MyFitnessPal vs fatsecret: which is better in 2026?
Short answer: choose fatsecret if you want a calorie counter that is free for the everyday diary, barcode scanner and photo recognition, with a community and Apple Watch support. Choose MyFitnessPal if you want a large food database with restaurant dishes, detailed macro targets, an AI nutrition coach, intermittent fasting and GLP-1 tracking, and are fine paying for Premium features such as barcode logging.
How we compare: what each developer says the app does in its own App Store description, how you log food, what goals and tracking it offers, what is free and what needs Premium, and which devices it connects to. Then the current standing of both on the Censuus ranking.
| MyFitnessPal | fatsecret | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | detailed macros, AI coach, fasting | a free daily food diary |
| Food database | 20.5M+ foods incl. restaurant dishes | food database tuned to local foods and brands |
| Fast logging | barcode and photo logging with Premium | barcode scanner and photo recognition |
| Extras | AI Coach, fasting tracker, GLP-1 log, water | community, recipes, weight and exercise diary |
| Devices | workout and fitness logging, app integrations | Apple Watch complications, Apple Health, Fitbit |
| Cost model | free basic diary, Premium subscription | free, Premium for extras |
Which one is faster to log food?
fatsecret includes a barcode scanner, auto-complete and image recognition of foods and meals, so you can log with a photo. MyFitnessPal has a database of over 20.5 million foods, including restaurant dishes, but barcode and photo logging are Premium features.
Goals, macros and coaching
MyFitnessPal goes deeper on nutrition: custom targets for macros, protein, sodium and fibre, an intermittent fasting tracker, water tracking, a built-in AI Coach and a log for GLP-1 doses and how you feel. fatsecret keeps it simpler with calorie and macro goals, a diet calendar, a weight tracker and reminders for meals and weigh-ins.
Community and devices
fatsecret has an active community for support, recipes and meal ideas, works on Apple Watch with complications and syncs calories, steps and weight with the Health app and Fitbit. MyFitnessPal pairs food logging with workout tracking in one place.
The verdict
Pick fatsecret for a free diary with barcode and photo logging and a community. Pick MyFitnessPal for the biggest database, detailed macros, an AI coach and fasting, with Premium. For more options, see our calorie counter apps guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is MyFitnessPal or fatsecret better?
Neither outright. fatsecret is better if you want barcode and photo logging free; MyFitnessPal is better for a bigger database, detailed macros, an AI coach and fasting tracking.
Is the MyFitnessPal barcode scanner free?
No. Barcode logging in MyFitnessPal is part of Premium; fatsecret includes a barcode scanner.
Does fatsecret work on Apple Watch?
Yes. fatsecret has an Apple Watch app with complications and syncs with the Health app.