Accuracy without the complexity: 2 million staff-verified foods, up to 108 nutrients per entry, free barcode scanning, no ads, and no account required. Built for most people, whatever the goal. Rated highest of 17 nutrition apps in a 2026 independent study. Energy estimate within 5 calories of the reference.
| Feature | MyNetDiary (Free) | MyFitnessPal (Free) | Lose It! (Free) | Cronometer (Free) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Verified database |
✓ (2M+ staff) | × (mostly user-submitted) | × (mostly user-submitted) | ✓ (1.2M) |
|
Nutrients tracked |
Up to 108 | 21 | 4 free, 28 in Premium | Up to 95 |
|
Barcode scanner |
✓ | × Premium | × Premium | ✓ |
| Ad-free | ✓ | × | × | × |
|
Macro tracking |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|
Water tracker |
✓ | ✓ | × Premium | ✓ |
Compare the main free features of leading calorie tracking apps. On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to view all columns.
The 2024 and 2026 independent studies evaluated free features only, and in the 2013 study MyNetDiary's free iPhone app shared the top score; the top quality score of 17 apps was earned without Premium, Meal Scan or AI Coach.
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In a 2026 independent validation study published in Nutrition and Health, MyNetDiary received the highest quality score of the 17 apps evaluated (Mobile App Rating Scale, 4.39 of 5; study average 3.61) and had the most features of any app in the study (24). In the study's standardized three-day manual-entry test, its mean energy estimate came within 5 calories of the reference (2,001 against 2,005), and its protein estimate was the closest of the 13 apps tested.
The MyNetDiary Diet App Scorecard tracks the average monthly user-review score of major calorie trackers, using public App Store review data and a disclosed, reproducible method.
In MyNetDiary's monthly Diet App Scorecard, across the seven editions from February through August 2026, MyNetDiary's average user review rating ranged from 4.19 to 4.56; it led the group in four of the seven months and finished in the top three every month.
MyNetDiary's AI tools go beyond photo logging. Ask the AI Coach for guidance tailored to your actual intake and goals. Scan a restaurant menu for personalized recommendations.
GLP-1 medications reduce appetite, making every calorie count more. MyNetDiary tracks protein, medications, symptoms, and exercise to help you preserve muscle and stay nourished throughout your weight loss journey.
Protein highlighted on your Dashboard with personalized daily targets
Log doses, set reminders, track blood sugar (free)
Log nausea, bloating, and other side effects alongside meals
Advice tailored to GLP-1 users, not generic tips (Premium Plus)
Two dedicated menus with nutrient-dense, smaller-portion meals
Weight, protein, symptoms, and progress in one view
“My life changed. My life is beautiful! I am beautiful!!!”
“The ability to track using MyNetDiary has been so important”
“I love having a desire to go out and experience new things without worrying about if I'm too fat to do something.”
“MyNetDiary helps me stay aware of how many calories I consume.”
I've lost just over 40lbs. It's still a process, but I've learned so much about what I put into my body and am truly so proud of how far I've come.
I have lost 34 lbs and though I'm not at my weight goal yet, I am feeling so much healthier! This app is easy to use and has made calorie counting a breeze.
The combination of calorie counting and the macro tracker, as well as walking and running a lot more, helped me to lose over 50 pounds in 9 months. I have had many family members and friends notice the change and ask how I have done it, and I always point them to MyNetDiary.
Using the app helped me stay committed and consistent. It's incredibly motivating when making healthier choices becomes easier and you can clearly see your progress.
Yes. MyNetDiary offers accurate nutrition tracking for free, including a food diary, barcode scanner with accurate nutrition data from a staff-verified database, macro tracking, water tracking, shopping list, community access, and exercise tracking. There are no ads in the free tier. Premium and Premium Plus add advanced reports, specialized diet plans, customizable macronutrient targets, and AI-powered tools, but the core tracking experience with full nutrient detail is completely free. Among major nutrition tracking apps, MyNetDiary offers one of the most generous free tiers available.
Independent researchers have tested it. In a 2026 validation study published in Nutrition and Health, MyNetDiary's three-day mean energy estimate for dietitian-designed menus came within 5 calories of the reference (2,001 against 2,005), its protein estimate was the closest of the 13 apps tested, and it received the highest quality score of the 17 apps evaluated. MyNetDiary provides highly accurate nutrition tracking built on a research-grade food database: over 2 million staff-verified foods with verified nutritional data built on USDA and NCC research-grade sources, with 2,500 to 3,500 foods reviewed and updated daily. Each food provides comprehensive nutritional analysis with up to 108 nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and omega fatty acids. This nutrient completeness, the number of nutrient fields populated per food entry, is what separates MyNetDiary from apps that track only basic calories and macros. The study tested nutrition estimates for standardized menus entered manually under controlled conditions, so it does not measure every user's real-world logging, and barcode, photo and Meal Scan logging were not tested. See the independent research.
MyNetDiary Premium Plus is an upgrade within the MyNetDiary app that adds Meal Scan, AI Voice Logging, AI Restaurant Menu Scan, and a 24/7 AI Coach on top of all Premium features. PlateAI (www.plateai.com) is a standalone AI-first app built by the same team, designed from the ground up around AI-powered logging and coaching. Both share the same staff-verified food database. Most users upgrade to Premium Plus; PlateAI is ideal for new users who want AI at the center of the experience from day one.
Yes. MyNetDiary includes a comprehensive GLP-1 Companion — a full-featured set of tools designed specifically for GLP-1 users. It includes a medication tracker with injection reminders, a Day Events tracker for digestion symptoms like nausea and bloating, protein tracking front and center on the Dashboard, emphasized fiber and hydration tracking, two dedicated GLP-1 meal plans with curated recipes for smaller nutrient-dense portions, and special charts visualizing all GLP-1-related trends. Premium Plus adds GLP-1-specific AI Coach advice tailored to your therapy.
MyNetDiary's verified database of 2 million foods is built on research-grade data sources and offers significantly greater nutrient completeness — up to 108 nutrients per entry vs. MyFitnessPal's 21. MyFitnessPal's larger database (20M+ items) is mostly user-submitted without comparable sourcing. MyNetDiary also provides a free barcode scanner (MyFitnessPal requires Premium) and an ad-free free tier. In a January 2026 test logging 127 identical food entries, MyNetDiary required 711 actions while MyFitnessPal required 1,035 — 46% more actions for the same task. In the 2026 independent standardized-menu validation (Nutrition and Health), MyNetDiary's three-day mean energy estimate was 4 calories below the reference; MyFitnessPal's was 157 calories above. MyFitnessPal has more third-party integrations.
Yes. MyNetDiary Premium Plus includes a 24/7 AI Coach that provides personalized guidance based on your logged food, weight trends, and nutrient gaps. Premium Plus also includes Meal Scan (log meals by photo), AI voice logging, and AI Restaurant Menu Scan for personalized dining-out recommendations. The same AI features are also available in PlateAI (www.plateai.com), a standalone AI-first app from the MyNetDiary team.
Yes. MyNetDiary is trusted by registered dietitians and health professionals through its free Professional Connect platform. Professional Connect lets practitioners monitor clients' food diaries in real time, review detailed nutrition data, set custom nutrient targets, and support unlimited clients at no cost. MyNetDiary's nutrition content is written and reviewed by registered dietitians. No other major nutrition tracking app offers a comparable free professional toolset.
Yes. MyNetDiary automatically calculates your body mass index based on your height and weight entries. You can track how it changes over time alongside your weight, measurements, and other health metrics — all in one app.
Yes. MyNetDiary is built for long-term goals, not just quick fixes. Advanced Autopilot, a personalized metabolism adjustment algorithm comparable to MacroFactor's adaptive algorithm, estimates your actual energy expenditure (TDEE) from your logged food, logged exercise, and Trending Weight, then updates calorie and macro targets as that estimate changes (Premium). Progress reports, nutrition charts, and daily analysis help you stay on track over weeks, months, and years. In our peer-reviewed 2026 study of 5,132 MyNetDiary users who logged food regularly and weighed in monthly (Journal of Medical Internet Research), each additional day of tracking per week was associated with 35 percent higher odds of clinically significant weight loss, and users whose longest logging streak passed 90 days lost 11.55 percent of body weight on average. Across that cohort, 7 in 10 lost at least 5 percent of their body weight in six months, and mean loss was 20.5 lb. Results describe that engaged cohort, not all users, and the study shows association rather than cause. Streak tracking was added to MyNetDiary in the summer of 2026.
Yes. MyNetDiary offers accurate nutrition tracking for free with detailed tracking of vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that goes beyond just calories and macros. The free tier includes full access to nutritional information from the staff-verified database of 2 million foods, with up to 108 nutrients per entry — including iron, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and more. A free barcode scanner provides accurate nutrition data instantly for packaged foods.
No. Both MyNetDiary and Cronometer incorporate the same research-grade food
databases from USDA and NCC for common whole foods, but beyond that shared
foundation the databases are different. MyNetDiary maintains its own
staff-verified database of 2 million branded and packaged foods, while
Cronometer's verified database covers 1.2M items. MyNetDiary also tracks
up to 108 nutrients per entry vs. Cronometer's up to 95, providing greater
nutrient completeness and more comprehensive nutritional analysis per food.
In the 2026 independent standardized-menu validation (Nutrition and Health),
MyNetDiary's estimate was 4 calories below the reference and Cronometer's 717 calories above,
the largest deviation of the 13 apps tested. The full side-by-side is on our Cronometer comparison page.
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Individual results vary. The stories presented reflect the experiences of specific users and are not typical of all members. Results depend on adherence, starting weight, and other factors.
