Open Minis vs CardBal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Open Minis
This AI agent runs locally on your device, taking actions like browsing the web, managing your schedule, and controlling smart home devices. It integrates deeply with iOS frameworks and allows you to bring your own API keys from various AI providers. Customize its capabilities with a skills system and enjoy persistent memory for a personalized experience.
- On-device AI agent
- Multi-model AI provider support
- Deep iOS framework integration
- Built-in web browser
- Customizable skills system
- Persistent memory
- Siri Shortcuts integration
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Minis — Local-First On-Device AI Agent Minis is a local-first, on-device AI agent that goes beyond chat. All your data stays on your iPhone — nothing is uploaded to a server by default. Running locally means lower latency and stronger privacy, while the agent still takes real action: browsing the web, accessing your health data, managing your schedule, controlling your smart home, and automating complex tasks. Local-First AI Agent Unlike cloud-only chatbots, Minis runs directly on your device and keeps your data there. The agent executes multi-step tasks autonomously, using tools and native iOS frameworks to get things done — not just answer questions, and not just relay everything to the cloud. Multi-Model, Your Choice Bring your own API key. Choose from leading AI providers: • Anthropic Claude • OpenAI GPT • Google Gemini • DeepSeek • Kimi (Moonshot AI) • OpenRouter • Any OpenAI-compatible endpoint Deep iOS Integration The agent accesses Apple frameworks natively: • HealthKit — steps, heart rate, sleep, workouts, SpO₂ • Calendar & Reminders — create events, check availability, manage tasks • HomeKit — control lights, switches, scenes, and smart accessories • Photos — search, organize, and export from your library • Location & Maps — current location, directions, nearby POIs • Vision — OCR text recognition, object detection, barcode scanning • Speech — real-time transcription and text-to-speech • Weather — current conditions, hourly and daily forecasts Built-in Web Browser Navigate pages, take screenshots, extract content, fill forms, and interact with websites — all driven by the AI agent in the background. Skills System Import or create custom AI skills to extend the agent's capabilities. Share skills with others or build your own for specialized workflows. Persistent Memory The agent remembers your preferences, project context, and recurring patterns across sessions — building a personalized assistant that improves over time, all stored locally on your device. Siri Shortcuts Automate AI tasks with Siri and the Shortcuts app. Send prompts with file attachments, wait for results, and chain into complex workflows — all hands-free. Privacy by Design Your API keys and data stay on-device. Fine-grained permission controls let you decide exactly which personal data the agent can access. No account required. No data collected.
CardBal
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CardBal turns your iPhone into a pro reader for transit and stored-value cards. Hold a card to the top of your iPhone to see its balance, rides and card details, and the raw data behind them. READ • Balance and remaining trips • Ride history with stations, lines, distances and fares where the card stores them • Card details such as card family, number, issue date and technology • Raw data and a full hex export, with an optional Developer Mode for KS X 6924 cards SEE WHERE YOU'VE BEEN • Ride Map draws the routes your cards remember • Transit Atlas maps every city and province you have ridden in KEEP YOUR CARDS • A wallet of every card you have read, with names, icons and your own card photos • iCloud backup and file export • Card numbers can be shown in full, masked or hidden APPLE WALLET CARDS Read a supported Apple Wallet transit card on another iPhone or Apple Watch with Service Mode turned on. SUPPORTED CARDS Japan (FeliCa): Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, SUGOCA, nimoca, Kitaca, manaca, TOICA, Hayakaken, SAPICA, IruCa, OKICA and more Japan (e-money): nanaco, Rakuten Edy, WAON Greater China (T-Union): 300+ city cards, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, plus City Union cards Hong Kong: Octopus South Korea (KS X 6924): T-money, EZL, Cashbee Mongolia: U-Money France (Calypso): Lignes d'Azur Readable balances and history depend on the card, its issuer and the data stored on it. CardBal reads card information; it cannot top up cards. CardBal is an independent reader and is not affiliated with transit operators.
Screenshots
Verdict
Open Minis and CardBal are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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.
Open Minis ships an update weekly, CardBal every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Open Minis | CardBal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (99 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 96.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 99 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 398 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 森 王 | Kitta Co. |
In-app purchases
Open Minis
No in-app purchases
CardBal
No in-app purchases









