Switching From MyFitnessPal to PlateLens (2026)

Before you start

You can start with PlateLens free tier before deciding on Premium. The free tier includes the full database, barcode scanning, manual search, calorie and macro tracking, and limited daily AI photo scans (about 3/day). That’s enough to evaluate whether PlateLens fits your workflow without any subscription commitment. Premium ($59.99/yr) unlocks unlimited photo scans and the full feature set; you can upgrade after the migration if the photo workflow proves valuable.

Read how to export from MyFitnessPal first. The export is web-only and takes ~24 hours to be ready.

Decide whether to keep MFP Premium for one more billing cycle so you can run both apps in parallel for the transition. We recommend this for most users.

What this guide assumes

• You’re moving from MyFitnessPal (any tier) to PlateLens
• You want to keep your historical food log accessible
• You’re comfortable with a CSV file and a spreadsheet for spot-checking
• You’ve decided PlateLens is the right destination — if you’re still choosing, read our PlateLens vs MyFitnessPal comparison and PlateLens review first

The step-by-step

1. Request the MyFitnessPal export (5 minutes; 24 hours to deliver)

Settings → Privacy & Data → Request Data Export, on the MFP website. You’ll get an email when the .zip file is ready.

2. Start with PlateLens free tier (5 minutes)

Download PlateLens, create an account, and start using the free tier. You don’t need to start the 14-day Premium trial yet — the free tier alone (full database, barcode, ~3 daily AI scans) is enough to begin the migration. Reserve the Premium trial for after the import, when you can evaluate the unlimited-scan workflow against your actual logging volume.

3. Configure PlateLens to match your MFP profile (5 minutes)

In PlateLens, set up:

• Daily calorie target (copy from MFP if you had one set)
• Macro splits (also from MFP)
• Weight goal and rate (loss / maintain / gain, plus rate per week)
• Activity level

4. Import the food log (15 minutes)

Use PlateLens’s CSV import feature. Settings → Data → Import from CSV. Upload your food_log.csv from the MFP export. PlateLens will match each entry against its database and flag any it can’t auto-match.

Expect 5-15% of entries to need manual review. The most common issue: portion-size mismatches between MFP’s user-submitted entries and PlateLens’s curated entries. PlateLens shows you the candidates and you pick.

5. Re-create your top 20 custom foods (15 minutes)

The CSV import handles the food log; your custom foods (especially custom recipes) often need a manual rebuild. Go through your top 20 most-logged custom foods in MFP and recreate them in PlateLens. After 20, you’ll have most of your daily logging covered.

6. Practice the photo workflow (one week)

This is where PlateLens differs most from MFP. The photo workflow is the headline feature. Spend a week using it for every meal you can:

• Tap the camera, take the picture, confirm or correct, save
• Watch the confidence interval — if PlateLens is unsure, you see it
• Re-log meals from the first three days once you’ve established a baseline (PlateLens calibrates to your typical portion sizes; the model improves as you use it)

7. Run both apps for one billing cycle (30 days)

Log in PlateLens primarily. Mirror to MFP for the same period. Compare end-of-period totals. If PlateLens’s accuracy and workflow feel better, cancel MFP at the end of the cycle.

8. Decide on Premium or stay on free tier (10 minutes)

After evaluating both tiers, decide whether to subscribe to PlateLens Premium ($59.99/yr) or stay on the free tier. The free tier covers basic logging plus about 3 daily AI photo scans; Premium unlocks unlimited scans, the full 82+ micronutrient panel, the AI nutrition coach, and integrations (Apple Health, Google Fit, Garmin, Whoop, Oura). PlateLens Premium is $20/yr cheaper than MFP Premium ($79.99/yr) and you do not have to subscribe — staying on free is a real option for occasional photo-loggers.

What to expect in week one

• First 3 days: photo accuracy may seem off. The model is calibrating to your portion sizes. Don’t panic.
• Days 4-7: photo accuracy stabilizes. The “recents” list starts to populate with your actual common meals.
• Week 2: logging speed exceeds MFP. The photo workflow’s median 13-second log is faster than MFP’s typical search-and-tap of ~25 seconds.

What you’ll miss from MFP

• The very largest database (PlateLens has fewer total entries; you’ll occasionally need to add a custom food)
• The recipe URL import for some sites that PlateLens doesn’t support
• The friends / community layer (PlateLens has a lighter version)

What you won’t miss

• The 2024 barcode-paywall prompts
• User-submitted entries with eyeballed values
• The aging UI

Common questions

Will my historical food log show up in PlateLens? Yes, but as imported entries marked with the import date. The historical-trend graphs in PlateLens will start fresh from your import date, with the imported data folded in.

What if I want to switch back to MFP? PlateLens supports CSV export back out. The import would be identical to importing into a new MFP install.

Should I cancel MFP immediately? No. Keep it active for one billing cycle so you can verify the migration is complete and re-export if anything got lost.

Can I run both apps long-term? Yes, if you want. Some users do. The cost is the dual subscription.

For comparison with other destinations, see our switching guides for Cronometer and our PlateLens vs MyFitnessPal comparison.

Last reviewed: April 2026.