# MacroFactor vs Meridian

MacroFactor and Meridian both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Meridian's written reviews are positive against 71% of MacroFactor's. Meridian also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days). MacroFactor's advantage is ratings volume (24K vs 30) and chart position (#13 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MacroFactor sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Meridian sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Meridian holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MacroFactor has 24K ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of MacroFactor's written reviews are positive against 100% of Meridian's.

MacroFactor ships an update every 9 days, Meridian every 4 days. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MacroFactor | Meridian |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macrofactor-macro-tracker/id1553503471/reviews) | **[5.0 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meridian-daily-journal/id6761076927/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24K** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | 70.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | — |
| Size | 238 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stronger By Science Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1553503473) | [Malek Aloulou](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887656861) |

## What reviewers say

### MacroFactor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macrofactor-macro-tracker/id1553503471)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Grossing · Health & Fitness, #111 Top Free · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

This app helps you achieve your diet goals through personalized calorie and macro targets, adapting to your progress. It offers efficient food logging and detailed insights into your nutrition and weight trends for sustainable results.

**Highlights:** Adaptive nutrition coaching, Best-in-class TDEE estimation, Fast AI food logging, Verified food database, Weight trend visualization, Flexible diet plans, Period and habit tracking

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Semiannual Subscription | $47.99 | per 6 months |
| Semiannual Subscription | $47.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual Subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $71.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $71.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription Bundle | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔍 Detailed analytics and data
- 🤖 Intelligent algorithm adjustments
- 👍 Flexible and customizable
- 💯 Comprehensive food database

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited food database for some regions
- 🤔 Steep learning curve for some users
- 💰 Subscription-based model
- 🤖 Occasional inaccuracies in AI-generated entries
- 🔀 Convoluted navigation in some areas

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing food entries
- Inconsistent syncing with Apple Health

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch integration
- Micronutrient tracking
- Ability to edit database entries
- Improved barcode scanning for international users
- Customizable dashboard and widgets


### Meridian

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meridian-daily-journal/id6761076927)

This app transforms your journal entries into a personal galaxy, with each thought creating stars and constellations. It offers multiple input methods, powerful search, and optional app locking to encourage consistent writing. Share entries privately with friends on your terms.

**Highlights:** Personalized galaxy creation from journal entries, Constellation pages for people, places, and goals, Voice, typing, and handwriting input, Optional app locking for distraction management, Private sharing with friends and circles, Web access for journal entries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro Annual | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MacroFactor free?

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

### Is Meridian free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MacroFactor or Meridian?

Meridian is rated higher. MacroFactor averages 4.8 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while Meridian averages 5.0 from 30 ratings.

### Do MacroFactor or Meridian have ads?

Neither MacroFactor nor Meridian shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MacroFactor or Meridian?

MacroFactor ships an update every 9 days, and Meridian every 4 days. Most recently, MacroFactor was updated on November 13, 2026 and Meridian on November 13, 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.*