Comparison

OpenClient vs VimNotes

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

Head to head
About

OpenClient

Connect to your self-hosted AI models for private conversations without subscriptions. Supports multimodal input, real-time streaming, and extensive model compatibility. Offers robust conversation management and personalization features.

Highlights
  • Connect to self-hosted LLMs
  • Real-time streaming responses
  • Multimodal input (photos, PDFs)
  • Conversation history and branching
  • Prompt templates and memory
  • iCloud sync
  • Export conversations to JSON
Features
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OpenClient is an independent AI chat client for professionals and developers who run their own LLM infrastructure. Connect it to your self-hosted server and chat with your models, without mandatory subscriptions. Compatible with LiteLLM, Ollama, and OpenAI-compatible servers. Supports many popular model families, including GPT, Claude, Llama, Gemini, Mistral, and more. Chat • Real-time streaming responses with Markdown and code block rendering • Collapsible Thinking section for supported reasoning models • Attach photos, camera captures, and PDF documents for multimodal conversations • Drag and drop text, images, and files from other apps (Split View, Stage Manager, Finder on macOS) • Dictate messages with Speech-to-Text and listen with Text-to-Speech • Web search through the search provider configured on your server • Tool-calling support for models that provide function calling • MCP (Model Context Protocol) tools, browse, enable, and use external tools from MCP servers like GitHub, databases, and more, configured on your LiteLLM server • Favourite messages to bookmark and revisit quickly • Per-conversation system prompt and model parameters (temperature, max tokens, top-p) Conversations • Full conversation history with search, pins, and tags • Branch from any message to explore alternatives, then edit and regenerate • Media & Files gallery to browse all attached images and documents • Share content from any app directly into a new conversation via Share Sheet • Apple Shortcuts integration: New Chat, Search Chats, Send File to Chat • Home Screen widgets: New Chat, Search, Quick Actions, Conversations Overview • Control Center button: start a new chat from Control Center • iCloud sync across your Apple devices • Export conversations to JSON • Token usage per message and estimated conversation cost Models • Browse available models with capability badges (vision, tools, JSON mode) • Model detail sheet with context window, pricing, provider, and capabilities • Voice selector for Text-to-Speech models • Switch models per conversation Personalization • Prompt template library for recurring workflows • User profile to provide name and context • Memory to save facts and preferences, synced via iCloud On macOS • Menu bar companion for quick access without opening the main window Privacy • OpenClient does not operate a backend service for your chats. Your requests are sent to the server you configure. • OpenClient does not include advertising SDKs or third-party analytics trackers. This project is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0: https://github.com/ArtCC/openclient-llm Privacy Policy: https://arturocarreterocalvo.com/openclient-llm/privacy Terms of Use: https://arturocarreterocalvo.com/openclient-llm/terms OpenClient is an independent client and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the model or platform providers referenced above.

About

VimNotes

Features
Read full description

VimNotes brings real modal editing to your pocket. If you live in vim on the desktop, you finally have a notes app that thinks the way your fingers do. Tap `i` to insert. Esc to go back to NORMAL. Compose with the motions and operators you already know — no relearning, no compromise. WHY VIMNOTES • Real modal editing — NORMAL, INSERT, VISUAL, and COMMAND modes, not a toolbar wearing a vim costume. • Motions you know — h j k l, w b e, 0 $, gg G, plus counts (3w, 5j, d2w). • Operators that compose — d, y, c with any motion. dd, yy, cc shortcuts. Visual-mode operations. • Undo and redo — deep history (up to 100 steps) so experiments are always reversible. • Registers — yank and paste with the unnamed register. • Ex commands — :w, :q, :wq and friends from a familiar command line. • Built for thumbs — a custom on-screen key row keeps Esc, :, and motions one tap away. PRIVACY-FIRST BY DESIGN • 100% offline. No accounts. No sign-up. No cloud. • No analytics. No tracking. No third-party SDKs phoning home. • Your notes live in a local SQLite database on your device and nowhere else. • No network permission requested — the app physically cannot exfiltrate your data. BUILT FOR WRITERS WHO CODE VimNotes is the daily driver for engineers, technical writers, students, and anyone who already touch-types in a modal editor. Capture meeting notes, draft commit messages, sketch designs in markdown, keep a journal — without ever leaving the keystroke vocabulary you already mastered. FEATURES • Modal editor: NORMAL / INSERT / VISUAL / COMMAND • Motions: h j k l w b e 0 $ gg G with count prefixes • Operators: d y c (delete, yank, change) over motions and visual selections • Line shortcuts: dd, yy, cc, D, C • Undo / redo with a 100-step history • Ex commands: :w :q :wq :q! • Local SQLite storage — fast, durable, private • Light and dark interface • Dynamic Type and VoiceOver support • iPhone, all screen sizes NO STRINGS VimNotes is free of ads, trackers, telemetry, and subscriptions. One app, one purpose: let you write the way you already think. If you have feedback or run into trouble, visit https://moruk.ai/support — we read every message.

Screenshots

OpenClient4 screens
VimNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: OpenClient at Free against VimNotes's $9.99. OpenClient also leads on ads (none vs shown). VimNotes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On update cadence 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

OpenClient is free to download; VimNotes costs $9.99 up front. OpenClient sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. VimNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
OpenClient versus VimNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenClientVimNotes
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 3 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size256 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArturo Carretero CalvoMoruk LLC

In-app purchases

5 purchases

OpenClient

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Support$2.991 Month
  • Annual Support$8.991 Year
One-time3
  • Small Coffee$2.99
  • Medium Coffee$3.99
  • Big Coffee$8.99
None

VimNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OpenClient free?
OpenClient is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VimNotes free?
VimNotes costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do OpenClient or VimNotes have ads?
VimNotes shows ads; OpenClient does not.
Which is updated more often, OpenClient or VimNotes?
OpenClient ships an update every 3 days, and VimNotes every 3 days. Most recently, OpenClient was updated on September 10, 2026 and VimNotes on September 19, 2026.

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