# Chat API vs ai.local

The clearest difference is rating: Chat API at 4.2 against ai.local's 3.6. Chat API also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 64%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.2). ai.local's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chat API sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and ai.local sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chat API holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Chat API's written reviews are positive against 64% of ai.local's.

Chat API ships an update weekly, ai.local every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chat API | ai.local |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-api-ai-wrapper/id6670289029/reviews)** | [3.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ailocal/id6741479958/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **9** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 64.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 78 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Andres Nunez Soto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1748007663) | [Bruno Wernimont](https://appshunter.io/developer/1009262680) |

## What reviewers say

### Chat API

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-api-ai-wrapper/id6670289029)

Access powerful AI models locally or through cloud APIs. This tool offers flexible integration with GPT-4, OpenAI, Grok, and local LLMs for diverse tasks like coding, drafting, and research.

**Highlights:** Private local LLM support with Ollama, OpenAI and Grok API integration, Built-in text-only GPT-4 model, Bing-powered real-time searches, Image generation capabilities, Seamless model switching

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Access (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Pro Supporter Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


### ai.local

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ailocal/id6741479958)

Run advanced language models directly on your iOS device with a privacy-first design. This app offers a user-friendly interface for easy setup and offline AI capabilities, supporting an Ollama-style API for compatibility with your preferred LLM UIs.

**Highlights:** Local LLM server on iOS, Ollama-style API support, Privacy-first design, Vast model selection, Easy setup and management, Offline AI capabilities

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro - Lifetime | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chat API free?

Chat API is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ai.local free?

ai.local is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chat API or ai.local?

Chat API is rated higher. Chat API averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while ai.local averages 3.6 from 9 ratings.

### Do Chat API or ai.local have ads?

Chat API shows ads; ai.local does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chat API or ai.local?

Chat API ships an update weekly, and ai.local every 9 days. Most recently, Chat API was updated on September 17, 2026 and ai.local on September 30, 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.*