What it does
Calsee is an AI-powered mobile app designed to simplify calorie and macronutrient tracking. Its primary function is to analyze food through a smartphone's camera, automatically identifying ingredients and estimating nutritional information. Users can also log meals by scanning product barcodes, typing text, or selecting from their history and favorites to maintain a daily food diary.
Where it shines
The app's strength lies in making food logging accessible and flexible. The onboarding quiz (starting at 00:23) does an excellent job of gathering user data not just for setup, but to produce a tangible "Personalized Goal Plan" at 01:48. This screen, complete with a target date and celebratory confetti, makes the user's goal feel immediately actionable. Furthermore, the app provides multiple logging methods. The AI photo scan is the star (02:58), but the barcode scanner for packaged goods (03:51) and simple text entry (03:29) provide practical alternatives for any situation.
UX highlights
- The onboarding process effectively builds user investment by framing data collection as a collaborative plan-building exercise.
- A dense social proof screen at 00:38 combines a 4.6-star rating, 200K+ downloads, and scrolling testimonials to build trust early on.
- The main dashboard is clean, using large circular progress meters to give a clear, at-a-glance view of daily calorie and macro consumption.
- After a meal is logged, a "Continuous Days Record" popup (03:21) appears, gamifying consistency by celebrating the user's streak.
- The app provides a detailed nutritional breakdown for scanned items, including a list of ingredients and an AI-generated comment on the food's health profile (04:17).
- Editing a logged food's portion size is simple, with plus and minus buttons that immediately update all nutritional values on the screen (04:29).
Monetization & growth
Calsee uses a post-onboarding paywall to convert users. After creating a personalized plan, the user is presented with a subscription screen at 01:58. The offer includes a 3-day free trial for an annual plan, which is heavily discounted (68% off) and highlighted as "Most Popular!" Prices are also broken down per week to make the cost seem lower. For growth, the app includes an "Invite Friends" feature (06:27) that rewards users with a 30-day free extension for referring three friends, while giving friends a discount.
Who it’s for
This app is best suited for individuals who want to track their calorie and nutrient intake for weight management or health goals but are deterred by the tedious manual entry required by many other apps. Its intuitive, visual-first approach appeals to users looking for a quick and modern way to log their meals. The clear goal-setting and progress tracking also make it a good fit for those who are motivated by data and clear targets.
Notes & opportunities
While the onboarding is strong, forcing account creation (02:14) immediately after the user subscribes could be a point of friction. Allowing the user to explore the main app first and prompting them to create an account later might improve retention. Additionally, the AI analysis loading screen (e.g., at 03:04) could be an opportunity to display quick health tips or facts to keep the user engaged while they wait.