Macro Diet Apps

By Ted KallmyerUpdated September 30, 2023

Counting and tracking your macros is essential to succeeding on a macros-based diet.

If you are new to macros:

To keep track of your macros, you can:

The best apps for tracking macros

All apps offer barcode scanning, syncing with fitness trackers, and extensive food databases.

The free versions are all ad-supported and tend to have a restrictive set of features.

One major difference – the food database is vetted (each use submission is checked first).
Accurate food database.
Good for tracking macros.
Good integration between web-based and mobile versions.
Extensive tracking of loads of biometrics.
Free.
Gold subscription ($4.60/month if you pay a year up front, otherwise, $10 per month) offers extensive features.

One of the only apps primarily focused on macro counting.
$3 for the app.
The Pro version ($2/month) unlocks an extra feature set (unlimited meals, full web-based access, macro breakdown by food, meal & day.

The dominant player in the market, MFP has a huge user base.

From late-2022 the bar code scanner required a premium subscription.
Extensive integration with tracker apps.
11 million item food database (bigger does not mean better).
A large community of users.
Can be complex to set up – see our tutorial here.
Free initially (but $20/month for premium or $6.70/mo if you pay a year in advance).
Premium is needed to see macros at the top of your diary. (grams or percentage).

Not the USDA MyPlate dietary guidelines! This app is from the Livestrong foundation.

Lifesum is a broader health app, not just a calorie tracker.

Prospre (pronounced prosper) is a fully macros-based meal planning app.

As these apps have matured, they all essentially offer the same thing:

You can track calories and calories.
Barcode scanning.
Big food databases.
They integrate with fitness trackers to track calorie burn from exercise.
All have ratings over 4.5 stars.
They all have a free version with ads, but if you are serious, you will have to buy a premium or pro version.

The difference will come from your preference for the design and user interface.

Here are our suggestions:

If you are exclusively macro tracking and looking to build meal plans, give Prospre a go.
If you are serious about macro-tracking in any way, consider MyMacros+ – in the long run it is the most affordable app.
Be prepared to upgrade to premium on ALL of these apps if you are serious.
LifeSum is a good option if you are not focused on macros but want to try various health plans.
MyFitnessPal – yes, it’s popular but can be fiddly to set up, and the extensive food database can sometimes make it more difficult to find what you want.