MyFitnessPal suits people who want a huge food database with restaurant dishes, an AI Coach and quick calorie and macro tracking. Cronometer suits people who care about accuracy and want to see 95+ vitamins and minerals from a smaller, verified database. If you eat out a lot and want speed, try MyFitnessPal; if you want detail, try Cronometer.
Both apps log what you eat and show calories, protein, carbs and fat. They split on how big their food databases are and how they check them, and on what the free versions include. I read both App Store listings and both companies' own sites.
MyFitnessPal and Cronometer side by side
| MyFitnessPal | Cronometer | |
|---|---|---|
| Food database | 20.5M+ foods, including restaurant dishes | 1.1 million+ verified foods, including analysed entries |
| Nutrients | Calories, macros, custom targets | Calories, macros and 95+ vitamins and minerals |
| Barcode scanning | In Premium | Free |
| AI help | AI Coach, meal scan in Premium | Photo and voice logging with AI |
| Connects with | 40+ trackers, smartwatches and apps | Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin, Oura, Whoop and more |
| Free plan | Yes, free to start | Yes, free version |
What MyFitnessPal does well
MyFitnessPal's listing says its users have created over 100 billion food logs, and you can log meals from 20.5M+ foods, including restaurant dishes. That breadth makes logging quick, because most things you eat are likely to be there already. Its new AI Coach gives you nutrition guidance based on your goals and logging history.
It also tracks water, intermittent fasting, workouts and steps, and adds GLP-1 dose logging with reminders and a place to note how you feel. It connects with 40+ fitness trackers, smartwatches and health apps. Premium also adds customised macro and calorie goals, ad-free logging and a Net Carbs Mode for keto and low-carb diets.
What Cronometer does well
Cronometer is built around accuracy. Its listing describes a curated database of more than 1.1 million verified foods, including analysed entries, and its site talks about lab-analysed nutrition data. It tracks 95+ vitamins and minerals as well as calories and macros, which is why dietitians and athletes use it.
Logging is quick too: photo and voice logging use AI to identify foods and estimate portions. Cronometer syncs with Apple Health and Apple Watch, connects Fitbit, Garmin, Oura and Whoop, and imports sleep data so you can see how caffeine or alcohol affect your sleep. Charts and reports show your trends over time, and it can import workouts, activity and energy burned from your devices, so your food and training sit side by side. Its listing says it's built for weight loss, muscle gain or simply eating a more balanced diet, and it lets you set personalised targets and compare your intake against them.
The barcode detail
Here's a difference that shows up on your first shop. MyFitnessPal's listing puts barcode scan in its Premium features, alongside meal scan and voice logging. Cronometer's site says you can scan the barcode of any product for free.
So if you mostly eat packaged food and want to scan rather than search, Cronometer's free version goes further. If you eat out often, MyFitnessPal's restaurant dishes save a lot of guessing.
Prefer to be guided rather than just log meals? See our Noom free trial guide.
Who each food tracker suits
MyFitnessPal suits people who eat out, want quick calorie and macro counts, and like an AI Coach nudging them along, plus anyone on GLP-1 medication who wants dose reminders. Cronometer suits people tracking vitamins, minerals or a specific diet, athletes and anyone who wants verified data. If you're setting goals, these ChatGPT prompts for weight loss goals and my meal prep and shopping list prompts work with either app.
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My advice on MyFitnessPal or Cronometer
Log three normal days in each app before deciding. If you find yourself searching for restaurant meals and branded snacks, MyFitnessPal will save you time. If you'd like to know whether you're short on iron, fibre or vitamin D, Cronometer's detail is the reason to choose it, and its free barcode scanning helps. Keep it simple either way: log honestly, and look at the weekly view rather than worrying about one day.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Cronometer free?
Yes. Cronometer has a free version, and its site says you can scan the barcode of any product for free.
Is MyFitnessPal free?
Yes. MyFitnessPal says you can start for free, with barcode scan, meal scan and voice logging in Premium.
How many foods are in MyFitnessPal?
MyFitnessPal's listing says you can log meals from 20.5M+ foods, including restaurant dishes.
How many nutrients does Cronometer track?
Cronometer's listing says it tracks calories, macros, fasting and 95+ vitamins and minerals.
Does Cronometer connect to Garmin and Oura?
Yes. Cronometer says it connects Fitbit, Garmin, Oura, Whoop and more, and syncs with Apple Health.
