Balloon
AI gut-health tracking app
Log your poop and eat your way out of constipation
Reviewed by The Desk · Last verified July 2026
“A charming, well-executed niche tracker that turns bowel-movement logging into a low-friction daily habit, with a genuinely useful AI meal-photo feature that estimates fiber and FODMAP content. It's a consumer wellness companion for building regularity, not a clinical tool — and its iOS-only reach plus annual-only paywall limit who it serves.”
Skip it ifYou're on Android, want a web version, need clinically validated diagnostics rather than habit-building estimates, or dislike being paywalled into an annual-only subscription with no monthly trial path.
What it is
Balloon is an iOS app for tracking gut health, aimed primarily at women managing constipation and related conditions like IBS and IBD. Users log bowel movements using the Bristol Stool Scale alongside food and symptoms, and the app surfaces daily, weekly, and monthly trends to help make sense of digestive patterns. Logging is deliberately low-friction, with home-screen widgets, Siri shortcuts, and an Apple Watch app, plus Apple Health integration.
Its AI angle is a meal-photo analyzer: snap a picture of your food and Balloon estimates fiber content and FODMAP status to guide intake. It layers on behavioral features too — constipation risk alerts with a toolkit to stay regular, guided belly-massage routines, and personalized habit coaching. The free tier gets you started, while AI fiber tracking and unlimited usage sit behind a premium annual subscription (no monthly option is offered, and the exact price isn't published upfront).
Balloon is a solo-built consumer wellness product — reportedly created by founder Grace Chi and launched on Product Hunt in early 2025 — and it shows in the friendly, stigma-breaking tone and a strong 4.8 App Store rating. It fits people who want an approachable daily tracker to build regularity, rather than anyone seeking clinical-grade diagnostics or cross-platform access. The narrow focus, iOS-only reach, and annual-only paywall are the main trade-offs.
Key features
- Poop logging on the Bristol Stool Scale with daily, weekly, and monthly trend charts
- AI meal-photo analysis estimating fiber content and FODMAP status
- Constipation risk alerts with a toolkit to help you stay regular
- Guided, clinically informed belly-massage routines
- Hands-free logging through Apple Watch, Siri, and home-screen widgets
- Apple Health integration for centralized health data
- Personalized habit-building and fiber-intake guidance
Who it’s for
Track bowel movements to manage chronic constipation, IBS, or IBD
Identify trigger and helpful foods through fiber and FODMAP logging
Get early alerts when you're at risk of a constipation flare
Build consistent fiber-intake and hydration habits
Pros & cons
The good
- Low-friction logging via Bristol Stool Scale, widgets, Siri, and Apple Watch makes the daily habit stick
- AI meal-photo analysis estimates fiber and FODMAP status, backed by constipation alerts and guided belly massages
- Real free tier plus a strong 4.8 App Store rating and an approachable, stigma-breaking design
The catch
- iOS only — no Android or web app
- Premium (AI fiber tracking, unlimited usage) is gated behind an annual-only subscription with no monthly option and no upfront price transparency
- AI features are lightweight estimates, and the scope is narrowly aimed at women with constipation
Pricing
| Tier | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Basic poop, food, and symptom logging · Trend charts |
| Premium (annual) | Custom | AI fiber tracking · Unlimited usage · Full feature access |
Free tier — Free tier covers basic logging; AI fiber tracking and unlimited usage require premium
Questions people ask
Is Balloon free to use?
Yes, there's a free tier that covers basic logging. Premium features like AI fiber tracking and unlimited usage require a paid annual subscription; there is no monthly plan.
Is Balloon available on Android or the web?
No. Balloon is currently iOS only, with companion support for Apple Watch, Siri, and home-screen widgets.
Is Balloon only for women?
It's designed and marketed for women, who the maker notes are roughly twice as likely to experience gut issues, but anyone can use it to track digestion.
How does the AI work?
You photograph a meal and Balloon estimates its fiber content and FODMAP status. These are guidance estimates for habit-building, not medical diagnoses.