The 30-second verdict
Ember is a better fit if you want to log a meal by snapping it or describing it, for free, and track intermittent fasting. MyFitnessPal is better suited if you want a very large food database, dozens of fitness integrations and don’t mind manual searches or a Premium subscription.
Key point: MyFitnessPal’s barcode scanner, intermittent fasting tracker and Meal Scan photo logging all require Premium.
Ember vs MyFitnessPal: the key differences
This comparison is based on features publicly documented by both apps in October 2026.
Swipe the table horizontally to compare.
| Criteria | Ember | MyFitnessPal |
|---|---|---|
| Logging a meal | Photo, description or barcode | Database search, recipes, saved meals; voice in the US with Premium |
| Photo meal analysis | Yes, on the free plan | Meal Scan, Premium and English only |
| Barcode scanning | Yes | Yes, with Premium |
| Intermittent fasting | Timer, reminders and fasting periods | Yes, with Premium |
| Calories and macros | Yes, with daily totals | Yes; custom macro goals with Premium |
| Ads | None | Shown on the free plan |
| Price | Free plan, optional subscription | Premium $79.99/year, Premium+ $99.99/year (US) |
| Integrations | Steps, water and weight in the app | 40+ apps and devices |
Which app is right for you?
Choose Ember if
- You are tired of searching for every food in a database.
- You want to snap or describe a meal without paying.
- You practice intermittent fasting and want to track it for free.
- You want meals, macros, water, steps, weight and fasting in one clear view.
- You are looking for an ad-free app.
Choose MyFitnessPal if
- You weigh your food and want to find it in a database of over 20 million items.
- You sync a watch or fitness app among 40+ integrations.
- You often import your own recipes from the web.
- You are willing to pay for Premium to get fasting and detailed macro goals.
Two ways to fill your food diary
MyFitnessPal was built around searching a food database. Ember starts from a photo or a sentence to reduce typing.
- Search
- MyFitnessPal lets you search every food and portion in its database. It is precise when you weigh food, but slower at every meal.
- Photograph
- Ember estimates calories and macros from a photo. MyFitnessPal’s Meal Scan requires Premium and the app set to English.
- Describe
- Ember accepts a free-form description such as “chicken wrap, fries, garlic sauce”. MyFitnessPal’s Voice Log is a Premium feature limited to the US.
- Scan
- Ember and MyFitnessPal both read barcodes on packaged products; with MyFitnessPal, this requires Premium.
Strengths and limitations of each app
Ember
Ember focuses on meal logging. A photo or description generates an estimate of calories, protein, carbs and fat. You can correct foods, portions or preparation, then follow your day with water, steps, weight and fasting.
- Strength
- Photo and sentence logging you can use for free every day.
- Good to know
- Ember offers fewer fitness integrations and a smaller food database than MyFitnessPal.
MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal combines a food diary, a very large database largely built by its users, exercise and step tracking, and many integrations. Since late 2025, the company also owns Cal AI. On the free plan, logging relies mostly on manual search.
- Strength
- The largest food database and integration ecosystem on the market.
- Good to know
- Part of the database is user-submitted, which can lead to duplicates or wrong values, and the features that speed up logging are paid.
Free plan
Ember includes up to two AI analyses per day on its free plan, with no ads. MyFitnessPal’s free plan lets you search foods and track calories, macros, water, steps, exercise and weight, with ads. Barcode scanning, intermittent fasting, Meal Scan and custom macro goals require Premium, which costs $79.99 per year in the US; Premium+ costs $99.99 per year. Prices and offers vary by country and may change.
Accuracy
With MyFitnessPal, accuracy depends on the database entry you choose and on weighing portions. With Ember, it depends on what the photo or description shows: weight, cooking oil and sauces sometimes need correcting. Both produce estimates; seek advice from a healthcare professional for medical needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to MyFitnessPal?
Ember is a relevant alternative if you want to replace manual searches with a photo or a sentence, for free. MyFitnessPal remains more complete if you want a very large food database and many fitness integrations.
Is MyFitnessPal free?
MyFitnessPal has an ad-supported free plan for searching foods and tracking calories, macros, exercise and weight. Barcode scanning, intermittent fasting and photo meal logging are part of Premium.
How much is MyFitnessPal Premium?
In the US, MyFitnessPal Premium costs $79.99 per year and Premium+ costs $99.99 per year. Prices differ by country, and Premium+ is only offered in a few markets.
Is the MyFitnessPal barcode scanner free?
No. MyFitnessPal moved barcode scanning behind Premium in 2022.
Can MyFitnessPal recognize meals from a photo?
Yes, with Meal Scan. It requires Premium and, according to the official help center, works only with the app set to English. Ember analyzes meal photos on its free plan.
Can I switch from MyFitnessPal to Ember?
Yes. Export any data you want to keep, cancel Premium from your Apple or Google Play account if you have it, then recreate your goal in Ember and log your next meal.
Try Ember with your next meal
The free version includes up to two AI analyses per day, with no credit card required.
Methodology and sources
This comparison is published by the Ember team, so we have a commercial interest in presenting our app. To limit this bias, MyFitnessPal’s features were checked against: its official help article on plans, its Meal Scan FAQ, its intermittent fasting FAQ, its Premium page, its US App Store listing, accessed on October 7, 2026. Ember’s features come from the app and its official product page.
MyFitnessPal is a trademark of its respective owner. Ember is not affiliated with or endorsed by MyFitnessPal. Features and prices may change after the verification date.