Cal AI: price, what's free and the best free alternative
Viral Development LLC · Health & Fitness · ★ 4.8, 373K ratings in the US App Store · Free to download
Cal AI is free to download, but its main feature is not: the App Store listing says food scan results require a subscription. The US App Store lists that subscription, called Unlimited, at $2.99 to $29.99 without naming the billing periods (prices on October 29, 2026; they may change).
Is Cal AI free?
Cal AI is free to install, and you begin by answering a few lifestyle questions that set up your plan. After that, the paid part is the core of the app: the App Store listing states that the results of food scans require a subscription, and Cal AI's own FAQ describes the paywall opening when you tap + to log food. The listing doesn't say which features, if any, stay free, so it is safest to treat Cal AI as a subscription app with a free download.
How much does Cal AI cost?
With a subscription, Cal AI logs food from a photo, a barcode, a nutrition label or a short description, keeps your own foods and recipes, and breaks each meal down into calories, protein, carbs and fat. According to the developer, the photo scan uses the phone's depth sensor to judge how much food is on the plate, and its FAQ puts accuracy at about 80 percent. Cal AI also pulls steps from Apple Health, exports PDF reports and offers a family plan. In the US App Store the subscription appears as Unlimited at $2.99, $5.99, $9.99, $19.99 and $29.99, plus an Unlimited Plan at $19.99 and a $0.99 Streak Restore; the listing doesn't say which billing period each price covers. These are US App Store prices on October 29, 2026 and may change.
| Unlimited | $29.99 |
| Unlimited Plan | $19.99 |
| Unlimited | $9.99 |
| Unlimited | $19.99 |
| Streak Restore | $0.99 |
| Unlimited | $2.99 |
| Unlimited | $5.99 |
Best free alternative to Cal AI: FOOD IQ
FOOD IQ, an AppHunt partner app, does Cal AI's core job: take a photo of your meal, and it names the dish and estimates the portion and the calories, then waits for you to confirm or adjust before saving; a mixed plate works from one shot. The difference is what that job costs. Cal AI's scan results need a subscription, while FOOD IQ's premium is free with the AppHunt promo code. Cal AI does more around the scan: a plan built from your answers, barcode and label scanning, logging by description, protein, carbs and fat for every meal, and step sync with Apple Health. If you want all of that, Cal AI is the fuller tool; if a quick calorie estimate from a photo is enough, FOOD IQ covers it. Either way, a photo misses hidden oils and sauces, so treat the numbers as a guide rather than advice.
Other free alternatives to Cal AI
MyFitnessPal ·People who want everything in one place
Lose It! ·Weight loss with a clear daily budget
Carb Manager ·Keto and other low-carb diets
MyNetDiary ·People who care about accurate data
About Cal AI
Cal AI, from Viral Development LLC, launched in April 2024 and has about 373,000 US ratings, averaging 4.8 stars. It is a photo-first calorie and macro tracker: you set a plan by answering a few questions, then point the camera at a meal, a barcode or a label instead of searching a database, and the app fills in the numbers. It suits people who want logging to take seconds and are happy to pay a subscription for that.
Free promo codes right now
Acord: Guitar Tuner, Metronome
Free Forever · 15,000 codes left
70mm: MKV Video & Media Player
Free Forever · 15,000 codes left
Unda – Water Eject & Cleaner
Free Forever · 15,000 codes left
Noppi: Brick Scanner & Counter
Free Forever · 15,000 codes left
Cycle & Period Tracker: Rivula
Free Forever · 15,000 codes left
Nightlight: Baby Feeding Log
Free Forever · 15,000 codes left
Cal AI: questions and answers
Is Cal AI free?
Only to download. Cal AI's App Store listing states that the results of food scans require a subscription, and its FAQ says tapping + to log food opens the paywall, so the core of the app is paid. The listing doesn't say which features, if any, stay free.
How much does Cal AI cost?
In the US App Store on October 29, 2026, Cal AI's subscription is listed as Unlimited at $2.99, $5.99, $9.99, $19.99 and $29.99, alongside an Unlimited Plan at $19.99 and a $0.99 Streak Restore. The listing doesn't say which billing period each price is for, and prices may change.
Is there a Cal AI promo code?
AppHunt doesn't have a promo code for Cal AI. Cal AI's FAQ says a referral code can only be entered during sign-up, and that custom promo codes are requested through direct messages to its Instagram account. If you want photo calorie counting without a subscription, FOOD IQ's premium is free with the AppHunt promo code.
Does Cal AI have a free trial?
Cal AI's website advertises a 3-day free trial, and its FAQ explains how to cancel a free trial from iPhone Settings. The App Store listing doesn't state how long a trial started in the app lasts, so check the terms on the purchase screen.
How do I cancel my Cal AI subscription?
On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, go to Subscriptions, choose Cal AI and cancel; there is no cancel button inside the app, and uninstalling it won't end the billing. If you subscribed on Cal AI's website, use the Manage Subscription page on calai.app with the email you signed up with.
What is the best free alternative to Cal AI?
For photo-based calorie counting, FOOD IQ, an AppHunt partner app: it names the dish and estimates the portion and calories from one picture, you confirm the result, and its premium is free with the AppHunt promo code. Cal AI adds macros, barcode scanning and Apple Health sync; our list of free calorie counter apps has more options.
AppHunt is not affiliated with Viral Development LLC. Prices are US App Store prices checked on October 29, 2026 and can change; your country’s store may show different prices.