Nova Chat vs Lookinglass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Nova Chat
This AI chatbot provides instant answers, brainstorms ideas, and engages in conversations. It learns your style and acts as a personal assistant to boost productivity, offering voice-to-text functionality for hands-free interaction.
- Instant answers to questions
- Idea brainstorming
- Personalized chat style
- Productivity assistance
- Voice-to-text input
- Casual conversation
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NovaChat is your AI assistant for study, work and everyday life. Ask anything by typing, talking or snapping a photo, and get clear answers in seconds. 5 SMART MODES • Ask: quick, clear answers to any question • Write: emails, posts and messages in the right tone • Learn: step-by-step explanations with a quick check question • Plan: turn goals into practical, prioritised plans • Translate: accurate translations that keep meaning and tone ASK ABOUT PHOTOS AND YOUR SCREEN Take a photo or pick one from your library: homework, menus, signs, receipts, documents. NovaChat explains what it sees. • Share any photo or screenshot to NovaChat from Photos and other apps, and get the answer right there • Double-tap the back of your iPhone to ask about anything on your screen • On supported iPhones, find NovaChat in Visual Intelligence results WORKS WITH SIRI Say "Hey Siri, ask NovaChat" to ask hands-free. Start a voice chat, a new chat or open your library from Siri, Spotlight, the Shortcuts app or the Action Button. No setup needed. STUDY SMARTER Turn any answer into flashcards or a checklist with one tap, then review them in your Library. CAREER ASSISTANT Write cover letters, practise interview questions, message recruiters and ask for referrals. Add your resume to get drafts based on your real experience. NovaChat never contacts anyone or applies for you. MORE YOU'LL LOVE • Voice chat: talk to NovaChat and hear answers read aloud • Incognito chats that aren't saved to your history • Follow-ups like Simplify, Examples and Action plan • Share answers as text, PDF or image • Daily reminders with a fresh idea each day • Light and dark mode FREE AND PRO NovaChat is free to use with a daily allowance of messages and photo questions. NovaChat Pro raises your daily limits to up to 100 messages and 20 photo questions a day. • NovaChat Pro Yearly: $49.99/year, includes a 3-day free trial • NovaChat Pro Monthly: $9.99/month Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm your purchase, or when the free trial ends. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Any unused part of a free trial ends when you buy a subscription. Siri, Apple Intelligence and Visual Intelligence features require a compatible device and iOS version. Privacy Policy: https://hiteshapps.framer.website/legal/ai-assistant/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://hiteshapps.framer.website/legal/ai-assistant/terms-of-use
Lookinglass
Access 30 OpenAI models with transparent pricing and robust privacy controls. Enjoy a pay-as-you-go wallet system, local data encryption, and iCloud sync for seamless cross-device use. Customize AI behavior and export conversations in various formats.
- Access 30 OpenAI models
- Transparent cost estimates per message
- Pay-as-you-go wallet system
- Local data encryption
- Optional iCloud sync
- Export conversations (text, markdown, JSON)
- Customizable AI personality and memory
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Lookinglass: AI Chat with Complete Transparency & Control Take control of your AI experience with Lookinglass—the only chat app that gives you direct access to over 30 OpenAI models with complete cost transparency and privacy protection. Start free with $1 credit on sign-up—try any model risk-free. Guest mode lets you explore without signing in. No credit card required—all purchases via secure in-app payments. Designed for iPhone and iPad. Why Lookinglass Stands Apart: COMPLETE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY • See the maximum cost for every message with live token estimates • Pay-as-you-go wallet system—no subscriptions or hidden fees • Flexible top-ups: 9 amounts ($1-$500). Bonus credits: 3% at $100, 5% at $200, 10% at $500 • Export detailed transaction history and track every interaction • Choose between Fast and Reliable (Standard) or Smart Savings (50% savings) billing • Spending alerts: set thresholds to prevent budget surprises • True cost control: Only pay for what you use, when you use it UNMATCHED MODEL ACCESS • Model lineup: Over 30 OpenAI models including cutting-edge gpt-5.5 • Pro models: Access 6 distinct pro level models without an enterprise agreement • Deep Research: variants available for o3 and o4-mini • Web Search: real-time internet access on supported models • Model flexibility: switch mid-conversation with transparent pricing for each • Advanced controls: creativity levels, reasoning depth, response detail, and AI power level TRUE PRIVACY PROTECTION • All conversations stored locally on your device with AES-256 encryption • Military-grade encryption at rest using Apple's CryptoKit framework • We cannot see or access your chat content—ever • Guest mode and Apple Sign-In with complete data isolation • Only metadata and wallet balances stored remotely • GDPR and privacy-compliant with no data collection or tracking SECURE iCLOUD SYNC • Optional iCloud sync keeps your data private and encrypted across devices • All synced data remains in your Apple iCloud account—never shared with third parties • Encryption keys stored securely in iCloud Keychain • Sync includes: conversations, settings, and permanent memory • Works seamlessly across all your iOS devices (iPhone and iPad) SMART ORGANIZATION & CONTROL • Chat threads: organize, archive, rename, pin, and manage multiple conversations • Export conversations to text, markdown, or JSON • Smart Memory: control how much conversation history your AI remembers • AI Personality: customize responses with permanent memory preferences • Voice-to-text for natural conversation flow POWER USER FEATURES • Creativity: from laser-focused precision to creative brainstorming • AI Power: quick summaries or deep analysis • Response Detail: concise answers or detailed explanations • Live streaming responses or complete answers—your choice • Advanced model controls for professional workflows GLOBAL ACCESSIBILITY • 5 languages supported: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, & Italian • Localized interface for seamless international use Perfect For: Research projects, creative writing, email drafting, coding assistance, learning new topics, brainstorming sessions, or intelligent conversation. Lookinglass works immediately—no setup required. Why Choose Lookinglass? Unlike other AI apps that lock you into subscriptions and limited models, Lookinglass gives you direct access to OpenAI's full model lineup with complete transparency about what you're paying for. Access all 6 pro models without enterprise contracts—just pay for what you use. Your conversations stay 100% private on your devices, while optional iCloud sync keeps everything in your personal Apple account. Complete Control: Your AI. Your data. Your privacy. Your budget. Start chatting in seconds. No subscriptions. No surprises. Complete control. EULA: https://lookinglass.ai/eula Privacy: https://lookinglass.ai/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Lookinglass at every 2 weeks against Nova Chat's every 2 months. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. Nova Chat sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Lookinglass sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Nova Chat against 5.0 for Lookinglass. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.
Nova Chat ships an update every 2 months, Lookinglass every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Nova Chat | Lookinglass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Hitesh Bhagchandani | Cory Hamilton |
Customer experience
Nova Chat
Lookinglass
In-app purchases
Nova Chat
- NovaChat Pro Weekly$2.997 Days
- NovaChat Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
Lookinglass
- $1 Credit Top-Up$1.00
- $2 Credit Top-Up$2.00
- $3 Credit Top-Up$3.00
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- $5 Credit Top-Up$5.00
- $10 Credit Top-Up$10.00
- $20 Credit Top-Up$20.00
- $50 Credit Top-Up$50.00
- $100 Credit Top-Up$100.00
- $200 Credit Top-Up$200.00
- $500 Credit Top-Up$500.00








