Before you start Pro.
Every honest question we get, answered straight. If yours isn't here, email anyway.
Will it actually work for me
Will I lose weight using this?
A food log can help you review your intake. Weight changes depend on many factors, and no result is guaranteed.
What if I've quit other trackers?
You can start with one meal description and review the result. Eligible customers can try Pro free for 7 days in the iPhone or Android app to see whether it suits you.
What if I'm not trying to lose weight?
It still works. Set a maintenance target or a gain target. The math is the same.
Accuracy and sources
How accurate are the numbers?
Nutrition results are estimates that depend on the details given, including for packaged food and chain restaurants. Every nutrition number must come from a source or from you. Homemade meals use sourced ingredients.
Where do the numbers come from?
USDA FoodData Central for foods and ingredients, nutrition databases including FatSecret and Open Food Facts for scanned barcodes, and public menu data for chains. A photo of the nutrition label reads the package directly. Every nutrition number must come from a source or from you.
What if it gets a meal wrong?
Tap, fix the portion or item, save. TrueCal remembers your correction for next time.
The app
Do I have to use ChatGPT?
No. TrueCal works on iPhone, Android, and web without ChatGPT.
iPhone only? What about Android?
Native iPhone and Android apps are available. Get TrueCal from the App Store or Google Play.
Barcode scanner?
It's in there. Most people stop using it after a week — typing is faster.
Photo logging?
Yes. Add a food photo with Pro, including an eligible Pro trial in the iPhone or Android app. Include portion details and review the estimate.
Money
What's the pricing?
TrueCal Pro is $29.99 a year or $9.99 a month. Eligible customers can try Pro free for 7 days in the iPhone or Android app. The App Store or Google Play runs the trial, and you can cancel anytime up to 24 hours before it ends.
How do I cancel?
On iPhone or Android, cancel in your App Store or Google Play subscription settings. On the web, cancel from the billing portal in Settings.
Discounts?
Student and hardship discounts — email hi@truecal.com. We say yes more than no.
Privacy
What do you do with my food log?
TrueCal stores your food log so you can review it. We do not sell your personal data for money. We use service providers for AI processing, nutrition databases, and search services, as well as hosting, email, and payments. Advertising partners receive data for ad measurement as described in our privacy policy.
Can I export everything?
You can request a copy of your data at privacy@truecal.com. Account deletion is available in settings.
Can I delete everything?
Settings → Delete account. Your account is deactivated right away, personal identifiers are removed, and retained records are scheduled for deletion.
AI agents and connectors
Can I use TrueCal from my AI agent?
Yes. Install @truecal/cli, authenticate once, and use JSON commands from agents such as Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, or terminal agents.
Can ChatGPT or Claude write to my TrueCal log?
Custom connectors can review progress and use supported weight and goal tools. Connected accounts can log meals, subject to account access and usage limits. The integration is not yet published in the ChatGPT plugin directory.
Still nothing answered it?
Email hi@truecal.com. We read everything.
Get the app
Full FAQ library
Plain answers about price, free logging, Pro features, privacy, and setup.
Looking for guides (not just FAQs)?
If you found TrueCal by searching “ChatGPT calorie tracker”, start with the hub guide and templates.
ChatGPT calorie tracker: how it works
Overview, steps, prompts, accuracy, and privacy.
Read the hub guide
Beginners quickstart
The simplest prompt and routine to get consistent in the first week.
Start here
Copy-paste prompts
Templates for restaurants, homemade meals, and packaged foods.
Open templates
How much caffeine is in coffee
Caffeine by coffee type and cup size.
Read the guide
Caffeine calculator
Total the caffeine in a day's coffee, tea, cola and energy drinks.
Open the calculator
Getting Started
plain answers for first-time users setting up TrueCal.
What is TrueCal?
TrueCal lets you describe meals in plain English in its iPhone, Android, and web apps.
How does TrueCal work with ChatGPT?
Describe what you ate in the TrueCal app. It estimates portions, calories, and macros from the details you provide.
Do I need ChatGPT Plus?
No. TrueCal runs in its own phone and web apps. You do not need a ChatGPT subscription to use them.
How do I install TrueCal?
Sign in to TrueCal and start with the guided web or mobile experience. AI logging comes with Pro, and eligible customers can try Pro free for 7 days in the iPhone or Android app. Manual meal logging stays free.
Is there a mobile app?
TrueCal is built for web and mobile use, so you can log from the device you already have.
Can I use TrueCal on my phone?
Yes. Use the native iPhone or Android app, or open TrueCal in your phone browser.
What languages are supported?
TrueCal supports English today.
How do I get started?
Eligible customers can try Pro free for 7 days in the iPhone or Android app. The App Store or Google Play runs the trial, and you can cancel anytime up to 24 hours before it ends.
Is my data synced across devices?
Yes. Your logs are stored in your account and available on desktop and mobile.
Can I use TrueCal without ChatGPT?
Yes. Manual meal logging stays free, and Pro keeps AI logging, macros, native agent tools, and saved-meal reuse available.
Is TrueCal available worldwide?
Yes. Anyone with web access can use TrueCal, and regional nutrition databases are expanding.
Logging Food
How TrueCal handles meals, portions, and accuracy.
How accurate is the calorie counting?
TrueCal provides best-available estimates based on food databases and typical portion sizes. You can always edit entries.
What foods can it track?
Most common foods, restaurant items, and packaged brands are supported.
Can it handle restaurant meals?
Yes. TrueCal recognizes popular chains and can estimate nutrition for custom meals.
What about homemade recipes?
Describe the recipe or list the ingredients, and TrueCal will estimate the per-serving nutrition.
Does it track macros?
Yes, with Pro, including an eligible Pro trial in the iPhone or Android app. Without Pro, macros are hidden.
Can I track alcohol?
Yes. Wine, beer, cocktails, and spirits can be logged in plain language. Our guide shows how to count calories in alcohol, by drink and by mixer.
How does it handle portion sizes?
TrueCal interprets phrases like half a bowl or two slices and lets you adjust if needed.
Can I edit logged entries?
Absolutely. Just tell TrueCal what to change and it will update the log.
What about branded foods?
Branded foods use sources for that product, with no substitute product used to fill missing nutrition.
How do I log snacks?
Snacks work like any meal. Say snacked on a granola bar and TrueCal will add it.
Features & Pricing
Plan details, upgrades, and what's included.
Is TrueCal free?
Eligible customers can try Pro free for 7 days in the iPhone or Android app. The App Store or Google Play runs the trial, and you can cancel anytime up to 24 hours before it ends. TrueCal Pro is $29.99 a year or $9.99 a month. Manual meal logging and calories stay free.
What's included in the free plan?
Manual meal logging, calories, daily and weekly views, and meal history stay free. AI logging, macros, native agent, saved-meal reuse, and custom goals require Pro.
Do you have a premium plan?
TrueCal Pro is $29.99 a year or $9.99 a month. The yearly plan saves 75% compared with paying monthly. It includes macros, the native agent on web and mobile, and meal templates.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. If you subscribed in the iPhone or Android app, cancel in your App Store or Google Play subscription settings. If you subscribed on truecal.com, cancel from the billing portal in Settings. You keep Pro until the end of the period you paid for, and the free features stay.
Do you offer refunds?
App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded by Apple or Google under their policies. For purchases on truecal.com, email support@truecal.com and we'll review your request. Our terms have the details.
Privacy & Data
Your logs are yours. Here's how we protect them.
Where is my data stored?
Data is stored securely in our cloud infrastructure and tied to your TrueCal account.
Do you sell my data?
No. We never sell your personal data or food logs.
How do I delete my account?
You can delete your account from the app settings or contact support for help.
Is my food data encrypted?
Yes. We encrypt data in transit and at rest.
Nutrition Basics
Quick definitions for the nutrition terms you'll see.
What is TDEE?
TDEE stands for Total Daily Energy Expenditure, the number of calories your body burns in a day.
How do calories work?
Calories are a unit of energy. TrueCal records estimated calories from what you log.
What are macros?
Macros are macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. They make up the calories you eat.
What's the difference between calories and macros?
Calories tell you total energy, while macros show where those calories come from.
How does metabolism work?
Metabolism is the process your body uses to convert food into energy for daily functions and activity.
What is BMR?
BMR is Basal Metabolic Rate, the calories your body burns at rest.
What are net carbs?
Net carbs are total carbs minus fiber.
What are micronutrients?
Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that support basic body functions, like iron, calcium, and vitamin D.
What's the thermic effect of food?
The thermic effect of food is the energy your body uses to digest and process what you eat.
What's the difference between simple and complex carbs?
Simple carbs digest quickly, while complex carbs digest more slowly and provide sustained energy.
Comparisons
How TrueCal stacks up against traditional trackers.
How is TrueCal different from MyFitnessPal?
TrueCal replaces manual searches with natural language and AI-assisted portion estimates.
TrueCal vs Lose It?
TrueCal lets you describe meals in its own app. Compare current plans and input methods on each product website.
Why not just use ChatGPT directly?
TrueCal stores a food log you can review across its phone and web apps.
TrueCal vs Noom?
Noom emphasizes coaching programs. TrueCal emphasizes fast, frictionless food logging.
Is TrueCal better than manual tracking?
Most people log more consistently because TrueCal removes the tedious parts of manual tracking.
Still have questions?
Eligible customers can try Pro free for 7 days in the iPhone or Android app. The App Store or Google Play runs the trial, and you can cancel anytime up to 24 hours before it ends.