# CustomSearch 2 vs Ari Helper

The clearest difference is price: CustomSearch 2 at $1.99 against Ari Helper's $24.99. CustomSearch 2 also leads on iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). Ari Helper's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 2.5) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

CustomSearch 2 costs $1.99 and Ari Helper $24.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Ari Helper holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of CustomSearch 2's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ari Helper's.

CustomSearch 2 ships an update every 6 weeks, Ari Helper weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CustomSearch 2 | Ari Helper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $24.99 |
| Rating | [2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/customsearch-2/id1588019370/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ari-helper/id6480045555/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 76.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 4 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Marco Cebrian Muino](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525876594) | [Blaine Miller](https://appshunter.io/developer/1348196068) |

## What reviewers say

### CustomSearch 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/customsearch-2/id1588019370)

Take control of your web searches with a customizable engine selector. Choose from dozens of pre-built options or add your own, and use quick shortcuts to switch engines on the fly. Your privacy is protected as the extension only operates at the URL level.

**Highlights:** 29+ built-in search engines, Add custom search engines, Bang shortcuts for quick switching, Native iOS and iPadOS app, Privacy-focused operation, Safari toolbar integration

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ari Helper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ari-helper/id6480045555)

This AI assistant operates entirely offline, prioritizing user privacy by not collecting personal data. It integrates with Siri for hands-free activation and offers text-to-speech capabilities. Users can manage conversations, download custom models, and even interact with self-hosted or cloud-based AI services.

**Highlights:** Offline AI operation, Siri and App Intents integration, Privacy-focused, no data collection, Text-to-Speech with voice options, Conversation history sync via iCloud, Downloadable custom AI models, Code syntax highlighting

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CustomSearch 2 free?

CustomSearch 2 costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ari Helper free?

Ari Helper costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CustomSearch 2 or Ari Helper?

Ari Helper is rated higher. CustomSearch 2 averages 2.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Ari Helper averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CustomSearch 2 or Ari Helper have ads?

Neither CustomSearch 2 nor Ari Helper shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CustomSearch 2 or Ari Helper?

CustomSearch 2 ships an update every 6 weeks, and Ari Helper weekly. Most recently, CustomSearch 2 was updated on October 25, 2026 and Ari Helper on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*