Comparison

KernelAI vs Hephaistos

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

Head to head
About

KernelAI

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
Read full description

ON-DEVICE AI Downloaded compatible models run locally on your device. KernelAI checks model compatibility and memory needs before you download, so you can choose a model that fits your iPhone or iPad. CHAT WITH DOCUMENTS Ask questions about PDFs, DOCX, CSV, Markdown, and text files. Summarize, search, and find useful passages with on-device document chat. UNDERSTAND IMAGES Attach a photo, screenshot, chart, or diagram and ask what it shows with a compatible vision model. Image analysis runs on-device. 50+ MODEL OPTIONS Choose from 50+ models, including Llama, Gemma, Qwen, DeepSeek, Mistral, Phi, and more. Import compatible GGUF models from Files, URLs, or your local network. WRITE, LEARN, AND CODE Use local models for writing, brainstorming, explanations, and code. Generate, explain, and review code with models selected for programming. CUSTOMIZE YOUR AI Set a system prompt and generation parameters for each model. See tokens-per-second, context usage, and generated thinking output from supported reasoning models. VOICE, SIRI, AND SHORTCUTS Dictate prompts with voice input. Ask KernelAI from Siri or build it into Shortcuts on supported iOS versions. On supported iOS 26 devices, Apple's built-in on-device model can answer in the background; downloaded models may open KernelAI while they run. ORGANIZE YOUR WORK Keep conversations in folders, search your history, branch a chat, edit or regenerate messages, and export your work. Use KernelAI on iPhone and iPad, including from the Share Sheet and Home Screen widget. OPTIONAL WEB SEARCH Turn on web search when you need current information. Add your own Tavily or Exa API key; web search is off by default. Provider fees may apply. TEN APP LANGUAGES Use KernelAI in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese or Arabic. Choose your language during onboarding or change it in Settings. Arabic includes a right-to-left interface. FREE TO USE KernelAI remains free. Local AI works offline after downloading a compatible model. No subscription is required for this version. Privacy Policy: https://kernelai.app/privacy Terms & Conditions: https://kernelai.app/terms

About

Hephaistos

Features
Read full description

Votre IA personnelle, partout. Hephaistos réunit dans une seule app vos conversations avec Jarvis, vos recherches, vos documents et vos automatisations. Posez une question, reprenez une idée plus tard et gardez le contexte utile à portée de main. UNE IA QUI VOUS ACCOMPAGNE - Conversations fluides avec réponses en temps réel - Mémoire personnelle et préférences - Recherche web avec sources vérifiables - Questions sur vos PDF, DOCX, notes et fichiers - Voix, pièces jointes, favoris et export - Agents et automatisations pour les tâches répétitives DEUX FAÇONS DE L'UTILISER Choisissez Hephaistos Cloud pour démarrer sans gérer de machine, ou connectez votre propre serveur compatible pour garder la maîtrise de l'inférence. Le téléchargement de l'app est gratuit. Hephaistos Cloud est un abonnement optionnel dont le prix et la durée sont affichés avant l'achat. CLAIR SUR VOS DONNÉES Hephaistos ne vend pas vos données et ne vous suit pas entre les apps ou les sites. Chaque mode indique où les requêtes sont traitées. Les contrôles d'export, de réinitialisation et de suppression restent accessibles dans l'app. ET AUSSI - Agora communautaire avec signalement et modération - Messages directs chiffrés de bout en bout côté client - Connexion sur plusieurs appareils - État du service et diagnostics lisibles POUR COMMENCER 1. Téléchargez gratuitement Hephaistos. 2. Choisissez Hephaistos Cloud ou votre serveur personnel. 3. Ouvrez Jarvis et commencez. CONDITIONS ET CONFIDENTIALITÉ Conditions d'utilisation (EULA Apple standard) : https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Politique de confidentialité : https://gethephaistos.com/privacy

Screenshots

KernelAI4 screens
Hephaistos4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: KernelAI at none against Hephaistos's 6. Hephaistos's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Hephaistos sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. KernelAI asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KernelAI ships an update every 3 weeks, Hephaistos every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
KernelAI versus Hephaistos: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKernelAIHephaistos
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (42 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings42 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB39 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAnes KhadiriLogan Ablaoui

In-app purchases

None

KernelAI

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Hephaistos

Subscriptions6
  • Spark (monthly)$8.991 Month
  • Flame (monthly)$24.991 Month
  • Titan (monthly)$44.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Spark (yearly)$89.991 Year
  • Flame (yearly)$249.001 Year
  • Titan (yearly)$399.001 Year

Questions

Is KernelAI free?
KernelAI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hephaistos free?
Hephaistos is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do KernelAI or Hephaistos have ads?
Neither KernelAI nor Hephaistos shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KernelAI or Hephaistos?
KernelAI ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hephaistos every 2 days. Most recently, KernelAI was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hephaistos on October 19, 2026.

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