Comparison · checked 2026-10-16
A MyFitnessPal alternative with AI photo logging and no account
If you are leaving MyFitnessPal because barcode scanning and meal scan are now Premium features, or because you want fewer ads or no account, look for three things: free barcode scanning, a database you can trust, and honest photo logging. Kalova offers free unlimited barcode scanning, AI photo logging with USDA-sourced numbers, and no account.
Disclosure: written by Daler Soliev, who makes Kalova. Competitor facts come from each app's own App Store or Google Play listing, checked 2026-10-16.
Why do people look for a MyFitnessPal alternative?
MyFitnessPal is the biggest app in the category, with more than 2.3 million US App Store ratings and a 20.5M+ food database that includes restaurant dishes. Its App Store listing puts barcode scanning, meal scan and voice logging in Premium, and lists ad-free logging as a Premium feature. People who want those features for free, or who prefer a smaller, simpler app, start looking elsewhere.
What is the difference between crowd-sourced and USDA-sourced food entries?
A large food database is useful, but size is not the same as accuracy. When many entries for the same food come from different people, two entries for "grilled chicken breast, 100 g" can disagree, and you have to pick one. A lab-analyzed reference database such as USDA FoodData Central gives one entry per food, with the analysis behind it.
A worked example: you log "cooked white rice, 1 cup". In a database with many user entries, you may see several results with different calorie counts, because people used different cup sizes, weighed rice raw or cooked, or typed the label of a specific brand. With a single reference entry and a gram weight, there is one answer, and you can see where it came from. Kalova uses USDA FoodData Central for photo results when a food matches, and Open Food Facts for packaged products by barcode or search.
How do the MyFitnessPal alternatives compare?
| App | Platforms | Barcode scanning | Photo logging | Database (per listing) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyFitnessPal | iPhone, Android | Premium | Meal scan in Premium | 20.5M+ foods, incl. restaurant dishes | Free tier; Premium, see their listing |
| Lose It! | iPhone, Android | Premium | Premium | 56M+ items and recipes | Free tier; Premium, see their listing |
| Cronometer | iPhone, Android | Free | Gold | Curated, 1.1M+ verified foods | Free tier; Gold listed at $10.99/month or $59.99/year (US) |
| MacroFactor | iPhone, Android | Yes (paid app) | — | Verified food database; uses Open Food Facts | No free tier; 7-day trial; $11.99/month, $47.99/6 months, $71.99/year (US) |
| Kalova | iPhone (iOS 17+), Apple Watch | Free, unlimited | 3 a day for the first 3 days, then 1 a day free; unlimited in Premium | USDA FoodData Central for photo results; Open Food Facts for packaged products | Free tier; from 17 Oct 2026, $0.99/month or $9.99/year (US), 7-day trial on yearly |
Which alternative fits which person?
- You want the same breadth on Android: Lose It! has a very large database, community groups and wide device syncing.
- You care about vitamins and minerals: Cronometer tracks 95+ micronutrients from a curated database, with free barcode scanning.
- You want a coach that adjusts your targets: MacroFactor's algorithm adjusts your calorie and macro targets weekly based on what you log.
- You want photo logging with traceable numbers and no account, on iPhone: Kalova. See the methodology for how the numbers are sourced.
How do you migrate from MyFitnessPal?
There is no direct import into Kalova. Apple Health is the bridge: Kalova can import your weight history from Apple Health, reads burned calories to adjust your daily budget, and writes the meals you log back to Health. What is already in Apple Health depends on what MyFitnessPal was allowed to share on your phone. Your weight trend is usually the easiest thing to keep.
Limitations
- Kalova has no Android version and no social feed or community groups.
- Kalova's database for packaged foods comes from Open Food Facts. Coverage of branded and regional products varies, and MyFitnessPal's and Lose It!'s databases are far larger by their own counts.
- Photo logging in every app, Kalova included, depends on estimating portion size from a 2-D photo. Check the grams.
- The author makes Kalova; check each listing yourself, especially prices, which vary by country.
Want to check how consistent a photo app is before you commit? Run the five-scan test.
Get Kalova on the App StoreSources
Competitor facts on this page were checked on 2026-10-16 against each app's own App Store listing, Google Play listing or website. Listings change; check them before you buy.
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/myfitnesspal-calorie-counter/id341232718
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myfitnesspal.android
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lose-it-calorie-counter/id297368629
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fitnow.loseit
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cronometer-calorie-counter/id1145935738
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cronometer.android.gold
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macrofactor-macro-tracker/id1553503471
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sbs.diet
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free MyFitnessPal alternative with a barcode scanner?
Yes. Kalova's barcode scanner, food search, nutrition-label scanner and manual logging are free and unlimited, and Cronometer's App Store listing says its barcode scanning is free. MyFitnessPal's listing puts barcode scanning in Premium.
Is there a MyFitnessPal alternative with AI photo logging?
Several. Kalova, Cal AI, SnapCalorie and Foodvisor log meals from a photo, and Lose It! and Cronometer include photo logging in their paid tiers. Kalova's free tier includes 3 AI photo scans a day for the first 3 days, then 1 a day.
Does Kalova need an account like MyFitnessPal?
No. Kalova has no account, sign-up or email. The food log stays on your iPhone.
Can I move my MyFitnessPal history to Kalova?
There is no direct import. Kalova can import weight from Apple Health and writes logged meals to Apple Health. How much of your MyFitnessPal history is available depends on what it shares with Apple Health on your phone.
Is Kalova on Android?
No. Kalova is iPhone only (iOS 17 or later), with an Apple Watch app and widgets. If you need Android, MyFitnessPal, Lose It!, Cronometer and MacroFactor all have Google Play apps.