest frustration early on was finding the quick add macros feature. It took me longer to locate than it should have, even though the steps are basically the same as MFP.

Lose It has a more modern and cleaner interface in 2026. If you are brand new to macro tracking, Lose It’s onboarding is friendlier and less overwhelming than MFP.

One thing I recommend on both apps: turn off the setting that adds back your exercise calories. Eating back calories burned is a common trap and most fitness trackers overestimate how much you actually burn.

Winner: Tie.

If you are already using MFP, stay with it. If you are starting fresh, Lose It is easier to learn.

Free Versions:

Both apps have free versions and they work well! You do not have to pay to track your food and make progress with your nutrition goals. Plenty of my clients have hit their macro goals using the free version of MFP and never paid a cent.

Here’s a comparison of MyFitnessPal’s free features and what comes with Lose It! Basic:

Note: Both apps are available on iOS and Android.

If you are looking to track your macros, the premium of both trackers makes life easier. There are hacks around both, you can see your summary of macros in your nutrition tab and you can make it work.

That being said, I would recommend upgrading for an easier time logging and getting a specific macro breakdown of your food diary.

Winner: MyFitnessPal for free macro tracking.

MFP gives you basic macro info for free, while Lose It locks macros completely behind Premium. However, Lose It’s free experience is cleaner, less ad heavy, and has a significantly larger food database.

Paid Versions:

If you are serious about tracking macros down to the gram, the premium version of either app makes life significantly easier. That said, you do not have to pay to see results, the free version of both apps is enough to get started.

Lose It Lifetime is one time purchase, all Premium features forever. Breaks even at approximately 6 to 7 years of use. Watch for Black Friday and New Year sales when the price historically drops significantly.

Pro tip: When I declined the Lose It premium subscription, they came back with a discounted offer. Don’t accept the first price you see, wait for the deal to pop up. Lose It also accepts FSA and HSA payments if you have a flexible spending account through your employer.

Winner: Lose It!

Considering both trackers have similar features, you can’t beat Lose Its price.

You get comparable features at roughly half the price of MFP Premium, plus a lifetime option MFP doesn’t offer. The only area where MFP Premium pulls ahead is the macro tracking interface, which I’ll get into in the next section.

Macro Tracking

First, an important note: if you are just getting started with macros, check out my post on 6 Easy Ways to Start Tracking Macros.

With both apps you need the premium version to track macros properly. Here is how they differ.

With both apps (the premium versions) you can see your overall goals via macros or calories.

That being said, I did notice there were a few more foods on Lose It that were missing the opportunity to log in grams, mls, ounces, etc. A box of frozen bacon-wrapped scallops I bought was scanned in as “1 serving”. So I had to add it manually instead.

This happens on MyFitnessPal as well, but not as often. The workaround is creating a food and adding all the nutritional information manually. I recommend doing that if it’s something you buy often, then it’s simply one click going forward.

MyFitnessPal Premium lets you set your macro goals down to the gram and see your full breakdown per meal and for the entire day. I find MFP cleaner and more intuitive for macro tracking. The daily diary view shows your carbs, fat, and protein at a glance without having to dig into a separate screen.

Lose It Premium breaks down each macronutrient as its own separate view. You toggle between protein, carbs, and fat individually rather than seeing them all at once. Some people love this approach. I personally found MFP’s overview easier to read at a glance, but after three weeks of using Lose It I got used to it.

One thing both apps struggle with: some food entries have incorrect nutritional data. This is a crowdsourced database problem that affects both apps. I always recommend looking for verified foods green checkmarks on MFP to make sure you are logging accurate numbers. If something looks off, find another entry or add it manually. It only takes a minute and once it is saved it is one click going forward. (This is something that Cronometer does well – but that is another post for another day.)

I also recommend turning off the setting that adds back your exercise calories on both apps. Eating back calories burned is one of the most common traps I see and most activity trackers significantly overestimate how much you actually burn.

Winner: MyFitnessPal

Personally, I find it cleaner and easier for me to track my macros. It was easier to find how to quick-track macros in MFP vs Lose It.

They have the same number of steps but I missed it in Lose It! at first as I had to scroll. Sounds silly, I know but I was stuck for a while trying to figure it out. Granted, I do not do this often – it still took me longer to find (note: both don’t have an option to quick add fiber).

Calorie Tracking

I didn’t find many discrepancies between MyFitnesspal vs Lose It. They’re both solid at tracking calories and you can do this with the free version (yay for saving money).

The only issues I had were what I mentioned in the macros section above about serving size the odd time and the fact that some entries were saved with the wrong nutritional information.

The workaround is the same: use verified entries and double check anything that looks off.

I like to search for a second entry if the first one seems wrong, and if I can’t find an accurate one I add it manually. Once it’s in your recent foods it’s one tap going forward.

Sometimes foods can be off because of packaging differences between the US and Canada (it’s usually a few calories off and it happens from time to time).

Calorie Counter Winner: Tie

MyFitnessPal vs Lose It App Recipe Capabilities

This is a big one for anyone who cooks from recipes regularly and both apps now have the recipe import feature. This is a huge time saver with my healthy recipes from Randa Nutrition and all the other blogger’s recipes I make as well.

Lose It added URL recipe import, which is a big improvement from when I first wrote this post. However it is a Premium only feature on Lose It, whereas MFP offers it on the free version too.

MyFitnessPal does a great job with importing recipes. Is it perfect? No. I always have to scan it and if something doesn’t look right, I search for a food replacement until the calories make sense.

It’s not a perfect situation and importing a recipe is not technically the correct way to log macros but since I teach busy moms macros this is how we do it because we simply don’t have time to weigh, log, cook, weigh, portion, weigh, log.

via GIPHY

MyFitnessPal also has recipes on the app. I have been a user of MFP since they launched their website, and I have never used this feature. The recipes look great, I just have never tried them.

Lose it does not have a recipe database in the app. They do have recipes on their blog.

Winner: MyFitnessPal

Is it perfect? No.

Is it convenient and appreciated? Heck ya, it is.

Food Database and Selection

MyFitnessPal has a better food and restaurant database than Lose It. It makes sense, they’ve been around for a long time and have a lot of users.

Lose It is lacking in the restaurant calorie tracking.

I was able to find Cactus Club, Earls, a few things from Original Joes, and options at Disneyland too. That being said it’s not as heavy with a lot of the restaurants MFP has, but I’m sure that will change with time.

I was also able to find more specific orders like California Pizza Kitchen’s Thai Pizza but on their cauliflower crust on Lose It, so that’s a win (and it’s so good).

The question is, is it accurate? I don’t believe that a Mickey beignet is only 147 calories and there is conflicting info on both apps (Dole Whips ranged from 80 calories to 160 calories – but let’s be honest here, the cast members are not weighing out portions, it will vary regardless). Always take this info as a guideline, not exact.

Winner (for now): MyFitnessPal

I find that MFP has a better database of foods for logging as a calorie tracker. I found that there was a lot less manual entry with MFP vs the Lose It app.

That being said, the Lose It database has improved since I last used it a couple of years ago so, in time, I’m sure it will be solid with more food choices.

Who Should Use Which App

Choose MyFitnessPal if:

• You already use it and are comfortable with the interface
• You cook from recipes regularly and want URL import on the free version
• You want basic macro visibility without paying (percentages, no grams)
• You eat at a wide variety of restaurants and want the larger database
• Budget is not a concern

Choose Lose It if:

• You are brand new to macro tracking and want a cleaner, easier-to-learn app
• You’re on a budget and want to save on a premium option.
• You prefer a more modern interface
• You are interested in a lifetime subscription for long term tracking

Start with the free version of either if:

• You are not sure yet which approach works for you
• You just want to track calories and basic macros
• You want to test before committing to anything paid

The most important thing is not which app you choose. It’s that you use it consistently. The habit of logging your food is one of the strongest predictors of long term success with your nutrition goals. Pick the one you will actually open every morning and stick with it.

The Bottom Line: MyFitnessPal vs Lose It

I’ve used both apps with clients and on my own for years, and here is my honest take as a Certified Holistic Nutritionist.

For most people starting out: use the free version of either app. Plenty of my clients have hit their macro goals using the free version of MFP and never paid a cent. Premium makes it easier but it is not necessary.

If budget matters: Lose It wins. You get comparable features at roughly half the cost of MFP Premium, plus a lifetime option that MFP doesn’t offer. Watch for in app deals before you pay full price.

If budget isn’t an issue: MyFitnessPal Premium. The larger food database, free recipe import, and macro tracking interface make it the better tool for serious trackers who cook regularly.

A Note on What I Use Now (Update a few years in)

I want to be transparent with you. I personally switched away from both MFP and Lose It and now use Cronometer as my primary tracking app.

As a type A nutrition professional, I got a little overboard with data. Not just macros, but vitamins, minerals, and overall nutrient completeness. Cronometer tracks 84+ nutrients in its free version, which is unmatched by either app in this comparison.

I am working on a full Cronometer review, so stay tuned. But if you are a nutrition nerd who wants to go beyond macros and understand the full picture of what you are eating, it is worth knowing about.