MacroFactor vs Cronometer 2026: The Serious Tracker Head-to-Head
MacroFactor
out of 10
Cronometer
out of 10
Last tested: 14 May 2026
MacroFactor and Cronometer are the two apps that serious lifters are comparing in 2026. Both use verified databases. Both are worth paying for. The difference is what they optimise for.
MacroFactor optimises for adaptive accuracy: your calorie target changes week to week based on what your body is actually doing, not what a formula predicts.
Cronometer optimises for nutritional completeness: 84 tracked nutrients, clinically verified entries, and the micronutrient depth that no other consumer app approaches.
If you only want one, the decision is: are you primarily managing macros for a bulk/cut cycle, or are you tracking micronutrients for health or medical reasons?
The adaptive algorithm argument
Static TDEE formulas (Mifflin-St Jeor, Harris-Benedict) estimate your maintenance calories from age, sex, weight, and activity level. They are correct on average and often wrong for individuals. Metabolic variation between people of the same weight and activity level can be 300–500 kcal/day.
MacroFactor bypasses this problem. After 4–6 weeks of consistent daily logging, it calculates your actual maintenance from observed weight change vs logged intake. The result is a TDEE that reflects your body, not the population mean.
For a 12-week cut, this means the difference between ending the cut 8 lb lighter vs 5 lb lighter. The algorithm delivers on its promise — but only if you log consistently.
The micronutrient argument
For lifters on a cut, micronutrient tracking matters for recovery and energy, even if it is not the primary goal. Cronometer tracks iron, zinc, magnesium, B12, and all eight B vitamins individually — nutrients that are often depleted during high-volume training.
MacroFactor tracks macros and a subset of micronutrients. It is sufficient for macro-focused goals. It is not the tool you reach for when your doctor asks you to monitor phosphorus or potassium.
Pricing
What logging this seriously looks like
The typical user who logs 5+ days per week for 12 weeks loses 4–8 lb. Heavier starting weights see more; smaller deficits see less. If you log ad-hoc 2–3 days per week, expect roughly no change — the difference between "tracking" and "tracking enough" is the whole game.
Real annual cost in 2026: Truly-free track-only = £0 (Lose It free, Cronometer free, FatSecret). Solid mid-tier = £24–£60/year (Cronometer Gold £48, Yazio Pro £35, MacroFactor £72). Coaching-included = £150–£300/year (Noom 6-month £159, WW Core £276/year).
Verdict by use case
Adaptive weekly TDEE is the material advantage for anyone adjusting targets based on weight trend.
84 nutrients tracked. No other consumer app comes close. Essential for condition-specific users.
Free tier is generous. Gold at ~£48/year is £24 less than MacroFactor annual.
Works at any logging consistency. MacroFactor requires near-daily weigh-ins and 5+ day/week logging to calibrate.
Set it up, log consistently, watch the target self-adjust. Cronometer requires manual target review.
Can you use both?
Yes, and some serious lifters do. Cronometer for micronutrient auditing once a week, MacroFactor as the daily driver for calorie and macro targets. This is overkill for most people but a legitimate setup for competitive bodybuilders.
Bottom line
MacroFactor if you are in an active bulk or cut and want your targets to adapt to your actual physiology. Cronometer if you need micronutrient depth or are managing a medical condition. If you are on a budget: Cronometer’s free tier is remarkably generous.