Cal AI is one of the most downloaded photo calorie apps, and “is Cal AI free?” is one of the first things people ask about it. The honest answer has two parts: the download is free, the food scanning isn’t. Prices are harder to pin down, because Cal AI doesn’t publish them and its App Store offers change. We make Calorix, a competing app, so every fact about Cal AI on this page links to its source and was checked on October 11, 2026.
Is there a free version of Cal AI?
Not for the main feature. Cal AI’s US App Store listing states that “food scanning analysis results require a subscription” (App Store). You can download the app and set it up for free, but to get calories and macros from a photo, a barcode or a description, you need to start the trial or subscribe.
How much does Cal AI cost?
Cal AI’s website shows no prices (calai.app), so the App Store is the best official source. On October 11, 2026, Cal AI’s US App Store page listed in-app purchases called “Unlimited” at prices from $2.99 to $69.99, plus a $0.99 Streak Restore. Apple doesn’t say how long each plan lasts, and the list changed between page loads that day: one set of rows went up to $29.99, another included $7.99, $49.99 and $69.99.
A third-party pricing guide last edited in June 2026 reports $9.99 a month or $29.99 a year as Cal AI’s most common offer, with a 3-day free trial, and notes other prices seen in tests, such as $2.99 a week, $5.99 a month, $19.99 a year or $49.99 a year (eesel AI). That matches how subscription apps commonly test prices: two people can see different offers on the same day. Whatever you’re offered, the App Store shows the exact price and plan length before you confirm.
Cal AI also has a family plan. Its FAQ mentions it, but gives no price; the same third-party guide reports $59.99 a year.
How the Cal AI free trial works
Cal AI’s home page advertises a 3-day free trial (“Claim your 3-day free trial”). Like other App Store trials, it turns into a paid subscription at the end unless you cancel. Apple advises canceling at least 24 hours before a trial ends if you don’t want to renew (Apple Support). Three days is short, so if you’re only testing, set a reminder for the second day.
How to cancel Cal AI
Cal AI’s FAQ is direct: “You can’t cancel from inside the app. It goes through your phone’s settings” (Cal AI FAQ).
- On iPhone, open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap Subscriptions, then CalAI.
- Tap Cancel Subscription.
Cal AI’s FAQ also warns that deleting the app does not cancel your subscription. If you subscribed on Cal AI’s website instead of in the app, manage the subscription with the email you used at calai.app/manage-subscription.
Can you get a refund?
It depends on where you paid. For App Store purchases, Cal AI’s FAQ says “Apple handles this directly”: sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com, choose “Request a refund” and pick the subscription; Apple says to expect an update within 24 to 48 hours (Apple Support). Google Play purchases go through Google. For purchases made directly with Cal AI, the FAQ says to email them.
Cal AI prices in other countries
App Store prices are set per country and currency, so the UK, Australian or Indian price of Cal AI differs from the US one. We only checked the US storefront for this page. The App Store page for your country, and the confirmation sheet before you subscribe, show your local price.
Who owns Cal AI?
MyFitnessPal. On March 2, 2026, TechCrunch reported that MyFitnessPal had acquired Cal AI after almost a year of talks, that the deal had closed in December 2025, and that Cal AI would remain an independent app. MyFitnessPal told TechCrunch that Cal AI had passed 15 million downloads and $30 million in annual revenue in under two years; deal terms weren’t disclosed (TechCrunch).
In April 2026, Apple briefly removed Cal AI from the App Store, citing guidelines on in-app purchases and billing (9to5Mac). The removal was noticed around April 15, and Cal AI was back by April 17 with a new paywall and native payments (PiunikaWeb, TechCrunch). Some pages still describe Cal AI as removed; it is available today.
Cheaper and free alternatives to Cal AI
If the price or the lack of a free version is the problem, a few apps work differently:
- Calorix (our app) is free to download with 3 free AI scans a day and unlimited barcode logging. Pro costs $3.99 a week, $9.99 a month or $39.99 a year in the US after a 3-day free trial (Calorix pricing). On Cal AI’s commonly reported $29.99 yearly offer, Cal AI’s yearly plan costs less than Calorix’s.
- SnapCalorie says it’s free for up to 3 AI logs a day, with a premium subscription (SnapCalorie FAQ).
- Cronometer has a free version with a barcode scanner; photo logging is part of its paid Gold plan (Cronometer).
For a side-by-side look, see Cal AI alternatives, Calorix vs Cal AI, and the dated table of 15 calorie apps’ prices.
Change log
- October 11, 2026: page published. Prices, trial and cancellation terms checked on Cal AI’s US App Store page, calai.app and its FAQ; ownership and App Store history checked in TechCrunch, 9to5Mac and PiunikaWeb.
Updated October 11, 2026
