Cal AI App Temporarily Removed from App Store Over Guideline Violations

Apple has temporarily removed the Cal AI food-logging application from its App Store. The company stated the removal was due to multiple violations of its App Store guidelines. The developer has since addressed the issues, and the app has been reinstated.

Apple stated the app's removal was due to "multiple violations of its rules, including bypassing Apple's in-app purchase flow, using deceptive billing design, and other manipulative tactics."

Specific Violations Cited

Apple cited the following specific guideline violations:

• Bypassing In-App Purchase: The app implemented an embedded payment flow using a third-party service (Stripe) to unlock digital goods, removing Apple's in-app purchase as an option during checkout. This violated App Store Guideline 3.1.1.

• Deceptive Billing Practices: Apple stated the app's paywall was designed in a way that could mislead consumers. This included prominently displaying weekly calculated pricing over the actual billed amount and using a free trial toggle that obscured information about automatic renewal. This violated Guideline 3.1.2c.

• Manipulative Tactics: The app prompted users who declined one subscription offer with a second, different purchase flow. Apple stated this violated the Developer Code of Conduct's guideline 5.6.

Background and Context

The Cal AI app is owned by MyFitnessPal. Current App Store Guidelines allow U.S.-based developers to link to external payment systems, a result of a court ruling in the lawsuit brought by Epic Games. However, apps are generally still required to offer Apple's in-app purchase option alongside any external link, with exceptions for certain "reader" apps.

Apple confirmed the app's return to the store after the developer addressed the cited issues. MyFitnessPal and Cal AI did not respond to requests for comment.