Comparison
| App | Approach (as described by the cited source) | Free option |
|---|---|---|
| Cal AI | Camera-first: photo in, calories and macros out; barcode for packaged food | Free download; unlimited use is paid |
| PlateLens | Photo-first; ranked first in several published 2026 accuracy benchmarks (we couldn't confirm they're independent) | Free download; optional Premium |
| SnapCalorie | Photo-first with portion estimation | Free download; optional Premium |
| MacroFactor | Fast manual and described logging; adaptive algorithm reads your weight trend and adjusts targets weekly | Free download; subscription required after trial |
| Cronometer | Curated database; tracks up to 95 nutrients and compounds | Free plan; optional Gold |
| MyFitnessPal | Largest food database, with AI photo and description logging added | Free plan; optional Premium tiers |
| Tab | Photo, barcode, search or describe. A vision model names foods and estimates grams; calories and macros come only from matched food-database records. Unmatched items are labelled "Estimated" | Free plan: 5 photo scans per account (lifetime); barcode, search and describe unlimited; calories + all 3 macros; 7 days of history. Optional Tab Pro adds unlimited scans and 14 micronutrients |
Where Tab fits — and where it doesn't
Pick Tab if:
- You want a photo to be a fast first draft, not the final answer. Tab asks about the things a camera can't see (oil, butter, dressing) and nothing logs until you tap.
- You want every number traceable to a named food record and a portion you can change.
- You mostly log with barcode or search and only want photos sometimes. Those stay unlimited and free.
- You want a suggestion for what to eat next based on what's left in your day.
Where Tab is different (facts from each app's own listing or the sources below):
- Every number has a source you can see. Tab never takes a calorie or nutrient value from the AI model. Each one comes from a matched food record and a portion you can edit, and anything without a match is labelled "Estimated".
- Free logging isn't capped. Barcode, search and describe-a-meal logging stay unlimited and free. Only photo scans are limited, to 5 per account, on the free plan.
- What's in Pro: unlimited photo scans and 14 micronutrients, on top of a free plan whose barcode, search and describe logging is never capped.
- It asks about what the camera can't see. Tab prompts for cooking oil, butter and dressing before you log.
Pick something else if:
- You want unlimited free photo scans. Tab's free plan includes 5 photo scans for the life of the account; unlimited scans need Tab Pro.
- You want the deepest micronutrient tracking. Cronometer tracks far more nutrients; Tab Pro shows 14 micronutrients.
- You already weigh everything and want coaching math. MacroFactor's adaptive expenditure model is the reference for that style of tracking.
- You want a large community and integrations. MyFitnessPal has the biggest ecosystem.
FAQ
Which AI photo calorie tracker is most accurate?
There's no neutral, widely accepted benchmark yet, and published accuracy figures vary by test set. Any photo estimate can miss hidden oil, sauces and portion size, so pick an app that lets you see and correct each food and portion before logging.
Does Tab let AI guess calories?
No. A vision model identifies foods and estimates portion grams. Calories and macros come from matched food-database records, never from a model-generated nutrient number.
What can I use in Tab for free?
5 photo scans for the lifetime of your account, plus unlimited barcode, search and describe-a-meal logging, calories and all three macros, one meal suggestion a day and seven days of history.
What does Tab Pro add?
Unlimited photo scans and 14 micronutrients. Tab is free to download, and the free plan keeps barcode, search and describe-a-meal logging unlimited.
Can I fix a photo scan in Tab?
Yes. Change the matched food, adjust a portion, add a missing extra like cooking oil, or remove an item before it's logged.
Are my meal photos stored?
Normally a photo is used only to return your scan result. If you separately opt in, Tab may keep a small random sample of future meal photos for up to 90 days to review scan accuracy. You can turn this off in Settings.
Is Tab on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Tab is on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and on Google Play for Android.
Sources
- App Store listings: Cal AI · PlateLens · SnapCalorie · MacroFactor · Cronometer · MyFitnessPal
- Approach descriptions: Calorie Guardian
- Benchmarks mentioned for PlateLens: Clinical Nutrition Report · FoodVision Bench leaderboard
- Tab: Tab