Cumbersome vs LLM API Request
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cumbersome
This app provides direct API access to various AI language models, allowing users to compare providers, tune parameters, and utilize custom tools. It offers rich conversation editing, private iCloud sync, and native support across Apple devices.
- Direct API access to multiple AI providers
- Model and parameter tuning
- Head-to-head model comparison
- Custom tool integration
- Rich, editable conversations
- Private iCloud sync
- Native iOS, iPadOS, and macOS support
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Use Apple Private Cloud Compute, your API keys, or an OpenAI-compatible endpoint. I built Cumbersome because consumer AI apps kept dumbing things down. Cumbersome is the manual transmission of AI apps: more complex, but with far greater control. WHY I BUILT THIS Consumer AI apps hide the controls I want and lock me into one provider. I wanted direct API access, the freedom to pick and compare models, and to pay providers for what I use. This is the app I use every day, so I pay attention and try to get it right. SUPPORTED PROVIDERS - Apple Private Cloud Compute - ChatGPT / OpenAI - Claude / Anthropic - Gemini / Google AI Studio - OpenRouter multi-provider - Vercel AI Gateway multi-provider - Z.ai - OpenAI-compatible custom endpoints, including Ollama, Azure, LM Studio, Groq, Together, and self-hosted backends WHAT YOU GET - A versatile API client. One app, every major provider and model. - Total control. Pick your model, tune the parameters, switch providers mid-conversation. - Compare models head to head. Stream multiple chats in parallel and let an AI judge pick the best. - Bring your own tools. Local browser use, reasoning, web search, image generation. - Rich, editable conversations. Markdown, LaTeX, code blocks, attachments, edit and export anything. - Private by design. iCloud sync across devices. Nothing saved to our servers. - Native and accessible on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. MAJOR FEATURES ADDED IN 2026 New in 2.0.0: Apple Private Cloud Compute. No API key. Requires iOS/iPadOS/macOS 27, an Apple Intelligence device, and internet. Apple usage limits apply. 2026-09-21: Independent iPad chat windows. 2026-09-14: Read replies aloud as they arrive. Save and Restart after editing. 2026-08-29: Select multiple chats. Mac export/import of all chats. 2026-08-21: Background replies on iOS 26. Question Cards for clarification. 2026-08-18: Web Agent: a shared, interactive browser. 2026-08-06: Highlight passages and attach notes for your next reply. 2026-08-03: Local Python analysis, charts, Mermaid, Markdown export. 2026-07-31: Gemini video. Responses API for custom providers. 2026-07-28: Parallel browser and MCP tools. 2026-07-23: Mind/Meld combines three AI responses into one. 2026-07-18: Full Simplified Chinese support. 2026-07-12: Ghost/Write drafts your next turn. 2026-07-09: Remote MCP servers and tools. 2026-07-02: Chat themes and reading fonts (Serif, Rounded, Mono). 2026-06-28: Folder system message presets. 2026-06-24: Prompt caching, with usage across providers. 2026-06-17: Reusable system presets per conversation. 2026-06-16: Offload long system messages to iCloud Drive. 2026-06-15: Toggle custom API parameters. 2026-06-11: Compact chats to lower API costs. 2026-06-07: Run JavaScript and HTML. 2026-06-04: OpenRouter PDF parsing and search engine options. 2026-05-12: Quick Prompt shortcut and App Visibility on Mac. 2026-05-09: Folders to group and organize chats. 2026-05-03: Collapsible sidebar sections, synced across devices. 2026-04-22: Image generation with OpenAI and Gemini. 2026-04-18: Local browser search and browsing. 2026-04-11: Headless browser mode. 2026-04-03: Searchable model picker. 2026-03-15: Extended thinking and reasoning across providers. 2026-03-09: Auto-delete chats after a set number of days. 2026-02-28: Custom OpenAI-compatible providers. 2026-02-25: Only Search When Requested. 2026-02-24: Image paste, attachment previews, PDF thumbnails. 2026-02-21: Siri and Shortcuts. 2026-02-20: Vercel AI Gateway and model filters. 2026-02-06: Voice Control, Larger Text, higher contrast. 2026-01-11: VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, keyboard navigation. 2026-01-06: OpenRouter integration. THE DEAL Core features are free. An optional Cumbersome Pro subscription adds advanced Project tools and supports ongoing development. You pay API providers directly for usage. I'm Peter, an indie developer in Reno, Nevada, out among the high desert tumbleweed. No VC money. No growth hacking. Just a tool I wanted to exist.
LLM API Request
Send requests to leading AI models directly from Apple Shortcuts using your own API keys. Supports local models, file attachments, and conversation history. Export conversations as Markdown and track token usage.
- Use own API keys, no subscriptions
- Supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Grok, Perplexity
- Integrates local models like Gemma 4 and Apple Intelligence
- Attach images, PDFs, and text files
- Conversation history for continued chats
- Export conversations as Markdown
- Track token usage with dashboard
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LLM API Request lets you send requests to leading AI models straight from Apple Shortcuts, using your own API keys. No subscriptions. No accounts. SUPPORTED PROVIDERS • OpenAI • Anthropic • Google Gemini • xAI Grok • Perplexity KEY FEATURES • Bring your own API key — pay only for what you use (including generating images), at provider rates • Use local models like Gemma 4, and the Apple Intelligence model; Local models can even use web search! • Attach images, PDFs, and text files to your requests • Continue conversations across Shortcut runs with conversation history • Export any conversation as Markdown — great for apps like Obsidian • Track token usage across all models with a built-in dashboard • Export your token usage history • Use Projects to summarize documents and include them in the model's context. Donate the project info to Siri so that it can use that to answer your questions! • Test connections to ensure your key is working and browse available models per provider • Request structured JSON output for automation pipelines SECURITY FIRST Your API keys are stored exclusively in Apple Keychain, protected by Face ID or Touch ID. We run no servers and collect no data — everything stays on your device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LLM API Request at none against Cumbersome's 2. Cumbersome's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (102 vs 2). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Cumbersome sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. LLM API Request asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Cumbersome against 5.0 for LLM API Request. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cumbersome has 102 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Cumbersome ships an update every 4 days, LLM API Request monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cumbersome | LLM API Request |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (102 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 88.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 102 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 80 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Folding Sky Co | Marc-Henri Bleu-Laine |
Customer experience
Cumbersome
LLM API Request
In-app purchases
Cumbersome
- Cumbersome Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
- Cumbersome Pro Annual$39.991 Year
LLM API Request
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Cumbersome free?
Is LLM API Request free?
Which has better reviews, Cumbersome or LLM API Request?
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Which is updated more often, Cumbersome or LLM API Request?
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