MyFitnessPal: Everything you need to know

Calorie tracking is a popular way to master weight management, and MyFitnessPal is one of the most popular apps to use. The platform offers a holistic approach to diet and exercise, streamlining user experience with tons of third-party integrations. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the app.

For a fitness-focused calorie tracking app, it’s hard to beat MyFitnessPal. The app offers tools and resources to help users take stock of their diet, but also their fitness. It even offers a strong online user community.

Main characteristics

MyFitnessPal is primarily a platform for logging food and tracking calories. As such, the app offers one of the largest food databases available, comprising over 14 million foods. However, MyFitnessPal is more than just a digital food diary. MyFitnessPal users maintain a personalized weight loss plan, using the tools in the app. In addition to personalized daily calorie goals, below are some of the app’s main features.

• Effective Food Tracking: Enter your calories by searching the app’s food library or through your food history and saved recipes. You can even scan barcodes or use your phone’s camera to scan meals.
• Detailed follow-up: Set calorie goals and let the app automatically add up and track your progress throughout the week. On MyFitnessPal, users can also dig deeper into macro analysis. See how the percentage of carbs, fats and proteins you consume matches your pre-set goals.
• Nutritional analysis: The app also offers detailed food analysis in terms of macros, cholesterol, sodium, fiber, etc. Set in-app goals for these components and use MyFitnessPal to stay on track.
• Water Tracking: Health and hydration go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that MyFitnessPal also offers hydration tracking. Use the app to stay on top of your H2O.
• Exercise calorie tracking: MyFitnessPal offers a more comprehensive experience than most calorie tracking apps by incorporating exercise into math. Use the app to determine how activities impact your calorie budget so you can adjust your meals accordingly. You can either record workouts directly to the app or sync with the tools you already use.
• Connectivity: Likewise, MyFitnessPal offers robust connectivity with over 50 third-party apps and devices, including those from Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, and many more. This means your diet and nutrition planning can fully integrate with the services you already know and love.
• Community: MyFitnessPal users can also use the platform to access a sense of community. Meet other users on their own fitness journey, swap tips and meal ideas, and learn helpful tips.

Who uses the app?

• Occasional athletes: If you exercise regularly and value burning calories as much as counting them, MyFitnessPal is the app for you. It’s a great choice for anyone looking to balance a healthy diet with an active lifestyle.
• Nutritional Nuts: MyFitnessPal also offers insight into food composition. This makes it an attractive choice for anyone who wants to better manage their macronutrients. Whether you want to increase your protein intake or stabilize your sugar intake, the app can give you clear and achievable goals for each meal.
• Laptop fans: Few apps offer as much connectivity as MyFitnessPal. If you’re using an Apple Watch Series 8, Fitbit Versa 3, or other popular device, you can probably sync your activity directly to the app.

What can you do with MyFitnessPal?

MyFitnessPal takes the stress out of tracking your calories. Users can rely on the app to keep tabs on their food intake without scrambling to calculate meals or read food packaging. The app also helps users learn more about the nutritional impact of food choices and makes it easier to create healthy meals. This, in turn, helps make healthy eating a lasting habit.

Instead of strict diets that lead to weight gain yo-yos, the tools provided by MyFitnessPal promote understanding, moderation, and balance. Users can set and track long-term goals and stay motivated by viewing their progress. For many, this means realistic long-term weight management and a healthier relationship with food.

Plus, by seamlessly integrating with fitness and activity stats, MyFitnessPal also provides context. Users can evaluate their meal planning against their activity and adjust both diet and exercise as needed.

MyFitnessPal is free to download and users will find many tools and features on the basic version of the app. On the other hand, MyFitness Pal Premium offers more personalized advice and more in-depth information.

A subscription to the premium service costs $19.99 per month or around $79.99 per year. It’s expensive, sure, but the fee covers a more personalized experience (ad-free!). The slogan of the premium service is even “Your Goals, Your Way”.

Connectivity is where MyFitnessPal really shines. From apps like Strava to companion platforms like Apple Health, MyFitnessPal integrates with many of the biggest names in wellness tracking. Below is a list of services compatible with the application.

MyFitnessPal isn’t the only name in the game. However, for an app with a ton of depth and connectivity, it’s one of the best options available. While other calorie tracking apps offer a similar tracking experience, none provide a fitness goal as effective as MyFitnessPal.

On the other hand, some apps offer a simple approach to food tracking. For users who strictly want to add up their calories, MyFitnessPal may be more than you need. Other apps offer an alternative approach, like Noom, which takes a psychological approach to food tracking. For more information on MyFitnessPal versus competitors including Lose It, WW (formerly Weight Watchers) or Noom, read our dedicated guide.