Top Reasons Why MyFitnessPal Remains the #1 Fitness Tracking App

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 that allows users to log their calorie intake and physical activities, helping them practically achieve their health goals.

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 significant strategic shifts:

• Increased financial and development resources, allowing for rapid product improvements.
• Integration with a broader 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 personalised 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 offers a range of powerful and user-friendly features that highlight its core strengths:

Nutrition and Calorie Tracking

Users can log their meals manually or scan barcodes to access a vast food database. Additionally, the app includes a Voice Log function, allowing users to log foods by speaking. Please note that the Voice Log feature is currently available only in the United States. This function makes food tracking quicker and more intuitive. MyFitnessPal’s extensive and accurate food database is one of its key assets, ensuring that calorie tracking is both easy and reliable.

Activity and Exercise Tracking

MyFitnessPal syncs with various wearable devices and fitness apps to automatically track calories burned and physical activities. Supported integrations include:

• Strava
• Garmin Connect
• Fitbit
• Samsung Health
• Apple Health
• 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 serves as a supportive companion that guides, encourages, and celebrates users' achievements. The app’s tone and language foster a friendly and 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 lists directly to popular online grocery platforms such as Instacart, Walmart, Amazon Fresh, Kroger, and Whole Foods (available in the U.S.). 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 unlock advanced nutrition analysis, personalised meal plans, ad-free experience, automated grocery list shopping, and enhanced insights.
• In-App Purchases: Specialised 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 paid features and free version restrictions, premium subscription costs $9.99/month or $79.99/year in the US, occasional technical glitches, Voice Log only available in 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 seeking to improve their health and fitness in a supportive and enjoyable way.