App Showcase: Dr Cal

What it does

Dr. Cal is a mobile app designed for calorie and macronutrient tracking. It guides users through a detailed questionnaire to gather information about their body, lifestyle, and fitness goals. Based on this data, the app promises to create a personalized, science-backed plan to help them achieve their desired weight, whether that's losing, maintaining, or gaining.

Where it shines

The app's strength lies in its highly structured and persuasive onboarding flow. The initial quiz is comprehensive, making users feel like their plan will be genuinely tailored to them. The data input screens for height (00:34) and weight (00:41) use smooth, custom sliders that are more engaging than simple text fields. A standout moment occurs during the 'Crafting your program' screen (01:11), which cleverly uses the loading time to cycle through user testimonials, building trust right before the payment screen.

UX highlights

• Goal Reinforcement: After setting a target weight, a dedicated screen at 00:50 reassures the user that their goal is 'practical and totally achievable,' which helps build commitment.
• Visual Value Prop: An early screen (00:19) uses a simple visual to compare the user's progress on their own versus with the app, making the benefit immediately obvious.
• Polished Inputs: The vertical scrolling pickers for birth year (00:26) and the custom sliders for height and weight feel tactile and well-designed.
• Permission Priming: The app uses a warm-up screen at 00:29 to explain the benefit of notifications before showing the official system prompt, likely increasing opt-in rates.
• Embedded Social Proof: User reviews and ratings are not confined to a single screen. They appear during the rating prompt (01:00) and again on the final paywall (01:31), consistently reinforcing the app's credibility.

Monetization & growth

Dr. Cal employs a multi-layered monetization strategy. After completing the onboarding quiz, the user is presented with a hard paywall at 01:29, offering yearly and weekly subscription plans with a prominent 'SAVE 89%' tag on the annual option. There is no free trial. If the user dismisses the native iOS subscription sheet, the app immediately presents a 'One Time Offer' (01:53). This secondary paywall features a steeper discount and a countdown timer to create urgency and capture users who hesitated at the initial price.

Who it’s for

This app is targeted at individuals who are serious about tracking their nutrition and achieving a specific weight goal. The detailed, science-framed onboarding suggests it's for users who want a structured, guided experience rather than a simple, self-directed logging tool. It likely appeals to those who have tried to manage their diet on their own and are now looking for a more robust, personalized solution.

Notes & opportunities

The app's first action is to request App Tracking permission (00:00), which can be jarring as it happens before any value is shown or trust is built. Similarly, the in-app rating prompt (00:59) appears before the user has had a chance to use the core features of the app, which might feel premature. Delaying these requests could improve user trust and the quality of feedback.