Pensum
Pensum vs MacroFactor
MacroFactor is polished, ad-free, and built around one of the best adaptive-expenditure algorithms in the category. It is also the rare tracker you cannot use at all without paying: no free tier, card required for the trial, then a subscription forever. Pensum gives you a full tracker for free, with no ads and no account, and adaptive expenditure that is free today and free for early users.
Android only.
Side by side
Prices as of 2026; check the store for current numbers.
| Pensum | MacroFactor | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Full-featured core, free | None. After the trial you pay or you stop tracking |
| Cost to keep using | Everything free now; tracking stays free, optional Pro one day | Subscription required (around 72 USD per year, every year) |
| Card required to start | No account, no card | Yes, before the trial even starts |
| Ads | None, on any tier | None |
| Adaptive expenditure / TDEE | Yes, free today and free for early users, with weekly check-in | Yes; more mature algorithm and coaching |
| Coaching layer | Targets and trends you steer yourself | Guided macro coaching and program adjustments |
| Food database | USDA plus German and Swiss national databases, generic foods first | Verified global database |
| Privacy | Local-first, no account | Cloud account |
| Platforms | Android (early); Health Connect sync | iOS, Android |
Where MacroFactor is stronger: a more refined expenditure algorithm and a real coaching layer. That's 72 dollars a year, every year you track.
What actually differs
MacroFactor has no free tier
Most trackers at least let you log for free and upsell the extras. MacroFactor has said plainly it will never have a free tier, the trial wants your card before you see the app, and when the trial ends the tracking ends with it. That funds a well-built product, and it means the entry price for writing down what you ate is 72 dollars a year. Pensum is free with no ads, no account and no card, and everyday tracking stays that way.
Adaptive expenditure, free for early users
MacroFactor's headline feature is adaptive expenditure: infer your real energy burn from your weight and intake trend instead of a static formula. It pioneered the approach and its algorithm is more developed. Pensum estimates your expenditure from your own diary and updates targets with a weekly check-in, free right now, and early users keep it free when it becomes part of one optional Pro tier. You give up the coaching layer and keep the adaptive expenditure itself. We publish the whole method, so you can see exactly how our algorithm works, every equation and constant, plus the research behind it.
Real national food data, generic-first
MacroFactor's food database is carefully verified, and Pensum's is built from national sources, USDA plus the German and Swiss food composition databases, with generic whole foods ranked above branded products.
The question is what the coaching is worth to you
MacroFactor is excellent at guided coaching that tunes your macros for you, and it charges 72 dollars a year for it. If you came for the adaptive expenditure and fast tracking, that part is free here, and free for good if you start now.
Questions
Is Pensum a good MacroFactor alternative?
If the thing keeping you from MacroFactor is that you cannot use it at all without paying, Pensum is the obvious alternative: the tracker is free with no ads, and adaptive expenditure tracking, the feature MacroFactor is famous for, is free right now and stays free for early users. MacroFactor's algorithm and in-app coaching are more mature, so if guided coaching is what you want, it remains excellent.
Does Pensum have adaptive TDEE like MacroFactor?
Yes. Pensum estimates your real energy expenditure from your logged weight and intake over time and updates targets with a weekly check-in. Everyday tracking is free forever. Adaptive expenditure and the AI scans are free right now, and early users keep them free when they become an optional Pro tier. MacroFactor pioneered this approach and its algorithm and coaching layer are more developed.
Does MacroFactor show ads?
No. MacroFactor is ad-free, funded by its subscription. Pensum is also ad-free, on every tier, and there are simply no ads to remove.
Which has better food data, Pensum or MacroFactor?
MacroFactor's database is verified and solid. Pensum bundles USDA data plus the German and Swiss national food databases, ranks generic whole foods above branded products, and flags every value as verified, partial or estimated. For US foods both are strong; for European generics Pensum has coverage most global apps lack.
The feature MacroFactor charges 72 dollars a year for. Free today, and free for good if you start now.