# Kernels vs Pico Vault

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pico Vault at every 3 days against Kernels's every 2 months. Kernels's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Kernels ships an update every 2 months, Pico Vault every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kernels | Pico Vault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernels-private-search-engine/id1591632823/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **10** | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 30 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Funnls LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1591632825) | [Pico Soft Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1879195466) |

## What reviewers say

### Kernels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernels-private-search-engine/id1591632823)

This app acts as a personal search engine, allowing you to index and quickly find your saved text, web pages, images, emails, and documents. It prioritizes user privacy and synchronizes your data across devices for easy access anywhere. It helps boost productivity by making your digital information instantly searchable.

**Highlights:** Personal search index, Save text, web pages, images, Search emails and documents, Privacy-focused indexing, Cross-device synchronization, Boost productivity and organization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pico Vault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pico-vault/id6814367969)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kernels free?

Kernels is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pico Vault free?

Pico Vault is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Kernels or Pico Vault have ads?

Neither Kernels nor Pico Vault shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kernels or Pico Vault?

Kernels ships an update every 2 months, and Pico Vault every 3 days. Most recently, Kernels was updated on November 3, 2026 and Pico Vault on November 6, 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.*