Comparison

Model Usage vs Model Pulse

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

Head to head
About

Model Usage

Features
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Model Usage is a real time dashboard for your AI coding tool usage. See how much of your five hour window and weekly quota you have used, watch your session tick up live, and get notified before you hit a limit. HOW IT WORKS A small client runs on your computer and reads the usage files that your AI coding tools already write locally. It forwards that usage to a server address you control. The apps pair with that server over a QR code or short pair code. No account, no email, no login. LIVE WHERE YOU ALREADY LOOK - Live Activity: a glanceable card with your current session and weekly usage, visible on the lock screen and Dynamic Island. - Home Screen widgets: compact and expanded sizes that show your session, weekly totals, and rate multipliers at a glance. - Lock Screen widgets: a tiny usage indicator right next to the clock. PAIRS WITH THE REST OF YOUR DEVICES Once you are paired on one device, the same setup flows to every companion app automatically. Send a snapshot to anyone in a conversation with the Model Usage messaging app. PRIVACY BY DESIGN No analytics. No tracking. No accounts. No advertising SDKs. Your usage data goes from your computer to a server you choose, and then to your own devices. Model Usage never sees it. FEATURES - AI coding tool usage tracking, side by side - Five hour session window and weekly window - Live Activity with Dynamic Island integration - Companion apps across every size of screen - Messaging app for sharing usage snapshots - Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets in all sizes - Live rate multiplier awareness. Rate changes are reflected in real time. - Open pair code or QR flow. No account required. - Dark mode throughout SETUP IN UNDER A MINUTE 1. Install the desktop client. 2. Copy the pair code. 3. Enter it in the app. That is it. The setup guide lives at modelusage.app/setup. Model Usage is built by a solo developer and does not collect, store, or share any personal data. See modelusage.app/privacy for details.

About

Model Pulse

Features
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Model Pulse puts your AI subscriptions and API spend on your iPhone Home Screen, so you always know how much runway you have left. HOME SCREEN WIDGETS - Small, medium, and large widgets - See 5-hour and weekly plan windows, monthly spend, and token burn at a glance - Bar, dot, or dash limit styles to match your setup SUBSCRIPTIONS - Track plan usage for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and more - 5-hour and weekly rate-limit windows with reset times - Sign in securely โ€” tokens are stored in the iOS Keychain and never leave your device except to talk to the provider API SPEND - Month-to-date spend for OpenAI and Anthropic organization accounts - 24-hour token and request tracking - Optional monthly budgets to pace prepaid credits USAGE ALERTS - Optional notifications when a rate-limit window or API budget crosses thresholds you choose - Alerts keep working in the background โ€” no need to keep the app open YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS Model Pulse has no accounts, no analytics, and no tracking. Keys live in the iOS Keychain. Requests go straight from your device to the providers you connect โ€” there is no Model Pulse server.

Screenshots

Model Usage3 screens
Model Pulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Model Usage at 6 against Model Pulse's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Model Usage ships an update every 3 days, Model Pulse every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
Model Usage versus Model Pulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterModel UsageModel Pulse
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 days โ€” betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.4 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size5 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRayan KhanMICHAEL EDWARD POTTER

In-app purchases

None

Model Usage

No in-app purchases

None

Model Pulse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Model Usage free?
Model Usage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Model Pulse free?
Model Pulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Model Usage or Model Pulse have ads?
Neither Model Usage nor Model Pulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Model Usage or Model Pulse?
Model Usage ships an update every 3 days, and Model Pulse every 4 days. Most recently, Model Usage was updated on September 16, 2026 and Model Pulse on September 18, 2026.

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