Comparison

OnDevice AI vs Cairn

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

Head to head
About

OnDevice AI

Features
Read full description

OnDevice AI - Private AI Assistant OnDevice AI brings artificial intelligence directly to your iPhone without requiring an internet connection. All processing happens on your device using Apple's on-device intelligence framework. How It Works Chat with an AI assistant that runs entirely on your iPhone. Your conversations are never sent to servers, uploaded to the cloud, or stored anywhere except your device. Works in airplane mode, underground, or anywhere without signal. Core Features Multiple AI personalities: Professional, Creative, Technical, and Friendly modes Complete conversation history stored locally on your device Export conversations as text files Works without WiFi, cellular data, or any internet connection Powered by Apple's Foundation Models for fast, efficient processing Use Cases Perfect for flights, subway commutes, international travel without roaming, rural areas with poor coverage, or when you need absolute privacy for sensitive questions. Students can study offline, professionals can brainstorm confidentially, and travelers can get help without data charges. Pricing Free tier includes 10 messages daily. Pro upgrade unlocks unlimited messages and full conversation history for $29.99 one-time purchase. Requirements iOS 26.0 or later. Requires iPhone with Apple Intelligence support.

About

Cairn

Features
Read full description

Stack before you scroll. Cairn helps you stop scrolling by adding one small pause before distracting apps open. Choose the apps you want to protect. When you reach for one, iOS shows a Screen Time shield. Open Cairn, build the requested stone structure, and earn a short window to continue. It is enough to break the reflex. Often, that is all you needed. What's in Cairn - Stack: balance stones into target structures before the app opens. - Short unlock windows: earn a few intentional minutes, then the shield returns. - Multiple rituals: Stack, Breath, Trace, Walk, and Untie. - Stone styles: granite, basalt, riverstone, obsidian, marble, moss, and moonstone. - Sunday reflection: save a private weekly reflection about the pauses you kept. - Lock Screen widget: see minutes reclaimed today at a glance. Built for focus - Uses Apple's Screen Time controls for app blocking. - No account. - No cloud. - No ads. - Your watched-app list stays on your device. - Haptics, sound, and calm visual design built around one idea: interrupt the reach before it becomes a scroll. Free Cairn includes core blocking and daily stack rituals. Cairn Pro unlocks deeper rituals, stone styles, custom unlock windows, weekly reflection, and more ways to hold the trail. Cairn is not a dashboard for judging your phone use. It is a small threshold between impulse and action. Privacy Policy: https://cairnfocus.github.io/privacy/ Terms of Service: https://cairnfocus.github.io/terms/

Screenshots

OnDevice AI3 screens
Cairn4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cairn at every 2 days against OnDevice AI's every 6 months. Cairn also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. OnDevice AI sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cairn sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OnDevice AI ships an update every 6 months, Cairn every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
OnDevice AI versus Cairn: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnDevice AICairn
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size6 MB5 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperFlorin Valentin Micuabiodun oyetomi

In-app purchases

1 purchases

OnDevice AI

One-time1
  • Unlock Pro Features$29.99
3 purchases

Cairn

Subscriptions2
  • Cairn Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Cairn Pro Yearly$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Cairn Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is OnDevice AI free?
OnDevice AI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cairn free?
Cairn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OnDevice AI or Cairn have ads?
Neither OnDevice AI nor Cairn shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OnDevice AI or Cairn?
OnDevice AI ships an update every 6 months, and Cairn every 2 days. Most recently, OnDevice AI was updated on October 30, 2026 and Cairn on October 31, 2026.

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