# Lean vs ElderBuddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ElderBuddy at none against Lean's 17. Lean's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lean sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. ElderBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lean | ElderBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lean-ai-macro-tracker/id6741105248/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 19.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 203 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HUBX YAZILIM HIZMETLERI ANONIM SIRKETI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1619331387) | [Siddarth Gupta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1839581346) |

## What reviewers say

### Lean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lean-ai-macro-tracker/id6741105248)

Effortlessly track your meals and calories with AI-powered analysis. Simply snap a photo or manually log your food for precise insights. Understand your daily needs and adjust your plan with built-in calculators for calories and deficits.

**Highlights:** AI meal analysis, Photo food logging, Barcode scanning, Manual food entry, Calorie calculator, Calorie deficit calculator, Macro and protein tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Dietitian Access | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| AI Dietitian Access | $5.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Usage for 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Usage for 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weeklu Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| AI Dietitian Access | $19.99 | per year |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Usage for 1 Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Usage for 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Usage for 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Usage for 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| PDF Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔍 Decent AI food recognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall prevents basic functionality
- 🔍 Lacking database search functionality
- 🚫 Unable to log food, workouts, or fasting
- 🚫 Inability to scan barcodes or images
- 📊 Inaccurate macro recommendations

**Reported bugs**

- Submit button for refund not working
- App not syncing with Apple Health

**Requested features**

- Ability to add fractional portions
- Option to delete incorrect workouts


### ElderBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elderbuddy/id6759272076)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lean free?

Lean is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ElderBuddy free?

ElderBuddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Lean or ElderBuddy have ads?

Neither Lean nor ElderBuddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lean or ElderBuddy?

Lean ships an update every 2 weeks, and ElderBuddy every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lean was updated on October 12, 2026 and ElderBuddy on October 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*