Diet App Scorecard May 2026: User Ratings and Review Trends

Sergey Oreshko - Co-founder and CEO of MyNetDiary

A look at what users actually wrote about 11 calorie tracking apps in May 2026, drawn from 2,508 filtered US App Store reviews. This month MyFitnessPal slid to a new low, BitePal's score jumped even as billing complaints rolled on, and Calo edged past MyNetDiary for the top spot.

Last month I flagged six apps for review patterns that didn't add up, and wondered in print whether the whole category was sliding toward manufactured ratings. May was a useful correction: three this month, not six. One month is a data point, not a trend, and I'd rather say that out loud than pretend I called it.

The three apps that stayed flagged are worth your attention, especially BitePal. Its rating jumped from 2.07 in April to 3.44 in May, the biggest one-month gain in the scorecard. That would be a comeback story if it weren't for two things: multiple reviewers describe being prompted to rate during setup, before they'd really used the app, and the billing complaints that sank BitePal before — charges after cancellation, duplicate charges, no refunds — kept right on coming. A rating that climbs while the core complaints persist is exactly what this scorecard exists to surface.

Two more headlines. MyFitnessPal hit a new low of 1.82, its fourth straight monthly decline since the March redesign, and is now the lowest-rated app in the scorecard. And for the first time since this series launched, the highest-rated app in a month wasn't MyNetDiary — Calo edged ahead, 4.66 to 4.56. I'll get into both below.

In total, May covered 2,508 analyzed reviews across the eleven calorie tracking apps that ranked in the US App Store's top 100 Health & Fitness category on May 31.

May 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 conflict was on full display this month, when a competitor out-rated us. I'm reporting it the same way I'd report a month we led — because the methodology and the limits of the data are what make this series worth anything. This is not an all-time ranking of calorie tracking apps. It's a monthly snapshot of what users wrote in May.

Apps are selected from the US App Store top 100 Health & Fitness category as of May 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's happening right now. Three apps this month are flagged for authenticity concerns — see the per-app sections below for what triggered each.

# = download ranking in top 100 Health & Fitness, May 31, 2026. Source: US App Store reviews. Flagged: review patterns warrant caution — see the per-app notes for what triggered each. A flag does not prove manipulation. Methodology: /diet-app-scorecard-methodology.html.

Scorecard Trends to Watch

Four months in, May was the month the data pushed back on a story I told last month — and handed me a new one I didn't expect. Here's what stood out.

MyFitnessPal's decline reached a fourth straight month. Four months ago, MyFitnessPal rated 3.67 in this scorecard. In May it rated 1.82 — its fourth consecutive monthly decline and the lowest score any app has posted since the series began. It is now rated below Cal AI. The redesign that started the slide in March is still the dominant theme: reviewers say the new layout buries the food diary, adds taps to log a meal, and no longer shows a full day at a glance. One nuance worth noting: review volume actually fell by nearly half, from 1,438 in April to 795 in May. Fewer people are reviewing, but the ones who do are angrier. That is usually what the tail end of an exodus looks like — the most invested users have already said their piece and moved on, and what remains is a smaller, sharper core. The open question now is whether 1.82 is the floor or whether June goes lower.

BitePal's rating climbed a full star. The complaints didn't. BitePal posted the biggest one-month rating gain in the scorecard: 2.07 in April to 3.44 in May. On its face, that's a turnaround. Look closer and it's the clearest authenticity concern of the month. Several reviewers describe being prompted to rate the app during setup — before they'd meaningfully used it — which is one of the most reliable ways to populate a rating with genuine-looking five-star entries. The distribution is sharply bimodal: brief, generic praise on one end, detailed complaints on the other. And the complaints that pushed BitePal to 2.07 in the first place haven't gone anywhere. Reviewers continue to report being charged after cancellation, duplicate or higher-than-agreed charges, an inability to cancel, denied refunds, and bot-only support. A rating that rises while the core grievances persist isn't a recovery — it's a sign that the inputs to the rating changed, not the product. This is the kind of billing pattern that does real financial harm to users, and it's worth watching whether June's numbers hold or correct.

For the first time since this scorecard launched, the highest-rated app in a given month wasn't MyNetDiary. Calo edged ahead at 4.66 to MyNetDiary's 4.56, and I'm not going to bury that — reporting the months where a competitor comes out on top is the entire reason this series has any credibility. That said, Calo's number deserves the same scrutiny I'd apply to my own. A large share of its five-star reviews are brief and generic, a few share near-identical phrasing, and several reference an identical “day 76” milestone — the kind of repetition that can indicate prompting at a fixed point in the user journey. It's worth monitoring. But Calo also has a healthy spread of mid-range ratings and plenty of specific, detailed reviews, which is why the overall pattern still reads as closer to organic than coordinated. Calo rated highest this month, the score is probably mostly real, and one or two patterns are worth keeping an eye on. MyNetDiary's own reviews skewed toward detailed accounts from multi-year users — but I'd rather you read them yourself than take my word for it.

Last month's authenticity spike didn't hold. In April, I flagged six apps for review patterns that didn't add up, and I wrote that it looked like a category-wide problem. May is a useful check on that. This month, three apps show flagged patterns — Cal AI, BitePal, and Calo — and three that were flagged in April (MyFitnessPal, Municorn, and Simple) read as organic. MyFitnessPal is the clearest example: in April, the mix of terse five-star praise and furious detailed complaints raised questions; by May, the negativity is so overwhelming and so specific that it simply reads as a genuine reaction to the redesign. I've been reading these reviews every morning since 2008, and if there's one lesson that keeps repeating, it's that a single month's pattern is a data point, not a verdict. The series is built to revise its own read when the next month's data comes in. This month, it did.

If there's a complaint that unites the category right now, it's ads. Cronometer — which reviewers repeatedly praised this month as a leading free tracker, with a free barcode scanner and micronutrient depth that genuinely outclasses most competitors — drew its loudest criticism over full-screen pop-ups, ads that crash the app mid-log, and “scam-looking” ad creatives. Lose It! users reported video ads after nearly every entry. Even MacroFactor, widely described as the best-designed macro tracker in the field, frustrates users with a paywall that only reveals itself after a long onboarding questionnaire. The pattern is consistent: the free tiers that get users in the door are increasingly cluttered with monetization, and the apps whose reviews stay calm are the ones that keep the experience clean. That's a genuine competitive divide, and users feel it every time they open the app.

If you want to see how these trends developed, the March 2026 scorecard and April 2026 scorecard cover the earlier months.

What Users Said About Cal AI in May 2026

Average rating: 2.23 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 151 | Filtered: 4 (nonsensical, pre-use placeholder, content-free) | Chart position: #6

Sentiment is strongly negative and centers on monetization. The most common complaint is that the app can't be used at all without a free trial or paid subscription, which many say the marketing obscured, often only after a lengthy onboarding questionnaire. A second large, specific cluster reports paid yearly subscriptions that stop working after about a month — prompting users to pay again — alongside denied refunds, double charges, a malfunctioning Family Plan, and unresponsive support; the word “scam” recurs frequently. Reviewers also flag inaccurate AI photo and portion estimates, failure to sync with Apple Health, and frequent crashes or blank screens. A minority praise the clean, simple interface and easy scanning. The critical reviews read as organic and detailed, though several brief or pre-use five-star entries suggest some in-app review prompting.

What Users Said About MyFitnessPal in May 2026

Average rating: 1.82 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 795 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated | Chart position: #7

May reviews are dominated by backlash to the recent interface redesign. The overwhelming complaint is that the new layout buries the food diary, adds taps to log meals, and no longer shows a full day's entries at a glance; many long-time users, some with multi-year daily streaks, say they're leaving for other apps. Reviewers also object to once-free features like the barcode scanner moving behind the paywall, frequent pop-up and full-screen ads, subscription pricing, forced updates, and reliability problems such as being logged out or food not saving. A minority still praise the free database or credit past success, but positive reviews are scarce. The patterns appear organic, reflecting a genuine reaction to the redesign.

What Users Said About Cronometer in May 2026

Average rating: 3.91 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 79 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated | Chart position: #12

Reviewers most often praise this as a leading free tracker, highlighting the free barcode scanner, deep micronutrient and macro tracking, a large database, and a clean, customizable interface; several mention switching over after other apps changed. The single biggest frustration is advertising in the free version: many describe full-screen pop-ups, ads that appear or crash the app while logging, and some “scam”-looking ad creatives, which they find increasingly intrusive. A smaller group cite a learning curve, occasional sync errors with Apple Health, and premium pricing. Sentiment is mixed but leans positive, with ads the clearest detractor. Review patterns appear organic, spanning detailed praise and specific complaints.

What Users Said About Municorn in May 2026

Average rating: 3.36 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 66 | Filtered: 2 content-free | Chart position: #32

Opinions split sharply. Fans call it easy to use and praise the AI food and label scanner, the clean Apple-style interface, and the motivation it provides, with several reporting weight-loss progress. The dominant complaint is the paywall: many reviewers say they completed a lengthy onboarding questionnaire only to find the app unusable without paying, and felt the “free” label was misleading. Others cite difficulty getting refunds or canceling, limited features for the price, no dark mode, and not being able to set their own macro goals. Overall sentiment is middling, with the forced-subscription experience driving most low ratings. Review patterns appear organic.

What Users Said About MyNetDiary in May 2026

Average rating: 4.56 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 168 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated | Chart position: #38

Reviews are strongly positive, frequently describing the app as easy to use, comprehensive, and a good value. Many highlight a generous free version, the photo-based meal scan and barcode scanner, macro and nutrient tracking, and helpful accountability features, and a notable share are long-term users of several years who report sustained weight-loss success. Some reviewers switched from other trackers and prefer this one. Complaints are fewer and center on subscription prompts and pop-ups, surprise that some features require payment, occasional database inaccuracies, a recent interface change, and a few refund or device-sync issues. Review patterns appear organic, spanning brief endorsements and detailed, specific accounts of long-term use.

What Users Said About Lose It! in May 2026

Average rating: 3.43 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 158 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated | Chart position: #47

Sentiment is mixed and polarized. Many reviewers are loyal long-term users — some for a decade or more — who praise ease of use, customization, recipes, community features, and weight-loss results, including lifetime members. Against this, a strong wave of complaints centers on advertising: video ads after nearly every log, repetitive medication ads, and “scam”-looking pop-ups that several call unusable on the free tier. Reviewers also object to once-free features like the barcode scanner moving behind the paywall, relentless prompts to buy a lifetime subscription even after paying, recent interface changes that added steps, lengthy questionnaires when returning, difficulty canceling, and performance lags. Review patterns appear organic, with detailed praise and specific, recurring grievances.

What Users Said About Simple in May 2026

Average rating: 4.19 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 620 | Filtered: 2 content-free | Chart position: #61

Reviews are largely positive and center on coaching and habit-building. Users repeatedly credit the AI coach and cartoon avatar with keeping them accountable, and praise the intermittent-fasting structure, daily reminders, educational articles, ease of use, and a supportive, non-judgmental tone; many report steady weight-loss progress, and older users especially appreciate the gentle pace. Recurring complaints include billing and cancellation friction — surprise charges after a low introductory price and trouble canceling — and “bait-and-switch” marketing, with several saying ads promised a Tai Chi walking program rather than a diet app. Others find the AI's food and calorie estimates inaccurate, want true calorie counting, or find the avatar's nudges annoying. A wide spread of mid-range ratings and varied, detailed reviews indicates organic patterns.

What Users Said About MacroFactor in May 2026

Average rating: 3.76 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 34 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated | Chart position: #65

With a smaller review volume, sentiment leans clearly positive. Many describe it as the best-designed macro tracker they've used and single out the adaptive algorithm that adjusts targets each week, straightforward logging, the barcode scanner, and overall polish, with several switching from other apps and reporting good results. The most common criticisms are that there's no free tier — some deleted it once payment was required after onboarding — and that initial calorie or macro targets were set too low for their activity level. A few cite scan inaccuracies, difficulty editing entries, or trial and refund issues, alongside feature requests. The ratings skew toward the extremes, but the reviews read as organic, with specific praise and specific complaints.

What Users Said About Calo in May 2026

Average rating: 4.66 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 103 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated | Chart position: #83

Reviews are strongly positive and emphasize simplicity. Users praise photo and barcode scanning, the ease of logging, helpful accountability, and affordability compared with paid programs, and many report weight-loss progress; some use it alongside GLP-1 medications or to manage diabetes. Criticisms are comparatively few: occasional inaccuracies in photo-based estimates, missing foods or restaurant items, intermittent bugs or slow loading, and an isolated cancellation complaint, with feature requests for manual data entry and meal planning. A large share of five-star reviews are brief and generic, a few share near-identical phrasing, and several reference an identical “day 76” milestone — worth monitoring — though a present mid-range tier keeps the overall pattern closer to organic than coordinated.

What Users Said About Foodvisor in May 2026

Average rating: 3.89 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 36 | Filtered: 0 random/unrelated | Chart position: #86

Reviews lean positive. Users like the ease of use, the camera-based macro and calorie tracking, the avatar that grows as a motivator, and the accountability, with several reporting weight-loss success and some valuing it for diabetes or macro goals. The most common complaints involve money: reviewers describe a “free trial” they found misleading, difficulty getting promised money-back refunds, and high subscription costs, several pointing to slow or bot-only customer service. Others mention lost logged data, accuracy gaps, or that features like daily weigh-ins felt unhealthy. With a small sample, sentiment is mixed-to-positive, and the review patterns appear organic, mixing detailed praise with specific billing and support grievances.

What Users Said About BitePal in May 2026

Average rating: 3.44 / 5 | Reviews analyzed: 298 | Filtered: 4 pre-use/content-free | Chart position: #92

Opinion is sharply split. Many reviewers love the gamified raccoon companion and praise quick photo logging and accountability, with a number reporting weight-loss progress and some using it during GLP-1 treatment. Against this sits a large, specific cluster of billing complaints: continued charges after canceling, duplicate or higher-than-expected charges, inability to cancel, no refunds, and unresponsive bot-only support. A second major theme is inaccurate AI calorie estimates, plus glitches and limited free features. A few note the raccoon's comments can feel shaming to those with disordered eating. Authenticity warrants caution: several reviewers say they were prompted to rate during setup, brief generic five-star reviews contrast with detailed critical ones, and ratings are strongly bimodal.

Summary

May was a month that tested the premise of this whole project, and I think it came out the better for it. A competitor out-rated MyNetDiary, and I reported it at the top. A story I told confidently last month — that review manipulation looked category-wide — turned out to be a one-month spike, and I said so. The series is only useful if it follows the data even when the data is inconvenient, and this month it had to.

In May 2026, the highest-rated app in the Diet App Scorecard was Calo at 4.66, followed by MyNetDiary at 4.56. The lowest was MyFitnessPal at 1.82, its fourth straight monthly decline. Next month's scorecard will cover June 2026, and I'll be watching three things: whether MyFitnessPal's rating finds a floor or keeps falling, whether BitePal's one-month jump holds or corrects once the setup-prompted reviews age out, and whether Calo's “day 76” pattern resolves in either direction. The complete methodology is published at /diet-app-scorecard-methodology.html.

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