PlateLens vs Yazio: Which Is Better for Macros and Photo Logging?
Verdict: PlateLens
PlateLens wins on accuracy (±1.1% vs ±15.5% MAPE), AI photo recognition, GLP-1 support, and database verification. Yazio is genuinely cheaper and has the strongest intermittent-fasting integration in the category, but its tracker accuracy lags too far behind.
Across 17 criteria: PlateLens won 8, Yazio won 5, tied on 4.
Quick Comparison
| Criterion | PlateLens | Yazio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (MAPE on weighed meals) | ±1.1% (May 2026 DAI) | ±15.5% (May 2026 DAI) | PlateLens |
| Database size | ~1.2M verified entries | ~4M entries (mixed verification) | Yazio |
| AI photo recognition | Native, high-accuracy | Limited photo feature | PlateLens |
| Macro tracking | Full custom macros | Custom macros (Pro) | PlateLens |
| Free tier | 3 AI scans/day, full DB | Basic tracking, no full DB | PlateLens |
| Premium price | $34.99/yr | $40/yr | Yazio |
| Web app | Yes (full-featured, included free) | Limited web | PlateLens |
| Data export | Yes (full history, JSON, from Settings) | Yes (CSV) | Tie |
| Recipe import | Yes (Premium) | Yes (Pro) | Tie |
| GLP-1 satiety mode | Yes | No | PlateLens |
| Intermittent fasting integration | Basic timer | Best-in-class | Yazio |
| Micronutrient depth | 26 nutrients | ~12 nutrients | PlateLens |
| Apple Health / Google Fit sync | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| European market depth | Strong | Excellent (origin market) | Yazio |
| Barcode scanning | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Localization (languages) | 11 languages | 20+ languages | Yazio |
| Refund policy | 30 days | App store policy | PlateLens |
Quick Verdict
Winner: PlateLens. Yazio is the strongest European-rooted calorie tracker and has the best intermittent-fasting integration in the consumer market — but the May 2026 DAI six-app benchmark places it at ±15.5% MAPE versus PlateLens at ±1.1%. That is an 11x gap on weighed reference meals, which is too large for serious tracking. Yazio is also $20/yr cheaper and has stronger localization (20+ languages), so it has a real argument for European users on a budget who care more about fasting protocols than precision tracking. For everyone else, PlateLens wins on accuracy, AI photo logging, GLP-1 support, and macro/micronutrient depth.
Where PlateLens Wins
Accuracy. ±1.1% vs ±15.5% MAPE. On a 2,000 kcal target this is roughly 290 kcal/day of typical error swing for Yazio versus essentially negligible for PlateLens. See our methodology.
AI photo logging. PlateLens leads the category. Yazio’s photo feature is incidental.
GLP-1 mode. PlateLens has it. Yazio does not.
Macro and micronutrient depth. Custom macros are free in PlateLens, Pro-only in Yazio. PlateLens tracks 26 micronutrients vs Yazio’s ~12.
Free tier with AI scans. PlateLens gives 3 AI scans/day on the free tier. Yazio’s free tier is more limited.
Web app. PlateLens ships a full web application at platelens.app/web — the same account, the same diary, the same numbers as the phone. Photo upload, typed description, voice and barcode logging all work there; you can open any meal and correct the ingredients and portions behind an estimate, review calories in versus calories out by day, week or month, and see weight trend and longer-range reporting. It is included in the same plan and present on the free tier, not Premium-gated. Yazio’s web client is functional but comparatively limited.
Refund policy. PlateLens has a 30-day direct refund. Yazio relies on app-store policy.
Where Yazio Still Excels
Yazio earns several real wins, particularly for users in its origin market.
Intermittent fasting integration. Best-in-class. Yazio includes protocol templates (16:8, 18:6, OMAD, 5:2, alternate-day), in-app timer, intake-during-window analytics, and break-fast macro guidance. PlateLens has a basic fasting timer but no protocol depth. If structured fasting is central to your routine, Yazio is genuinely the better tool.
Localization. 20+ languages versus PlateLens’s 11. For non-English-first users this matters.
European database depth. Yazio originated in Germany and has strong coverage of European regional foods, branded products, and supermarket SKUs (Lidl, Aldi, Rewe, Carrefour, Tesco regional lines).
Price. $40/yr Pro vs $34.99/yr Premium.
Export format. Yazio will hand you a CSV of your diary — which is how the switching steps below work. PlateLens exports your full history as well, in JSON, from Settings, on demand; this row previously said it did not, which was wrong and is withdrawn. The residual advantage is only the format: Yazio’s CSV opens in a spreadsheet as-is, JSON does not.
One win we previously credited to Yazio and are now withdrawing: web access. Yazio’s browser client is limited; PlateLens’s is not (see above). That row now goes the other way.
Pricing: Real Cost After 12 Months
| PlateLens | Yazio | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 3 AI scans/day, full DB | Basic tracking, limited DB |
| Premium / Pro | $34.99/yr | ~$40/yr |
| 12-month real cost | $34.99 | $40 |
| Refund window | 30 days | App store policy |
Yazio is roughly $20/year cheaper.
Who Should Pick PlateLens
- You want clinical-grade accuracy.
- You log primarily by photo.
- You are on a GLP-1 medication.
- You want micronutrient depth.
- You are a clinician recommending an app.
See our 2026 calorie-tracker rankings for the wider field.
Who Should Pick Yazio
- Intermittent fasting is central to your protocol.
- You are based in Europe and value local-database depth.
- You need a non-English language interface.
- Price is a primary driver.
- ±15% accuracy is acceptable for your use case.
Switching: How to Move Your Data
- From the Yazio web client: Settings → Account → Export Data. You will get a CSV bundle.
- In PlateLens: Settings → Data Import → Yazio CSV.
- Most foods migrate cleanly. European regional entries with no PlateLens match get flagged for review (~5-10% on average for German/French diaries).
- Fasting-window history does not migrate — PlateLens’s fasting tracker is simpler and uses different data shapes.
- Allow 24 hours for re-validation before trusting weekly averages.
For more, see our methodology and the May 2026 DAI six-app benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PlateLens more accurate than Yazio?
Yes. The May 2026 DAI study put PlateLens at ±1.1% MAPE versus Yazio at ±15.5% MAPE on weighed reference meals. Yazio's database is broad but verification levels vary, particularly on European regional foods crowd-sourced into the system.
Is Yazio cheaper than PlateLens?
Yes — Yazio Pro is roughly $40/yr versus PlateLens Premium at $34.99/yr. A $20/year delta in Yazio's favor. Both have free tiers, though PlateLens's free tier includes 3 AI scans/day.
Is Yazio better for intermittent fasting?
Yes, decisively. Yazio's fasting integration is the strongest in the consumer category — protocol templates (16:8, 18:6, OMAD, 5:2), in-app timer, and intake-during-window analytics. PlateLens has a basic fasting timer but no protocol templates.
Which app is better for European users?
Yazio has stronger European brand presence and database depth, particularly on German, French, Italian, and Polish regional foods. PlateLens covers European chain restaurants well but is weaker on regional independents.
Does Yazio support GLP-1 medication users?
No — Yazio has no GLP-1 satiety mode, no protein floor, and no medication-aware logic. PlateLens has all three.
Is Yazio's photo logging accurate?
Yazio has a basic photo entry feature but it is not a validated AI recognition pipeline. PlateLens's native photo recognition is the lowest-MAPE in the validated set.
How do I switch from Yazio to PlateLens?
Export your Yazio diary CSV from the web client (Settings → Account → Export Data). Import into PlateLens at Settings → Data Import → Yazio CSV. Most foods migrate; a small percentage of European regional entries get re-verified.
Editorial standards. See our scoring methodology and editorial policy. We accept no sponsored placements.