MyNetDiary vs. MyFitnessPal: A Comprehensive Breakdown
Choosing the right nutrition tracking app is a critical step in managing your health and fitness goals. MyFitnessPal has long been the industry giant, known for its massive community and extensive food database. However, MyNetDiary has emerged as a strong contender, appealing to users who prioritize data accuracy and a streamlined user experience. Both platforms offer free versions and paid subscriptions with different strengths and weaknesses. The best choice for you hinges on whether you value a massive, crowdsourced database or a smaller, more meticulously curated one, alongside other features like coaching and integrations.
Core Feature Comparison
To understand which app fits your lifestyle better, let's explore their key features in detail. Both apps offer the basic functionality of logging meals and tracking calories, but the execution and additional tools vary significantly.
Food Database and Logging
- MyFitnessPal: Boasts a food database of over 18 million items, largely built by users over the years. This provides immense variety, especially for restaurant and unique food items. However, the crowdsourced nature means the data can be inaccurate or contain errors, requiring users to double-check nutrition labels. Key features like the barcode scanner were moved behind the premium paywall.
- MyNetDiary: Features a smaller but highly verified food database. This ensures a higher degree of accuracy in nutritional information, reducing the need for manual corrections. Its logging process is often praised for being faster and more intuitive. The barcode scanner and custom recipe functions are robust, and for premium users, the AI-driven 'Meal Scan' simplifies logging by identifying food from a photo.
User Interface and Experience
- MyFitnessPal: Its interface has been criticized by some users for feeling dated and cluttered, with a significant number of ads in the free version. The flow can feel less intuitive than newer competitors.
- MyNetDiary: Generally reviewed as having a cleaner, more modern interface that is easy to navigate. Users report a smoother and faster logging experience, which is crucial for maintaining consistency.
Goal Setting and Tracking
- MyFitnessPal: Allows users to set goals for calories, macros, and nutrients, but its calorie recommendation algorithms have been critiqued for not accounting for daily fluctuations based on exercise. Provides detailed charts and reports for premium subscribers.
- MyNetDiary: Offers highly detailed tracking, with customizable dashboards to monitor a wide array of nutrients, minerals, and other health markers. The app's algorithm dynamically adjusts your calorie budget based on progress, which some users find more intelligent and adaptive. It provides more granular insights into your diet composition.
The Financials: Free vs. Premium
For many, the cost is a deciding factor. Both apps operate on a freemium model, but the value proposition for each tier differs.
- MyFitnessPal (Free): The free version covers basic calorie and exercise logging but is heavily monetized with ads. The barcode scanner, once a free staple, is now a premium feature. Access to detailed macro tracking is also limited.
- MyFitnessPal (Premium): Around $79.99 per year or $19.99 per month, this tier removes ads and unlocks features like custom macro tracking, guided fitness plans, and detailed nutrition reports.
- MyNetDiary (Free): The free version is more generous, including the barcode scanner and basic dashboards. It's a robust option for those only needing to track calories and exercise without advanced features.
- MyNetDiary (Premium): Priced around $59.99 per year or $8.99 per month, this subscription is often seen as a better value. It includes advanced features like AI Meal Scan, detailed insights, specialized diet plans, and more comprehensive nutritional analysis.
Comparison Table
| Feature | MyNetDiary | MyFitnessPal |
|---|---|---|
| Food Database | Curated, verified data for higher accuracy. | Massive, crowdsourced database (18M+ items). |
| Database Accuracy | High, with user-reported corrections handled by staff. | Variable due to user-generated entries; requires manual checks. |
| Barcode Scanner | Included in free version and premium. | Premium feature only. |
| User Interface | Modern, clean, and intuitive design. | Dated and can feel cluttered, especially with ads. |
| Algorithm | Adaptive calorie adjustments based on progress. | Static algorithm (Mifflin-St. Jeor) that may underestimate needs. |
| Advanced Nutrients | Excellent tracking for a wide range of micronutrients (Premium). | Limited micronutrient tracking; more emphasis on macros (Premium). |
| Pricing | Lower-cost premium subscription ($59.99/year). | Higher-cost premium subscription ($79.99/year). |
| Community | Active but smaller community within the app. | Huge, long-standing community with forums. |
Which App Should You Choose?
Choosing between MyNetDiary and MyFitnessPal comes down to your personal priorities:
Choose MyFitnessPal if:
- You need the largest possible food database, including restaurant items and niche foods, even if it's less accurate.
- You prefer a large, established community for support and motivation.
- You are primarily focused on basic calorie counting and don't mind advertisements in the free version.
Choose MyNetDiary if:
- You prioritize data accuracy and a verified food database.
- You want a clean, modern, and ad-free user experience, particularly on the free plan.
- You're looking for more advanced nutritional insights, including detailed micronutrient tracking.
- You find the free barcode scanner an essential tool for your tracking.
- The lower price point for a more feature-rich premium plan is appealing.
Conclusion
While MyFitnessPal remains a long-standing and popular option for calorie and fitness tracking due to its expansive database, its premium paywalling of previously free features and its less-accurate, crowdsourced data have made it less attractive to some users. MyNetDiary has capitalized on this shift, providing a more reliable, accurate, and user-friendly experience, with a compelling free tier and a more affordable premium plan. For most people seeking accurate and comprehensive nutritional tracking, especially those conscious of budget and user experience, MyNetDiary is the better choice. If a massive, crowdsourced food log and a built-in community are your top priorities, MyFitnessPal still holds its ground. Ultimately, both are effective tools, but MyNetDiary offers superior data accuracy and a better free user experience in 2025.
List of Key Differences
- Database Accuracy: MyNetDiary uses a verified, curated database for higher accuracy, while MyFitnessPal relies heavily on crowdsourced data which can be inaccurate.
- Feature Availability: MyNetDiary offers its barcode scanner for free, a feature MyFitnessPal has moved to its premium tier.
- Cost: MyNetDiary's premium subscription is generally more affordable than MyFitnessPal's, offering more features for the price.
- User Experience: MyNetDiary provides a cleaner, more modern interface, while MyFitnessPal's UI is often criticized as dated and ad-heavy.
- Algorithm: MyNetDiary features an adaptive calorie adjustment algorithm, whereas MyFitnessPal uses a less dynamic formula.
For additional comparison, Techpoint Africa reviewed MyFitnessPal alternatives in 2025.
