Cal AI alternative
Day Pal or Cal AI?
Cal AI made photo calorie counting popular. Its App Store page says food scanning results need a subscription, and its website offers a free trial. Day Pal gives every device 10 AI actions to try, keeps search and manual logging free, and has no trial to cancel.
| Feature | Day Pal | Cal AI |
|---|---|---|
| Paid plan (US) | Day Pal Pro: $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year. There is no free trial. | Its App Store listing shows in-app purchases from $2.99 to $29.99. Its website offers a 3-day free trial.[1][2] |
| Without paying | Food search, manual logging, water, weight and workouts, free for good, plus 10 AI actions per device | Its App Store page says food scanning results require a subscription[1] |
| Log a meal from a photo | Yes: 10 free AI actions per device, once. Unlimited with Pro. Fair use applies | Yes, with a subscription[1] |
| Barcode scanning | No barcode scanner | Listed as a way to log on its App Store page[1] |
| Who makes it | An independent app, not part of MyFitnessPal | MyFitnessPal, which announced it had acquired Cal AI in March 2026[3] |
| Where it runs | iPhone. Android is coming soon. | iPhone and Android[2] |
Day Pal is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Cal AI. Cal AI is a trademark of its owner, used here only to name the app we compare against. Its details come from its own public pages on the date above, and they change, so check them before you decide.
Where Day Pal is different
- You can try photo, voice and text logging without subscribing, and there is no trial to cancel.
- Food search and manual logging stay free when the AI actions run out.
- Meal photos are analysed, then dropped: we never store them, and the location is stripped before upload.
- It speaks 11 languages, Arabic included, with food names in each.
Where Cal AI is stronger
- A large user base: 4.8 stars from about 372,000 ratings on the US App Store when we checked.
- It is available on Android today.
- It lists barcode scanning as a way to log.
Questions people ask
Is Cal AI free?
Cal AI is free to download. Its App Store page says food scanning results require a subscription, and its website offers a 3-day free trial. Check the current terms in the app before you start a trial.
Is there a free Cal AI alternative?
Day Pal's food search and manual logging are free with no time limit. Each device also gets 10 free AI actions, once, for photo, voice or text logging, and there is no trial to cancel.
Who owns Cal AI?
MyFitnessPal announced in March 2026 that it had acquired Cal AI. Cal AI still ships as its own app.
Does Day Pal have a barcode scanner?
No. Day Pal logs food from a photo, from what you say or type, or from food search. If you mostly scan packaged food, an app with a barcode scanner will suit you better.
Try it before you decide
Food search and manual logging are free for good, and every device gets 10 free AI actions to try photo, voice and text logging. No card, no trial to cancel.
Get Day PalSources
- Cal AI - Calorie Tracker, US App Store, accessed October 22, 2026
- Cal AI website, accessed October 22, 2026
- Fitt Insider, 2 March 2026: MyFitnessPal acquires Cal AI, accessed October 22, 2026