Snap a photo of your meal; AI estimates calories and macros.
Do the full math on an AI calorie app: €22K revenue and still €5,800 in the minus
This is the real P&L most "my app makes $X" posts skip: ads and AI inference can eat all the revenue.
Figures as shared by the creator · source
From @SuspiciousSoftware74 on Reddit · Oct 2026
The Short Version
- What: A solo developer in Germany built a photo calorie tracker, mostly for German speakers, using Gemini on Google Cloud for the AI, and Cursor and Claude Code to build it.
- Result: He reported about 13,300 installs, 4.7 stars on Google Play and 4.65 on the App Store, about €22K gross revenue and 678 active subscriptions (around $2.2K MRR).
- Made with: Gemini, Cursor, Claude Code
The workflow
Made With
GeminiScript · Google's AI assistant for ideas, research and imagesTry Gemini AIMore Cases
CursorUse · AI code editor: describe what you want and it writes and edits the codeTry Cursor AIMore Cases
Claude CodeUse · Anthropic's agentic coding tool that edits files and runs commands in your codebaseTry Claude Code AIMore CasesWhere & With What
What They Did
- 1The moveA solo developer in Germany built a photo calorie tracker, mostly for German speakers, using Gemini on Google Cloud for the AI, and Cursor and Claude Code to build it.
- 2Step 2Track every cost from day one
- 3Step 3Measure payback per ad channel
- 4ResultHe reported about 13,300 installs, 4.7 stars on Google Play and 4.65 on the App Store, about €22K gross revenue and 678 active subscriptions (around $2.2K MRR).
Quick Answers
What tools do you need?
Gemini (google's ai assistant for ideas, research and images); Cursor (ai code editor: describe what you want and it writes and edits the code); Claude Code (anthropic's agentic coding tool that edits files and runs commands in your codebase).
How much does it cost?
You can start for $0: Gemini, Cursor have a free plan. Claude Code is paid or trial-based. Check each tool's site for current prices.
Is it allowed?
Follow the platform rules and disclose ads.
Watch out: Self-reported. He says Apple Search Ads never paid back in any month.
Try It Yourself
(Our template, not the creator's prompt.) Build a simple monthly P&L for my AI app: gross revenue, store fees and VAT, ad spend by channel, AI inference cost per active user, tools, and the break-even number of subscribers.
Your first step
Open Gemini, paste the prompt above and swap the [brackets] for your own niche.
Full write-up & sources
More detail: Growth came mainly from Google Ads and Apple Search Ads.
Results: After store fees and VAT about €14,300 landed. Costs: €7,514 Google Ads, €5,356 Apple Search Ads, about €3,900 Google Cloud (mostly Gemini), about €3,000 Cursor and Claude Code, and ~€360 in fees, so he is about €5,800 in the minus before his own time (Reddit, r/SaaS, Oct 2026).
Source: @SuspiciousSoftware74 on Reddit · Oct 2026. Summarised in our own words; figures as shared by the creator or shown on the platform. Updated .
