Cal AI is free to download, but it is not a free calorie tracker: its App Store listing states that food scanning analysis results require a subscription, and its website offers a 3-day free trial. After the trial you need a paid plan to keep getting meal scan results.
Disclosure: this page is written by the Calo AI Team, and Calo AI is our app. We checked every Cal AI fact on Cal AI’s own website, FAQ, terms and app store listings on 1 October 2026. Prices change, so treat the numbers below as a snapshot.
Is there a Cal AI free version?
At the time of checking we could not find a permanent free plan on any official Cal AI page. Here is what Cal AI’s own pages say:
- App Store description: the “How to use Cal AI” steps mark “Snap a photo of your meal” and “Get your nutritional breakdown” with an asterisk, and the footnote reads “Food scanning analysis results require a subscription.”
- Cal AI FAQ: in its billing section, the FAQ explains that tapping the + button to log food opens the paywall screen if the app does not see your subscription.
- Cal AI website: the main call to action is “Claim your 3-day free trial”, followed by “No commitment. Cancel anytime.”
So the honest answer to “is Cal AI paid?” is yes. You can download it, answer the setup questions and try it for 3 days, but the core photo scanning needs a subscription after that.
How does the Cal AI free trial work?
The trial lasts 3 days, according to Cal AI’s website. Three details from Cal AI’s own FAQ and terms are worth knowing before you start:
- Renewal is automatic. Cal AI’s terms say subscriptions renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends.
- You cancel in your phone’s settings, not in the app. On iPhone it is Settings, your name, Subscriptions. On Android it is Google Play, Payments and subscriptions, Subscriptions.
- Deleting the app does not cancel. The FAQ says you keep getting charged until you cancel through settings.
If you want a refund, the FAQ says Apple and Google handle refunds for purchases made through their stores, and Cal AI handles purchases made directly with Cal AI.
How much does Cal AI cost?
Cal AI does not publish a price list on its website. The app store listings show these in-app purchase prices (checked 1 October 2026):
| Store | What the listing shows |
|---|---|
| Google Play, India | In-app purchases from ₹990 to ₹6,500 per item |
| App Store, India | Items labelled “Unlimited” from ₹119 to ₹3,999, plus “Streak Restore” at ₹99 |
| App Store, US | Items labelled “Unlimited” from $2.99 to $29.99, plus “Streak Restore” at $0.99 |
The App Store lists items without saying which billing period each covers, so the exact plan you see in the app may differ. The price on Cal AI’s paywall at the moment you subscribe is the one that applies.
What should you check before starting the Cal AI free trial?
A short checklist saves you from an unexpected charge:
- Look at the price on the paywall before you confirm. That is the amount you will pay when the trial ends.
- Set a reminder for day 2. Cancelling at least 24 hours before the trial ends avoids the first charge, according to Cal AI’s terms.
- Pick your platform carefully. Cal AI’s FAQ says a subscription bought on iPhone does not move to Android, or the other way round.
- Know where to get a refund. Apple and Google handle refunds for purchases made through their stores.
Does Cal AI work for Indian food?
We could not find any India-specific claims on Cal AI’s website or store listings, so we cannot say how well it recognises dishes like rajma chawal or a full thali. It does list Hindi among its App Store languages. Like every photo tracker, it estimates portion size from the image, which is hard when oil, ghee and katori sizes vary from home to home. If you mostly eat home-cooked Indian meals, try a few of your usual plates during the trial and compare the numbers with a trusted reference before you pay.
Cal AI free vs paid: what changes?
| Without a subscription | With a subscription | |
|---|---|---|
| Download the app | Yes, free | Yes |
| Answer setup questions to build your plan | Yes | Yes |
| Food scanning analysis results | No | Yes |
| Logging food with the + button | Opens the paywall, per Cal AI’s FAQ | Yes |
| Price | ₹0 during the 3-day trial | See the table above |
Is there a free alternative to Cal AI?
Yes. Calo AI is a free AI calorie tracker for Android, with a web app that works on iPhone, iPad, Mac and PC. Here is how the two compare on the basics:
| Cal AI | Calo AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 3-day trial, then subscription for scan results | Every feature free, with ads |
| Price model | Auto-renewing subscription | Free with ads, optional Premium |
| Platforms | iPhone and Android apps | Android app and web app |
| Photo logging | Yes, paid after the trial | Yes, free (an ad plays before a scan) |
| Voice and text logging | Describe your meal, barcode, manual search | Voice and text |
| Indian food support | No India-specific claims found. Hindi is an App Store language | Meal plans use dishes from your own country’s cuisine. Hindi is one of 7 languages |
| AI coach | Not mentioned on its listings | Free, with a short timer between messages |
The catch with Calo AI is ads. The free version shows them, including one before each meal scan, and there is a short timer between AI coach messages. Premium removes ads and waiting but adds no extra features, so you never have to pay to use the app fully.
You can test the photo side without installing anything using our photo calorie calculator. For a fuller side-by-side, see our Cal AI alternative page.
When is paying for Cal AI worth it?
Paying makes sense for some people. Cal AI could be worth it if you want a native iPhone app, if barcode scanning of packaged food matters to you, if you want an app without ads, or if you rely on Apple Health or Google Fit for steps. Cal AI’s FAQ also mentions a family plan.
Whatever you choose, remember that photo calorie counts are estimates. Cal AI’s own FAQ says it is “about 80% accurate”. Calo AI’s photo results are estimates as well, and portion size is the hardest part for every app. Our guide on how accurate AI calorie trackers are explains how to get closer numbers.
Are Calo AI and Cal AI the same app?
No. They are separate products from separate companies with similar names. Our Calo AI vs Cal AI page sets out the differences.
A note on safety: if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, or have diabetes, PCOS, kidney disease or a history of eating disorders, speak to a doctor or registered dietitian before following a calorie target from any app.