# NextChat AI vs Cumbersome

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cumbersome at 88% against NextChat AI's 10%. Cumbersome also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NextChat AI sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Cumbersome sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Cumbersome holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cumbersome has 91 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of NextChat AI's written reviews are positive against 88% of Cumbersome's.

NextChat AI ships an update fortnightly, Cumbersome every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NextChat AI | Cumbersome |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextchat-ai/id6743085599/reviews) | **[4.9 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cumbersome-ai-llm-api-client/id6753016821/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **91** |
| Positive reviews | 10.0% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 10 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.3** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [GPTsMotion Tech LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769754103) | [Folding Sky Co](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842155029) |

## What reviewers say

### NextChat AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextchat-ai/id6743085599)

This open-source platform offers a transparent AI chat experience. Users bring their own API keys, ensuring full control and paying only for their usage.

**Highlights:** Open-source platform, User-provided API keys, Transparent AI chat, Pay-per-use model, Complete user control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 轻度使用套餐 | $25.99 | one-time |
| 家庭套餐 | $199.99 | one-time |


### Cumbersome

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cumbersome-ai-llm-api-client/id6753016821)

Connect directly to AI provider APIs for greater control over model selection and parameters. Compare different AI models, pay per use, and customize responses with advanced features. Supports multiple providers and custom endpoints.

**Highlights:** Direct API connections, Multi-provider support, Full parameter control, Face/Off Mode with AI judge, Concurrent chats, Edit messages, Rich content support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cumbersome Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Cumbersome Pro Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NextChat AI free?

NextChat AI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cumbersome free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NextChat AI or Cumbersome?

Cumbersome is rated higher. NextChat AI averages 2.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Cumbersome averages 4.9 from 91 ratings.

### Do NextChat AI or Cumbersome have ads?

Neither NextChat AI nor Cumbersome shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NextChat AI or Cumbersome?

NextChat AI ships an update fortnightly, and Cumbersome every 3 days. Most recently, NextChat AI was updated on September 24, 2026 and Cumbersome on October 13, 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.*