Calorie tracking, measured.
Accuracy data, honest guides, and industry notes from the team building 0xCal — an AI calorie tracker we benchmark against USDA data every week.
How accurate are AI calorie counters? We test one every week.
We benchmark an AI calorie counter against USDA reference data every week — 100+ foods, scored against MyFitnessPal and Fitatu. Here are the real numbers, including where AI loses.
August 17, 2026 · 8 min read Accuracy · DataPhoto vs. text calorie logging: which is more accurate?
We tested both against weighed, home-cooked meals: text descriptions score ~86% while photo scans average ~76% with big run-to-run swings. The data, and when to use each.
August 17, 2026 · 7 min read RoundupBest AI calorie counter apps in 2026: an honest guide
The AI calorie counter market after Cal AI's removal: what actually separates the apps, five evaluation criteria, and where the major trackers stand. Written by a competitor, bias disclosed.
August 17, 2026 · 7 min read AccuracyHow accurate are nutrition labels? The 20% rule nobody mentions
US regulators allow nutrition labels to be off by up to 20%, rounding rules can hide calories entirely, and the calorie formula itself is an approximation. What that means for tracking.
August 17, 2026 · 6 min read Guide · Fasting16:8 intermittent fasting: a practical guide
How 16:8 fasting actually works, why it fails when the eating window becomes a free-for-all, and how to combine fasting windows with calorie tracking.
August 17, 2026 · 7 min read IndustryWhat happened to Cal AI?
Cal AI was pulled from the Apple App Store in April 2026 after its Stripe payment bypass was exposed. The full timeline, what it means for subscribers, and what to use instead.
August 17, 2026 · 6 min read GuideHow to track calories without weighing food
You don't need a food scale to track calories effectively. Portion estimation methods, when precision actually matters, and how AI logging changes the math.
August 17, 2026 · 7 min read Guide · Apple HealthCalorie apps that sync with Apple Health: what “sync” actually means
Not all Apple Health sync is equal. What dietary energy, steps, and weight syncing really do, why two-way sync matters for your calorie budget, and how to set it up.
August 17, 2026 · 6 min read