Help
Logging foodWhat are AI lookups and how does my monthly allowance work?
Updated 7 July 2026
Welcome to Focal. When you log your meals, our AI tools make tracking fast and straightforward. AI lookups power features like photo scans, voice logging, and barcode reading, taking the guesswork out of nutrition. Because these features use advanced technology to calculate calories and macros accurately, they are metered through a monthly allowance. Understanding how your allowance works ensures you can make the most of your quick logging tools without unexpected interruptions. Whether you are on the free tier or a Pro subscriber, knowing what counts towards your limit helps you plan your tracking efficiently. Let us explore exactly how these lookups are counted, what happens when you run low, and how standard manual entries can save your allowance when you need it most.
My AI Lookups Ran Out, Now What?
Maya Chen, Focal product specialist — knows every feature inside-out · Callum Brooks, Strength coach and nutrition advisor — ten years coaching everyday lifters
The host and guests are fictional characters. This conversation is scripted and based on verified information from this help article.
Section 1
Introduction
Welcome to Focal. When you log your meals, our AI tools make tracking fast and straightforward. AI lookups power features like photo scans, voice logging, and barcode reading, taking the guesswork out of nutrition. Because these features use advanced technology to calculate calories and macros accurately, they are metered through a monthly allowance. Understanding how your allowance works ensures you can make the most of your quick logging tools without unexpected interruptions. Whether you are on the free tier or a Pro subscriber, knowing what counts towards your limit helps you plan your tracking efficiently. Let us explore exactly how these lookups are counted, what happens when you run low, and how standard manual entries can save your allowance when you need it most.
Section 2
Key takeaways
The essentials to remember.
- Free tier limits you to 10 AI lookups per calendar month.
- Pro tier upgrades your allowance to 300 AI lookups per month.
- Allowances reset precisely at the start of the UTC calendar month.
- Manual quick-add and re-logging from history do not use any lookups.
- Menu scanning is a Pro-only feature and consumes one lookup per menu item checked.
Section 3
What counts as an AI lookup?
An AI lookup happens whenever Focal processes your food using our AI features to fetch nutritional data. Each successful attempt claims one lookup from your monthly allowance.
- Uploading or taking a photo of your meal to guess macros.
- Using the describe or voice feature to log food.
- Scanning a barcode on a product package.
- Scanning a food nutrition label or a recipe card.
Section 4
Monthly allowances and resets
Your lookup allowance depends on your current subscription plan. These limits reset automatically at the start of each new calendar month based strictly on the UTC time zone.
- Free users receive 10 AI lookups per calendar month.
- Pro users receive 300 AI lookups per calendar month.
Section 6
What happens when you run out
If you are using the free version of Focal and exhaust your 10 monthly lookups, you will see a paywall prompt. This screen offers the option to upgrade to Focal Pro, granting you immediate access to 300 lookups per month. Without upgrading, you will need to rely on manual logging until your allowance resets at the start of the following UTC month.
Section 7
What does not count
You can conserve your allowance by tracking foods through methods that do not trigger a fresh AI calculation.
- Entering calories and macros by hand using manual quick-add.
- Re-logging meals directly from your history without starting a new AI scan.
- Browsing the existing recipe catalogue within the app.
Section 8
Common questions
- Can I use menu scan if I am on the free tier?
- No, the menu scan feature is locked to the Pro tier. You cannot use it even if you have unused free lookups remaining.
- Do my unused lookups roll over to the next month?
- No, unused lookups expire at the end of the month. Your balance resets to your tier limit at the start of the new UTC calendar month.
- Does it count if the AI lookup fails?
- No, one lookup is only claimed from your allowance when an AI food lookup is successful.
- Will searching for recipes use up my allowance?
- Browsing the recipe catalogue does not use any AI lookups, so you can explore recipes freely.
Section 9
In the app
Where to find this in Focal.
You can monitor your remaining AI lookups directly within your account profile in the Focal app. Keeping track of this number helps you decide whether to use a quick photo scan or simply type in a familiar meal. If you are a free user nearing your limit of ten, try using the manual quick-add feature for basic ingredients to save your AI lookups for complex meals. Upgrading to Focal Pro is straightforward via the app settings. Doing so instantly raises your monthly limit to 300 lookups, giving you extensive freedom to track your diet effortlessly.
