Best MyFitnessPal Alternative UK (Free): 7 Apps Ranked

The best free MyFitnessPal alternative in the UK is CaveCals: barcode scanning, search, a calorie plan and macro targets are all free, and you don’t even need an account. MyFitnessPal now keeps barcode scanning behind Premium.

Last updated: 8 November 2026 · By Alan Spicer

What is the best free alternative to MyFitnessPal?

The best free alternative to MyFitnessPal in the UK is CaveCals, because the features MyFitnessPal now charges for (barcode scanning and quick logging) are free. It also needs no account, so you can be logging within a minute of downloading it.

I’ve used MyFitnessPal myself, and I’ve tried Weight Watchers and Livestrong. CaveCals beats them all for me, mainly because logging takes seconds: I take a photo of the plate or tell the app what I ate.

What do you lose on the free MyFitnessPal plan?

On the free MyFitnessPal plan you can still track food, exercise and weight, but barcode scanning, meal scan and voice logging are Premium features. MyFitnessPal’s own comparison page also lists custom macro goals, ad-free logging, intermittent fasting and food insights as Premium.

Source: MyFitnessPal Premium comparison page and UK App Store listing, checked 7 November 2026.

That’s why searches for a free alternative “with a barcode scanner” are so common. Three of the apps below scan barcodes for free.

The 7 best MyFitnessPal alternatives (UK, 2026)

Here’s the ranking at a glance, based on what you get free. Details and honest downsides for each follow.

Source: each app’s UK App Store listing and official site, checked 7 November 2026. Ranges quoted where the store lists several price points.

1. CaveCals: best free MyFitnessPal alternative overall

CaveCals is the best overall alternative because its free version covers everything most people used MyFitnessPal for, and logging is faster. You can type “650” to log 650 calories, scan a barcode, take a photo or say what you ate.

My favourite feature is Voice Log: I talk to the app like I’m telling a friend what I had, and it turns that into food entries with calories and macros. Meal Scan has been a life changer for me, because I take a picture of the plate and it works out the foods, calories and macros. Quick Add makes adding meals quick and painless when you know what you’re having, and I like the barcode scanner for anything in a packet.

• Free: logging, search, barcode scanning, calorie plan, macro targets, weigh-ins, progress charts, Quick Add, saved meals, a clan of two.
• Cave Cals+: more Meal Scan and Voice Log, recipe import, Cave Coach, extra progress photos, bigger clans. £4.99 a month or £39.99 a year on the UK App Store.
• Downsides: no vitamin and mineral tracking, and photo and voice are capped at 10 on the free version.

On iPhone, the code ALANSPICER gives one month free on the yearly plan. Read my full CaveCals review for more.

2. Cronometer: best for vitamins and minerals

Cronometer is the best free alternative if you want detailed nutrient tracking, because it’s built on a curated food database and its barcode scanner is free. It’s the app to choose if you’re tracking a specific vitamin or mineral.

The trade-off is that it’s more detailed than most people need for calorie counting. Gold costs £8.99 to £9.99 a month or £59.99 a year on the UK App Store and adds an ad-free experience and extra insights.

3. Yazio: best for recipes and meal ideas

Yazio is a free calorie counter with a barcode scanner and a big recipe section, with step-by-step cooking mode for meal prep. It suits people who want meal ideas alongside tracking.

The free version shows ads; Yazio lists an ad-free experience as part of Pro. Pro price points on the UK App Store ranged from £9.99 to £47.90 depending on the plan length.

4. Nutracheck: best for UK foods

Nutracheck is the best alternative for UK food data, because it’s built for UK users and says it has over 350,000 UK foods with photos. It also has a barcode scanner and a photo search of its food database.

After a 7-day free trial, you subscribe or stay on the free Lite version, which has daily diary limits. Paid plans started from £3.99 a month and £23.99 a year on the UK App Store, so it’s one of the cheaper paid options if you’re happy to pay.

5. NHS Weight Loss Plan: best free structured plan

The NHS Weight Loss Plan is a completely free app with 12 weekly guides and a daily diary, from the Department of Health and Social Care. It’s a good choice if you want an NHS-backed plan to follow week by week.

It doesn’t have barcode, photo or voice logging, so logging takes longer. Some people use it for the guides and a faster app for the food diary.

6. Lose It!: closest feel to MyFitnessPal

Lose It! feels closest to MyFitnessPal, with a calorie budget, weight loss plan and friends, but like MyFitnessPal it keeps barcode scanning in its paid plan. Its free basic features are calorie tracking, a weight loss plan and community support.

Photo meal logging, AI voice logging, the barcode scanner and macro tracking are all listed as Premium features. If barcode scanning is the reason you’re leaving MyFitnessPal, Lose It! won’t fix that for free.

7. MacroFactor: best paid alternative for macros

MacroFactor is the best paid option for detailed macro tracking, with AI photo logging, speech-to-text, a barcode scanner and a nutrition label scanner. Its App Store listing is clear that there’s no free tier, only a free trial.

Plans were £8.49 to £10.99 a month or £62.99 a year on the UK App Store. It’s built for people who want adaptive macro coaching and are happy to pay from day one.

How to switch from MyFitnessPal without losing momentum

Switching apps is quickest if you start with your regular foods. If you eat the same few breakfasts and lunches, save those first and logging is quick again within days.

1. Download your new app and set a calorie plan (CaveCals takes about a minute).
2. Log your usual breakfast, lunch and snacks for the first few days so the app learns them.
3. Save your regular meals so they’re one tap.
4. Use barcode scanning for anything packaged and photos or voice for the rest.
5. After seven days, compare your average calories and protein with your target.

If your calorie target needs a rethink, my guide to how many calories to eat to lose weight and the protein calculator give you a starting point.

Which MyFitnessPal alternative should you choose?

Choose based on the one thing you care about most. Here’s the short version:

If you’re new to counting calories altogether, start with my beginner’s guide to counting calories.

People also ask

Frequently asked questions

Is MyFitnessPal still free in the UK?

Yes, MyFitnessPal has a free version that tracks nutrition, exercise and weight. Barcode scanning, meal scan, voice logging, custom macro goals and ad-free logging are Premium features.

How much is MyFitnessPal Premium in the UK?

MyFitnessPal Premium was listed on the UK App Store from £7.99 to £15.99 a month and £39.99 to £64.99 a year (checked 7 November 2026). The price you see depends on the offer, so check the store before you pay.

Is CaveCals cheaper than MyFitnessPal Premium?

Cave Cals+ costs £4.99 a month or £39.99 a year on the UK App Store, which is at or below MyFitnessPal Premium’s listed yearly prices (checked 7 November 2026). Most people won’t need to pay at all, because CaveCals’ free version includes barcode scanning.

Can I move my MyFitnessPal data to CaveCals?

CaveCals doesn’t list a MyFitnessPal import, so you start fresh. Quick Add learns your usual foods from your own log after a few days, so starting over is less work than it sounds.

Is Cronometer better than MyFitnessPal?

Cronometer is better for vitamins and minerals because it’s built around detailed nutrient data, and its barcode scanner is free. MyFitnessPal has a bigger food database. For simple, fast calorie counting, I’d pick CaveCals over both.

Is the NHS Weight Loss Plan app a good MyFitnessPal alternative?

It’s a good free start if you want a structured plan. The NHS Weight Loss Plan gives you 12 weekly guides and a daily diary, but it doesn’t have barcode, photo or voice logging.

Which MyFitnessPal alternative is best for macros?

MacroFactor is built for macro tracking but has no free tier. CaveCals gives you suggested, editable protein, carbs and fat targets for free, and you can tap each macro to see which foods added the most.

Final thoughts

The best free MyFitnessPal alternative in the UK is CaveCals. You get barcode scanning, search, a calorie plan and macro targets without paying, there’s no account to set up, and logging by photo or voice makes busy days easier.

If vitamins and minerals are the priority, choose Cronometer. If UK supermarket food makes up most of your diet and you don’t mind paying, Nutracheck is the UK specialist. Otherwise, download CaveCals free, log a normal week and see if you miss anything from MyFitnessPal. My best calorie tracker app UK guide compares all ten apps side by side.

Sources: [1] MyFitnessPal Premium, Compare Free vs Premium (official). [2] MyFitnessPal on the UK App Store. [3] CaveCals on the UK App Store. [4] Nutracheck on the UK App Store. [5] Cronometer on the UK App Store. [6] Yazio on the UK App Store. [7] Lose It! on the UK App Store. [8] MacroFactor on the UK App Store. [9] NHS Weight Loss Plan on the UK App Store.

Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links (including CaveCals). If you sign up or buy, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I use or would use. Programme terms change, so check current terms on each site.