# esper - Offline & Private AI — On-device LLM Chat

> Offline AI chat app for running local and API-connected language models privately. (iPhone/iPad app by Cody Ingram.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esper-offline-and-private-ai/id6742043284 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Cody Ingram](https://appshunter.io/developer/1039715356)
- Category: Productivity, Utilities
- Price: Free with in-app purchases (on sale, was $4.99)
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 163 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-04-13
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esper-offline-and-private-ai/id6742043284/reviews.md

## What is esper?

esper - Offline & Private AI is your personal AI chat app—designed to keep your conversations private and powerful.

Run open-source models completely offline on your iPhone. With esper - Offline & Private AI, you can choose to keep your data on your device. No tracking.

Key Features of esper - Offline & Private AI:

– Run Offline
Download top open-source models like Qwen, Gemma, and DeepSeek directly to your phone—fully functional even without internet or WiFi.

– Bring Your Own Key
Prefer ChatGPT or Claude? Plug in your own API key and get instant access to premium models from their providers. Swap between models anytime, even within the same conversation.

– Multimodal Support
Chat with models that support vision for images, PDFs, and other files.

– Local RAG knowledge bases
Upload documents into organized collections that you can add to chats to provide extra context for models, all 100% private and offline.

– Local Image Generation
Run stable diffusion directly on your device for unlimited image generations, with esper Pro.

– Web search
Ground your requests with search results with any model, or use native web search from providers like Google, xAI, OpenRouter, and more.

– Shortcuts
Send prompts and attachments to esper from shortcut workflows

– Branching Conversations
Explore different chat paths and easily toggle between threads.

– Privacy-First
No analytics, no log storage, no server necessary. esper - Offline & Private AI gives total user control to choose completely offline chats, or connect with their favourite online providers. The choice is yours.

– Custom GPTs & Model Swapping
Build and edit your own GPTs. Switch models mid-conversation—from Gemini to Claude in a single chat.

– Customizable
Adjust the interface to match your personal style. Take control of conversations with editing, deleting, or retrying messages.

– iCloud Sync
Sync conversations across your devices with Pro.

– Go Pro
Pro gives you unlimited model downloads, local image models, knowledge base access, iCloud Syncing, Kokoro voice model, and optional color themes and animations.

If you want an AI chat experience that’s powerful, flexible, and private, esper - Offline & Private AI is built for you.

## Key features

- Run open-source models offline
- Connect with your own API keys
- Multimodal support for images and PDFs
- Local RAG knowledge bases
- Branching conversations
- Customizable interface
- iCloud sync (Pro)

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| esper Pro | $12.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esper-offline-and-private-ai/id6742043284/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Error

*2026-02-03*

It's a cool app but I get a local model unknown error after getting like 5 reply from the model

**Developer response:** Hey sorry to hear that! Please send me a message (check the settings menu for options to contact me) with more information about your issue so I can fix this for you.

### 5/5 — Best third party mobile AI app

*2026-01-20*

Simple. One time fee with BYOK. Works with a ton of models. Has knowledge base/RAG.

Incredible tool.

### 5/5 — A must-download

*2025-05-05*

Great idiot-proof little app for running all the major LLMs locally. Feels like a must-have incase your ever lose internet or there’s an apocalypse scenario of some kind

## Frequently asked questions about esper

### What is esper's core functionality?

esper allows you to run powerful AI language models directly on your iPhone or iPad, completely offline. This means your conversations and data stay on your device, ensuring maximum privacy and control.

### Can I use online AI models with esper?

Yes, esper offers flexibility. You can choose to run models offline, or you can plug in your own API keys to access premium online models like ChatGPT or Claude, and even leverage internet search capabilities.

### What kind of data can esper process?

esper supports multimodal interactions, allowing you to chat with models that can process images, PDFs, and other files. You can also create local RAG knowledge bases by uploading your own documents for private context.

### How does esper handle privacy?

Privacy is a primary focus for esper. The app has no analytics, no log storage, and requires no server connection for its offline features. You have total control over your data and conversations.

### What are the benefits of esper Pro?

esper Pro unlocks additional features such as unlimited model downloads, full knowledge base access, iCloud syncing across devices, the Kokoro voice model, and optional cosmetic customizations like color themes and animations.

### Is esper suitable for younger users?

esper has an age rating of 12+, indicating it is intended for users aged 12 and above. This is typical for AI applications that may involve complex interactions and content.

### How often is esper updated?

The latest version of esper is 1.4.1, which was last updated on March 25, 2026. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and feature enhancements.

### What devices does esper support?

esper is available for both iPhone and iPad, allowing users to experience its powerful AI capabilities on their preferred Apple mobile devices.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.6.7 — 2026-08-20

This update of esper - Offline & Private AI includes new features and bug fixes. Visit esper-ai.com/changelog for more information.

### 1.6.6 — 2026-08-14

This update of esper - Offline & Private AI includes new features and bug fixes. Visit esper-ai.com/changelog for more information.

### 1.6.5 — 2026-07-15

This update of esper - Offline & Private AI includes new features and bug fixes. Visit esper-ai.com/changelog for more information.

### 1.6.4 — 2026-06-10

This update of esper - Offline & Private AI includes new features and bug fixes. Visit esper-ai.com/changelog for more information.

### 1.6.3 — 2026-05-28

This update of esper - Offline & Private AI includes new features and bug fixes. Visit esper-ai.com/changelog for more information.

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| [AI Offline LLM Chat: Lapis](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ai-offline-llm-chat-lapis/id6754216427) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Local LLM: MITHRIL](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/local-llm-mithril/id6751945393) | 4.4 (13) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Cody Ingram

- [Gauntlet: Survive](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gauntlet-survive/id6470171154)
- [Sisyphus: Endless Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sisyphus-endless-game/id6639599682)

All apps by Cody Ingram: https://appshunter.io/developer/1039715356

## Related topics

[free offline ai](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/free-offline-ai)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-24.*