Llamates vs Lookinglass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Llamates
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Get personalized notifications from your favorite AIs. Schedule prompts, receive reminders, and get news summaries - everything exactly when you need it. No more limiting yourself to one AI or switching apps and tabs looking for the best answer. Llamates allows you to interact with multiple AI chat services simultaneously, enabling side-by-side comparison and increasing the diversity of response sources to support broader perspectives and more nuanced insights. Its purpose is to provide tools to enhance productivity, creativity, and problem-solving.
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: Llamates at every 4 days against Lookinglass's every 2 weeks. Llamates also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Llamates sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Lookinglass sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Llamates ships an update every 4 days, Lookinglass every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Llamates | Lookinglass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Natalia Swierczyna | Cory Hamilton |
In-app purchases
Llamates
- 500 credits$0.99
- 100 prompts$1.99
- 3000 credits$4.99
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- 1000 prompts$9.99
- 33000 credits$49.99
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









