Comparison

im.ai vs bar'd

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

Head to head
About

im.ai

Features
Read full description

im.ai is a hybrid AI chat assistant that gives you the freedom to choose between running powerful language models locally on your iPhone or iPad, or connecting to leading cloud AI providers. LOCAL MODELS - PRIVACY FIRST • Run AI models directly on your device using llama.cpp • Keep all conversations completely private and offline • Support for popular open-source models including Llama, Falcon, Qwen, Gemma, and more • Download models with automatic progress tracking • No internet connection required for local inference • Optimized for iOS devices with efficient memory usage CLOUD PROVIDERS - UNLIMITED POWER • Connect to multiple AI providers with your own API keys • Google Gemini - Fast, powerful multimodal models • Groq - Lightning-fast inference • OpenRouter - Access to hundreds of models • Cerebras - State-of-the-art performance • GitHub Models - Developer-friendly AI access POWERFUL FEATURES • Beautiful markdown rendering with code syntax highlighting • Session management to organize your conversations • Model switching on the fly • Adaptive text size with Dynamic Type support • API key management with secure storage • Background model downloads • Low memory footprint optimized for mobile • Native SwiftUI for iOS NO SUBSCRIPTIONS, NO TRACKING • One-time purchase, yours forever • No data collection or telemetry • No account required for local models • Bring your own API keys for cloud providers Whether you need privacy-focused local inference or access to the latest cloud AI capabilities, im.ai puts you in control. Perfect for developers, researchers, and anyone who values privacy without compromising on AI power.

About

bar'd

This app enforces digital discipline by linking your phone's Focus Modes to physical barcodes. Scan a barcode to unlock distracting apps, ensuring genuine accountability for your screen time. Track your progress and build streaks towards focused hours.

Highlights
  • Enforce focus modes with physical barcodes
  • Shield distracting apps at system level
  • Customizable app whitelists
  • Automated daily focus schedules
  • Track focused hours and streaks
  • On-device data privacy
Features
Read full description

bar'd is the ultimate physical lock for your digital distractions. Built on Apple's strict Screen Time API, bar'd doesn't just ask you nicely to put your phone down—it forces you to. Link your custom Focus Modes (like Work, Study, or Phone-free Dinner) to a physical barcode anywhere in your house or office. Once you activate a session, your distracting apps are shielded. The only way back in? Get up, walk over, and scan that exact physical barcode. There is no PIN bypass. There is no cooldown timer. There is no "remind me in 15 minutes." You either delete the app, or you scan the barcode. HOW IT WORKS: Create a Mode: Set up a profile (e.g., "Dumb phone") and whitelist only the apps you actually need. Everything else gets shielded. Bind a Barcode: Link the mode to any physical barcode (a book, a coffee bag, a label on your desk). Lock In: Activate the mode manually or set an automated daily schedule. Unlock: To pause, edit, or stop the session early, you must physically scan the tied barcode. KEY FEATURES: • Unbreakable Focus: Uses Apple's FamilyControls to securely shield blocked apps at the system level. • Physical Accountability: Ties your digital habits to the physical world using your camera's AVFoundation pipeline. • Custom Schedules: Automate your focus times in the background. • Stats & Streaks: Track your focused hours, build a daily streak, and climb the ranks up to Grandmaster. • Private by Design: All App Group state and SwiftData persistence happens entirely on-device.

Screenshots

im.ai4 screens
bar'd4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: bar'd at every 3 weeks against im.ai's every 2 months. im.ai's advantage is iOS requirement (18.6 vs 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

im.ai ships an update every 2 months, bar'd every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 15, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
im.ai versus bar'd: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterim.aibar'd
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB3 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperDmitry KuznetsovKenneth Rapko

In-app purchases

None

im.ai

No in-app purchases

None

bar'd

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is im.ai free?
im.ai is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is bar'd free?
bar'd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do im.ai or bar'd have ads?
Neither im.ai nor bar'd shows ads.
Which is updated more often, im.ai or bar'd?
im.ai ships an update every 2 months, and bar'd every 3 weeks. Most recently, im.ai was updated on September 15, 2026 and bar'd on September 15, 2026.

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