# Elio Chat vs Merdot AI

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Elio Chat at none against Merdot AI's 10. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merdot AI sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Elio Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

Elio Chat ships an update fortnightly, Merdot AI every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elio Chat | Merdot AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 34 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Yuki Hamada](https://appshunter.io/developer/1819243205) | [Merdot](https://appshunter.io/developer/6794478565) |

## What reviewers say

### Elio Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elio-chat/id6757635481)

This AI assistant operates entirely on your device, ensuring all conversations remain private and never leave your iPhone. It offers powerful AI models, image recognition, and voice input, integrating seamlessly with your iOS features like calendar and reminders.

**Highlights:** 100% offline operation, On-device AI processing, Deep iOS integration (Calendar, Reminders, Photos), Powerful AI models, Image recognition, Voice input

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Merdot AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merdot-ai/id6794478563)

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lite | $2.99 | per month |
| Basic | $7.99 | per month |
| Plus | $14.99 | per month |
| Lite | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro | $29.99 | per month |
| Pro Max | $49.99 | per month |
| Basic | $89.99 | per year |
| Plus | $149.99 | per year |
| Pro | $299.99 | per year |
| Pro Max | $499.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elio Chat free?

Elio Chat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Merdot AI free?

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

### Do Elio Chat or Merdot AI have ads?

Neither Elio Chat nor Merdot AI shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elio Chat or Merdot AI?

Elio Chat ships an update fortnightly, and Merdot AI every 2 weeks. Most recently, Elio Chat was updated on October 31, 2026 and Merdot AI 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.*