# KernelAI vs LocalRAG!

The clearest difference is review sentiment: KernelAI at 80% against LocalRAG!'s 0%. KernelAI also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.0) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). LocalRAG!'s advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. KernelAI sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and LocalRAG! sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

KernelAI holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KernelAI has 43 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of KernelAI's written reviews are positive against 0% of LocalRAG!'s.

KernelAI ships an update every 3 weeks, LocalRAG! every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | KernelAI | LocalRAG! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernelai-offline-ai-chat/id6757350731/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/localrag-ai-document-chat/id6759317956/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **43** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 86 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anes Khadiri](https://appshunter.io/developer/1863184646) | [LOOSEDAYS Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/480539612) |

## What reviewers say

### KernelAI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernelai-offline-ai-chat/id6757350731)

This AI assistant operates entirely on your device, offering private, offline access to over 43 free models. It functions without an internet connection, ensuring your data remains secure and inaccessible to anyone but you. Enjoy AI capabilities anywhere, anytime, with no data collection or subscriptions.

**Highlights:** Private, offline AI operation, No internet required, Zero data collection, Access to 43+ free AI models, Vision AI for image analysis, File attachments for document understanding, Ad-free experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Kind Tip. | $3.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip. | $6.99 | one-time |


### LocalRAG!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/localrag-ai-document-chat/id6759317956)

This app allows you to ask questions and get answers from all your documents, including PDFs, Word, Excel, audio, and video files. It transcribes audio and video on-device and provides answers with source citations, all while prioritizing your privacy by keeping your data local.

**Highlights:** Search across 23 file formats, On-device audio/video transcription, Privacy-first local processing, Answers with source citations, Organize documents into collections, Built-in file viewers, Model selection for AI processing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Standard Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Pro Yearly | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KernelAI free?

KernelAI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is LocalRAG! free?

LocalRAG! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, KernelAI or LocalRAG!?

KernelAI is rated higher. KernelAI averages 4.6 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while LocalRAG! averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do KernelAI or LocalRAG! have ads?

Neither KernelAI nor LocalRAG! shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KernelAI or LocalRAG!?

KernelAI ships an update every 3 weeks, and LocalRAG! every 3 days. Most recently, KernelAI was updated on October 31, 2026 and LocalRAG! on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*