How It Felt vs
MyFitnessPal vs Ate Food Diary: Which Fits?
This page compares MyFitnessPal, AteMate and How It Felt. It covers the features that may matter to you, including numbers, prompts, coaching, storage and app data. Check each service's current details because features and plans can change.
What each app optimises for
MyFitnessPal vs Ate Food Diary
MyFitnessPal: review its current official product, plan and privacy pages for features and data practices. AteMate: review its current official product, plan and privacy pages for features and data practices.
How It Felt
Private reflection on hunger, fullness, emotions and sensory details without targets or interpretation from a service.
Side-by-side
| Feature | MyFitnessPal | Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) | How It Felt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | MyFitnessPal Food and fitness tracking; check the current official description. | Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) Photo-first health journaling with broader health features; check the current official description. | How It Felt A private journal for noticing the experience of eating. |
| Food capture | MyFitnessPal Food database and logging tools; check the current official feature list. | Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) Photo entries and current capture tools; check the current official feature list. | How It Felt Optional photo or note; no food recognition or database. |
| Nutrition metrics | MyFitnessPal Nutrition numbers are part of its tracking model; check current features. | Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) Check the current official feature list for available nutrition tools. | How It Felt None — entries do not calculate nutrition values. |
| Wider context | MyFitnessPal Food and fitness records; check current prompts and progress views. | Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) Broader health journaling; check current prompts and connected features. | How It Felt Meals only, with room for feelings and sensory notes. |
| AI or coaching | MyFitnessPal Check current official feature and plan details for coaching or prompts. | Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) AI coach features may depend on the current plan; check official details. | How It Felt No AI coach, scoring or automated interpretation. |
| Account and storage | MyFitnessPal Account and online service; review current privacy disclosures. | Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) Account and online service; review current privacy disclosures. | How It Felt No account; journal entries stay on the device. Release builds still send limited usage and crash data, and the free tier loads AdMob; RevenueCat handles subscription status. |
| Cost model | MyFitnessPal Check the current official pricing page. | Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) Check the current official pricing page. | How It Felt Free to use, with an optional Supporter tier. |
When to pick which
Pick MyFitnessPal vs Ate Food Diary if…
- MyFitnessPal's current features and data practices feel workable for you.
- AteMate's current journal features and data practices feel workable for you.
Pick How It Felt if…
- You want a place to notice meals without a target to meet.
- You want journal entries on your device, with the app's limited telemetry and free-tier ads understood.
Verdict
There is no universal winner. Compare each service's current features, data practices and the way its approach feels for you. How It Felt is a reflection journal without nutrition calculations, targets or an AI coach; entries stay on your device, while limited app telemetry and free-tier ads still apply. You can pause any app that makes food feel more pressured.
Frequently asked
Is Ate Food Diary still available under that name?
Ate Food Diary is now presented as AteMate. Check AteMate's current official site for its description, availability and features before downloading.
Which app is more private?
This page does not name a winner. Review MyFitnessPal's and AteMate's current privacy disclosures. How It Felt keeps journal entries on the device, but release builds send limited usage and crash data, the free tier uses AdMob, and RevenueCat receives subscription/device information.
Does How It Felt calculate nutrition information?
No. How It Felt records hunger, fullness, emotions and sensory details without calculating nutrition values or setting a target.
Can I use one of these apps during eating-disorder recovery?
There is no universal answer. Structured logging, nutrition metrics or AI interpretation may feel unhelpful for some people. Ask an eating-disorder-informed clinician what is appropriate for you, and pause any feature that increases distress.
Sources and review date
Comparison claims are based on the public product information linked below and the How It Felt feature set on this site.
- How It Felt product page
- MyFitnessPal official site
- Ate Food Diary (now AteMate) official site
- Anderberg I. et al. (2025): The link between the use of diet and fitness monitoring apps, body image and disordered eating symptomology: A systematic review
- Moody S. et al. (2025): Associations Between the Use of Fitness and Diet Tracking Technology and Disordered Eating Behaviour: A Systematic Review
- A systematic review examined links between diet and fitness monitoring apps, body image and disordered-eating symptoms; a tracking feature is not neutral for everyone. [Anderberg I. et al. (2025)]
- A systematic review examined associations between fitness and diet-tracking technology and disordered-eating behaviour; this comparison does not assume tracking is safe or helpful for every person. [Moody S. et al. (2025)]
Last reviewed: April 30, 2026.
Learn the concepts
Plain-language explainers behind the comparison.
Try How It Felt
A calmer way to be with food.
Journal entries stay on your device, but release builds send limited usage and crash data; the free tier uses ads.