BudgetCal is designed to help you track what you eat every day in the cheapest and simplest way possible. It solves the problem of tracking meals that lack barcodes or nutrition labels, such as home-cooked meals, takeout, and local food.

BudgetCal has no database and no barcode scanner. You estimate nutrition with your favorite AI service, then paste the results into BudgetCal where fields fill in automatically. Daily recommended intake can be set by body fat percentage, by height and weight, or customized to your own pace.

The app requires both a photo and text description of the meal to be sent together to AI services for better accuracy and to prevent errors. This approach leverages free AI tiers that are versatile and continuously improving.

BudgetCal offers no subscriptions, no ads, and a one-time purchase for lifetime use. It is lightweight and quiet, designed not to intrude on your life while helping you organize daily food intake quickly.

The app is intended for individuals who cook at home, eat out, or consume food from buffets, food stalls, and night markets where traditional calorie tracking tools fall short.