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Sports & Recreation · head to head

MyFitnessPal vs Strava

MyFitnessPal logo

MyFitnessPal

Sports & Recreation

Nutrition tracking made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Strava logo

Strava

Sports & Recreation

The social network for athletes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: MyFitnessPal free tier limited to 5 food entries per day unless premium subscriber; Strava segment leaderboards, custom goals, workout analysis, offline routes and fitness scoring all require a subscription
  • They diverge on capability: MyFitnessPal covers 14M+ food database, Strava covers GPS activity tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MyFitnessPal and Strava actually diverge.

Attributes where MyFitnessPal and Strava differ
AttributeMyFitnessPalStrava
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS
Founded20052009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Sports & Recreation).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in MyFitnessPal

  • 14M+ food database
  • Barcode scanner
  • Macro tracking
  • Recipe importer
  • Exercise logging
  • Apple Health
  • Google Fit
  • Strava

Only in Strava

  • GPS activity tracking
  • Segment leaderboards
  • Route discovery
  • Training analysis
  • Social feed and clubs
  • Wahoo
  • Apple Watch
  • Zwift

Both cover

  • Fitbit
  • Garmin
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

MyFitnessPal

  • Workout trackingnot Strava
  • Nutrition managementnot Strava
  • Health monitoringnot Strava
  • Fitness coachingnot Strava
  • Wellness improvementnot Strava

Strava

  • Recording runs and rides from a phone or watchnot MyFitnessPal
  • Segment leaderboards and competing on routesnot MyFitnessPal
  • Training analysis and fitness tracking on the subscriptionnot MyFitnessPal
  • Route planning with offline mapsnot MyFitnessPal
  • Following friends and clubsnot MyFitnessPal

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

MyFitnessPal

  • Free tier limited to 5 food entries per day unless premium subscriber
  • Limited offline functionality - cannot search new foods or scan barcodes without internet
  • Database accuracy issues reported at approximately 15% error rate
  • Data export only available via desktop web browser, not mobile app

Strava

  • Segment leaderboards, custom goals, workout analysis, offline routes and fitness scoring all require a subscription
  • The $5 a month headline is the annual rate, billed as $59.99 a year
  • The student rate and the Runna bundle are annual only, with no monthly option

Pricing, plan by plan

MyFitnessPal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Calorie and macro tracking
    • 20.5M food database
    • Weight tracking
  • Premium$19.99/month
    • Ad-free experience
    • Unlimited food entries
    • Barcode scanner
  • Premium+$24.99/month
    • All Premium features
    • Meal planner with 1,500+ recipes
    • Automated grocery lists

Strava

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Activity tracking
    • GPS recording
    • Basic segments
  • Strava+$11.99/month
    • Full segment leaderboards
    • Training zones
    • Heart rate analysis

Which should you pick?

Choose MyFitnessPal if

  • You need 14m+ food database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want barcode scanner.
MyFitnessPal review

Choose Strava if

  • You need gps activity tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS.
  • You also want segment leaderboards.
Strava review

Questions people ask

Is MyFitnessPal or Strava better?
Neither clearly leads. MyFitnessPal starts at Free and Strava at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MyFitnessPal or Strava?
MyFitnessPal starts at Free and Strava at Free.
Does MyFitnessPal or Strava run on more platforms?
MyFitnessPal runs on iOS, Android, Web. Strava runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS.
Can I use MyFitnessPal for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MyFitnessPal best used for?
MyFitnessPal is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching. Of those, workout tracking and nutrition management are not what Strava is typically brought in for.
What can MyFitnessPal do that Strava cannot?
MyFitnessPal covers 14M+ food database, Barcode scanner, Macro tracking, Recipe importer. Strava covers GPS activity tracking, Segment leaderboards, Route discovery, Training analysis. Both handle Fitbit, Garmin, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MyFitnessPal: Does MyFitnessPal have a free tier and what are its limits?

Yes, MyFitnessPal offers a free tier with access to calorie and macro tracking, a 20.5M food database, and weight tracking. However, free users are limited to 5 food entries per day and must endure advertisements.

Source
Strava: Does Strava offer a free tier?

Yes. Strava Free includes basic activity tracking, GPS recording, activity feed, following other athletes, giving kudos, and basic segments with top 10 leaderboard access. The free tier does not include full segment leaderboards, training zones, or heart rate analysis.

Source
MyFitnessPal: Does MyFitnessPal work offline?

MyFitnessPal has limited offline functionality. You can view previously logged foods and meal history without internet, but you cannot search the full food database or scan barcodes offline.

Source
Strava: What does Strava Premium cost?

Strava costs $11.99 per month or $79.99 per year for individual users. A Family Plan costs $139.99 per year. Students receive 50% off at $39.99 per year with verification.

Source
MyFitnessPal: Can I export my data from MyFitnessPal?

Yes. MyFitnessPal allows users to export full account data including all food logs, recipes, and weight entries through the web browser (desktop only, not available in the mobile app).

Source
Strava: Can I export my data from Strava?

Yes. Every Strava athlete can download their data for free at any time through the app, website, or direct download. However, API access now requires a paid subscription for Standard Tier developers costing $12 per month.

Source
MyFitnessPal: What devices does MyFitnessPal integrate with?

MyFitnessPal integrates with 40+ health apps and devices including Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Health, Google Fit, Samsung Health, and Apple Watch, automatically syncing activity and calorie data.

Source
Strava: Does Strava work offline?

Strava records activities offline using GPS on your device, but viewing historical data and accessing most app features requires an internet connection to sync and display data.

Source
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