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Sports & Recreation · head to head

MyFitnessPal vs Zen Planner

MyFitnessPal logo

MyFitnessPal

Sports & Recreation

Nutrition tracking made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zen Planner logo

Zen Planner

Sports & Recreation

Member management for fitness businesses

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MyFitnessPal has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MyFitnessPal free tier limited to 5 food entries per day unless premium subscriber; Zen Planner limited staff app features compared to desktop version
  • They diverge on capability: MyFitnessPal covers 14M+ food database, Zen Planner covers Member management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MyFitnessPal and Zen Planner actually diverge.

Attributes where MyFitnessPal and Zen Planner differ
AttributeMyFitnessPalZen Planner
Starting priceFree$99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20052006

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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
  • Fitbit
  • Garmin
  • Apple Health

Only in Zen Planner

  • Member management
  • Automated billing
  • Class scheduling
  • Workout tracking
  • Marketing tools
  • Stripe
  • Mailchimp
  • SugarWOD

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

MyFitnessPal

  • Workout tracking
  • Nutrition management
  • Health monitoring
  • Fitness coaching
  • Wellness improvement

Zen Planner

  • Workout tracking
  • Nutrition management
  • Health monitoring
  • Fitness coaching
  • Wellness improvement

Both are used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching, wellness improvement, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Zen Planner

  • Limited staff app features compared to desktop version
  • System crashes and occasional bugs reported by users
  • Integration difficulties with certain third-party platforms
  • Customers report continued charges after completed cancellation

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

Zen Planner

$99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zen Planner review.

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 Zen Planner if

  • You need member management.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated billing.
Zen Planner review

Questions people ask

Is MyFitnessPal or Zen Planner better?
Neither clearly leads. MyFitnessPal starts at Free and Zen Planner at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MyFitnessPal or Zen Planner?
MyFitnessPal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MyFitnessPal and $99/month for Zen Planner.
Does MyFitnessPal or Zen Planner run on more platforms?
MyFitnessPal runs on iOS, Android, Web. Zen Planner runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use MyFitnessPal for free?
Yes. MyFitnessPal has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zen Planner starts at $99/month.
What is MyFitnessPal best used for?
MyFitnessPal is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching.
What can MyFitnessPal do that Zen Planner cannot?
MyFitnessPal covers 14M+ food database, Barcode scanner, Macro tracking, Recipe importer. Zen Planner covers Member management, Automated billing, Class scheduling, Workout tracking. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web 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
Zen Planner: Does Zen Planner have a free tier?

No, Zen Planner does not offer a free tier. Pricing starts at $99 per month with no free trial mentioned in their standard offerings.

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
Zen Planner: Can Zen Planner integrate with ClassPass?

Yes. ClassPass seamlessly integrates with Zen Planner, allowing gyms to sync their schedule and avoid overbooking when offering ClassPass to members.

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
Zen Planner: Does Zen Planner work with SugarWOD?

Yes. Zen Planner integrates with SugarWOD, making it a popular choice for CrossFit gym owners who want to manage both WOD tracking and gym operations in one system.

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
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