- Cal AI simplifies calorie counting: just take a picture of the meal and the AI recognizes the food, estimating calories and nutrients.
- Created by two high school students, the app has already surpassed one million downloads and is generating millions of dollars in revenue.
- Useful but with some limitations: works well with simple foods, less so with complex dishes. Has a 3-day free trial, then a paid subscription.
I’ll admit it—I’ve always had a complicated relationship with calorie-counting apps. Over the years, I’ve tried several, but the result was always the same: I’d quit after a few days. The problem? Logging every single food item was a nightmare. I had to search through an often incomplete database, pick from a thousand variations (was that really my pasta dish they had listed?), and end up with numbers that felt completely random.
And if I made my own food—which I do 90% of the time—what was I supposed to do? Scan every raw ingredient? Weigh out the condiments? I could never bring myself to do it.
I kept wondering: Isn’t there an easier way? What if I could just take a picture and let artificial intelligence do the hard work? Well, turns out, now I can.
It’s called Cal AI, and it promises to analyze your meal’s calories and nutrients with a single snapshot. Sounds like magic? It kind of is. But does it actually work? I tried it, and—while I have some reservations—I’d say yes.
How it works
The concept behind Cal AI is simple but brilliant: snap a picture of your meal, and the app automatically identifies the foods and estimates their calorie and macronutrient content. But that’s not all. You can also:
- Scan the barcode of packaged foods (a feature many apps already offer).
- Take a picture of an ingredient list.
- Upload images from your gallery.
- Manually search for foods in a database if you prefer the old-school approach.
At the heart of Cal AI is an advanced artificial intelligence system trained to recognize foods and estimate nutritional values. According to its creators, its recognition accuracy is around 90%—impressive, considering this kind of technology was almost unthinkable just a few years ago.
Who created it? Spoiler: they’re still in high school
If you assumed a tech giant was behind this app, think again. Cal AI was created by two high school students, Zach Yadegari and Henry Langmack—two guys who, between math homework and basketball practice, developed an app that’s already surpassed one million downloads and generated millions in revenue.
Which just goes to show: having an idea is one thing, but executing it is another. The saying “1% idea, 99% execution” definitely applies here. I had the idea, but they actually built it—so all the credit is theirs.
Back in May 2024, while their classmates were figuring out post-graduation plans, these two were launching a company that—judging by the numbers—has a bright future. If you’re suddenly questioning what you were doing at 17, you’re not alone.
Does it work?
Now, the big question: is Cal AI actually useful in daily life? After testing it for a few days, my answer is yes—but with some caveats.
What I liked
- Easy to use – Just take a picture, and you instantly get calorie and macronutrient estimates.
- Goes beyond calorie counting – It can also help you achieve goals like weight loss, maintenance, or muscle gain.
- Detailed nutritional breakdown – It doesn’t just show calories; it also tracks protein, fats, and carbs.
What could be better
- Accuracy isn’t perfect – With complex meals (like lasagna or sushi), the app struggles to recognize all ingredients.
- The Italian translation needs work – It’s clearly been done in a hurry, most likely with AI. Some translations don’t make sense (like listing “Chiavi/Keys” as a diet option alongside vegan and pescatarian—huh?).
That said, given that two students built this from scratch, I’d say we can cut them some slack. And with the app’s success, these issues will likely be improved soon.
How much does it cost?
I mentioned money earlier, so let’s get into it. Cal AI offers a free three-day trial, then switches to a subscription model.
When you first sign up, they give you an 80% “once-in-a-lifetime” discount, bringing the annual price down to less than €20. After that, it jumps to €34.99 per year, with even higher prices if you opt for a monthly plan.
Is it worth it?
- If you frequently use calorie-counting apps and want a faster method, it could be a solid investment.
- If you’re just curious, take advantage of the free trial and see if it fits your needs.
Does counting calories even matter?
This brings up a bigger question: is calorie counting really the best way to manage nutrition?
In recent years, many nutrition experts have downplayed its importance. Not all calories are created equal—500 kcal of vegetables affect your body differently than 500 kcal of cookies. Plus, how your body processes food depends on individual factors like metabolism, activity levels, and food quality.
So, calorie counting shouldn’t become an obsession. It’s more useful to understand the overall nutritional composition of your meals rather than fixating on numbers. In that sense, apps like Cal AI can be a helpful tool—but only if used with the right mindset.
Final verdict
Cal AI is one of the most interesting apps of its kind. It’s not perfect, but it has huge potential. It’s fast, intuitive, and lets you track your food without the hassle of manual logging.
If the idea of snapping a picture to track your meals intrigues you, give it a shot. It might just make your life easier.
(Via Techcrunch)