Lose It! vs MyFitnessPal (2026): Which Should You Use?
Lose It! vs MyFitnessPal compared on free tiers, cost, database, and photo logging. See which calorie tracker wins in 2026 — plus a faster, free AI alternative.
Lose It! and MyFitnessPal are the two classic database calorie trackers, and they're more alike than different. The real decision comes down to free-tier generosity, price, and database breadth. This guide compares them — and covers the photo-first option that beats both on the thing that makes people quit: logging time.
Lose It! vs MyFitnessPal at a Glance
| Feature | Lose It! | MyFitnessPal |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Usable (incl. barcode) | Basic, ad-supported |
| Barcode scanning | Free | Premium only |
| Paid tier | ~$39.99/yr | ~$19.99/mo |
| Database size | Large | 14M+ (broadest) |
| Photo logging | Snap It (limited) | Meal Scan (Premium+) |
| Logging speed | Slow (database) | Slow (database) |
Free Tier & Cost: Lose It! Wins
Lose It!'s free tier is more usable than MyFitnessPal's — it keeps barcode scanning free, while MyFitnessPal paywalled it in 2022. On price, Lose It! Premium (~$39.99/year) is far cheaper than MyFitnessPal Premium (~$19.99/month, ~$79.99/year). For value, Lose It! wins.
Database: MyFitnessPal Wins on Breadth
MyFitnessPal's 14M+ entries give it the edge for obscure restaurant and regional foods. Lose It!'s database is large and perfectly serviceable for everyday eating, but MyFitnessPal is more likely to have a niche item already entered.
Photo Logging: Both Are Limited
Lose It!'s Snap It and MyFitnessPal's Meal Scan both attempt photo logging, but neither is built around it the way dedicated AI trackers are — they lean on database matching rather than estimating a full plate, and MyFitnessPal's is locked to the Premium+ tier. For reliable photo logging, you want a purpose-built AI app.
What Beats Both: Photo-First Speed, Free
Both apps share the same core friction — logging a mixed meal still means searching and selecting. Bento Bunny logs a full meal in about five seconds from a photo, includes barcode and text logging, and is free during its iOS beta with on-device photo processing on iOS 26+. It imports your MyFitnessPal export too, so switching keeps your history. See Bento Bunny vs Lose It! and Bento Bunny vs MyFitnessPal.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Lose It! for a friendlier free tier and cheaper Premium. Choose MyFitnessPal for the biggest database and ecosystem. Choose Bento Bunny if logging speed is what's stopped you sticking with tracking — it's free during the beta and far faster than either.
Start tracking with Bento Bunny
AI calorie tracking — just Type what you eat.