Common questions
Is Hame Food really free?
Yes. No price, no ads, no in-app purchases, no subscription and no account. Features other trackers charge for, like meal photos, barcode scanning and meal planning, are all in the free app.
Do I need an account?
No. Open the app and start logging. Sync uses your own iCloud, through the Apple Account already on your iPhone.
Does barcode scanning need the internet?
No. The food database, with everyday foods and packaged products from the US and Canada, is built into the app. Scanning and searching work with no signal.
A barcode isn't found. What can I do?
Scan the product's nutrition label, enter the numbers yourself, or search by name. The food is saved as your own, so the barcode works next time.
Where do the nutrition numbers come from?
From public, open food data: the US Department of Agriculture, Health Canada and Open Food Facts. You can see the sources, their licenses and versions in More, Data sources. AI never makes up a number; it only names the foods and amounts.
A product's numbers are wrong. How do I fix them?
For a product from Open Food Facts, open the food and choose "Fix this product at Open Food Facts" in the menu. You can also make your own version of any food.
How does logging by photo or voice work?
Snap a meal, say what you ate, or describe it. AI names the foods and amounts, Hame's database fills in the numbers, and you check the list before it's saved. By default this all happens on your iPhone. See the privacy policy for the other choices.
How do I use my own ChatGPT or Claude?
In Settings, AI, choose "Your own ChatGPT or Claude" and follow the five steps: pick one, get a key from their site, paste it, agree, and test it. OpenAI or Anthropic bill you for what you use; Hame never does. To keep the cost small, buy a little credit there and leave auto-reload off.
Where is my data stored?
On your iPhone, and in your own iCloud when your iPhone is signed in to iCloud. Hame has no servers, so we never see it. To stop iCloud sync on an iPhone, go to More, then iCloud sync.
How do I move to a new iPhone?
Sign in to the same Apple Account on the new iPhone and install Hame Food. Your diary comes back from your iCloud. Your own AI key stays on the old iPhone, so add it again.
How does sharing with a buddy work?
Turn on sharing with a buddy, choose what to include, and send the iCloud invite. Your buddy installs Hame Food, opens the link and sees a read-only summary. Tap Stop sharing any time and their access ends.
Does it work with Apple Health?
Yes, if you want. Each type has its own switch. Hame can read steps, workouts, weight, sleep and blood sugar, and save the food, water and weight you log to Health.
How do I export or back up my diary?
From More, export CSV files, make a PDF report, or save a backup file you can restore later.
How do I delete everything?
Stop any buddy sharing first, then go to More and delete everything. The privacy policy explains how to remove your iCloud copy and your Apple Health entries too.
Is Hame Food medical advice?
No. Talk to a health professional about your diet, and to your prescriber about any medicine. If you're worried about your eating, in the US you can reach the National Eating Disorders Association, and in Canada the National Eating Disorder Information Centre.
Still need help?
Email hello@hameapps.com. Tell us your iPhone model and iOS version. Please don't send details about your health or diary; we don't need them to help you.