BeforeIBite is free to use, supported by ads, and also offers a paid Pro subscription that removes those ads. This article explains why we built an ad-free option at all.
Ads and calorie tracking don't mix well
Calorie tracking already asks for some discipline. Layering banner ads and interstitials on top of that turns logging into a chore — and it creates a perverse incentive: an ad-supported app earns more when you scroll more, not when you log more accurately.
We didn't want that to be the only option, so Pro exists for people who'd rather pay a few dollars and drop the ads entirely.
AI has a real per-user cost
Every photo you scan goes through a large multimodal AI model. Every barcode lookup hits a food database. Every label scan runs OCR. Those calls cost money — small per-call, real per-user, every month.
The free plan covers that cost with advertising. Pro covers it with a direct subscription instead. Either way, you're never asked to pay extra inside a feature — there are no "Pro AI" tiers hiding core scanning behind a second paywall.
What this means for you
- Pro removes ads. No banner on the photo-analysis or label-scanning screens, and nothing else inserted.
- No upsells inside features. The AI photo scan you get on day one is the same one you have on day 100, free or Pro.
- No data sale. We're paid by subscribers and advertising partners — not by selling your data. See What data does BeforeIBite collect? for the full breakdown.
- Same features, either plan. Pro doesn't unlock any logging or analysis features that aren't already in the free plan — it just removes the ads.
Why we still offer a trial
A calorie tracker is something you have to use for a few meals before you can tell whether it works for you. The 7-day Pro trial (on the annual plan) is enough time to log a few meals ad-free, see how the AI handles your cuisines, and decide. See How your free trial works.