Kagi Assistant vs PrivacyNotes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kagi Assistant
Access over 30 leading AI models for private, ad-free interactions. Get grounded answers with web access, create custom assistants, and manage conversations with adjustable retention controls. Designed for thinkers, creators, and professionals to enhance problem-solving and research.
- Access 30+ leading AI models
- Private chat with adjustable retention
- Create custom assistants
- Web access for grounded answers
- Quick and Research Assistant modes
- Edit prompts and switch models mid-conversation
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Kagi Assistant combines Kagi Search with 30+ leading AI models, giving you the best of search and AI in one fast, ad-free app. Get current, source-backed answers, choose the right model for any task, and work without ads, tracking, or engagement-driven noise. • Combine Kagi Search with leading AI models Kagi Assistant pairs the world’s best search engine with state-of-the-art AI models for current, source-backed answers. • Choose from 30+ AI models Switch models at any point in a conversation without starting over. • Keep conversations private Your conversations are never used to train AI models, and your account information is never shared with model providers. Threads are deleted after 24 hours by default, with controls for changing retention. • Create custom assistants Configure assistants for research, coding, writing, or other workflows using custom instructions, models, web access, and Kagi Lenses. • Go quick or go deep Use Quick Assistant for straightforward questions or Research Assistant for complex, multi-step investigations. • Work your way Edit prompts, switch models mid-conversation, upload files, and organize threads into folders. Model and feature availability varies by subscription plan. By using Kagi Assistant, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Privacy Policy: https://kagi.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://kagi.com/privacy#Terms-of-use
PrivacyNotes
Securely manage your notes, tasks, and journal with end-to-end encryption. This app ensures your data is private by design, with no trackers or ads. It works offline and syncs encrypted across your devices without requiring an account.
- Zero-knowledge encryption
- Markdown-native notes
- Task management
- Private journaling
- Offline functionality
- Cross-device sync
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One encrypted home for everything you would never post. Your 12-word recovery phrase is your key, and with self-custody not even we can read a word. Seven pillars, one key: - Notes: rich editor, tags, note-links, instant search - Tasks: every checkbox in one view - Journal: mood, sleep and medication tracking - Vault: passwords, cards, SSH keys - Files: encrypted photos, documents, audio, video - Bookmarks: your saved links, with icons - Contacts: an address book that stays private Private by design: - Zero-knowledge encryption, data stored in Switzerland - Open source, no trackers, no ads - Works offline, syncs across all your devices - No email needed: a recovery phrase is enough Free forever on 2 devices. Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://lifetimelabs.dev/privacy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PrivacyNotes at 5.0 against Kagi Assistant's 4.5. PrivacyNotes also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). Kagi Assistant's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (42 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Kagi Assistant sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $28.99 per month and PrivacyNotes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PrivacyNotes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kagi Assistant has 42 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Kagi Assistant ships an update every 10 days, PrivacyNotes every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kagi Assistant | PrivacyNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (42 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 53.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 42 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kagi Inc. | Lifetime Labs LLC |
Customer experience
Kagi Assistant
PrivacyNotes
In-app purchases
Kagi Assistant
- Ultimate Monthly$28.991 Month
PrivacyNotes
- 1 GB Encrypted Storage$4.991 Year
- 2 GB Encrypted Storage$8.991 Year
- 5 GB Encrypted Storage$17.991 Year
- PrivacyNotes Pro$49.99









