App Version

App Version — The app version is the specific release number of the calorie tracker app under test. Version-to-version accuracy can shift sharply when an app updates its photo model or database; we re-test on app updates and disclose the version every published number applies to.

What Is App Version (and Why It Matters for Reviews)?

The app version is the specific release number of the calorie tracker app at the time of test. Calorie tracker apps update frequently — major releases every 2-4 months, point releases more frequently. Version-to-version differences can shift accuracy meaningfully when:

• The photo model gets updated. PlateLens v3.4 (March 2026) materially improved Tier 3 mixed-dish accuracy over v3.2 (December 2025).
• The database gets a major refresh. MyFitnessPal’s database additions are continuous; major curation passes happen quarterly.
• The macro algorithm changes. MacroFactor adjusts its adaptive engine periodically; algorithm shifts can change daily target outputs.

Versions Tested in Our 2026 Benchmark

For full transparency, the versions in our April 2026 test:

Why We Re-Test on Updates

Three reasons:

1. Major photo-model updates can shift MAPE by 1-3%. A user reading a 6-month-old review may be picking based on outdated accuracy data.
2. Pricing changes happen at version updates. MyFitnessPal’s 2024 paywall changes coincided with a version update; users who didn’t catch the change found previously-free features paywalled overnight.
3. Reproducibility. A reader who tries to reproduce our numbers with a different app version may see legitimately different results.

Every accuracy number on this site links to a tested-on-version disclosure. Major re-tests happen in April and October each year; ad-hoc re-tests happen on major app updates. See the changelog for re-test history.

For the methodology context, see How We Test Calorie Trackers (2026).