Diet App Scorecard March 2026: 12 Apps, 2,900+ Reviews Analyzed

Sergey Oreshko - Co-founder and CEO of MyNetDiary

The Diet App Scorecard analyzed 2,922 US App Store reviews across 12 calorie tracking apps in March 2026 — up from 1,601 reviews across nine apps in February. One event dominated the month: MyFitnessPal’s redesign and the backlash that followed. Long-time users described broken weight graphs, a more confusing interface, and the feeling that an app they had relied on for years no longer worked the same way. At the same time, several smaller apps surfaced a different set of problems — billing friction, unreliable AI estimates, and, in a few cases, alarmingly low calorie targets. MyNetDiary remained the highest-rated app in the March scorecard at 4.56. See the full scorecard.

March 2026 Ratings at a Glance

As the CEO of MyNetDiary, I publish this scorecard with an obvious conflict: my company is part of the category being measured. That makes the methodology and the limits of the data especially important. This scorecard is not an all-time ranking of calorie tracking apps. It’s a monthly snapshot of what users wrote in March — what broke, what improved, and what they still trust enough to use every day.

Apps are selected from the US App Store top 100 Health & Fitness category as of March 31, 2026, and listed in download ranking order. Ratings are calculated from that month’s written reviews only, after filtering duplicates and unrelated reviews. The App Store’s all-time star rating, auto-generated Review Summary, and “Most Helpful” sorting can obscure what is happening right now. Three apps — Calo, FoodPilot, and SnapCal — are new to the scorecard this month, and because their review counts are small, their March ratings are directionally useful but less stable than the larger apps.

# = download ranking in top 100 Health & Fitness, March 31, 2026. Source: US App Store reviews. *Flagged: cluster of five-star Spanish-language reviews from users who had not yet meaningfully used the app. See the methodology at mynetdiary.com/diet-app-scorecard-methodology.html

Scorecard Trends to Watch

This is only the second month of the Diet App Scorecard, so it’s too early to treat every pattern as durable. But March produced one unmistakable event and several signals worth tracking. Some are product-specific. Others are starting to look category-wide.

Redesigns break trust faster than they build it. MyFitnessPal’s redesign produced the sharpest single-month rating drop in the scorecard: from 3.67 to 2.90, with review volume tripling from 242 to 752. What stands out is not just the scale of the drop, but the emotional tone of the reviews — users described years of habit, data, and familiarity suddenly becoming harder to access. Lose It! showed a smaller version of the same pattern after its UI update removed the macro slider and complicated food logging. In habit products, disruption is often experienced as loss before it is experienced as improvement. MyNetDiary maintains a consistent interface with no disruptive redesigns, and its rating held at 4.56 in both February and March.

Dangerously low calorie recommendations are spreading. Cal AI users flagged recommendations of 470 to 670 calories per day. MacroFactor had a report of 800 calories per day. FoodPilot: 873 calories per day. These aren’t edge-case rounding errors. They’re calorie targets low enough to raise real safety concerns, especially for people with a history of disordered eating. In February, only MyNetDiary’s AI autopilot coach was flagged for this issue, and that complaint did not recur in March. Seeing similar complaints across three other apps in one month makes this a category signal worth watching.

Billing complaints are no longer a fringe problem. In February, billing was primarily a Cal AI, BitePal, and Municorn problem. By March, at least six of twelve tracked apps face billing or cancellation complaints: Cal AI (charges after cancellation, double charges on family plans), BitePal (Paddle.net billing bypassing Apple), Municorn (cancellation difficulties), Simple (growing subscription complaints alongside its volume surge), FoodPilot (unauthorized charges, double billing), and Calo (surreptitious annual subscription). When half the apps in a category are drawing billing complaints, the issue is bigger than a few isolated bad actors. It’s becoming part of the user trust equation for the category itself.

AI calorie estimation apps remain at the bottom. The pattern held again in March. The four lowest-rated apps — FoodPilot (1.95), Cal AI (2.07), BitePal (2.09), and Municorn (2.31) — all rely on AI-powered food recognition as their primary tracking method. Users describe estimates that are hundreds of calories off, barcode scans returning absurd values, and no practical way to correct entries. By contrast, the highest-rated apps lean more on established food databases, structured tracking, or a combination of both. SnapCal’s reviews illustrate the problem vividly: the same meal scanned twice produced estimates 300 calories apart. If you’re trying to stay within a calorie budget, that kind of variance makes the tool hard to trust.

Good apps are being held back by execution problems. This is different from the AI-first story, and it’s worth separating the two. Cronometer (3.63) and MacroFactor (3.77) both appear to have strong core products and highly motivated users. Cronometer’s micronutrient depth earns fierce loyalty from people managing health conditions, and MacroFactor’s adaptive algorithm draws some of the most enthusiastic feature-specific praise in the scorecard, including reports of substantial weight loss. But both are losing ground to fixable issues: Cronometer’s full-screen ads interrupt mid-entry and a connectivity bug forced logouts in March; MacroFactor’s AI photo feature is stuck in permanent loading and regional food database gaps frustrate users outside the US. The reviews read less like abandonment and more like frustrated loyalty — users who want to stay, if the product catches up to their expectations.

What Users Said About Cal AI in March 2026

Average rating: 2.07 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 274 | Filtered: 5 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #5

Billing and subscription complaints dominate March reviews. Dozens of users report charges after cancellation, inability to cancel through the app, double charges on family plan upgrades, and unresponsive customer support — many calling the app a “scam.” App stability is the second most cited issue: widespread crashes on launch, severe lag, and paid subscriptions suddenly not being recognized after updates. AI calorie estimation draws continued criticism, with food photos frequently misidentified and barcode scans returning incorrect data. Several reviewers flagged dangerously low calorie recommendations (470–670 cal/day). A mid-March incident saw the groups feature hijacked with racial slurs. Positive reviewers praised the photo-logging concept and weight loss results, though favorable reviews tend to be brief. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About MyFitnessPal in March 2026

Average rating: 2.90 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 752 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #7

The March 2026 redesign dominates this month’s reviews, generating a wave of one-star ratings from long-term users — many citing 5–15 years of loyalty. The most common complaints target the new interface layout, broken weight progress graphs (freezing, missing data points, unwanted smoothing), and the barcode scanner paywall ($79.99/year). Intrusive ads and aggressive premium upsells compound frustration with the free tier. App freezing, particularly when logging weight, and crowdsourced database inaccuracies also recur. Positive reviewers — a substantial share — praise the food diary’s comprehensiveness, ease of daily tracking, and significant weight loss results achieved over years of use. A few users mentioned GLP-1 tracking. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About Cronometer in March 2026

Average rating: 3.63 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 82 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #12

Reviews are sharply polarized. The majority praise Cronometer’s generous free tier — particularly the free barcode scanner and detailed micronutrient tracking — with many users switching from MyFitnessPal and citing superior data depth at no cost. Long-term users highlight the app’s value for managing health conditions including diabetes and nutritional deficiencies. However, intrusive full-screen ads draw the most criticism, with multiple reviewers describing ads that interrupt mid-entry and pressure upgrades. A persistent connectivity bug — the app refusing to recognize an internet connection and forcing logouts — frustrated several users in March. Data privacy concerns about third-party sharing also surfaced. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About Municorn in March 2026

Average rating: 2.31 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 54 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #14

Paywall frustration dominates March reviews. Users consistently report being led through a lengthy questionnaire only to discover a subscription is required, with no free trial to evaluate the app first. AI-powered food scanning draws frequent criticism for returning incorrect calorie and nutrition data, with limited ability to edit entries. Billing complaints are prominent — users describe difficulty canceling subscriptions, continued charges after cancellation, and unexpected pricing. The food database is cited as sparse, missing common restaurants and basic items. Several reviewers also note UI issues including text cutoff on accessibility settings and a confusing logging interface. Positive reviewers praise the visual design and find the calorie tracking straightforward when it works. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About BitePal in March 2026

Average rating: 2.09 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 228 | Filtered: 2 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #24

AI calorie estimation is the most cited complaint — users report wildly inaccurate readings even when scanning nutrition labels, with portions frequently miscalculated. Billing issues are equally prominent: subscriptions processed through Paddle.net bypass Apple’s subscription management, making cancellation difficult, and numerous users report continued charges after cancellation. Many reviewers describe being unable to reach customer support or receiving only automated responses. The app also suffers from recurring bugs — daily data resets, lost goals, and connectivity errors. Users consistently note the raccoon mascot and gamification concept are appealing but the core tracking functionality is unreliable. Positive reviewers cite weight loss results and the app’s visual charm. A cluster of five-star Spanish-language reviews were posted by users who had not yet meaningfully used the app.

What Users Said About FoodPilot in March 2026

Average rating: 1.95 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 20 | Filtered: 2 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #25

Billing and paywall complaints dominate this small review set. Multiple users report the app advertising as free but requiring payment before any features are accessible, with several citing unauthorized charges, double billing, and inability to cancel. AI photo scanning is unreliable — meals disappear after scanning, the camera fails in restaurants, and multiple attempts are needed even in good lighting. One reviewer flagged a dangerously low 873-calorie daily recommendation. Apple Health integration is limited to steps only, with no exercise syncing despite claims. The few positive reviewers find the app functional for basic tracking. The small sample size (20 reviews) limits the strength of any pattern assessment, though reviews appear organic.

What Users Said About MyNetDiary in March 2026

Average rating: 4.56 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 304 | Filtered: 2 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #32

The vast majority of reviewers praise MyNetDiary for ease of use, a generous free tier with barcode scanning, and comprehensive nutrient tracking. Significant weight loss results are frequently cited, with users reporting losses of 50–100+ pounds. Several reviewers mention using the app on a doctor’s or dietitian’s recommendation, including for cancer treatment nutrition, IVF weight management, and diabetes monitoring. The fasting timer and food database accuracy draw consistent praise. Among the small share of negative reviews, the most common complaints are unexpected trial-to-subscription charges, persistent upgrade popups (including for existing premium subscribers), and UI complexity for new users. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About Lose It! in March 2026

Average rating: 3.34 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 293 | Filtered: 1 random/unrelated review | Chart position: #44

Reviews are polarized between loyal long-term users and those frustrated by recent changes. Positive reviewers — the largest group — praise the app’s ease of use, comprehensive food database, and significant weight loss results, with several users reporting 20–90+ pound losses over years of consistent tracking. However, a recent UI update drew sharp criticism for removing the macro slider, complicating food logging, and degrading usability. The barcode scanner paywall and intrusive ads — including for lifetime premium members — are recurring complaints, with multiple users citing rising subscription costs. App crashes, freezing, and sluggish performance after updates further frustrated users. A few reviewers mentioned using the app alongside GLP-1 medications. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About Simple in March 2026

Average rating: 4.20 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 824 | Filtered: 1 random/unrelated review | Chart position: #55

The large majority of reviewers praise Simple as a motivating, easy-to-follow weight loss program, with the AI coach (Avo) and intermittent fasting tracker drawing the most consistent enthusiasm. Users frequently cite accountability, daily check-ins, and exercise content as key strengths, with many reporting meaningful weight loss. The Blinky mascot polarizes — loved by some for gamification, criticized by others as annoying or guilt-inducing. Among negative reviews, subscription and cancellation issues dominate: users report difficulty canceling, charges after cancellation, and misleading trial-to-subscription pricing. Food logging accuracy and limited barcode scanning are also noted weaknesses. Some reviewers found the AI coaching repetitive or generic over time. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About MacroFactor in March 2026

Average rating: 3.77 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 40 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #75

The majority of reviewers praise MacroFactor’s verified food database, intuitive logging, and adaptive calorie algorithm, with several users reporting substantial weight loss (30–100+ pounds) and citing it as superior to MyFitnessPal. The barcode scanner, macro/micro breakdowns, and analytics draw consistent enthusiasm. However, the lack of a free tier frustrates users who complete the setup process only to hit a paywall. Other complaints include missing exercise logging, an AI photo feature stuck in permanent loading, regional food database gaps, and one reviewer citing a dangerously low 800-calorie recommendation. Price skeptics question the value relative to free alternatives. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About Calo in March 2026

Average rating: 4.39 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 38 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated reviews | Chart position: #79

The large majority of reviewers praise Calo for its simplicity and ease of use, with photo-based calorie tracking and barcode scanning highlighted as standout features. Multiple users report meaningful weight loss and credit the app for helping them stay accountable. Apple Health integration for syncing workouts receives positive mention. Among the few criticisms, one reviewer found the photo scanning inaccurate in most attempts, and others noted a limited food database — particularly missing name-brand items and restaurant options. One reviewer flagged the absence of basal metabolic rate calculations, and another noted a surreptitious annual subscription with no refund option. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About SnapCal in March 2026

Average rating: 3.00 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 13 | Filtered: 1 random/unrelated review | Chart position: #89

With a very small review sample, SnapCal shows a polarized split between five-star and one-star ratings. Positive reviewers appreciate the food photo recognition concept and daily tracking features, though several rated the app before meaningful use. Negative reviewers cite wildly inconsistent AI calorie estimates — the same meal varying by 300 calories between scans — and barcode scanning errors returning absurd values (5,000g protein instead of 50g). The paywall frustrates users who expected a free app. One reviewer noted the app does not sync across devices. The small sample size (13 reviews) limits pattern assessment, though reviews appear organic.

Summary

March reinforced how fragile trust is in calorie tracking apps. When an interface changes too much, when billing becomes hard to understand, or when calorie estimates are obviously wrong, users respond quickly and publicly. The March reviews suggest that people still reward the same fundamentals: accurate data, straightforward logging, and subscription mechanics they understand.

In March 2026, the highest-rated calorie tracking app in the Diet App Scorecard was MyNetDiary at 4.56 out of 5. The lowest was FoodPilot at 1.95. Next month’s scorecard will cover April 2026, and I’ll be watching three things: whether MyFitnessPal’s rating stabilizes after the redesign, whether low-calorie-target complaints continue to spread, and whether early GLP-1 tracking mentions in MyFitnessPal and Lose It! reviews grow into a broader category signal. The complete methodology is published at mynetdiary.com/diet-app-scorecard-methodology.html.

Disclosure

The Diet App Scorecard is published by MyNetDiary, and MyNetDiary is included because it appeared in the top 100 Health & Fitness apps on the US App Store during the measurement period. Apps qualify whether they reach the top 100 organically or through paid marketing. We apply the same methodology, filtering criteria, and analysis prompt to MyNetDiary as to the other apps in the scorecard. The complete methodology is published at mynetdiary.com/diet-app-scorecard-methodology.html.

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