The short version
Pick Bitey if you want photo scanning without a trial or a card, one simple price, and an app with no ad or tracking SDKs.
Pick Cal AI if you want the cheapest yearly plan, need iPad or Mac, or your iPhone can't run iOS 26.
Side by side
| Bitey | Cal AI | |
|---|---|---|
| AI photo scans on the free plan | 2 every day, no trial | Needs a paid plan after a 3-day trial |
| Card needed to try photo scans | No | Yes, the trial auto-renews |
| Yearly price | $49.99 | Often lower, around $20–30 |
| Monthly price | $9.99 | About $6–20, varies |
| Lifetime option | $149 one time | No |
| Same price for everyone | Yes | No, paywall prices are tested |
| Barcode scanning | Free | Free |
| Apple Watch app | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Health sync | Yes, two-way | Yes |
| iPad and Mac | Not yet | Yes |
| Oldest iOS supported | iOS 26 | iOS 18 |
| Ads or tracking SDKs | None | App Store label lists data used to track you |
| Owner | One indie developer in Vancouver | MyFitnessPal (since March 2026) |
Cal AI details come from its App Store listing and public reporting as of September 2026. Cal AI tests different paywall prices, so what you see may differ. Spot something out of date? Email support@heybitey.com and I'll fix it.
What's actually free
This is the biggest difference. Cal AI is free to download, and manual logging and barcode scanning are free, but the photo scanner (the reason most people install it) needs a paid plan once the 3-day trial ends. The trial asks for a payment method and renews automatically unless you cancel.
Bitey's free plan includes 2 AI photo scans every day, forever, plus unlimited manual and barcode logging, water and weight, streaks, the Apple Watch app, widgets, and Apple Health sync. No trial and no card. If two scans a day is enough for you, you never have to pay.
Pricing, honestly
If you already know you want unlimited photo scans and only care about the lowest yearly price, Cal AI usually wins. Bitey Pro is $49.99 a year, $9.99 a month, or $149 once for lifetime access. Everyone sees the same prices, and every purchase goes through Apple's in-app purchase system, so you cancel in iPhone Settings like any other subscription.
For context: in April 2026, Apple briefly removed Cal AI from the App Store, citing an in-app purchase bypass and deceptive billing design. Cal AI fixed the issues and came back. Keep it in mind when you choose who gets your card number.
Privacy
Bitey has no ad networks, no third-party analytics, and no tracking libraries. Food photos are sent for recognition and then discarded, not stored. You can delete your account and every log from inside the app in one tap. The Privacy Policy lists every company that touches your data and why.
Cal AI's App Store privacy label lists identifiers and usage data as "Data Used to Track You", which means it can be linked with data from other companies' apps and websites. That's common for apps that buy a lot of ads, but it's a real difference.
Where Cal AI is the better choice
- Lowest yearly price. If you'll pay either way, Cal AI's yearly plan usually costs less.
- iPad, Mac, and older iPhones. Bitey needs iOS 26 and runs on iPhone and Apple Watch only for now.
- Size. Cal AI has hundreds of thousands of ratings and MyFitnessPal behind it. Bitey is one person. You get a real reply from the developer, but a smaller team.
Common questions
Is Cal AI free?
Partly. Manual logging and barcode scanning are free. Photo scanning needs a paid plan after a 3-day trial, and the trial asks for a payment method up front.
Is Bitey cheaper than Cal AI?
Not always. Cal AI's yearly plan is often cheaper than Bitey Pro. Bitey is cheaper if the free plan's 2 daily photo scans cover you, and it's the only one of the two with a lifetime option.
Why was Cal AI removed from the App Store?
In April 2026 Apple briefly pulled it, citing an in-app purchase bypass and deceptive billing design. Cal AI fixed the issues and returned to the store.
Does Bitey work on Apple Watch?
Yes. It has complications and quick-log recents, and the watch app is included on the free plan.
Can I move my data from Cal AI to Bitey?
There's no direct import. If your weight history is saved in Apple Health, Bitey can read it from there. Meal history starts fresh.
Try Bitey free
2 AI photo scans a day, no trial, no card. Upgrade only if you want more.