Free MyFitnessPal alternative: CalQuest vs MyFitnessPal
App comparisons
By CalQuest teamPublished Updated 4 min read
The quick answer
CalQuest is a free MyFitnessPal alternative if you want to log meals from photos and build a daily habit. It offers free scan energy that refills each day, editable calorie and macro estimates, quests and monthly leagues. Free scans are limited, and CalQuest does not offer barcode scanning.
Try CalQuest for freeIs MyFitnessPal still free?
Yes. MyFitnessPal has a free plan with food logging and macro information. Its official plan comparison lists Barcode Scanner and Meal Scan as Premium features. If manual logging already works for you, switching apps may not solve a problem.
The useful question is which part of tracking you want to make easier. If you want to start a food log with a meal photo without buying a subscription, CalQuest offers that through its daily free scan energy.
Sources: [1]
CalQuest vs MyFitnessPal: what do you get?
This table compares the features most relevant to someone choosing a free calorie tracking app. It describes documented availability, rather than a measured performance comparison. Check the apps for current plans and availability.
| Feature | CalQuest | MyFitnessPal |
|---|---|---|
| Free food logging | Yes, including manual entry | Yes |
| Meal photo scanning | Free daily scan energy, with limits | Meal Scan requires Premium |
| Calories and macros | Photo estimates you can review and edit | Food logging and macro information on the free plan |
| Barcode scanning | Not available | Requires Premium |
| Habit features | Daily quests, XP, streaks and monthly leagues | Food and exercise diary tools |
| Paid option | Optional PRO subscription for unlimited scans, subject to fair use | Premium and Premium+ plans |
Can I scan food calories for free?
Yes, CalQuest lets you take a meal photo and get estimated calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat using free scan energy. Review the food, portion and nutrition details before saving the result. You can also add a note about ingredients the camera cannot see.
Free does not mean unlimited. Scan energy refills each day. If you run out, the app offers options such as waiting for a refill, watching an available rewarded ad or spending in-app diamonds. CalQuest has ads and an optional PRO subscription. You do not need PRO to use your free scan energy.
Which app fits the way you eat?
Consider CalQuest if your meals are often plates of mixed food, you prefer starting with a photo, and quests or a monthly league make logging more appealing. The game layer gives you something to return to alongside your food diary.
Consider staying with MyFitnessPal if you already have a useful diary there, prefer its manual logging workflow or want its Premium barcode tool for packaged foods. CalQuest does not scan barcodes or nutrition labels, so it is not a replacement for those features.
Photo estimates also have limits. A picture may not reveal oil, sauces or the weight of an ingredient. CalQuest lets you correct the result, but we do not claim it is more accurate than MyFitnessPal or a substitute for weighing portions when precision matters.
Sources: [2]
How to try CalQuest with your next meal
Start with one ordinary meal so you can decide whether the workflow suits you. You do not need to recreate your entire food diary to try it.
- Download CalQuest from the App Store or Google Play using the links below.
- Take a clear photo of your meal and add any useful ingredient details.
- Review the estimated foods, portions, calories and macros. Edit anything that looks wrong.
- Save the meal and check your daily quests. Repeat with a later meal if the process helps you stay consistent.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a free alternative to MyFitnessPal with photo scanning?
- CalQuest is one option for iPhone and Android. It offers photo calorie and macro estimates using free scan energy that refills each day. The free allowance is limited, and an optional PRO subscription is available.
- Does CalQuest have a free barcode scanner?
- No. CalQuest supports meal photos and manual food entry, but it does not currently scan barcodes or nutrition labels.
- Do I need a subscription to scan meals in CalQuest?
- No subscription is required to use the daily free scan energy. CalQuest has ads and offers an optional PRO subscription for unlimited scans, subject to fair use.
- Is CalQuest more accurate than MyFitnessPal?
- We have not tested the two apps side by side, so we do not make that claim. Photo results are estimates. Review the foods, portions and nutrition details before saving them.
- Can I use CalQuest on iPhone and Android?
- Yes. CalQuest is available on the App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android. Use the download links on this page to choose your store.
Try your next meal with CalQuest
Free to download on iPhone and Android. Free scan energy refills daily, with ads and optional PRO.
Sources and disclosure
Written by the CalQuest team about our own app. This comparison uses MyFitnessPal's official documentation, checked on 21 October 2026. We have not run a side-by-side accuracy test. MyFitnessPal is a trademark of its owner, and CalQuest is not affiliated with MyFitnessPal.