# Macros vs MacrosFirst

The clearest difference is update cadence: MacrosFirst at weekly against Macros's monthly. MacrosFirst also leads on ratings volume (23K vs 977) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Macros's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 74%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Macros sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and MacrosFirst sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MacrosFirst holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MacrosFirst has 23K ratings behind it against 977, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Macros's written reviews are positive against 74% of MacrosFirst's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Macros ships an update monthly, MacrosFirst weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Macros | MacrosFirst |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (977 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macros-calorie-counter/id1216666985/reviews) | **[4.9 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macrosfirst-macro-tracker/id1253012487/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 977 | **23K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.1% of reviews** | 74.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#98** |
| Size | 79 MB | 211 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [JosmanTek](https://appshunter.io/developer/1216666984) | [MacrosFirst, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275597328) |

## What reviewers say

### Macros

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macros-calorie-counter/id1216666985)

Easily track your daily calorie and macronutrient intake to achieve your health goals. Whether you aim for weight loss, muscle gain, or a healthier lifestyle, this app provides personalized goals, a comprehensive food database, and activity tracking.

**Highlights:** Personalized calorie and macro goals, Extensive food database, Barcode scanner, Activity and water intake tracking, Meal planning, Net carbohydrate counter

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Macros Plus | $3.99 | per month |
| Macros Plus | $8.99 | per 3 months |
| Macros Plus | $12.99 | per year |
| Macros Plus | $17.99 | per year |
| Macros Plus | $24.99 | per year |
| Plus 1 month | $3.99 | one-time |
| Plus 3 months | $8.99 | one-time |
| Plus 6 months | $12.99 | one-time |
| Plus 1 year | $17.99 | one-time |
| Plus version | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Straightforward interface
- 🔓 No subscription required
- 💰 Affordable premium version
- 📊 Customizable macro settings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate food data
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Limited ability to adjust serving sizes
- 🔍 Lack of weight tracking feature
- 🔍 Ads in premium version

**Reported bugs**

- Barcode scanner not working
- Saved data being deleted or changed
- Constant freezing and loading issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to share recipes with friends
- Integration with fitness trackers
- Weekly/monthly progress tracking
- Easier way to add nutrition data manually
- Calorie cycling feature


### MacrosFirst

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macrosfirst-macro-tracker/id1253012487)

**Currently charting:** #98 Top Grossing · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

This app helps users track their food intake, calories, and macronutrients to achieve health and fitness goals. It offers features like custom goal setting, automatic serving size calculation, and quick food logging via barcode scanning or label analysis. Users can also monitor progress, share meals, and even convert alcohol calories into macro equivalents.

**Highlights:** Custom macro goal setting, Automatic serving size calculation, Barcode and label scanning for food logging, Detailed macro and nutrient tracking, Progress analysis and trend reporting, Meal sharing and social support, Alcohol calorie conversion

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MacrosFirst Premium | $11.99 | per month |
| MacrosFirst Premium | $11.99 | per month |
| MacrosFirst Premium | $41.99 | per year |
| MacrosFirst Premium | $71.99 | per year |
| MacrosFirst Premium | $71.99 | per year |
| MacrosFirst Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| MacrosFirst Premium | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 💯 Accurate macro tracking
- 🔍 Extensive food database
- 🔓 Free features without paywall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 📚 Limited food database for some users
- 🔢 Difficulty adjusting serving sizes
- 🔍 Inaccurate nutrition info for some items
- 🔧 Lacking certain customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Search function not working properly
- Time zone issues causing date discrepancies
- Scanning feature recording incorrect nutrition info

**Requested features**

- Integration with Apple Health
- Ability to share meals/recipes with friends
- Customizable macro goals (e.g., carb cycling)
- Improved reporting and progress tracking
- Option to submit food data corrections


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Macros free?

Macros is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MacrosFirst free?

MacrosFirst is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Macros or MacrosFirst?

MacrosFirst is rated higher. Macros averages 4.7 out of 5 from 977 ratings, while MacrosFirst averages 4.9 from 23K ratings.

### Do Macros or MacrosFirst have ads?

Both Macros and MacrosFirst show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Macros or MacrosFirst?

Macros ships an update monthly, and MacrosFirst weekly. Most recently, Macros was updated on October 18, 2026 and MacrosFirst on October 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*