Cal AI alternatives: photo calorie apps compared
Cal AI estimates calories from photos, but scan results require a subscription, and the app has been acquired by MyFitnessPal. Alternatives with photo recognition include Yazio (Pro), MyFitnessPal Meal Scan (Premium) and GymLog AI, which also tracks your training.
What Cal AI offers
Cal AI logs meals by photo, barcode or description. According to its App Store listing, food scanning results require a subscription; the website advertises a free 3-day trial. In March 2026 TechCrunch reported that MyFitnessPal has acquired Cal AI and that the app will remain independent. On accuracy, Cal AI states on its own website that the app is about 80 % accurate. No independent verification of that figure exists.
Alternatives at a glance
As of 25 Sep 2026, based on the providers' websites, help centres and App Store listings.
The alternatives in detail
Yazio. The calorie counter from Erfurt, Germany, has AI photo recognition that according to its help centre was initially free and is now part of Yazio Pro. According to Yazio, all calorie-counting functions will always be free.
MyFitnessPal Meal Scan. According to the MyFitnessPal help centre, Meal Scan is a Premium-only feature and currently available only on iOS 18 or Android 13 and above with English as the app language.
Foodvisor. The app uses automatic food photo recognition. Which features are free should be checked in the store.
GymLog AI. Meals are logged by photo, text or voice in a chat. Unlike pure calorie counters, GymLog AI also logs exercises, sets and weights in the same history. There is a permanently free tier, and data is stored on EU servers.
How accurate are photo calorie apps?
The evidence calls for caution. A systematic review of AI-based image analysis found relative calorie errors between 0.10 % and 38.3 %, with lower errors for single, simple foods. The authors consider the tools not yet ready for stand-alone use in research or clinical practice (Shonkoff et al., 2023). In a pilot study with covertly weighed meals, the error was larger for higher-energy meals (Lozano et al., 2023). Photo scans are therefore mainly a quick estimate, and a glance at the portion size is worth it.
What to look for
Beyond accuracy, three questions matter: what does the photo feature cost long term? Is the app available in your language? And do you want to track your training alongside nutrition? If you want both in one app, you save a second subscription and two separate histories.
Calories by photo — and your training too
GymLog AI logs meals by photo, text or voice and records your sets in the same chat. Start for free.
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google PlaySources
- Cal AI – official website (features, trial, accuracy claim) calai.app
- Cal AI on the App Store (DE) (subscription note, in-app purchases) apps.apple.com
- TechCrunch (2 March 2026). MyFitnessPal has acquired Cal AI, the viral calorie app built by teens. techcrunch.com
- MyFitnessPal Help Center. Meal Scan FAQ. support.myfitnesspal.com
- Yazio Help Center. What is the AI Calorie Tracking Feature and how does it work? help.yazio.com
- Yazio Help Center. Why do I have to pay for YAZIO PRO? help.yazio.com
- Foodvisor on the App Store (DE) apps.apple.com
- Shonkoff, E., et al. (2023). AI-based digital image dietary assessment methods compared to humans and ground truth: a systematic review. Annals of Medicine, 55(2), 2273497. PubMed
- Lozano, C. P., et al. (2023). Validity of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Application to Identify Foods and Estimate Energy Intake Among Adults: A Pilot Study. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(11), 102009. PubMed
- GymLog AI on the App Store and Google Play (features & pricing) apps.apple.com · play.google.com