Comparison

Lookinglass vs HalfMe

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

HalfMe

This AI assistant acts as your second self, building tools on demand, remembering important information, and handling life admin. It prioritizes user control and privacy, with all actions requiring approval before execution.

Highlights
  • AI-powered chatbot in any language
  • Builds websites, apps, and designs on demand
  • Personalized memory across sessions
  • Manages tasks, notes, and daily briefings
  • User-controlled actions and activity log
  • Secure data storage and deletion
Read full description

HalfMe is your second self: a premium personal AI that actually does things for you, remembers what matters, talks back in your language, and builds real tools on demand. Most assistants just answer. HalfMe acts. And you stay in charge of every move: every ability is a switch that ships OFF, and sensitive actions ask for your approval before anything happens. WHAT HALFME DOES · Chat: talk with HalfMe in any language you speak. · Voice: hold to talk. Chat in many languages, voice in English and Persian, with full right-to-left support. · Build: describe anything, a website, a web app, a game, a flyer, a design, and HalfMe builds it live, right in front of you. Preview it live, refine it in plain words, and save or copy the code. Made by you. · Books: illustrated, narrated books that HalfMe reads aloud, kept in your Library. · Modes: switch how HalfMe shows up for you, then get back to work. · Life Admin: keep your tasks, notes, and the facts that matter in My Life, and start your day with a morning briefing that reads your day back to you. In chat you can ask HalfMe to add a task, save a note, or remember something, and it asks first. · Memory: HalfMe remembers what matters to you and carries it across your sessions, so you never start over. YOU ARE THE KING HERE · The Guardian proposes first. HalfMe shows you exactly what it wants to do before it acts, you approve, and you can undo. · Sensitive actions ask each time, with a clear card that shows exactly what will happen. · Activity log: HalfMe keeps a clear, private record of everything it does, so nothing is ever a black box. · One master pause freezes HalfMe completely. PRIVATE BY DESIGN · Your data is yours. You control it, and you can delete it anytime, right in the app. · HalfMe remembers you by syncing your memory securely to HalfMe's private servers, so it knows you across sessions. · We never sell your data and never share it for advertising. Free to start, with a daily free allowance. Questions? hello@halfme.ai · halfme.ai

Screenshots

Lookinglass4 screens
HalfMe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HalfMe at none against Lookinglass's 10. HalfMe also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lookinglass sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. HalfMe asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Lookinglass against 5.0 for HalfMe. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lookinglass ships an update every 2 weeks, HalfMe every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Lookinglass versus HalfMe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLookinglassHalfMe
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB24 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperCory HamiltonKhaled Media

Customer experience

Lookinglass

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

HalfMe

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Lookinglass

One-time10
  • $1 Credit Top-Up$1.00
  • $2 Credit Top-Up$2.00
  • $3 Credit Top-Up$3.00
Show 7 more
  • $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
None

HalfMe

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lookinglass free?
Lookinglass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HalfMe free?
HalfMe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lookinglass or HalfMe?
Lookinglass and HalfMe are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Lookinglass or HalfMe have ads?
Neither Lookinglass nor HalfMe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lookinglass or HalfMe?
Lookinglass ships an update every 2 weeks, and HalfMe every 2 days. Most recently, Lookinglass was updated on October 18, 2026 and HalfMe on October 15, 2026.

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