Comparison

Private AI vs OpenClient

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

Head to head
About

Private AI

This AI assistant operates entirely offline on your device, ensuring 100% data privacy. It allows you to chat with your documents using specialized AI experts and custom prompts, without any internet connection or data uploads.

Highlights
  • 100% private and offline operation
  • Chat with PDFs, code, spreadsheets, and more
  • 25 specialized AI experts and custom prompts
  • No subscriptions or in-app purchases
  • Leverages Apple Intelligence models
  • Zero tracking and zero data uploads
Features
Read full description

Transform how you work with information using Private AI: Document Chat, the AI assistant that keeps 100% of your data private on your device. No internet required. No data uploaded. Ever. 100% PRIVATE & OFFLINE Your conversations, documents, and data stay on YOUR device. Forever. Unlike ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or other cloud AI services, Private AI uses Apple's built-in Intelligence models for completely offline, lightning fast responses. Zero tracking. Zero uploads. Zero compromises. Perfect for confidential, sensitive, or personal use. NO HIDDEN COSTS No subscriptions. No in-app purchases. No "premium" features locked behind paywalls. Buy once, use forever. POWERED BY APPLE INTELLIGENCE Built exclusively for iPhone 15 Pro+, iPad M1+, and Mac with Apple Silicon. No large, external vendor model downloads eating your storage - Private AI leverages the powerful AI models already in your device from Apple. Fast, efficient, and always ready. CHAT WITH YOUR DOCUMENTS Upload PDFs, code files, spreadsheets, notes, research papers, meeting transcripts, word documents, and more. With any text-based file, you can ask questions, get summaries, extract insights, analyze data, and more using advanced RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) technology. Your personal document library becomes instantly searchable and queryable. 25 SPECIALIZED AI EXPERTS READY TO USE No prompt engineering needed. Just pick your expert: • Study & Learn: Teacher, Summarizer, Simplifier • Coding: Code Expert, Debugger, Technical Writer • Writing: Creative Writer, ReWriter, Spell Checker, Poet, Story Teller • Business: Analyst, Marketer, Meeting Notes, Recruiter, Planner • Creative: Brainstormer, Social Media, Guide Creator, Motivator • Utility: Translator, Pros & Cons, Follow Ups, Concise Mode Plus, create unlimited custom prompts for your specific needs! VS CHATGPT, CLAUDE, GEMINI, & OTHERS They require internet & upload your data → Private AI is 100% offline They charge monthly subscriptions forever → Private AI is yours (one-time purchase) They track your usage & conversations → Private AI has zero analytics, zero tracking They can't guarantee where your data goes → Private AI your data never leaves your device WHO IS THIS FOR? • Students - Study aids, research analysis, essay help, exam prep • Professionals - Confidential docs, reports, presentations, meeting notes • Developers - Code review, debugging, documentation, architecture planning • Writers - Brainstorming, editing, storytelling, content creation • Researchers - Paper analysis, data insights, literature review Anyone who values privacy and wants to leverage AI with sensitive information that absolutely does not belong in the cloud. POWERFUL FEATURES • Multiple isolated conversations - keep contexts separate • Document library - reuse files across chats • Beautiful themes - customize every color • Smart search - find conversations and documents instantly • Markdown support - beautifully formatted responses • No ads, ever - you own the app, not the other way around HOW DOES IT WORK? Private AI uses Apple's Foundation Models that are already on compatible devices. When you upload a document, it's split into intelligent chunks and converted to vector embeddings (mathematical representations of meaning) stored in a local database. When you ask questions, our RAG system finds the most relevant chunks and provides them as context to the AI model alongside your query. The model generates responses using both the retrieved information and its built-in knowledge - all processed locally on your device's Neural Engine. No internet. No APIs. No cloud processing. Just pure, private, on-device AI. Your knowledge. Your privacy. Your control. Download Private AI: Document Chat and experience truly private AI assistance today. REQUIREMENTS: • iOS26 • iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16+ models • iPad mini (A17 Pro) or iPad with M1+ • Mac with Apple Silicon (M1+)

About

OpenClient

Connect to your self-hosted AI models for private conversations without subscriptions. Supports multimodal input, real-time streaming, and extensive model compatibility. Offers robust conversation management and personalization features.

Highlights
  • Connect to self-hosted LLMs
  • Real-time streaming responses
  • Multimodal input (photos, PDFs)
  • Conversation history and branching
  • Prompt templates and memory
  • iCloud sync
  • Export conversations to JSON
Features
Read full description

OpenClient is an independent AI chat client for professionals and developers who run their own LLM infrastructure. Connect it to your self-hosted server and chat with your models, without mandatory subscriptions. Compatible with LiteLLM, Ollama, and OpenAI-compatible servers. Supports many popular model families, including GPT, Claude, Llama, Gemini, Mistral, and more. Chat • Real-time streaming responses with Markdown and code block rendering • Collapsible Thinking section for supported reasoning models • Attach photos, camera captures, and PDF documents for multimodal conversations • Drag and drop text, images, and files from other apps (Split View, Stage Manager, Finder on macOS) • Dictate messages with Speech-to-Text and listen with Text-to-Speech • Web search through the search provider configured on your server • Tool-calling support for models that provide function calling • MCP (Model Context Protocol) tools, browse, enable, and use external tools from MCP servers like GitHub, databases, and more, configured on your LiteLLM server • Favourite messages to bookmark and revisit quickly • Per-conversation system prompt and model parameters (temperature, max tokens, top-p) Conversations • Full conversation history with search, pins, and tags • Branch from any message to explore alternatives, then edit and regenerate • Media & Files gallery to browse all attached images and documents • Share content from any app directly into a new conversation via Share Sheet • Apple Shortcuts integration: New Chat, Search Chats, Send File to Chat • Home Screen widgets: New Chat, Search, Quick Actions, Conversations Overview • Control Center button: start a new chat from Control Center • iCloud sync across your Apple devices • Export conversations to JSON • Token usage per message and estimated conversation cost Models • Browse available models with capability badges (vision, tools, JSON mode) • Model detail sheet with context window, pricing, provider, and capabilities • Voice selector for Text-to-Speech models • Switch models per conversation Personalization • Prompt template library for recurring workflows • User profile to provide name and context • Memory to save facts and preferences, synced via iCloud On macOS • Menu bar companion for quick access without opening the main window Privacy • OpenClient does not operate a backend service for your chats. Your requests are sent to the server you configure. • OpenClient does not include advertising SDKs or third-party analytics trackers. This project is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0: https://github.com/ArtCC/openclient-llm Privacy Policy: https://arturocarreterocalvo.com/openclient-llm/privacy Terms of Use: https://arturocarreterocalvo.com/openclient-llm/terms OpenClient is an independent client and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the model or platform providers referenced above.

Screenshots

Private AI4 screens
OpenClient4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: OpenClient at 100% against Private AI's 0%. OpenClient also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and rating (4.9 vs 3.5). Private AI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

OpenClient is free to download; Private AI costs $4.99 up front. OpenClient sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Private AI asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenClient holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Private AI's written reviews are positive against 100% of OpenClient's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private AI ships an update every 2 days, OpenClient every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Private AI versus OpenClient: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate AIOpenClient
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.5 (2 ratings)4.9 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings28 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.0 — better26.6
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB244 MB
Age rating+124+
DeveloperGTechnologies LLCArturo Carretero Calvo

Customer experience

Private AI

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

OpenClient

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Private AI

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

OpenClient

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Support$2.991 Month
  • Annual Support$8.991 Year
One-time3
  • Small Coffee$2.99
  • Medium Coffee$3.99
  • Big Coffee$8.99

Questions

Is Private AI free?
Private AI costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpenClient free?
OpenClient is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Private AI or OpenClient?
OpenClient is rated higher. Private AI averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while OpenClient averages 4.9 from 8 ratings.
Do Private AI or OpenClient have ads?
Neither Private AI nor OpenClient shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Private AI or OpenClient?
Private AI ships an update every 2 days, and OpenClient every 4 days. Most recently, Private AI was updated on October 6, 2026 and OpenClient on October 13, 2026.

Other comparisons