Introduction and History

MyFitnessPal is one of the world’s most popular and widely used health and fitness tracking apps. It was founded in 2005 by Mike Lee and Alden Kilstein in the United States. The original idea was to create an easy-to-use tool for users to log their calorie intake and physical activities, helping them reach their health goals in a practical way.

After several years of independent operation and steady growth, MyFitnessPal was acquired in 2015 by Under Armour, a major sports apparel and equipment brand. This acquisition marked a strategic turning point that significantly accelerated the app’s development and market presence.

Strategic Changes After Acquisition by Under Armour

Following the acquisition, MyFitnessPal experienced several important strategic shifts:

• Increased financial and development resources, allowing for rapid product improvements.
• Integration with a wider ecosystem of fitness apps and wearable devices, including popular platforms such as Strava, Garmin Connect, Fitbit, Samsung Health, and Apple Health.
• Greater focus on user experience enhancements, adding new features and delivering personalized diet and exercise plans.
• Expansion of its revenue model beyond free access to include a premium subscription and in-app purchases.
• These changes helped MyFitnessPal grow its user base dramatically and increase its annual revenue, establishing itself as a leader in the digital health space.

Key Features of MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal’s core strengths come from a set of powerful, user-friendly features:

1. Nutrition and Calorie Tracking:
   Users can manually log their meals or scan barcodes to access a vast food database. The app also includes a Voice Log feature, allowing users to log foods by speaking. Note: Voice Log is currently available only in the United States.
   This feature helps make food tracking faster and more natural. MyFitnessPal’s extensive and accurate food database is one of its strongest assets, making calorie tracking easy and reliable.
   
   
2. Activity and Exercise Tracking:
   MyFitnessPal syncs with many wearable devices and fitness apps to automatically track calories burned and physical activities. Supported integrations include:
   
   

• Strava
• Garmin Connect
• Fitbit
• Samsung Health
• Apple Health
• And other devices connected via Google Fit
  
  
• Progress Monitoring and Habit Building:
  The app provides detailed progress reports, charts, and motivational insights to help users stay on track. It aims to be more than just a tracker — it’s like a supportive friend that guides you, encourages you, and celebrates your achievements. The app’s tone and copywriting foster a friendly, approachable atmosphere, making users feel understood and motivated rather than judged.
  
  
• Automated Grocery Lists and Shopping:
  Premium users can automatically generate grocery lists based on their meal plans and send these directly to popular online grocery platforms like Instacart, Walmart, Amazon Fresh, Kroger, and Whole Foods (available in the US). This integration streamlines meal preparation and saves time.
  

  Global Availability and Headquarters

  MyFitnessPal is based in San Francisco, California, and is available in more than 100 countries worldwide. The app supports multiple languages and has millions of active users across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. However, some features—such as grocery list integrations or voice logging—are currently only available in the United States. This global footprint has helped MyFitnessPal build one of the largest and most diverse user communities in the health and fitness app ecosystem.

Revenue Model

MyFitnessPal operates on a freemium model:

• Free Tier: Basic food and activity logging, access to the food database, and progress tracking.
• Premium Subscription: Monthly or yearly plans unlocking advanced nutrition analysis, personalized meal plans, no ads, automated grocery list shopping, and enhanced insights.
  
  
• In-App Purchases: Specialized meal programs, workout plans, and educational content available for individual purchase.
• Partnerships: Collaborations with grocery delivery services and fitness brands add value and create new revenue streams.

Revenue Growth and Market Position

MyFitnessPal’s revenue has grown significantly over the years, especially after the Under Armour acquisition. By 2024, the app reportedly generates over $200 million annually from subscriptions and in-app sales, reflecting strong market demand for comprehensive health management solutions.

User Feedback and Ratings

• Average Ratings: Generally between 4 and 4.5 stars on app stores, indicating high user satisfaction.
  
  
• Positive Feedback: Users praise the huge food database, barcode scanning, device syncing, and the app’s ease of use.
  
  
• Common Criticisms:
  
  
• Increasing number of paid features and restrictions on the free version
• The premium subscription cost (approximately $9.99/month or $79.99/year in the US)
• Occasional technical glitches or bugs
• Voice Log availability limited to the US
  
  

Overall, users appreciate MyFitnessPal’s friendly, encouraging style and how it feels like a helpful companion rather than a cold data tracker.

Conclusion

MyFitnessPal stands out by combining comprehensive nutrition and activity tracking with a motivating, user-friendly experience. The acquisition by Under Armour was a game-changer, fueling rapid growth and product innovation. Despite some concerns about subscription pricing and feature limitations in the free version, MyFitnessPal remains a top choice for users looking to improve their health and fitness in a supportive, enjoyable way.