Cumbersome vs Cherry Studio

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.

Cherry Studio is an AI workspace for iPhone and iPad, bringing together multi-model conversations, agents, image creation, and tool connections. Connect your chosen models Configure model services and API keys, manage multiple models in one app, and choose the capabilities that fit each task. Model availability and support for text, images, and files depend on the services you configure. Use conversations for work and creativity Chat about writing, learning, organizing information, and everyday questions. Read responses as they are generated, and add images and text attachments to provide context. Create your own agents Set names, instructions, default models, and tools for different purposes, and keep conversations for different projects organized separately. Turn ideas into images Connect a model that supports image generation, start with a text prompt or an existing image, and view and manage your image creation history. Connect tools when you need them Configure search services, plugins, or MCP tool servers to give agents access to web search and external tools. Availability depends on service configuration and permissions. With your permission, agents can also use calendar and reminder tools. Organize and share your results Manage attachments and generated files, preview documents, and export supported conversation content as Markdown, HTML, or images. You can also pair with the Cherry Studio desktop app to import supported model service configurations. Before you start The app is free to download. Model services and third-party tools may require separate accounts or API keys, and their providers may charge for usage. Conversation history is stored on your device. When you use models or online tools, relevant inputs are sent from your device to the services you configure. Each provider's data handling is governed by its own policies. The app also includes error diagnostics and usage statistics; see the privacy policy for details about what is collected. AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify important information. Apple Health and fitness analysis On a supported iPhone, let an Agent read the Apple Health data you authorize: steps, walking/running distance, active energy, heart rate, resting heart rate, heart-rate variability, sleep and workouts. Before every health tool call, review the requested scope and the receiving AI service, then allow or deny the read and sharing. The app never changes Apple Health records. Results remain in conversation history and can be deleted with the conversation. AI answers are not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.