Comparison

LLM Pigeon vs Reader AI

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

Head to head
About

LLM Pigeon

This app provides a private AI chatbot experience by running large language models locally on your Mac. Messages are stored in your iCloud, ensuring your data never leaves your devices. Choose from built-in models or integrate your own.

Highlights
  • 100% privacy, no data sent to cloud
  • Local large language model execution
  • iCloud sync between iPhone and Mac
  • Choice of built-in or custom LLM models
  • Optional web search integration
Features
Read full description

Put a full-featured AI assistant in your pocket—without sending a single word to any outside cloud. LLM Pigeon works together with LLM Pigeon Server on your Mac. • Type a message on your iPhone. • The text is stored inside your private iCloud files. • Your Mac picks it up, runs the large-language model locally, writes the reply, and CloudKit delivers the answer back to the phone. Why you’ll love it • 100 % privacy: messages never leave your own iCloud container; no analytics, no ads, no accounts. You can optionally add a search-engine API. • Real LLMs: choose from a set of built-in models or point the server at LM Studio or Ollama to swap in any model you prefer. How it works 1. Install LLM Pigeon Server (free) on a Mac that’s signed in with the same iCloud account. 2. Download the models you want and, if you’d like web search, enter a Serper API key. 3. Start a new chat in the iOS app. 4. Receive answers in seconds, even on hotel Wi-Fi. Zero data collection • No personal information • No usage analytics • No crash logs—everything stays on your devices • If you enable web search, only the queries your LLM generates are sent to Serper. Requirements • iPhone running iOS 17 or later • Mac running macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later with LLM Pigeon Server installed • iCloud Drive enabled on both devices

About

Reader AI

Features
Read full description

Reader AI is a focused Markdown reader for offline sources, saved articles, notes, YouTube videos, AI summaries, prompts, and exports. It is built for reading first. Save Markdown, text notes, web articles, YouTube videos, and useful links in one organized library. Read sources in a clean layout with themes, typography controls, font size, and spacing that help you focus. Keep useful material available in a durable workspace instead of losing it in tabs, chats, or one-off AI outputs. When you need help moving faster, Reader AI can turn long sources into clear takeaways, structured notes, transcripts, recommendations, risks, questions, decisions, and custom prompt outputs. Use Reader AI to: • Read Markdown, notes, articles, and saved sources in one focused library • Read offline when sources are available locally • Customize themes, font size, spacing, and reading layout • Save YouTube videos, web articles, Markdown, notes, and text • Stream YouTube transcripts and readable source captures • Summarize long content into clear takeaways • Ask custom prompts to analyze, evaluate, and structure sources • Organize work across workspaces • Choose your default AI output language • Export finished work to PDF, EPUB, email, Kindle, Markdown, or plain text • Sync your library across mobile and web Reader AI is not just a summarizer. It is a better reading workspace: Markdown-friendly, offline-first where it matters, themeable, and ready for AI analysis only when you need it. Use it for: • Markdown reading and personal notes • YouTube talks, lectures, and interviews • Article summaries and news digestion • Research notes and literature review • Study notes and learning workflows • Product, strategy, and market analysis • Briefs, summaries, and decision support • Personal knowledge management Reader AI access includes renewing credits for AI-powered work such as summaries, analysis, prompts, and exports. Optional top-ups are available when you need more. Reader AI is powered by Xevol. Terms: https://xevol.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://xevol.com/privacy

Screenshots

LLM Pigeon3 screens
Reader AI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LLM Pigeon at none against Reader AI's 8. LLM Pigeon also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Reader AI's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Reader AI sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. LLM Pigeon asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LLM Pigeon ships an update weekly, Reader AI every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
LLM Pigeon versus Reader AI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLLM PigeonReader AI
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB15 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPerma Evidence SAThinking Systems LLC

In-app purchases

None

LLM Pigeon

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Reader AI

Subscriptions3
  • Reader AI Weekly Access$6.997 Days
  • Reader AI Monthly Access$14.991 Month
  • Reader AI Yearly Access$89.991 Year
One-time5
  • 100 Credits$4.99
  • 300 Credits$7.99
  • 750 Credits$14.99
Show 2 more
  • 500 Credits$19.99
  • 2000 Credits$59.99

Questions

Is LLM Pigeon free?
LLM Pigeon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reader AI free?
Reader AI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LLM Pigeon or Reader AI have ads?
Neither LLM Pigeon nor Reader AI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LLM Pigeon or Reader AI?
LLM Pigeon ships an update weekly, and Reader AI every 3 weeks. Most recently, LLM Pigeon was updated on September 22, 2026 and Reader AI on September 15, 2026.

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