High Protein- 1x12 ct Chick-fil-A® Nuggets380Calories40gProtein16gCarbs17gFat
- 1xOriginal Flavor Waffle Potato Chips220Calories3gProtein25gCarbs13gFat
Meal total
600Calories43gProtein41gCarbs30gFatSimple Macros vs MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is the best-known calorie counter, a free plan and a huge food database, which it says combines foods MyFitnessPal added with foods its users shared. But in the US its barcode scanner, Meal Scan photo logging and voice logging are Premium features, $79.99 a year. Simple Macros gives you the barcode scanner and AI photo logging free, builds its catalog from USDA data, food labels and each chain's official menu, and lets you build your restaurant order with every option.
Prices, features and data sources checked .
Features and price
 | MyFitnessPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition data | ||
| Whole-food dataBanana, grilled chicken, white rice | USDA FoodData Central | Added by MyFitnessPal and its users |
| Packaged foodsWhat a barcode scan returns | USDA Branded Foods + products users add | Includes member-added barcodes |
| Who adds foods to search | Users, usually from a label photo; two matches = verified | Members can share; check mark = reviewed |
| Restaurant nutrition | Each chain's official numbers, every option | Includes restaurant dishes |
| Estimates marked as estimates | Yes, every one | Not stated |
| Features | ||
| Calorie + macro tracking | Included free | Included free |
| Barcode scanner | Included free | Paid: only with a paid plan |
| AI photo logging | Included free | Paid: only with a paid plan |
| Customize restaurant ordersEvery menu option at 200,000+ restaurant locations | Included free | Not offered |
| Meal GeneratorBuilds restaurant orders that hit your calorie target | Included free | Not offered |
| Log food in ChatGPT, Claude, GrokTrack by talking to the AI you already use | Included free | Not offered |
| Price | FreeEvery feature | $79.99/yrPremium |
Paid = only with a paid plan. No = we didn't find the feature on the app's own pages on that date. Not stated = the app doesn't say on its own website, help center or App Store listing. US list prices, features and data sources as each app describes them on its own App Store listing, website and help center; they can change, so check each app for current details. All trademarks belong to their owners. Simple Macros is not affiliated with or endorsed by MyFitnessPal. Our own data sources are on where our nutrition data comes from. Last checked .
What Simple Macros does differently
Barcode and photo logging, free.
On MyFitnessPal both need Premium. In Simple Macros they are free for everyone, with no trial to remember to cancel.
Build your restaurant order.
Simple Macros has each chain's full official menu with every option: swap the protein, skip the sauce, go light on the rice, and the macros update as you build. The Meal Generator builds whole orders that hit your calorie target.
Browse restaurant menusHigh ProteinLog food from ChatGPT, Claude or Grok.
MyFitnessPal's ChatGPT app offers recipes and nutrition guidance, but it couldn't log food when we checked. Connect Simple Macros to ChatGPT, Claude or Grok and your AI app can log meals, check what's left today and plan a restaurant order.
See how to connectI weighed 182.4 this morning
Simple MacrosLog weigh-inNice work! Logged 182.4 lb. That's 1.2 lb down this week, keep it up!
Lunch was a Chipotle bowl with chicken, white rice, black beans, fajita veggies, mild salsa and cheese
Simple MacrosLog mealGreat choice! Logged your bowl: 675 cal, 51g protein. You still have 1,120 calories and 74g protein to play with today.
Where the numbers come from.
MyFitnessPal says its database combines foods it added with foods its users shared, and puts a check mark on foods it has reviewed. In Simple Macros, whole foods come only from USDA FoodData Central, with USDA's numbers unchanged, packaged foods start from USDA's Branded Foods label data, and restaurant items come only from each chain's official numbers.
Where our nutrition data comes from- Whole foodsUSDA FoodData CentralUSDA's numbers, unchanged
- Packaged foodsUSDA's Branded Foods label dataPlus products people add, one per barcode
- RestaurantsThe chain's official numbersEvery option, estimates marked ~
- Photo loggingAn AI estimateAlways marked ~
When MyFitnessPal might suit you better
- You want the biggest food database: MyFitnessPal says it has over 20 million foods, including restaurant dishes.
- You like logging by voice: MyFitnessPal Premium has voice logging. Simple Macros has no voice logging in its app, though you can talk to your AI app instead.
- You want meal plans built from home recipes with grocery delivery: that is the MyFitnessPal Premium+ Meal Planner.
Questions
Is Simple Macros a free alternative to MyFitnessPal?
Yes. Simple Macros is completely free on iPhone and Android, including the barcode scanner and AI photo logging that need MyFitnessPal Premium. There is no subscription, paywall or trial.
Is the MyFitnessPal barcode scanner free?
Not in the US. MyFitnessPal's help center says Barcode Scan has been Premium only since October 1, 2022 (checked October 5, 2026). The Simple Macros barcode scanner is free.
How much does MyFitnessPal Premium cost?
As of October 5, 2026, MyFitnessPal Premium lists at $79.99 a year or $19.99 a month in the US. A higher Premium+ tier adds meal planning. Simple Macros is free.
Can I switch from MyFitnessPal to Simple Macros?
Yes. Download Simple Macros, answer a few questions to get your daily calorie and protein targets, and start logging. It takes a couple of minutes.
Sources
- MyFitnessPal Premium pricing
- MyFitnessPal help: Barcode Scan is Premium only
- MyFitnessPal help: Meal Scan is Premium only
- MyFitnessPal help: free vs Premium plans
- MyFitnessPal help: Meal Planner (Premium+)
- MyFitnessPal help: where food data comes from
- MyFitnessPal help: check marks on foods
- MyFitnessPal on the App Store
- MyFitnessPal blog: its ChatGPT app
- MyFitnessPal: ChatGPT app announcement (January 7, 2026)
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