MacroFactor App Review (Updated 2023): 1+ Years of Use

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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 18 of the most popular food-tracking apps, diving deep into everything from design, features, price, accuracy, and more.

It’s also not just me who thinks MacroFactor tops the list…  

One of my clients (I’m a nutrition coach), said she would NEVER switch from MyFitnessPal. After trying MacroFactor for only a couple of days, she told me she regrets not making the switch earlier. 

Given my history using MacroFactor (literally from the beginning), and knowing how it compares with the rest of the app market, I’ll be sharing everything you need to know.

If you’re in a rush and don’t want to read my 5000-word review, here are a few quick takeaways: 

5 Key Takeaways

Honest Review Guarantee from FeastGood: Our testing team purchases each product 100% independently and uses the product for several weeks up to several months before writing a review. Learn more about our review process here.

• For me, MacroFactor is worth every penny.  Currently, it’s 50% of the cost of MyFitnessPal Premium and has far greater functionality and accuracy. 

• It’s the most customizable 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.

• MacroFactor updates your nutrition targets in accordance with your ever-changing caloric needs to facilitate better results.

• MacroFactor has a large verified food database that encourages more accurate food logging entries compared with all of the apps I’ve tested.

• MacroFactor is designed in a way that encourages consistency rather than perfection so that users don’t feel ashamed about their choices and can be more successful long term.  

MacroFactor App Video Review

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 fitness and nutrition experts Greg Nuckols and Eric Trexler who are well-respected in the industry. 

The creators state 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”.

How Does MacroFactor Work?

MacroFactor  works by estimating the 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 very specific targets to see progress. MacroFactor is designed to work with you, not against you (more on this later).

What I Liked About MacroFactor

1. The App Has A Large Verified Food Database

One of the best things about the app is its large food database that 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.

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 all around the world.

In the app’s most recent update (May 2023) the database expanded  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 different input methods for logging food such as a barcode scanner, a voice input feature called “AI Describe” that allows you to dictate the inputs to your food log, and manual entry options to suit the user’s preferences.

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 from the homepage of your phone.

The attention to detail with their food logger makes this app stand out because one of the biggest barriers for me and my clients with being consistent 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 that I really enjoyed is 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 having the ability to manually adjust (more on this later!)

This is valuable for those who like more control over their calorie and macro adjustments, and for beginners who want to take advantage of the built-in coaching by having everything automated.

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 energy expenditure.  This includes the amount of energy we expend through exercise, with our daily activities, and our resting metabolic rate (the amount of energy we expend just by being alive).

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 then never use this information again. 

MacroFactor goes above and beyond by continuously gathering data to calculate your energy expenditure and using this expenditure to make decisions about how your intake should be adjusted.

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 about the app was that it didn’t allow users to track measurements or progress pictures because 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 there were many lower-quality apps on the market that 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 exactly which measures you want to be included and what views (front, side, or back) you want for progress pictures. 

Other cool functions that they 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 level of risk for disease.

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 of the app so users will have to pay to use the app. However, MacroFactor does offer a 7-day free trial (14-days if you use this link) 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 to pay for a nutrition app.

However, there are some benefits that come with a paid app, like not having to deal with annoying advertisements.  And, truth be told, after testing over 16 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 I know 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.

This may only be 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 versus a phone. 

However, the creators have mentioned that this is something they’re wanting to focus on in 2023. 

MacroFactor: Key Features

MacroFactor’s key features are:

1. Large Verified Food Database

MacroFactor stands out amongst other macro tracking apps because it has a large food database of manually verified entries, while other apps have more room for error in their database, making them less accurate.

There is nothing more annoying than taking the time to log all my food and it not being accurate. What’s the point in putting in the effort to log all my food if the database I’m using to judge my intake isn’t accurate?

If the user has some nutritional knowledge and knows what a certain portion of food should be, then they may be able to catch when a certain food item isn’t accurate, but most people use a food tracker because they don’t know what macros or calories foods have off the top of their heads.

Having a food database that has been manually verified gives me the confidence that I can input my intake and it will actually reflect what I’m consuming so that I can be as accurate as possible when logging my food.

2. Customizable Calorie & Macronutrient Goals

Macro Factor allows you to customize your calorie and macronutrient goals to fit your lifestyle and preferences more than most other food trackers on the market.  

Here are some examples of how customizable the app is: 

Setting Calorie Goals

During the signup process with MacroFactor, I get to 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 will reflect my lifestyle. 

This information gives the app a better idea of the number of calories that I burn per day based on my metabolism, exercise activity, 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, which is so important because if my calories are set too low it can negatively impact my metabolism and cause a number of health issues.

The app gives recommendations for a standard calorie floor (which is never lower than 1200 calories/day).  You can opt to lower this calorie floor down to 800 calories per day if desired.

When I first used the app in 2021, they used to provide the option to remove the calorie floor, but it appears that they’ve taken this option away 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 customization option that is available is to have my daily intake shift throughout the week. 

This means that on some days I could increase my intake, which would lower my intake on other days to ensure that my weekly calorie intake stayed the same based on my goals.

Some users would likely prefer this option if they want a higher calorie day on workout days and a lower intake on days that they aren’t training, but others may prefer to have a consistent intake throughout the entire week.

I think calorie shifting is an important customization feature because people may prefer spreading their intake evenly, while others may prefer having high and low days.

Setting Up Macronutrient Distribution

With this information collected, the app is prepared to recommend a calorie intake and to start taking me through the process of customizing my macronutrient distribution, starting 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 what percentage of daily intake was associated with each of these options or the grams per body weight so that those who have a bit more nutritional knowledge know what percentage of their intake is coming from protein. 

But this is just me being picky because I could calculate this after the fact.

3. Multiple Program Styles

MacroFactor has multiple program styles to choose from that allow me to further customize how much control I want over my calorie and macronutrient intake, whether I want full control, partial control, or everything to happen automatically.

The three program styles to choose from are:

• Coached: intake recommendations based on the data input in the signup process, weekly adjustments are done by the app to keep the user on track with their goals. This option is best if you want the app to do everything for you.

• Collaborative: the same as the coached style but users can make adjustments to 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 will need to be manually changed as well. This option is best if you’re working with a nutrition coach.

4. Four Different Food Logging Inputs

MacroFactor offers four different options for logging food into the app, which I appreciate because different people have different preferences for how they like to do things. I think they’ve done a great job of making it extremely user-friendly.

The app includes the standard methods of food logging with its manual entry, recipe creator, and barcode scanner; but what sets this app apart from other apps on the market is its “AI Describe” food logging feature. 

The “AI Describe” allows users to dictate portions and foods that are then inputted into the food journal. 

I appreciate this feature a lot because sometimes I just don’t want to have to search for the foods I’ve eaten and adjust the portion size, so having this option is often the difference between me logging my food, or saying “forget about it”.

5. Weekly Adjustments Based On Weight Trends

One of the most exciting features that the MacroFactor app offers is its ability to analyze the data that I’m inputting over time to estimate how many calories I’m burning per day (daily energy expenditure).

The app calculates how much energy I’m expending each day by using the number of calories that 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), but they’ve rearranged the equation to solve for “calories out” to estimate the number of calories I’m burning per day.

This is extremely valuable information because based on changes in my expenditure and the rate at which my body weight is changing, the app can make weekly adjustments to my “prescribed calorie intake” to keep me on track with my goals.

The creators also explain 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 such an important feature because most people give up on tracking their intake because it’s unrealistic to track “perfectly” every day, but most tracking apps have this expectation so I constantly feel like I’m failing.

In using the app I actually found its intuitive approach to be extremely helpful because one of the downsides of macro tracking to me is feeling like I need to be so precise to stay on track with my goals, both mentally and physically. 

But with this more relaxed tracking system that doesn’t require perfection to get me headed in the right direction, macro tracking feels more realistic and sustainable.

The only way the app could be thrown off is if users are partially tracking their day; for example, maybe I only log my breakfast meal and then forget to track the rest of the day. 

This would throw off the app’s calculations because even though I probably 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.

What Do Users Have To Say About MacroFactor?

My Review Of MacroFactor As A Nutritionist

As a nutritionist, I am often asked by my clients if macro tracking is something that they should be doing, 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 nail our macros perfectly or else the system adjusts our calories/macros lower almost as a punishment.

But my experience with MacroFactor was 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 adjusted to suit what I was actually capable of doing each week.

Because of this, I would actually 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 of explaining why it’s adjusting targets and why the inputs are important.

All in all, my personal experience with MacroFactor was positive and I would feel comfortable recommending it to any of my clients as a platform to track their macros.

What Other Customers Think

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 4.8/5 stars from 1000 reviews and over 100,000 downloads.

The app clearly has a fantastic rating but I’m surprised by the lack of reviews considering MacroFactor seems to be trending on social media.

Some common themes among the reviews were that users felt as if 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 was always quick to respond and offered solutions to those experiencing the issues.

Overall, it appears that users are very impressed with the app’s design, functionality, and emphasis on consistency over perfection.

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 then I recommend signing up for an annual subscription to save on money.

Given that MyFitnessPal charges $19.99/month now, MacroFactor is a far better investment.  You get a lot more, 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 that the app can learn more about your goals, preferences, and energy expenditure.

After creating an account, you will be asked about the following:

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

I’ve tested 18+ nutrition apps (click to check out the full list). Based on my experience, here are some top 2 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.

• Check out my complete Noom Review. 

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, which is a major component of nutrition.

Cronometer

Cronometer is another alternative to MacroFactor which is a macro tracking app and is widely used because of its customizable calorie and macronutrient targets and its food database.

• Check out my complete Cronometer Review

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, which limits its utility for users who don’t already know exactly how much they need to be eating.

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 so that it can 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 in order 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.

Other Nutrition App Reviews

• Avatar App Review
• MyNetDiary Review
• Fooducate App Review
• Carbon Diet Coach Review

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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.