Comparison

NSChat vs Local Chat

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

NSChat

This native chatbot allows you to connect with various AI models using your own API key. It offers a smooth user experience with gestures and haptic feedback, and prioritizes user privacy with no ads, subscriptions, or data collection.

Highlights
  • Connect to popular AI providers
  • Use your own API key
  • Fluid gestures and haptic feedback
  • No ads
  • No subscription
  • No data collection
Features
Read full description

A native chatbot that uses your own API key. - Works with popular AI providers and models - Fluid gestures and haptic feedback - No ads, no subscription, no data collection

About

Local Chat

Run powerful open language models directly on your Apple devices, even offline. Enjoy private conversations with AI assistants that can be customized to your needs. Save and sync chats across your Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

Highlights
  • Offline AI chat
  • Open language models
  • Private conversations
  • Cross-device sync
  • Customizable personality
  • Model selection
Features
Read full description

Local Chat allows you to run the latest open language models on your Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Once you've downloaded the models, you can use the chat function even when your device is offline. Your chats remain totally private, since no internet connection is required to interact with the chatbots. It's like having your very own ChatGPT right on your device. You can choose to save your chat history on your devices or delete your chats automatically after you're finished. Any chats that you choose to save in your history will be synced via your private iCloud storage to your other devices. Try leading models from the open-source community, including Llama, Gemma, Qwen, Mistral, DeepSeek, and Kimi. Choose from different sizes to find the best fit for your device. You can also customize the chatbot's personality with a system prompt, whether you prefer a helpful assistant, an encouraging coach, a witty conversationalist, or anything else you can imagine. The chat function works with the following devices: - Mac (M1 and later) - iPhone 12 and later - iPad Pro (M1 and later) - iPad Air (4th generation and later) - iPad mini (6th generation and later) - iPad (10th generation and later) On earlier devices, you can view your chat history from your other devices synced via your private iCloud storage. Local Chat is just getting started, and we're planning to continue adding new features in the coming months. If you have any feedback about the app, we'd love to hear it at feedback@localchat.co. --- Privacy policy: https://localchat.co/privacy Terms of use: https://localchat.co/terms

Screenshots

NSChat4 screens
Local Chat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Local Chat at 4.5 against NSChat's 4.0. Local Chat also leads on ratings volume (56 vs 1). NSChat's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 71%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. NSChat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Local Chat sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Local Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Local Chat has 56 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of NSChat's written reviews are positive against 71% of Local Chat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NSChat ships an update every 10 days, Local Chat every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NSChat versus Local Chat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNSChatLocal Chat
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)4.5 (56 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings156 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB164 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperModerato LtdAnthony R. DePasquale

Customer experience

NSChat

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Local Chat

All ratings56 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative8.9%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral7.1%
Negative21.4%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

NSChat

One-time1
  • Buy me a coffee$0.29
3 purchases

Local Chat

Subscriptions2
  • Local Chat Pro$8.991 Month
  • Local Chat Pro3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Local Chat Pro$99.99

Questions

Is NSChat free?
NSChat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Local Chat free?
Local Chat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NSChat or Local Chat?
Local Chat is rated higher. NSChat averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Local Chat averages 4.5 from 56 ratings.
Do NSChat or Local Chat have ads?
Neither NSChat nor Local Chat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NSChat or Local Chat?
NSChat ships an update every 10 days, and Local Chat every 9 days. Most recently, NSChat was updated on September 17, 2026 and Local Chat on September 25, 2026.

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