Lifesum is gorgeous. That is not the problem. The problem is how much of it you only see after you pay, macros and diet plans included, and a food database that reviewers keep poking holes in. So if you love the look but want your macros back, or want numbers you can trust, here is where to go. Joules is our pick for fast, ad-free logging with a daily health score. Cronometer is the one to beat on accuracy. MyFitnessPal has the database nobody else matches, YAZIO keeps the clean design and adds fasting, Lose It! is the cheap and simple option, and MacroFactor coaches your targets week to week. Six apps, six different reasons to switch. Let us match them to yours.
Why people leave Lifesum
Credit where it is due: Lifesum is the best-looking tracker around, and its structured diet plans are genuinely useful if you want a framework. But the paywall bites. Your macro breakdown, the plans, and Snap AI logging all live in Premium, and the price is a moving target, reported anywhere from about $31 to $100 a year depending on where you are and what promo is running. On top of that, the food data is the weak link next to verified-database apps. If any of that pushed you here, the six below fix specific parts of it. Our Lifesum review lays out the whole case.
All six alternatives at a glance
| App | Best for | Standout | Ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joules (our pick) | Fast photo logging | Daily health score, macro rings | None |
| Cronometer | Accuracy and micronutrients | Verified data, 80+ nutrients | Gold removes |
| MyFitnessPal | Biggest database | 20M+ food entries | Free tier |
| YAZIO | Design plus fasting | Clean UI, fasting programs | PRO removes |
| Lose It! | Simple and cheap | Gamified, $39.99/yr premium | Free tier |
| MacroFactor | Adaptive coaching | Weekly target updates | None |
Joules (our pick, and yes, our app)
Why choose it: full disclosure first, we build Joules, so weigh this how you like. Here is why it still leads the list. Lifesum makes you pay to see your own macros; Joules puts them front and center. You log a meal by photographing it, the AI reads the plate, and you confirm or fix the estimate in a tap, about a second of work. From there you get one daily health score that tells you why it landed where it did, macro rings, an intermittent fasting timer, habit streaks, and Apple Health and Google Fit sync, all in a calm interface with no ads.
Ideal for:people who liked Lifesum's polish but resented the paywall in front of the basics. What Joules does not carry is Lifesum's shelf of structured diet plans, so if a guided plan is the whole point for you, be honest about that. See the download page, and our free calculators are here whenever you want them.
Cronometer
Why choose it:if Lifesum's data made you second-guess your log, Cronometer is the cure. Verified USDA and NCCDB entries, more than 80 nutrients per food, and free barcode scanning. It is not as pretty, and it will not hold your hand, but the numbers are the most trustworthy in the category.
Ideal for: anyone who wants accuracy over aesthetics. Details in our Cronometer review.
MyFitnessPal
Why choose it: the database, plainly. More than 20 million claimed entries means the odd restaurant dish or regional brand is usually already there. Premium is $19.99 a month or $79.99 a year, and barcode scanning has been paid since October 2022, which is worth knowing before you commit.
Ideal for: people who eat out a lot and want the widest coverage. Our MyFitnessPal alternatives page has more.
YAZIO
Why choose it: YAZIO is the closest match if design is what kept you on Lifesum. It looks clean, it folds fasting into the tracker, and PRO runs about $48 a year. One catch to carry over: the free tier shows calories only, not the macro split.
Ideal for: design-minded users who also fast. See our YAZIO review.
Lose It!
Why choose it: Lose It! is the budget pick. Premium is $39.99 a year, setup takes minutes, and the gamified streaks keep you logging. It will not wow you on depth, but it gets the job done cheaply.
Ideal for: people who want simple and affordable. More in our Lose It! review.
MacroFactor
Why choose it: where Lifesum hands you a plan, MacroFactor hands you an algorithm. It recalculates your calorie and macro targets every week from your weight trend and intake. It is $71.99 a year with a 7-day trial and no free tier, and it is the most data-driven option here.
Ideal for: lifters and deliberate dieters. See our MacroFactor review.
How to pick a replacement
- Want fast, ad-free logging with a daily score: Joules.
- Want the most accurate data: Cronometer.
- Want the biggest database: MyFitnessPal.
- Want design plus fasting: YAZIO.
- Want simple and cheap: Lose It!
- Want targets that adapt weekly: MacroFactor.
Set your target once with the free macro calculator so it moves with you, and check the best calorie tracking apps roundup for the full field.