Foundation vs Mini Compute
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Foundation
Engage in intelligent, private AI conversations that run entirely on your device. No internet or data collection required, offering instant responses and multiple conversation threads for various tasks.
- 100% on-device AI processing
- Zero data collection
- Works offline
- Multiple conversation threads
- Clean SwiftUI interface
- Unlimited chat sessions
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FoundationChat: Intelligent Conversations, Completely Private Experience AI without compromising your privacy. FoundationChat runs entirely on your iPhone or iPad—no internet required, no data sent to servers. Uses Apple’s on-device Intelligence or Cactus open models. PRIVACY FIRST 100% on-device processing—no ChatGPT, OpenAI, or third-party AI Zero data collection—conversations never leave your device No account, login, or tracking FEATURES Natural conversation powered by on-device AI Context-aware responses Multiple conversation threads Clean SwiftUI interface Works offline with instant responses Unlimited chat sessions REQUIREMENTS iOS 26.0 or later Apple Intelligence: iPhone 15 Pro+, iPhone 16+, or iPad with M1+ (enable in Settings) Cactus: iPhone 13 Pro and other devices with 4GB+ RAM (download a model in-app) WHY FOUNDATIONCHAT? Unlike cloud-based chatbots, FoundationChat keeps everything local. Your questions and conversations stay on your device. Ideal for brainstorming, writing help, learning, and any task where privacy matters. Download FoundationChat for truly private AI conversations.
Mini Compute
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Mini Compute runs open-source AI language models directly on your iPhone — no account, no subscription, and no internet connection required after you download a model. Your conversations never leave your device. WHY MINI COMPUTE • Truly private — every prompt and response is processed on-device. Nothing is sent to a server, ever. • Works offline — once a model is downloaded, chat anywhere, even in airplane mode. • No account, no sign-up, no tracking — open the app and start. • Fast — models run on Apple's Metal GPU with live token streaming. CHOOSE YOUR MODEL • Start in one tap with a model recommended for your exact device. • Pick from a curated list including Llama 3.2, Qwen2.5, Gemma 2, and Phi-3.5. • Bring your own — add any compatible GGUF model from Hugging Face. • Clear "will this fit?" guidance so you only download models your iPhone can run comfortably. CHAT WITH YOUR FILES (On-Device RAG) • Attach a plain-text file and ask questions about it. • On-device retrieval finds the relevant passages — again, without anything leaving your phone. SEE HOW IT PERFORMS • A built-in Stats dashboard shows tokens per second, memory use, storage, and your conversation history at a glance. BUILT FOR IPHONE • Native SwiftUI app, designed for iOS. • Manage multiple conversations, load and unload models to free memory, and tune generation settings. Mini Compute is for anyone who wants the usefulness of an AI assistant with the privacy of keeping everything on their own device. Note: AI-generated responses can be inaccurate. Don't rely on them for medical, legal, financial, or other important decisions. Downloading models requires an internet connection; running them does not.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Mini Compute at 17.0 against Foundation's 26.0. 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Foundation | Mini Compute |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Sagar Desai | Jes Naber |
In-app purchases
Foundation
No in-app purchases
Mini Compute
No in-app purchases









