By Sophie Lane
Hi friends! I’m Sophie, and I’ve been using MyFitnessPal for over 2,000 days straight. That’s almost six years of tracking my food every single day! For most of that time, I used the free version. But about two years ago, I decided to try MyFitnessPal Premium to see if it was worth the money.
Today, I want to share my honest experience with you. Is MyFitnessPal Premium worth it? Should you spend your hard-earned money on it? I’ll tell you exactly what you get, what it costs, and whether I think it’s a good deal.
What Is MyFitnessPal Premium?
Let me explain MyFitnessPal Premium like you’re learning about it for the first time.
MyFitnessPal Premium is like getting the “deluxe” version of the app. It’s the same basic app you know and love, but with extra features that make tracking your food and health easier and more detailed.
Think of it like this: the free version is like a regular bicycle that gets you where you need to go. Premium is like upgrading to a bicycle with gears, lights, and a basket – it still does the same job, but with more helpful features.
How Much Does MyFitnessPal Premium Cost?
Before we talk about features, let’s talk about money because I know that’s what everyone wants to know:
| Plan Type | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $19.99/month | Testing it out |
| Yearly | $79.99/year | Long-term users |
| Free Version | $0 | Basic tracking needs |
The yearly plan saves you about $160 per year compared to paying monthly. That’s like getting 4 months free!
When I first saw that $19.99 monthly price, I thought it was pretty expensive. That’s like buying a new toy or going to the movies every month. But the yearly price made more sense to me.
What You Get With MyFitnessPal Premium
Now let’s talk about what Premium features you actually get for your money:
1. No More Ads
This was the first thing I noticed when I upgraded. No more annoying ads popping up while I’m trying to log my food!
Before Premium:
- Ads between every few food searches
- Video ads that interrupted my logging
- Banner ads at the bottom of screens
After Premium:
- Clean, ad-free experience
- Faster food logging
- No distractions while tracking
2. Macro Goals Customization
This is huge if you’re trying to build muscle or follow a specific diet plan.
Free Version:
- Basic calorie goal only
- Simple protein, carb, fat percentages
Premium Version:
- Set exact gram goals for protein, carbs, fat
- Customize goals by day of the week
- Set different goals for workout vs. rest days
For me, this was really helpful when I was trying to eat more protein to build muscle. I could set a goal of exactly 120 grams of protein per day.
3. Food Insights and Analysis
Premium gives you detailed reports about your eating patterns:
- Weekly nutrition reports showing your average intake
- Macro trend charts to see patterns over time
- Nutrient analysis for vitamins and minerals
- Meal timing insights to see when you eat most
4. Recipe Importer
This feature lets you import recipes from websites automatically:
How it works:
- Find a recipe online
- Copy the website link
- Paste it into MyFitnessPal
- The app automatically calculates nutrition per serving
This saved me so much time when I started cooking more at home!
5. Exclusive Food Database Access
Premium users get access to:
- Restaurant menu items not available to free users
- Verified entries for popular foods
- Premium-only food brands and products
6. Advanced Diary Features
- Quick add calories without logging specific foods
- Meal notes to remember what you ate
- Custom meal names (like “Pre-workout snack”)
- Multiple daily goals for different days
My Personal Experience: What I Love About Premium
Let me tell you about the Premium features that actually made a difference in my daily life:
The Ad-Free Experience Changed Everything
I didn’t realize how annoying the ads were until they were gone. Logging food became so much faster and more peaceful. No more waiting for video ads to finish!
Macro Tracking Helped My Fitness Goals
When I was trying to build muscle, being able to set an exact protein goal of 125 grams per day was incredibly helpful. The free version only let me set percentages, which wasn’t precise enough.
Food Insights Made Me Smarter
The weekly reports showed me patterns I never noticed:
- I eat more on Fridays than other days
- My protein intake drops on weekends
- I’m consistently low on fiber
Recipe Importer Saved Hours
Before Premium, I had to manually enter every ingredient when I made recipes from blogs. Now I just copy the website link and boom – it’s done!
What I Don’t Love About Premium
To be completely honest, not everything about Premium is perfect:
The Price Feels High
$19.99 per month is a lot of money. That’s more than Netflix! Even the yearly price of $79.99 makes me think twice.
Some Features Feel Basic
Some “premium” features feel like they should be free:
- Custom meal names
- Basic macro goals
- Removing ads
Not All Features Work Perfectly
- Recipe importer sometimes gets nutrition wrong
- Food insights can be confusing
- Some exclusive foods still have errors
Free vs. Premium: Side-by-Side Comparison
Here’s exactly what you get with each version:
| Feature | Free Version | Premium Version |
|---|---|---|
| Basic food logging | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Calorie goals | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Exercise tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Basic macro tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Ads | ❌ Lots of ads | ✅ Ad-free |
| Custom macro goals | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Food insights | ❌ Limited | ✅ Detailed reports |
| Recipe importer | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Nutrient tracking | ❌ Basic only | ✅ Advanced |
| Meal timing analysis | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Premium food database | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Who Should Get MyFitnessPal Premium?
Based on my experience, here’s who I think Premium is worth it for:
Definitely Get Premium If You:
- Track food every single day (like me!)
- Follow specific macro goals for fitness
- Cook a lot of recipes from websites
- Want detailed nutrition analysis
- Find the ads really annoying
- Take your health journey seriously
Maybe Skip Premium If You:
- Only track food occasionally
- Just want basic calorie counting
- Don’t mind ads
- Are on a tight budget
- Are happy with simple tracking
Money-Saving Tips for MyFitnessPal Premium
If you decide you want to try Premium, here are ways to save money:
1. Start with Annual Plan
- Save $160 per year compared to monthly
- Works out to $6.67 per month
- Much better value for long-term users
2. Watch for Sales
MyFitnessPal sometimes offers:
- New Year promotions (January)
- Summer fitness sales (June-July)
- Back-to-school deals (September)
3. Try the Free Trial
- Most plans include a free trial period
- Test all features before paying
- Cancel if you don’t love it
Alternatives to MyFitnessPal Premium
Before you spend money on MyFitnessPal Premium, consider these alternatives:
| App | Monthly Cost | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyNetDiary Premium | $8.99 | Expert-verified food database | Accurate nutrition data |
| Cronometer Gold | $6.99 | Detailed micronutrient tracking | Serious nutrition tracking |
| Lose It! Premium | $4.17 | Simple, clean interface | Easy calorie counting |
MyNetDiary Premium costs almost half the price and has many similar features. I’ve tried it, and the food database is actually more accurate than MyFitnessPal’s.
My Final Verdict: Is MyFitnessPal Premium Worth It?
After using MyFitnessPal Premium for two years, here’s my honest answer:
For Me: Yes, It’s Worth It
I use MyFitnessPal every single day, so the ad-free experience alone saves me time and frustration. The macro tracking helps with my fitness goals, and the recipe importer saves me hours each week.
For Most People: Probably Not
If you’re a casual user who just wants to track calories occasionally, the free version is probably enough. The premium features are nice but not essential for basic weight management.
The Middle Ground: Try It for 3 Months
My recommendation is to try the annual plan for one year. If you use it regularly and find the features helpful, keep it. If not, you can always go back to free.
How to Decide What’s Right for You
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I use MyFitnessPal every day?
- If yes, Premium might be worth it
- If no, stick with free
- Am I serious about specific fitness goals?
- If yes, macro tracking is valuable
- If no, basic tracking is fine
- Do the ads really bother me?
- If yes, Premium improves the experience
- If no, save your money
- Do I cook recipes from websites often?
- If yes, recipe importer saves time
- If no, you won’t use this feature
- Can I afford $80 per year without stress?
- If yes, try Premium
- If no, free version works great
Final Thoughts: Making the Right Choice
MyFitnessPal Premium isn’t essential for everyone, but it can be valuable for dedicated users. The key is being honest about how you actually use the app.
If you’re someone who tracks food daily, has specific fitness goals, and finds the ads annoying, then Premium is probably worth it. The time you save and the better experience might justify the cost.
But if you’re a casual user who just wants to lose a few pounds or track calories occasionally, the free version is perfectly fine. Don’t feel pressure to upgrade just because premium features exist.
Remember, the most important thing is that you actually use whatever version you choose. The best calorie tracking app is the one you’ll actually open every day, whether it’s free or premium.
My advice? Start with free, use it consistently for at least 3 months, and then decide if the premium features would actually improve your experience. There’s no rush – your health journey is a marathon, not a sprint!
Sophie Lane has been using MyFitnessPal for over 2,000 consecutive days and has experience with both free and premium versions. She enjoys helping others make informed decisions about health technology investments and believes the best apps are the ones you actually use consistently.
