Comparison

KernelAI vs Dossier

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

Dossier

Features
Read full description

Turn your X bookmarks into a searchable archive with AI titles, summaries, categories and tags. Dossier saves your archive on your device and lets you export it to the tools you use. PAY FOR WHAT YOU IMPORT Connect X to receive 20 free starter credits once per X account. One credit imports and organises one previously unimported bookmark. Already imported bookmarks are skipped without using credits. Check your available X bookmarks before importing: a completed scan costs 0.5 credits and shows how many remain and how many more credits you need. Buy 200 or 1,000 credits when you need more. Purchased credits never expire; no new subscription is required. Prices are shown in your local currency. RESUME YOUR ARCHIVE Imports use pages of up to 90 bookmarks and pause when fewer than one credit remains. Top up to continue the unfinished backlog, including the remainder of a page. Already imported bookmarks are skipped on later pulls; retrying the same interrupted delivery does not charge twice. X may omit unavailable posts, and a scan is a snapshot of the bookmarks X returns. Share individual X links to Dossier to queue them for import. YOUR SAVED ARCHIVE STAYS AVAILABLE Browse, search and export saved content even at zero credits. Credit balances follow your connected X account across devices. Existing purchases remain supported for their paid duration. AI AND PRIVACY With your permission, DeepSeek processes bookmark text, author names and content signals to organise your imports. Choose Apple AI in Settings > AI Engine to organise imports with Apple Foundation Models: Private Cloud Compute on eligible iOS 27 devices, subject to Apple's availability, locale and quota checks, or on-device models on supported devices running iOS 26 or later. Apple selection never switches to DeepSeek automatically. DeepSeek remains a separate choice and processes content only with your explicit permission. Your permanent archive stays on-device. The worker retains a temporary delivery copy for up to 24 hours to recover interrupted pulls, then deletes it, including for Apple imports. Apple AI does not change credit charges: one credit still imports and organises one previously unimported bookmark. Terms of Use: https://mashdev.co.za/terms

Screenshots

KernelAI4 screens
Dossier4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: KernelAI at every 3 weeks against Dossier's every 3 months. KernelAI also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. KernelAI sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Dossier sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KernelAI ships an update every 3 weeks, Dossier every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
KernelAI versus Dossier: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKernelAIDossier
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (43 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings43 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB18 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAnes KhadiriKamogelo Mashishi

In-app purchases

3 purchases

KernelAI

One-time3
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Kind Tip.$3.99
  • Generous Tip.$6.99
4 purchases

Dossier

Subscriptions4
  • Dossier Standard Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Dossier Pro Monthly3 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Dossier Standard Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Dossier Pro Yearly7 Days trial$109.991 Year

Questions

Is KernelAI free?
KernelAI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dossier free?
Dossier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do KernelAI or Dossier have ads?
Neither KernelAI nor Dossier shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KernelAI or Dossier?
KernelAI ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dossier every 3 months. Most recently, KernelAI was updated on October 31, 2026 and Dossier on November 5, 2026.

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