Apple has removed the Cal AI food-logging application from its App Store for violating its rules regarding in-app purchases and external payment links. The app, owned by MyFitnessPal, was taken down after it directed users to a website to purchase a subscription, bypassing Apple's in-app payment system which collects a commission.
The enforcement action, first reported by Bloomberg, underscores Apple's continued strict policing of its App Store guidelines, particularly Rule 3.1.1, which mandates the use of Apple's own payment processing for digital goods and services. Developers are prohibited from including buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms outside of the app.
This incident occurs amidst ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny of Apple's App Store policies in multiple jurisdictions. While Apple has made some concessions, such as allowing "reader" apps to link to external websites for account creation, the core rules for most apps involving digital transactions remain firmly in place. The removal of Cal AI signals that Apple is actively enforcing these rules against apps of all sizes.
MyFitnessPal has not issued a public statement regarding the removal. For an app to be reinstated, developers typically must remove the violating links or mechanisms and resubmit their application for review by Apple's App Review team.
