Comparison · Updated 2026-05-05
Kalori vs MyFitnessPal: AI Photo Tracking vs Manual Logging
Both apps track calories on iPhone, but they take opposite approaches. Kalori is camera-first — you snap a photo and AI returns the macros. MyFitnessPal is search-first — you type or scan a barcode and pick from a database of 20 million foods. This page compares pricing, features, privacy, and platform support so you can choose the one that fits how you actually log meals.
Choose Kalori if
- • You log meals less consistently because typing is tedious
- • You're on iPhone and don't need cross-device access
- • You want zero ads and EU-hosted data
- • You'd rather pay $30/year than $100/year
Choose MyFitnessPal if
- • You eat out a lot and need restaurant/branded food coverage
- • You use Android or want web/Apple Watch access
- • Recipe library and meal planning matter to you
- • You don't mind ads on the free tier
The core difference: camera-first vs search-first
MyFitnessPal launched in 2005 as a database-driven calorie counter. Its core flow has stayed consistent for two decades: you type the name of a food, browse search results, pick the closest match, then enter portion size. The strength of this model is coverage — 20+ million foods, including most restaurant chains and packaged-goods brands. The weakness is friction. Logging a complex plate (say, stir-fry with rice and chicken) means three or four searches.
Kalori, launched in 2025, was built around a different assumption: most calorie trackers fail because logging is too slow. The primary input is the iPhone camera. You point it at the plate, AI identifies each item, you confirm portions, and the entry saves in under 15 seconds. Manual search and barcode scanning are still available, but they're fallback methods rather than the default.
Both apps sync to Apple Health, both track macros, both let you set calorie targets. The choice between them is mostly about which failure mode bothers you more: missing a niche food in Kalori's database, or giving up on logging entirely because typing took too long in MyFitnessPal.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Kalori | MyFitnessPal |
|---|---|---|
| AI photo calorie tracking | ||
| Barcode scanner (without paywall on free tier) Barcode now requires Premium+ on MyFitnessPal | ||
| Manual food search | ||
| Macro tracking (protein/carbs/fat) | ||
| Apple Health sync | ||
| No ads MyFitnessPal free tier shows ads; Premium removes them | ||
| iOS app | ||
| Android app | ||
| Web app | ||
| Apple Watch app | ||
| Recipe library MyFitnessPal Premium+ includes 1,500+ recipes | ||
| Intermittent fasting tracker | ||
| Free tier (without trial) Kalori is fully paywalled after the 3-day trial | ||
| EU-hosted user data | ||
| Number of supported languages | 13 | 12+ |
Sourced from each app's public website and App Store listing as of 2026-05-05.
Pricing comparison
| Plan | Kalori | MyFitnessPal Premium+ |
|---|---|---|
| Free download | Yes (3-day trial) | Yes (limited free tier) |
| Free trial length | 3 days | 7 days (Premium+) |
| Monthly | $9.99 | $24.99 |
| Yearly | $29.99 | $99.99 |
| Effective monthly (yearly) | $2.50/mo | $8.34/mo |
| Tier structure | Single plan | Free / Premium / Premium+ |
US App Store prices as of 2026-05-05. Both apps adjust pricing per country via the App Store.
Privacy & data
MyFitnessPal is owned by Francisco Partners (acquired from Under Armour in 2020) and operates an ad-supported free tier. The app disclosed a major data breach in 2018 affecting roughly 150 million user accounts. Data is stored on US infrastructure.
Kalori is operated by Sunbranch AS, a Norwegian company. The app shows no advertising at any tier, does not sell user data, and stores meal history in an EU-hosted database (Supabase, AWS Frankfurt). Photos are processed for nutrition analysis only and are not used to train AI models. Users can export or permanently delete their data from Account → Privacy at any time.
Platform availability
MyFitnessPal runs on iOS, Android, web, and Apple Watch, and syncs with 35+ third-party apps and devices including Fitbit, Garmin, and Strava. If you switch between phones or want to log from a desktop browser, this matters.
Kalori is currently iOS-only (iPhone, iOS 16 and newer). There is no Android, web, or Apple Watch app today. Apple Health sync covers calories, weight, and macros automatically.
Where MyFitnessPal still wins
Kalori is the underdog here, and an honest comparison should acknowledge where the larger app is genuinely better:
- Food database breadth. 20+ million entries vs Kalori's curated catalogue. If you eat regional restaurant chains or obscure international brands often, MyFitnessPal will have more matches.
- Cross-platform. Android, web, Apple Watch — all real if you don't live entirely on iPhone.
- Recipe and meal planning. Premium+ includes 1,500+ recipes and grocery-app integration in supported countries. Kalori has no recipe library.
- Maturity. 20 years of user-reported edge cases, third-party integrations, and a much larger community. The app is a known quantity.
Switching from MyFitnessPal
There is no automated migration tool between the two apps. If you decide to try Kalori, the practical path is:
- Download Kalori from the App Store and start the 3-day free trial.
- Set your weight target and macro split on first launch (takes about 60 seconds).
- Log a few common meals via photo so the system learns your portion norms.
- Cancel your MyFitnessPal subscription before its renewal if you decide to stay on Kalori.
Apple Health is shared between both apps, so weight and step data you've logged through MyFitnessPal will already be visible in Kalori via Health sync — you don't lose your weight history.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kalori cheaper than MyFitnessPal?
Yes. Kalori's yearly subscription is $29.99 (about $2.50/month), compared to MyFitnessPal Premium+ at $99.99/year ($8.34/month) — Kalori is roughly 70% cheaper for the comparable feature set. Pricing is set per region by the App Store, so your local price may differ.
Does MyFitnessPal have AI photo calorie tracking?
No. As of 2026, MyFitnessPal's calorie tracking is search-first — you type or scan a barcode to find a food, then enter portion size. Kalori's primary input method is the camera: you take a photo of your meal and AI returns calories and macros. The two apps approach the same problem from opposite directions.
Which has the bigger food database, Kalori or MyFitnessPal?
MyFitnessPal. It claims over 20 million foods globally, built up over 15+ years of community contributions. Kalori uses a curated nutrition database focused on accuracy over breadth, plus AI image recognition that can identify dishes that aren't in any database. For obscure restaurant items or niche international brands, MyFitnessPal will usually have more matches.
Can I use Kalori on Android or the web?
No. Kalori is currently iOS-only and requires iPhone with iOS 16 or newer. MyFitnessPal works on iOS, Android, and the web, so if you switch between an iPhone and an Android device or want to log meals from a desktop browser, MyFitnessPal is the only option of the two.
Which app is better for privacy?
Kalori. It runs no ads, does not sell user data, and stores meal history in an EU-hosted database. MyFitnessPal is owned by Francisco Partners (since 2020), shows ads on the free tier, and has had at least one major data breach (2018, ~150 million accounts). If privacy is a priority, Kalori is the more conservative choice.
Should I switch from MyFitnessPal to Kalori?
If you log meals less consistently than you'd like because typing/searching feels tedious, the camera-first flow in Kalori may stick where MyFitnessPal didn't. If you rely on MyFitnessPal's massive database for restaurant or branded foods, or you need cross-device access (Android, web, Apple Watch), MyFitnessPal still wins on coverage and platform breadth.
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