Metrical vs MyFitnessPal: A Simpler Approach to Food Tracking

MyFitnessPal has been the dominant calorie tracking app for over a decade, and for good reason. Its massive food database, barcode scanner, and detailed nutrition breakdowns set the standard for digital food logging. But a growing number of users are looking for something different — something faster, simpler, and more private. Here is how Metrical and MyFitnessPal compare in practice.

The Database Approach vs. AI Recognition

MyFitnessPal relies on a crowdsourced database of over 14 million foods. You search for what you ate, select the matching entry (hopefully), choose the serving size, and confirm. It works well for packaged foods with barcodes but becomes tedious for homemade meals or restaurant dishes where you need to log each ingredient separately.

Metrical takes the opposite approach. Instead of searching a database, you describe your meal in natural language ("grilled salmon with rice and a side salad") or snap a photo. The AI estimates calories and macros instantly. No searching, no scrolling, no guessing which database entry matches your meal.

Speed and Daily Experience

Logging a typical meal in MyFitnessPal takes one to three minutes, depending on complexity. A homemade dish with multiple ingredients can take significantly longer. Over three meals and a few snacks, you might spend 10-15 minutes per day on food logging.

With Metrical, the same meal takes about ten seconds. Open the app, type or snap, done. The daily time investment drops to under a minute. This difference sounds small, but it is the primary reason people stick with or abandon calorie tracking.

Privacy and Data Ownership

MyFitnessPal requires an account, stores your data on their servers, and has experienced security incidents in the past. The app includes ads in its free tier and collects usage data for personalization.

Metrical requires no account at all. Your data stays entirely on your device with local storage. There are no ads, no data collection, and no servers storing your eating habits. If you want to move your data, simple export and import options let you take it wherever you go.

Feature Comparison

• Food logging: MFP uses database search + barcode; Metrical uses AI photo recognition + natural language
• Speed: MFP takes 1-3 min per meal; Metrical takes ~10 seconds
• Account required: MFP yes; Metrical no
• Privacy: MFP cloud-based; Metrical local-only storage
• Cost: MFP free with ads (premium $20/month); Metrical completely free
• Macro tracking: Both support macros; Metrical estimates automatically with AI
• Offline use: MFP limited offline; Metrical fully offline

Who Should Use Which?

MyFitnessPal is a solid choice if you need precise tracking for competition prep, want barcode scanning for packaged foods, or rely on its social and recipe features. It has the deeper feature set built over many years.

Metrical is built for everyone else — people who want to be aware of what they eat without spending significant time on it. If you have tried calorie tracking before and gave up because it was too tedious, if you value your privacy, or if you just want the fastest possible way to log a meal, Metrical is designed for you.

The Bottom Line

Both apps help you track calories, but they represent two different philosophies. MyFitnessPal prioritizes comprehensiveness and precision. Metrical prioritizes speed, privacy, and simplicity. The best calorie tracker is the one you actually use consistently, and for most people, that means choosing the one with the least friction.