TL;DR
- For free calorie counting in 2026, Lose It is the value pick because its barcode scanner stays usable and Premium is only $39.99/year; MyFitnessPal gates barcode scanning behind Premium; Lifesum is the design-led but pricier option.
- MyFitnessPal Premium is $19.99/month or $79.99/year, and the barcode scanner has been Premium-only for new US users since October 1, 2022.[1][2]
- Lose It Premium is about $39.99/year with a large free food database; Lifesum Premium runs about $9.99/month or roughly $44.99/year.[3][4]
- None of the three computes a true dynamic TDEE on the free tier — they set a calorie goal from a BMR estimate plus an activity multiplier.[1]
If your priority is free calorie tracking with a working barcode scanner, Lose It is the best value of the three in 2026; if you want the largest food database and live with a paywalled scanner, MyFitnessPal still leads on database breadth; if you want the most polished interface and will pay for it, Lifesum fits. The headline change is that MyFitnessPal's once-free barcode scanner is now Premium-only. This compares verified 2026 pricing, free-tier limits, and database approach.
Verified comparison
| Dimension | Lose It | MyFitnessPal | Lifesum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium price | ~$39.99/yr[3] | $19.99/mo or $79.99/yr[1] | ~$9.99/mo or ~$44.99/yr[4] |
| Free food logging | Yes, large free database[3] | Yes, large crowd-sourced database[1] | Yes, with Premium upsells[4] |
| Barcode scanner | Available (Premium-gated for some new users)[3] | Premium-only for new US users since Oct 1, 2022[2] | Premium feature[4] |
| Database approach | Curated large database[3] | Very large, crowd-sourced (variable quality)[1] | Curated, design-led[4] |
| Calorie-goal method | BMR estimate plus activity, static goal | Mifflin-St Jeor BMR plus activity multiplier[1] | BMR estimate plus activity, static goal |
| Best for | Free tracking with a scanner, cheapest Premium | Maximum database breadth | Polished UI, meal plans |
Note on pricing. The MyFitnessPal price is from its official subscription page on 2026-05-25.[1] The Lose It and Lifesum annual figures are the prices each app lists in 2026; subscription prices for all three vary by region, platform (App Store vs Google Play vs web), and promotion, so confirm in-app before subscribing.[3][4]
The barcode-scanner change that reshapes the choice
The single biggest factor for a free user in 2026 is that MyFitnessPal moved its barcode scanner behind the Premium paywall for new US accounts on October 1, 2022, where it remains.[2] Barcode scanning is the fastest way to log packaged food, so losing it on the free tier meaningfully degrades the free MyFitnessPal experience. Lose It keeps scanning available (Premium-gated only for some new users) and pairs it with a large free database, which is why it has become the stronger free-tier recommendation despite MyFitnessPal's larger overall database.[3]
What you are actually paying for
All three set your daily calorie target the same basic way: estimate basal metabolic rate from your stats, multiply by an activity level, then subtract for your weight goal. MyFitnessPal's own documentation describes using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation for BMR plus an activity multiplier, and adding exercise calories back when you log or sync a workout.[1] This is a static goal, not a dynamic expenditure model that learns from your actual intake-versus-weight-change data. If adaptive TDEE matters to you, that is a different category of app; for straightforward calorie counting, all three do the same arithmetic and the difference is database quality, scanner access, and price.
Database quality versus breadth
MyFitnessPal's database is the largest, but it is heavily crowd-sourced, which means duplicate and inaccurate entries are common and you have to pick carefully. Lose It and Lifesum lean more curated, trading some breadth for fewer junk entries.[3][4] For logging accuracy, a smaller curated database can beat a huge messy one, because the calorie number you log is only as good as the entry you trust.
The cost math over a year
On annual Premium, the order is clear: Lifesum at roughly $44.99, MyFitnessPal at $79.99, with Lose It the cheapest at about $39.99.[1][3][4] But the more useful comparison for most people is the free tier, where the question is whether you need the barcode scanner. If yes, Lose It's free-plus-scanner setup or its $39.99/year Premium beats paying MyFitnessPal $79.99/year just to restore scanning. If you only ever search foods by name, all three free tiers cover that and price is moot.
Decision guidance
- You want free tracking and a barcode scanner: Lose It — keeps scanning more accessible and has the cheapest Premium if you do upgrade.[3]
- You want the biggest food database and accept a paywalled scanner: MyFitnessPal.[1]
- You want the most polished UI and meal plans: Lifesum, at roughly $44.99/year Premium.[4]
- You only search foods by name and never scan: Any of the three free tiers works; pick on interface preference.
Because none of these computes a true dynamic TDEE, it is worth understanding what your calorie goal is actually based on. The TDEE Calculator shows the BMR-plus-activity math these apps run, and the TDEE vs BMR vs calories-burned decision frame explains why a static goal can drift as your weight changes.
FAQ
Is MyFitnessPal's barcode scanner still free?
No, not for new US users. MyFitnessPal moved barcode scanning to Premium on October 1, 2022, and it remains a Premium feature in 2026.[2]
Which app is cheapest for Premium?
Lose It at about $39.99/year is the cheapest, ahead of Lifesum (~$44.99/year) and MyFitnessPal ($79.99/year).[1][3][4]
Do any of these calculate a true TDEE?
Not a dynamic one. They set a static calorie goal from a BMR estimate plus an activity multiplier, with exercise calories added back when logged, rather than learning your expenditure from intake-versus-weight data.[1]
Which has the best food database?
MyFitnessPal has the largest database but it is crowd-sourced with variable quality; Lose It and Lifesum are more curated, which can mean more accurate entries despite fewer total items.[3][4]
References
- 1 MyFitnessPal Premium — official subscription page and tiers — MyFitnessPal (2026)
- 2 MyFitnessPal's barcode scanner moved behind the Premium paywall (Oct 1, 2022) — XDA Developers (2022)
- 3 Lose It! — official app and Premium — Lose It! (FitNow) (2026)
- 4 Lifesum Premium — official pricing page — Lifesum (2026)