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I initially wrote this review in December 2021, just after the Macrofactor app launched.
Since then, I’ve continued to use (and pay) for the app and am now bringing you an up-to-date review as of the most current publish date.
The app has evolved with each iteration, and I’m convinced, now more than ever, that MacroFactor is the best nutrition app on the market.
I don’t give that title easily either since I’ve personally tested and reviewed 20 of the most popular food-tracking apps.
Given my history using MacroFactor and knowing how it compares with the rest of the app market, I’ll share everything you need to know below.
Want to use MacroFactor? Enter code FEASTGOOD when signing up to get an extra week on your free trial (2 weeks total). Cancel any time before your trial ends without being charged.
Key Takeaways
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- MacroFactor is worth every penny. It’s 50% of the cost of MyFitnessPal and has far greater functionality and accuracy.
- It’s the most customizable nutrition tracker on the market; it constantly adapts to your metabolism, is easy to use, and is upgraded regularly as new scientific evidence is presented.
- To facilitate better results, MacroFactor automatically updates your nutrition targets in accordance with your changing caloric needs. This is very similar to how a nutrition coach would update your targets as they see you progress week-to-week.
- MacroFactor has an extensive verified food database that encourages more accurate food logging entries compared with all the apps I’ve tested.
- MacroFactor is designed to encourage consistency rather than perfection so that users don’t feel ashamed about their choices and can be more successful in the long term.
Overall Rating: 4.8/5
Overview
Features
Best For
Enter code FEASTGOOD when signing up to get an extra week on your free trial (2 weeks total). Cancel any time before your trial ends without being charged.
Medical Disclaimer: The content of this article is provided for educational insights only. It should not be used as medical guidance. Individuals with a past of disordered eating should refrain from weight loss programs or calorie tracking. For medical advice, consult a certified healthcare professional. If you’re struggling with eating disorders, contact NEDA for assistance.
2+ Years Using MacroFactor As A Nutrition Coach
Hi, I’m Amanda Parker.
As a nutritionist, my clients often ask me if they should be tracking their macros, and my answer is always, “It depends.”
One of the reasons it depends is that most people don’t do well with rigidity as it’s not sustainable long-term, which is the experience that most have with macro trackers that expect us to hit our macros perfectly or else the system adjusts our calories/macros lower almost as a punishment.
But my experience with MacroFactor is completely different because their system is set up to be more intuitive and accepts that, as human beings, we’re not always going to be “on point,” and that’s okay.
So, instead of punishing me for not adhering 100% to my targets, the system adjusts to suit what I can do each week.
Because of this, I feel comfortable recommending macro tracking to more clients because I think it would be a more positive experience since there is more flexibility and less unrealistic expectations with MacroFactor.
I also feel that using MacroFactor would be a good opportunity for my clients to learn more about nutrition because MacroFactor does a great job explaining why it’s adjusting targets and why the inputs are important.
Overall, my experience with MacroFactor has been extremely positive, and I would feel comfortable recommending it to any of my clients as a platform for tracking their macros.
Below is everything you need to know about MacroFactor. Click the links to skip to the section you want to learn more about:
- What Is MacroFactor
- How Does MacroFactor Work?
- What I Like About MacroFactor
- What I Don’t Like About MacroFactor
- How To Customise MacroFactor For Best Results
- What Do Users Have To Say About MacroFactor?
- How Much Does MacroFactor Cost?
- Who Should Use MacroFactor?
- Who Should NOT Use MacroFactor?
- Sign Up For MacroFactor
- MacroFactor Alternatives
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is MacroFactor?
MacroFactor is a nutrition logging app that serves as a built-in nutrition coach.
MacroFactor got everyone buzzing when it hit the app store in 2021 because it was created by well-respected fitness and nutrition expert Greg Nuckols.
Greg explains that the app was designed:
“To empower you with the recommendations and tools you need to reach your goals without stress, shaming, or unnecessary rigidity.”
- Want to learn more about the brand? We recently interviewed Greg Nuckols. Read the MacroFactor Story here.
How Does MacroFactor Work?
MacroFactor estimates a user’s calorie and macronutrient targets based on their goals (weight gain, maintenance, or loss) and provides all of the tools necessary to log food to stay on track with these targets.
MacroFactor encourages you to stick to the recommended targets that it has set so that it can make adjustments to your intake based on how your body responds to the intake.
However, the app doesn’t expect perfection; instead, it’s designed to account for fluctuations here and there.
This flexibility makes MacroFactor more sustainable because users won’t have to feel like they have to hit precise targets to see progress.
MacroFactor is designed to work with you, not against you (more on this later).
- If you’ve already downloaded the app, check out my MacroFactor Tutorial for Beginners, which will walk you through customizing the app for your goals.
What I Liked About MacroFactor
1. The App Has A Large Verified Food Database
One of the best things about the app is its extensive food database, which has been verified to contain accurate nutritional information so that users can feel confident that the foods they’re logging are accurate.
Having a food database that you can trust is the difference between reaching your goals or not.
There is nothing more annoying than taking the time to log all my food and not having it be accurate. What’s the point in logging all my food if the database I use to judge my intake isn’t accurate?
Unlike other apps, MacroFactor continues to expand its food database internationally to create a better user experience and provide accurate nutritional information for food products worldwide.
The app’s May 2023 update expanded the database to include more European products, which provides more barcode scanning capabilities for those living in France, Italy, Spain, and Germany.
Note: Many other nutrition apps that I’ve reviewed, like Lifesum and Avatar, also have verified food databases, but none are as large as the MacroFactor, meaning they have fewer food options to choose from.
2. There Are Multiple Inputs For Logging Your Food
The app also has multiple input methods for logging food, such as a barcode scanner, a recipe creator, manual entry, and a voice input feature called “AI Describe” that allows you to dictate the inputs to your food log.
The “AI Describe” allows users to dictate portions and foods that are then inputted into the food journal.
I greatly appreciate this feature because sometimes I just don’t want to search for the foods I’ve eaten and adjust the portion size, so having this option is often the difference between logging my food or saying, “Forget about it.”
Along with the multiple inputs, MacroFactor continues to make adjustments to ensure they have the fastest food logger on the market and more convenient ways to access their food logger, like their launch of widgets that allow you to log in from your home screen.
The attention to detail in their food logger makes this app stand out. One of the most significant barriers to consistency for me and my clients is that entering everything you eat into an app takes time.
Having faster, more convenient methods to log food is greatly appreciated.
3. It Has Three Different Coaching Styles To Choose From
Another MacroFactor feature I enjoyed was the choice between three different coaching styles based on your experience level and personal preference.
You can choose to have the app fully in control over your nutritional changes each week, take control yourself and make all of your own changes, or have a bit of both, with the app making decisions while still allowing you to adjust manually.
The three program styles are:
- Coached: Intake recommendations are based on the data input in the signup process, and the app makes weekly adjustments to keep the user on track with their goals. This option is best if you want the app to do everything.
- Collaborative: the same as the coached style, but users can adjust their daily calories and macros if desired. This option is best if you want some control over your intake but don’t want to adjust everything yourself.
- Manual: calorie and macronutrient targets are manually input into the app, and any adjustments must be manually changed. This option is best if you’re working with a nutrition coach.
4. It Continues To Update Your Energy Expenditure Based On The Data It Receives
Unlike other macro tracking apps, MacroFactor uses the data received over time from the user’s results to estimate the user’s total daily energy expenditure.
The app calculates how much energy I’m expending each day by using the number of calories I’m consuming per my food log and fluctuations in my body weight over time (rate of weight change in the app) to estimate how many calories I’m burning.
This is based on the equation:
Calories in – Calories out = Change in Stored Energy (changes in body weight attributed to fat loss). However, they’ve rearranged the equation to solve for “calories out” to estimate the number of calories I’m burning daily.
This is extremely valuable information because, based on changes in my expenditure and the rate at which my body weight changes, the app can make weekly adjustments to my “prescribed calorie intake” to keep me on track with my goals.
The MacroFactor team also explains that the app is very intuitive in that it doesn’t require users to adhere perfectly to their prescribed macronutrients; instead, it bases recommendations on what they actually did instead of what they were supposed to do.
This is an important feature because most people give up on tracking their intake when they don’t hit their targets “perfectly.” Even though this is an unsustainable way to approach macro tracking, most tracking apps have this expectation, so many users constantly feel like they’re failing.
MacroFactor’s “adherence neutral” approach is incredibly refreshing and leads to better long-term physical and mental results.
The only way the app could be thrown off is if users partially track their day; for example, maybe I log my breakfast and then forget to track the rest of the day.
This would throw off the app’s calculations because even though I ate more than just breakfast, as far as the app can tell, those were my only calories for the day, so it would base its calculations on that number of calories per day.
Other nutrition tracking apps, like FatSecret, MyMacros+, and Lose It!, use a basic formula to estimate your energy expenditure during the sign-up process to suggest a calorie intake, but never use this information again.
5. It Allows You To Track Progress Using Custom Measurements And Before & After Photos
When I first started using MacroFactor in 2021, one of my biggest complaints was that the app didn’t allow users to track measurements or take progress pictures.
As a nutrition coach, I know how important these are for measuring progress, especially when the scale isn’t changing.
It seemed odd that this state-of-the-art app didn’t have these capabilities when many lower-quality apps on the market had these features included.
But I’m happy to announce that as of May 2023, MacroFactor can track body measurements and progress pictures.
You can select which measurements you want to include and what views (front, side, or back) you want for progress pictures.
Other fantastic functions included with this new update are waist-to-height and waist-to-hip ratios, which are better alternatives to Body Mass Index (BMI) for determining your risk for disease.
MacroFactor App
It has a large verified food database, it’s the most customizable nutrition tracker on the market, it constantly adapts to your metabolism, it’s easy to use, and it’s upgraded regularly as new scientific evidence or suggestions are presented.
Enter code FEASTGOOD when signing up to get an extra week on your free trial (2 weeks total).
What I Didn’t Like About MacroFactor
1. There Is No Free Version Of The App
One downfall of MacroFactor is that there is no free version, so users must pay to use it.
However, MacroFactor does offer a 7-day free trial (14-days if you use code FEASTGOOD when signing up) so that you can try the app before purchasing.
Having to pay for the app does make the app less accessible to some people who simply cannot afford a nutrition app.
However, some benefits come with a paid app, like not dealing with annoying advertisements.
And truth be told, after testing over 20 nutrition apps both here and on our YouTube channel, the free apps just flat-out suck.
2. There Is No Desktop Version Of The App
Another feature that some users will miss is the ability to use the tracker on a computer or desktop, as the app does not yet have this capability.
The lack of a desktop version is a downside for me because, as a nutrition coach, I’m at my desk reviewing clients’ nutrition profiles, and it’s easier to do so on a computer than on a phone.
According to their “roadmap,” they are currently working to develop a desktop version, though there is no predicted launch date.
How To Customize MacroFactor For Best Results
MacroFactor allows you to customize your calorie, macronutrient, and micronutrient goals (new as of 2024) more than most other food trackers to fit your lifestyle and preferences.
Here are some examples of how customizable the app is:
Setting Calorie Goals
During the signup process with MacroFactor, I can customize my inputs so that my macronutrient targets are as accurate as possible.
I like that I have to provide all of this data because the more information I can give the app, the more the app’s recommendations reflect my lifestyle.
This information gives the app a better idea of how many calories I burn daily based on my metabolism, exercise, and non-exercise activity.
Another feature that I think is extremely important is setting up a “Calorie Floor.”
The calorie floor is setting a limit for the lowest possible caloric intake that the app can recommend. It is important because if my calories are set too low, it can negatively impact my metabolism and cause several health issues.
The app recommends a standard calorie floor (which is never lower than 1200 calories/day). You can lower this calorie floor to 800 calories per day if desired.
When I first used the app in 2021, they offered the option to remove the calorie floor, but they’ve removed this option in recent updates.
I recommend always setting a “standard calorie floor” unless you’re in a bodybuilding contest prep that is supposed to push the body to its limits temporarily.
Calorie Distribution
Another available customization option is to have my daily intake shift throughout the week.
This customization allows me to increase my intake on certain days, which would lower my intake on other days to ensure that my weekly calorie intake stays the same based on my goals.
Some users will prefer this option if they want a higher-calorie day on workout days and a lower intake on days they aren’t training, but others may prefer a consistent intake throughout the entire week.
This calorie-shifting feature helps users customize their experience to suit their goals and lifestyle, encouraging better adherence.
Setting Up Macronutrient Distribution
With this information collected, the app is prepared to recommend a calorie intake and start taking me through customizing my macronutrient distribution, beginning with the number of carbs and fats I want.
The app has the following options to choose from:
- A Balanced Macronutrient Distribution: Standard carbohydrate and fat recommendations
- A Low Fat Macronutrient Distribution: Prioritizing carbohydrates over fats
- A Low Carb Macronutrient Distribution: More emphasis on fats with a lower percentage of intake allocated to carbs
- A Keto Macronutrient Distribution: Most of the daily calories are allocated to fats, with protein being secondary and carbs being very low (to facilitate nutritional ketosis).
After choosing my carb and fat distribution, I can customize my protein intake, which is important because if I’m dieting or lean bulking, I will want higher amounts of protein to ensure that I can retain or gain additional muscle mass.
However, if I was less focused on muscle mass, I could opt for a lower protein approach that would allow me to increase my carbs and fat.
The options the app provides for protein intake are:
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Extra-High
I do wish that the app explained the percentage of daily intake associated with each of these options or the grams per body weight so that those with a bit more nutritional knowledge would know what percentage of their intake is coming from protein.
But I am picky because I could calculate this after the fact.
Micronutrient Tracking
A 2023 app update introduced micronutrient tracking, allowing users to track and set specific vitamins and minerals targets.
Each nutrient’s target is set automatically based on Recommended Daily Amounts (RDA), but you can change these by creating custom targets. You can also choose not to display these metrics, which is not recommended.
Micronutrient tracking is common among nutrition apps, but MacroFactor takes this a step further by providing users with a “floor,” “target,” and “ceiling” to give users context about the minimum amount of each nutrient to avoid deficiencies and an upper limit to avoid overconsumption.
This approach to nutrient tracking is educational and aligns with their “adherence neutral” philosophy, emphasizing that you don’t have to hit your targets perfectly to see progress.
To learn more about this feature, check out this guide on their “Nutrient Explorer.”
- Related: Best Nutrition Apps For Weight Gain
What Do Users Have To Say About MacroFactor?
After forming my own opinion about the app, I was curious how other users felt about their experience with MacroFactor, so I read through the reviews on the app store.
According to Google Play, the app has 4.7/5 stars from 2k reviews and over 100,000 downloads.
Some common themes among the reviews were that users felt they had finally found a nutrition app that fit their lifestyle.
Users commented on how easy MacroFactor is to use, how much they value the continued updates and improvements, and how it has improved their relationship with food.
The only negative reviews I found were from those experiencing some type of glitch in the app’s functionality. However, the MacroFactor team always responded quickly and offered solutions to those experiencing the issues.
Overall, users are very impressed with the app’s design, functionality, and emphasis on consistency over perfection.
“This is a fantastic app that has tracked my 30-pound weight loss in 6 months. I love the simplicity and the intuitive algorithm that kept me losing every week. This is where I can truly “TRUST THE SCIENCE.” If you follow the numbers, the weight comes off.”
– Google Play Reviewer
“I absolutely love this app. I’ve never been able to consistently track but the way that the MF app learns as I track has made me want to do it. I feel like it’s actually telling me more about my body and I’ve enjoyed seeing how it updates each week.”
– Google Play Reviewer
“Hands down best food logging app around.”
– Google Play Reviewer
“Hands down the best teaching app in the market!”
– Google Play Reviewer
“I’ve tried a lot of different food tracking apps over the years, and MacroFactor consistently blows them all out of the water.”
– Google Play Reviewer
How Much Does MacroFactor Cost?
After the 7-day free trial, you must purchase a MacroFactor subscription.
Here are three different subscription options to choose from:
- Monthly Payments: $11.99 USD
- 6 Month Membership: $47.99 USD ($8/month)
- Annual Payments: $71.99 USD ($6/month)
If you’re still unsure after the free trial whether MacroFactor is the app for you, then go for the monthly option; however, if you plan on using MacroFactor long-term, I recommend signing up for an annual subscription to save money.
Because MyFitnessPal, arguably the most popular diet tracker on the market, charges $19.99/month, MacroFactor is a far better investment.
You get a lot more with MacroFactor for less.
Who Should Use MacroFactor?
- Those who want a built-in nutrition coach
- Those who want an app that is continuously updated as scientific evidence is gathered
- Those who want an app that facilitates a sustainable approach to nutrition
- Those who want an app that tracks measurements
Who Should NOT Use MacroFactor?
- Those who want a free nutrition-tracking app
Sign Up For MacroFactor
The sign-up process for MacroFactor was straightforward but very in-depth, so the app could learn more about your goals, preferences, and energy expenditures.
During the signup process, you will be asked about your sex, age, height, weight, body fat percentage, amount of exercise per week, overall physical activity level, and experience level with cardio and strength training.
You will also have to customize the following:
- Program Style: Coached, Collaborative, Manual
- Preferred Diet: Balanced, Low-Fat, Low-Carb, Keto
- Calorie Floor: Standard, Low Floor
- Training Plan: None, Lifting, Cardio, Cardio & Lifting
- Calorie Allocation: Shift Calories (high/low days), Distribute Evenly
- Protein Level: Low, Moderate, High, Extra High
I touched on these earlier in the article, but if you’re unfamiliar with these terms or unsure which options are best, don’t worry. The app walks you through each step by providing more context so that you feel more confident in making decisions.
MacroFactor Alternatives
Noom
Noom is the top alternative for MacroFactor for those who want to lose weight because Noom is the only app that combines behavioral psychology and nutrition tracking to help users achieve their goals.
The daily psychology lessons that Noom offers are a game-changer for sustainable weight loss; however, their food logging capabilities are not as well-executed as MacroFactor because it does not allow you to track macros, a major component of nutrition.
Cronometer
Cronometer is another macro tracking app that is widely used because of its customizable calorie and macronutrient targets and its food database.
One feature that Cronometer has that MacroFactor does not is their pro edition for trainers, which allows trainers to access the user’s data and make changes to the plan.
MacroFactor does have the Manual Style of coaching which allows the user to change their targets based on their coach’s recommendations, but it isn’t as easy as a coach going in and inputting the changes themselves.
The Cronomter app would probably be the best bet for someone looking for a free macro-tracking app that allows them to customize their own calorie and macronutrient goals.
However, Cronometer won’t adjust your nutrition targets to keep you on track toward your goals, limiting its utility for users who don’t know exactly how much they need to eat.
MacroFactor Comparisons
- MacroFactor vs Cronometer
- MacroFactor vs MyFitnessPal
- MacroFactor vs Carbon Diet Coach
- MacroFactor vs RP Diet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MacroFactor Good For Weight Loss?
MacroFactor is good for weight loss because it’s constantly estimating your energy expenditure based on the data it’s receiving to better suggest how many calories you need to achieve your weight loss goal.
It also encourages flexibility with your intake, which improves sustainability.
Is MacroFactor Free?
MacroFactor is not free as it is a paid app; however, there is a 7-day free trial that you can take advantage of before purchasing.
Is MacroFactor Compatible With Apple Watch?
MacoFactor is compatible with Apple Health and Apple Watch.
How Do I Cancel My MacroFactor Subscription?
You can cancel your MacroFactor subscription in the app store by managing your subscriptions. It’s important to cancel your subscription before deleting the app to cease payments.
How To Contact MacroFactor?
You can contact the MacroFactor team in the app by clicking on “More” and then “Contact Us”. You can also contact them through their Facebook page.
About The Author
Amanda Parker is an author, nutrition coach, and Certified Naturopath. She works with bodybuilders, Olympic weightlifters, and powerlifters to increase performance through nutrition and lifestyle coaching.
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