FitDIYLooking for a MyFitnessPal alternative?
What changed
If you're here, you probably already know: barcode scanning lives behind MyFitnessPal Premium now, the 2026 redesign landed badly, and as of July 2026 Premium runs $19.99/month if you pay monthly — double its longtime $9.99 — or $79.99/year, with a pricier Premium+ tier ($24.99/month) above it. In May 2026, photo-based meal scanning moved behind the paywall too; MFP's own App Store listing now files barcode scan, meal scan, and voice logging under Premium. Multiple third-party reviews also report daily caps on free-tier logging. The features that made MFP the default free tracker for a decade aren't free anymore. (Prices from the App Store listing, July 2026 — check it for current figures.)
So what should you switch to? It depends on what you actually need. Here's the short version, including the cases where the answer isn't my app.
The short version
- You want deep micronutrient tracking — vitamins, minerals, the works: use Cronometer. It's the best in the category at that, and its free tier still includes barcode scanning (with ads).
- You want coached, science-driven diet periodization and don't mind paying: use MacroFactor. Its adaptive TDEE coaching is polished and well-researched. Subscription only.
- You're on Android: FitDIY won't help you — it's iOS-only. Cronometer and MacroFactor both run on Android.
- You want the free-MFP experience back — barcode scanning, calorie & macro targets, no entry caps — plus a real training log, with no account and no ads: that's what FitDIY is for. Free, supported by an optional tip jar.
Side-by-side
| FitDIY | MyFitnessPal | Cronometer | MacroFactor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (optional tip jar) | Free tier (limited); Premium $19.99/mo or $79.99/yr | Free tier (with ads); paid Gold tier | Subscription only (7-day trial) |
| Barcode scanning | Free, unlimited | Premium only | Free | Included (paid) |
| Adaptive calorie/macro targets | Free — recalibrates from your real logs | Static goals | Static goals (manual) | Core feature — best-in-class coaching |
| Photo AI food logging | Free, runs entirely on-device (experimental) | Paywalled (2026) | — | — |
| Training log | Strength (with progression), cardio, BJJ, video review | Basic exercise logging | Basic exercise logging | None (nutrition only) |
| Account required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | None | On free tier | On free tier | None |
| App privacy label | "Data Not Collected" | See each app's App Store listing | ||
| Platforms | iOS 17+ only | iOS + Android + web | iOS + Android + web | iOS + Android |
Comparison reflects July 2026; features and prices change — verify anything that matters to you.
What FitDIY gives you, free
- Scan any grocery barcode and log in seconds — no scan limits, no entry caps, no premium tier
- Calorie and macro targets computed from your goal, training week, and steps — recalibrated from your real logs over time, MacroFactor-style
- Full training log: lifting with double-progression suggestions, cardio, and BJJ — the half MFP never had
- Photo-a-plate AI food logging that runs entirely on your phone — experimental, and never uploads your photos
- No account, no ads, no analytics — the App Store privacy label is "Data Not Collected"
The honest fine print
FitDIY is built by one person and funded by tips, so know what you're trading: the food database (Open Food Facts + USDA) is large but not MFP's decade-of-user-entries large, there's no restaurant-chain menu database, no social features, no web app, and no Android. The AI scanner is labeled experimental because it is. If those are dealbreakers, one of the apps above will serve you better — genuinely.
Why is it free?
FitDIY has no backend — everything runs on your phone, so another user costs nothing to serve. No investors, no ads, no subscription: it's built by one person for his own training, shared for everyone, supported only by an optional tip jar. Here's the story →
