Does MyFitnessPal Show Calories Burned? A Guide to Tracking Exercise

December 15, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all U.S. adults are trying to lose weight. For many, this goal requires close monitoring of both caloric intake and energy expenditure, raising the question: 'Does MyFitnessPal show calories burned?'

Quick Summary

MyFitnessPal shows calories burned through two primary methods: manual exercise logging and syncing with a compatible fitness tracker. The app then adjusts your daily calorie goal based on this activity. Accurate logging is crucial for effective weight management and can be done for both cardio and strength training workouts.

Key Points

Two Tracking Methods: MyFitnessPal allows users to track calories burned either by manually logging exercises or by syncing with a compatible fitness tracker like Fitbit or Apple Watch.
Automatic Calorie Adjustment: When you sync a fitness tracker, MyFitnessPal automatically calculates a 'Calorie Adjustment,' which adds or subtracts calories from your daily goal to accurately reflect your total activity level.
Manual Entry for Cardio and Strength: You can manually log hundreds of cardio activities by duration. Strength training can also be logged, and while it doesn't add a direct calorie value for free users, it can be recorded in 'Workout Routines'.
Accuracy Considerations: While convenient, all estimates of calories burned have a margin of error. Data from a synced fitness tracker is generally more accurate than manual entries based on general averages.
Net Calories Concept: The app operates on a 'Net Calorie' system, where calories burned from exercise are added to your daily budget, allowing you to effectively 'earn' back calories.

How MyFitnessPal Displays Calories Burned

MyFitnessPal's primary function is to help users balance their daily calorie intake with their total energy expenditure. The app's diary screen provides a clear breakdown of this equation, displaying your calorie goal, the calories consumed from food, and the calories burned from exercise. By tracking your physical activity, the app effectively 'adds back' calories to your daily budget, allowing for more precise control over a calorie deficit or surplus.

Method 1: Manual Exercise Entry

This method is ideal for those who don't use a fitness tracker or prefer to enter their workout data directly. MyFitnessPal features a comprehensive database of exercises, making it easy to log your activity.

For Cardio: You can search the database for specific activities like 'running,' 'swimming,' or 'cycling.' Once selected, you'll enter the duration of the exercise in minutes, and the app will calculate the estimated calories burned based on your personal metrics (age, weight, height, etc.).
For Strength: You can log your reps, sets, and weight for strength training. As a note, strength exercises logged individually do not directly count toward your calorie expenditure in the same way as cardio, but the premium 'Workout Routines' feature can track this. For free users, a common workaround is to create a custom cardio entry named 'Strength Training' and input the estimated calories burned.

Method 2: Syncing with a Fitness Tracker

The most accurate way to track calories burned is by connecting a third-party fitness tracker or app, such as Apple Watch, Fitbit, or Garmin, to MyFitnessPal.

Initial Setup: Navigate to 'Apps & Devices' in the MyFitnessPal app's menu to find a list of compatible integrations. You will need to log in to your tracker's account to authorize the connection.
Data Synchronization: Once connected, the apps will communicate with each other. Your fitness tracker's data, including steps and specific workout sessions, is automatically synced to MyFitnessPal's servers.
The Calorie Adjustment: MyFitnessPal uses this synced data to generate a 'Calorie Adjustment'. This adjustment accounts for the difference between the calories your tracker estimates you've burned and the app's own base metabolic rate (BMR) estimate. This process prevents double-counting and provides a more accurate picture of your total daily energy expenditure.

Understanding Calorie Burn Accuracy

It is important to remember that all calorie burn metrics are estimations. The accuracy depends on the data source and the method used. Wearable devices use heart rate and other biometric data, which is generally more precise than manual entries based on general averages. However, even trackers can overestimate calories burned during exercise, a factor to consider for those in a strict calorie-deficit regimen.

How to Get the Most Accurate Calorie Data

Wear your device consistently. For a full-day projection of calorie burn, your tracker needs consistent data.
Enter your weight accurately. Both manual entries and tracker data rely on your current weight to calculate expenditure.
Cross-reference data. If you have multiple devices or a manual calculation, compare the numbers to identify any discrepancies. Websites like Concept2 provide manual calorie calculators for different exercises.
Consider negative adjustments. MyFitnessPal users can enable 'Negative Adjustments' in their settings to allow the app to reduce your daily calorie goal if your tracker reports a lower burn than the app's default estimate. This can lead to a more realistic calorie budget.

Comparison Table: Manual Entry vs. Fitness Tracker Sync


Feature	Manual Exercise Entry	Fitness Tracker Sync
Accuracy	Lower; based on averages for your profile.	Higher; based on your heart rate and personalized data.
Convenience	Fast for single, simple exercises. Can be tedious for complex workouts.	Automatic and passive once set up.
Setup	None, just search and log.	Requires initial linking of accounts.
Data Detail	Limited to calories, time, and reps/sets.	Can include heart rate, intensity levels, and detailed exercise breakdowns.
Consistency	Can be inconsistent if you miss logging or are unsure of duration/intensity.	Provides consistent, minute-by-minute tracking throughout the day.

Conclusion: Making MyFitnessPal Work for You

MyFitnessPal clearly and effectively shows calories burned, making it a valuable tool for anyone managing their nutrition and fitness goals. For the most convenient and accurate experience, connecting a third-party fitness tracker is the optimal choice, as it automates the process and provides a more personalized estimate of your daily energy expenditure. For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, the app's manual logging options are robust and can be customized to suit your needs. Regardless of the method you choose, consistent and thoughtful logging is the key to leveraging this feature for successful weight management.

Visit the MyFitnessPal App and Devices page for a complete list of integration partners.

Optional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can manually override the calculated calorie burn for an exercise entry. Log a new exercise, input the duration, and then double-tap or select the calorie value to enter your preferred number.

This is due to the 'Calorie Adjustment' feature. The app compares its own estimate of your daily burn to the data from your tracker. If your tracker reports a higher calorie burn, you will get a positive adjustment to your daily goal.

For free users, only cardio exercises add calories to your daily budget. While you can log strength training, it is primarily for record-keeping unless you use the premium 'Workout Routines' feature, which counts strength-based exercises toward caloric expenditure.

Yes, MyFitnessPal can track steps using the sensors in your smartphone. For more detailed activity tracking and a full-day calorie burn estimate, however, a dedicated fitness tracker is more effective.

Syncing relies on data traveling from your device to the tracker's app, then to its cloud server, and finally to MyFitnessPal. This process can sometimes have a delay of 15-20 minutes.

For optimal accuracy, ensure your fitness tracker is consistently worn and synced, your weight and age in MyFitnessPal are current, and consider enabling negative adjustments to account for lower activity days.

No. The basic features for manual entry and syncing most fitness trackers are available to free users. Some advanced tracking, like detailed strength workout calorie expenditure, may require a premium subscription.