What it does
Pulse Checker. Calorie Manager is a multi-functional health app designed to simplify wellness tracking. Its primary features include a calorie counter that can identify food from a photo, a large database of recipes, a barcode scanner for packaged goods, and a tool to measure heart rate using the phone's camera and flashlight. The app consolidates diet and basic cardiovascular monitoring into a single interface.
Where it shines
The app's standout feature is its photo-to-calorie function. At 00:52, the user selects an image, and by 01:14, the app has identified the food and its nutritional information. This removes the typical friction of manual entry. The app also provides a comprehensive recipe browser (00:40) that not only lists recipes but also gives detailed nutritional breakdowns and ingredients for each one (02:03), making it a useful meal planning tool. The heart rate monitor (03:20) is another well-integrated utility that adds value beyond simple calorie counting.
UX highlights
- Frictionless Logging: The ability to log meals from a photo (01:14) is the core UX win, drastically reducing the effort required for the app's main task.
- Multiple Entry Points: Users can log food via photo, barcode scan (01:48), recipe search, or manual entry (02:41), offering flexibility for different situations.
- Clear Information Hierarchy: Recipe and nutrition pages (01:29, 02:03) are well-organized, presenting key data like ingredients and macro breakdowns clearly and concisely.
- Integrated Health Metrics: The app combines diet (calories) and health (heart rate) on the main dashboard (03:56), giving a more holistic view of the user's wellness.
- Contextual Actions: When adding food, the app provides options to specify the meal type (e.g., Breakfast, Lunch) directly in the logging flow (01:14).
- Polished Micro-animations: Small details, like the animated icons in the onboarding carousel (00:15) and the pulsing progress meter during heart rate measurement (03:25), add a layer of polish.
Monetization & growth
The app employs an aggressive monetization strategy. The user is presented with a non-skippable paywall (00:22) immediately after a brief feature tour. It offers a single subscription plan with a 3-day free trial. This approach funnels all users toward conversion from the very beginning. The app also uses a well-timed, native-style rating prompt (00:43) after some initial usage to encourage positive App Store reviews.
Who it’s for
This app is likely for individuals who are new to calorie counting or have found other apps too tedious. The photo-logging feature appeals to those seeking convenience and a low-effort way to track their diet. It's also suitable for users who want a single app for both nutrition tracking and basic heart rate monitoring without needing a dedicated wearable device.
Notes & opportunities
While the photo analysis is impressive, the barcode scanner appears to be a point of failure. In the video, multiple attempts to scan a valid barcode result in a "NO RESULT" error (01:50, 01:57). For a premium, paid app, having a core advertised feature fail to work can significantly damage user trust and lead to churn. Ensuring the robustness of all primary features, especially those behind a paywall, is a critical area for improvement.