Ellim is a free AI-powered personal coach and fitness app for iOS. It features an AI workout generator that creates personalized workout plans in seconds, a library of 3,500+ exercises, meal tracking with AI food recognition, comprehensive progress tracking, and pre-built workout routines.

How does the AI personal coach work?

Describe the workout you want in plain English — for example, "upper body strength workout" or "30-minute HIIT session." Ellim's AI personal coach instantly generates a complete workout plan with exercises, sets, reps, and rest periods, matched from our library of 3,500+ exercises.

Is Ellim free to use?

Yes, Ellim is completely free to use. Core features including the AI workout generator, exercise library, workout tracking, meal logging with food search and barcode scanning, and pre-built routines are available at no cost — no ads, no credit card required. AI food recognition from photos is available as a premium feature.

What types of exercises does Ellim include?

Ellim includes over 3,500 exercises across multiple categories including weight training, bodyweight exercises, stretching and flexibility routines, and cardio workouts. Each exercise comes with detailed instructions.

Can Ellim create personalized workout plans?

Yes, Ellim's AI personal coach creates fully personalized workout plans based on your goals, preferences, and workout history. You can also build custom routines manually or choose from 100+ pre-built workout programs.

Does Ellim track meals and nutrition?

Yes, Ellim includes a dedicated Meal tab for tracking your nutrition. You can search for foods, scan barcodes to add items instantly, or use AI-powered food recognition to identify what you're eating from a photo. Food search and barcode scanning are free, while AI photo recognition is a premium feature.

Updated April 2026

Ellim vs MacroFactor

An honest, side-by-side comparison. We tell you where MacroFactor wins, too.

TL;DR

MacroFactor has the best adaptive macro algorithm in the market, full stop. But it does nothing else. No workouts, no exercise library, no AI coaching. If you want a complete fitness app rather than a specialized macro tool, Ellim covers significantly more ground at a comparable price.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Ellim	MacroFactor
Price (Free tier)	Free core (full tracking, library, routines)	No free tier
Premium Price	$17.99/mo or $99.99/yr	$12/mo (no free tier)Source: MacroFactor Pricing↗
AI Workouts	LLM-based conversational AI (premium)	NoSource: MacroFactor Features↗
Nutrition Tracking	Yes	Macro-focused only
AI Meal Detection	Photo-based (premium)	NoSource: MacroFactor Features↗
Exercise Library Size	3,500+ exercises	NoneSource: MacroFactor Features↗
Workout Tracking	Yes	NoSource: MacroFactor Features↗
Custom Routines	Yes	NoSource: MacroFactor Features↗
Apple Watch	Yes	NoSource: MacroFactor Features↗
HealthKit	Yes	Yes
iOS	Yes	Yes
Android	No	Yes

Try it yourself — Ellim is free

Workout tracking + nutrition logging + 3,500+ exercises + unlimited routines. All free. No paywall, no credit card.

Download Ellim Free

See Ellim in Action

AI builds your workout

Track every set

Log meals with AI

3,500+ exercises

What you get with Ellim that MacroFactor doesn't

3,500+

exercises

builds your workout

describe it, AI creates it

Unlimited

routines & tracking

no caps, no paywall

Where MacroFactor Falls Short

Zero workout tracking — it's a nutrition-only appSource: MacroFactor Features↗
No free tier at all — $12/mo from day one with no way to try it firstSource: MacroFactor Pricing↗
Macro-only focus means you still need a separate workout appSource: MacroFactor Features↗

Where Ellim Wins

Workouts + Nutrition Combined

MacroFactor is macro-only. Ellim gives you macros + workouts + AI in one app. No juggling two subscriptions and two apps.

AI Meal Detection

MacroFactor requires manual food entry for everything. Ellim can detect your meal from a photo, saving significant logging time.

Actually Free to Start

MacroFactor has no free tier — you pay $12/mo from the start. Ellim's core (including nutrition tracking with food search and barcode scanning) is completely free.

Where MacroFactor Wins

We believe in honest comparisons. Here is what MacroFactor does well.

Best-in-class adaptive macro algorithm built by the StrongerByScience team
Dynamically adjusts your calorie/macro targets based on real weight trends
Highly respected in the evidence-based fitness community

In-Depth: Ellim vs MacroFactor

Nutrition Philosophy: Adaptive Macros vs Practical Logging

MacroFactor's adaptive algorithm — built by the StrongerByScience team — is the best in the market. It adjusts your calorie targets based on real weight trends rather than static formulas. Ellim's nutrition is practical rather than PhD-level: food search, barcode scanning, and AI meal detection. For most users, Ellim is more than sufficient. MacroFactor wins on precision; Ellim wins on everything else, including the fact that it also handles your workouts.

Workout Generation & AI Capabilities

MacroFactor has zero workout features — no exercise library, no logging, no AI coaching. If you use it today, you already need a second app for training. Ellim's Smart Session generates complete workouts from plain English, backed by a 3,500+ exercise library and full progression tracking. Ellim can replace that two-app setup entirely for anyone whose nutrition tracking doesn't need MacroFactor-level precision.

Exercise Library & Variety

MacroFactor has no exercise library at all — every rep and set you do is invisible to it. Ellim's 3,500+ exercises cover every major training modality with muscle group tagging and instructions. Workout history tracks strength trends alongside your nutrition data, giving you the complete picture that MacroFactor can't provide alone.

Free Tier & Value for Money

MacroFactor has no free tier — you commit $12/mo from day one, with no annual option ($144/yr). If you also need a workout app, add another subscription on top. Ellim's free tier covers both workouts and nutrition at no cost, and premium ($99.99/yr) is less than MacroFactor alone. As a MacroFactor alternative for most users, the value math is straightforward.

Pricing Comparison

Ellim

$17.99/mo

or $99.99/yr (save 54%)

Free forever: full workout tracking
3,500+ exercise library with graphs
Unlimited routines (no cap)
Free nutrition tracking — search + barcode scanner
Curated workout routines ready to use
Premium: AI meal detection from photos + AI workout generation

Workouts + nutrition — both free. No paywall. No credit card.

MacroFactor

$12/mo

N/A (monthly only)

No free tier — subscription required from day one

Which App Is Right for You?

Choose MacroFactor if...

Choose MacroFactor if you're an evidence-based nutrition nerd who wants the most scientifically rigorous macro tracking available and already has a separate workout app you love. MacroFactor's adaptive algorithm is genuinely excellent — it adjusts your targets based on real trends, not just formulas. If macro precision is your top priority, it's the best dedicated tool.

Choose Ellim if...

Choose Ellim if you want one app that does both workouts and nutrition. Most people don't need a PhD-level macro algorithm — they need an easy way to track food and workouts together. Ellim gives you nutrition logging, AI meal detection, workout tracking, and AI workout generation in a single free app.

The Verdict

Download Ellim Free

Free download. No credit card required.

Switching Is Easy

You don't need to start from scratch. Bring your routines with you.

Import by Photo

Take a screenshot of your current routine. Ellim's AI reads it and creates the routine for you.

Import by Text

Paste your routine as text — exercises, sets, reps. Ellim converts it into a trackable routine instantly.

Or Start Fresh

Browse our curated routines or let AI build a personalized plan. Your workout history starts building from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MacroFactor better than Ellim for nutrition tracking?

MacroFactor's adaptive algorithm is more sophisticated for macro optimization. But Ellim offers food search, barcode scanning, and AI meal detection — plus full workout tracking. For most users, Ellim's nutrition features are more than sufficient.

Does MacroFactor track workouts?

No. MacroFactor is exclusively a nutrition/macro tracking app. You need a separate app for workout tracking. Ellim handles both in one app.

Why doesn't MacroFactor have a free tier?

MacroFactor is a premium product from the StrongerByScience team. They charge $12/mo from day one with no free option. Ellim offers free core features including both workout and nutrition tracking.

Can I use MacroFactor with Ellim?

You could use MacroFactor for macros and Ellim for workouts, but that means two apps and two subscriptions. Ellim's built-in nutrition tracking (free) plus AI meal detection (premium) may be all you need.