Cal AI vs Wellew: an honest comparison

The short version

• Pick Cal AI if you're on iPhone today, want portion estimates that use your phone's depth sensor, and are happy to pay for a subscription after a short trial.
• Pick Wellew if you want a free plan with no trial clock and no ads, a free barcode scanner, and a plan that covers your partner or family, where you can log meals for each other. Wellew is on Android today, with iPhone almost here.

Side by side

Accuracy: the honest part

This is the question that matters most with any photo app, so here's everything we know.

Cal AI's own FAQ says it is "about 80% accurate". In a 2026 study from the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, researchers photographed 102 meals made in a metabolic kitchen and ran the photos through four apps. Cal AI came in 345 calories low per meal on average, and MyFitnessPal (327) and Lose It! (333) were close behind. Most of the gap was fat: all four apps missed about 30 grams of it per meal. The study was presented at the NUTRITION 2026 meeting and hasn't been peer reviewed yet.

Wellew wasn't in that study, and we're not going to quote you a number we haven't measured. Every photo estimate has the same blind spot: it can't see the oil in the pan or the butter in the sauce. What we built for that:

• Add a note with the photo. Typing "cooked in 1 tbsp olive oil" or "2 tbsp ranch" goes into the estimate.
• Re-run it if it looks off. Add a correction note to a logged meal and Wellew re-estimates from the same photo with your note. Or edit the calories and macros directly.
• Scan packaged food instead of photographing it. A barcode is a lookup, not a guess, and it's free.

We go deeper on why photos miss and how to get closer numbers in How accurate is photo calorie counting?

Sharing with a partner or family

This is the biggest practical difference. Wellew's Partner plan covers you and one other person, and the Family plan covers you and up to three more. Everyone on the plan gets full Pro.

When you take a photo, you choose who it's for. One photo of dinner can go into both diaries, each counted against that person's own goals. You can also see a live view of what your partner has logged today, and either of you can unlink at any time.

Cal AI's FAQ confirms it has a family plan with invitations, and reviewers describe it as up to six members for about $59.99 a year. We couldn't find Cal AI documentation on logging a meal for someone else, so check the app if that matters to you. Our full guide is the best calorie tracker for couples.

Where Cal AI is ahead

• iPhone, today. Wellew's iPhone app isn't out yet.
• Depth-sensor portions. On phones that have one, Cal AI says it uses the depth sensor to estimate how much food is on the plate.
• Scale. Cal AI is one of the biggest apps in the category, and it now has MyFitnessPal behind it.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cal AI free?

Cal AI is built around a paid subscription. Its website leads with a 3-day free trial, and its FAQ explains that you cancel through your phone's subscription settings. Reviewers commonly report US prices of $9.99 a month or $29.99 a year, but Cal AI tests different prices, so check the in-app price before you start a trial.

Is Wellew free?

Yes. Wellew's free plan has no time limit and no ads. It includes 3 photo scans a day, bonus scans from logging streaks, free barcode scanning, and custom calorie and macro goals. Pro adds the Coach, unlimited scans and full analytics.

Which is more accurate, Cal AI or Wellew?

Nobody has tested both side by side. Cal AI's FAQ says it is about 80% accurate, and a 2026 NIH study found Cal AI's photo estimates ran about 345 calories low per meal on average, mostly from missed fat. Wellew wasn't in that study. Every photo estimate struggles with oil, butter and sauces it can't see, which is why Wellew lets you add a note with the photo and re-run the estimate if it looks off.

Does Cal AI have a family plan?

Yes. Cal AI's FAQ mentions its family plan invitations. Reviewers describe it as covering up to six members for about $59.99 a year. Wellew has a Partner plan for two people and a Family plan for four, and both let members log meals for each other.

Who owns Cal AI?

MyFitnessPal announced in March 2026 that it had acquired Cal AI. Cal AI still runs as a standalone app led by its co-founder. If you're leaving MyFitnessPal itself, see our MyFitnessPal alternative page.