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Two apps compared, not ranked

Cal AI vs MyFitnessPal

A photo-first app with a 3-day trial against a long-running diary with a free tier. Cal AI prints an accuracy figure for itself; MyFitnessPal's page does not, so that row is one-sided and we say why.

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Head to head

Cal AI and MyFitnessPal compared on 8 points, in alphabetical order
Cal AIMyFitnessPal
Free planNot listed. Not listed: the FAQ mentions a paywall and a free trial, and no free tier[1]Yes. A free tier with nutrition, weight and exercise tracking[3]
Free trialYes. A 3-day free trial, "no commitment"[2]Yes. A 7-day free Premium trial for accounts that have not had one[3]
Logs a meal from a photoYes. Photo scan; the home page says the phone's depth sensor helps estimate volume[2]Yes. Meal Scan, a Premium feature[3]
Barcode scannerYes. Barcode scan beside photo scan and manual search[1]Yes. Barcode scan, a Premium feature[3]
Voice loggingNot listed. Not listed on the pages checked[2]Yes. Voice Log, a Premium feature[3]
Accuracy it states for itselfYes. Says its accuracy is about 80%, and that values can vary[1]Not listed. Not listed: no accuracy figure on the page checked[3]
Meal plansNot listed. Not listed on the pages checked[2]Not listed. Not listed on the pages checked[3]
Where it runsYes. iPhone (iOS 18 or later) and Android (10 or later)[1]Not listed. Not listed on the pages checked[3]

Last verified . Numbers in brackets point to the sources below. The apps are in alphabetical order.

One app at a time: Cal AI alternative, MyFitnessPal alternative. CalorTracker features mentioned here: AI food scanner, Weight loss app.

Where each one is stronger

Where Cal AI is stronger

  • Photo scanning is the headline: the home page says the phone's depth sensor works out food volume.[2]
  • Photo scan, barcode scan and manual search are all named in the FAQ's list of ways to log.[1]
  • States its minimum software plainly: iOS 18 or higher on iPhone and Android 10 or higher.[1]

Where MyFitnessPal is stronger

  • A free tier with nutrition, weight and exercise tracking; Cal AI's FAQ describes a paywall and no free tier.[3]
  • Voice Log is a named feature; the Cal AI pages we read do not mention voice.[3]
  • A 7-day Premium trial where Cal AI's home page says 3 days.[3]

Who each one suits

  • Cal AI suits someone who mostly wants to point a camera at meals and is comfortable with a trial that leads to a subscription.
  • MyFitnessPal suits someone who wants a diary they can use for free first, with scanning and voice logging as optional extras.

These are suggestions drawn from the table, not a verdict. The right app depends on which row matters to you.

And if you want something else, CalorTracker

CalorTracker is a third option, from the team that wrote this page. What it does for the points above, from our own code:

  • If you want photo logging with a small free daily allowance: 1 photo scan and 2 text logs a day.
  • If you want a text and voice log beside the photo log: Photo, voice and text logging in the same diary.
  • If you want a 10-day trial of the paid plan: 10-day Premium trial.

Where CalorTracker falls short

  • No barcode scanner; reads the label from a photo.
  • Web app and Android app; the iOS app is not public yet.
  • Voice logging is Premium.
  • The free plan has daily limits: 1 AI photo scan and 2 AI text logs a day.
  • AI results are estimates to check before you save them.

Sources and last verified

Every fact about the two apps on this page comes from that app’s own site, checked on . “Not listed” means we found nothing on the pages cited; it does not mean the app lacks the feature. Prices are left out because they change and differ by country, so check each app before you decide.

We re-verify this page every quarter. Next review due by . We also re-read every source before a page goes live if its facts are more than 90 days old.

  1. Cal AI FAQ: https://www.calai.app/faq (checked )
  2. Cal AI home page: https://www.calai.app/ (checked )
  3. MyFitnessPal Premium page: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/premium (checked )

Frequently asked questions

Is Cal AI free to use?
Its FAQ says logging food opens a paywall and mentions a free trial; the home page offers a 3-day trial. No free tier is described.
How accurate is Cal AI?
Cal AI states an accuracy figure of its own on its home page and FAQ; it is the company's claim, not an independent test, and MyFitnessPal's Premium page makes no comparable claim. Any photo estimate depends on the portion you can see and the oils you cannot.
Do both have barcode scanning?
Cal AI's home page and FAQ list it as one way to log. MyFitnessPal's Premium page lists barcode scan as a Premium feature.
Is CalorTracker's photo logging free?
Partly. The free plan allows 1 photo scan and 2 text logs a day; more needs Premium.

Try it on your own meals

Start free, log your first meal from a photo, and see whether it suits the way you track.

Start free on the web

Every app name is a trademark of its respective owner; this page is an independent comparison.