# KernelAI vs Cipher AI

The clearest difference is ads: KernelAI at none against Cipher AI's shown. KernelAI also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, 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 Cipher AI sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

KernelAI ships an update every 3 weeks, Cipher AI every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KernelAI | Cipher AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernelai-offline-ai-chat/id6757350731/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **43** | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 86 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anes Khadiri](https://appshunter.io/developer/1863184646) | [Chris Burchett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1262824383) |

## 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 |


### Cipher AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipher-ai-private-llm-chat/id6767926967)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cipher Premium — Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Cipher Premium — Yearly | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KernelAI free?

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

### Is Cipher AI free?

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

### Do KernelAI or Cipher AI have ads?

Cipher AI shows ads; KernelAI does not.

### Which is updated more often, KernelAI or Cipher AI?

KernelAI ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cipher AI every 10 days. Most recently, KernelAI was updated on October 31, 2026 and Cipher AI on November 5, 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.*