Comparison

opchat vs OpenChat Connect

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

Head to head
About

opchat

Chat with various AI models using your own API keys or run them locally on your device. Your data and keys remain private, never passing through the app's servers. Create custom AI assistants and utilize built-in tools like web search and image generation.

Highlights
  • BYOK (Bring Your Own Keys) for major AI models
  • On-device model execution for offline use
  • Customizable AI personas
  • Integrated web search and image generation
  • Conversation organization and export
  • Fully customizable interface themes and fonts
Features
Read full description

opchat lets you chat with all major AI models in one place — using your own API keys or running models directly on your device. Your API keys stay on your device, encrypted with secure storage. Your conversations are sent directly to the AI provider you choose and never pass through our servers. We don't collect, store, or have access to your chats. No middleman, no subscriptions, no data harvesting. BRING YOUR OWN KEYS Connect OpenAI (GPT), Anthropic (Claude), Google (Gemini), DeepSeek, OpenRouter, Straico, Azure, Ollama, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Switch between models mid-conversation or set a default per persona. ON-DEVICE MODELS Run AI models directly on your device — completely offline, no API key needed. Browse and download GGUF models from Hugging Face. Your data never leaves your phone. Perfect for privacy-sensitive use or when you're offline. CUSTOM PERSONAS Create AI assistants tailored to your needs. Set a system prompt, personality, speaking style, knowledge areas, and conversation starters. Build a research analyst, a coding mentor, a creative writing partner — whatever you need. BUILT-IN TOOLS • Web Search — real-time results via Serper or Tavily • Image Generation & Editing — create and refine images with AI • Voice — speech-to-text input and text-to-speech output • Memory — the AI remembers context across your conversations • MCP Servers — extend with custom tools via Model Context Protocol ORGANIZE YOUR WORK Group conversations into projects. Pin important chats. Search across all your history. Export conversations as Markdown or JSON. FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE Choose from multiple themes (Claude, GPT, Perplexity, Code) or create your own with custom colors. Pick from 23 fonts. Adjust message density, roundness, and font size. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Zero tracking. Zero analytics. Your API keys are encrypted on-device. Conversations go directly to your chosen AI provider — we never see them. Use on-device models or Ollama for fully offline, local AI with no data leaving your phone. AI-GENERATED CONTENT All responses are generated by third-party AI models and may be inaccurate or incomplete. Content safety is enforced by each provider's built-in policies. You can report any AI-generated response directly within the app. Terms of Use: https://opchat.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://opchat.app/privacy

About

OpenChat Connect

Features
Read full description

OpenChat Connect is a free native iOS app with two ways to chat. Download a model and talk to it on your iPhone. Or bring your own API key and use OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, OpenRouter, or any custom endpoint. No OpenChat account. No lock-in. On this device Version 1.2.0 adds curated MLX downloads from Meta, Qwen, and Phi. Pick Fast, Balanced, or Strongest, then choose the On This Device provider. That chat runs on the iPhone. You do not need an API key for it. Your key, any model Paste a key and use OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, OpenRouter, or a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint, including Ollama, LM Studio, or vLLM. The same key setup also covers Mistral, DeepSeek, cloud Qwen, Moonshot, Z.ai, and 01.AI. Pick the model that fits the task. Switch later. The app does not lock you to one provider. One app either way Chats, rules, memory, and skills are stored on the device. You can set global rules and per-chat rules, edit memory, and run a skill with / in the composer. Web search is optional and uses your own search key (Tavily, Exa, Brave, Serper, or SerpAPI). The app can render streaming Markdown and code, send a photo to a vision-capable model, and finish a cloud reply in the background with a local notification. Private by design OpenChat has no backend, no account, and no analytics. On-device model chats are not sent to a cloud model provider. When you choose a cloud model, that message goes from your iPhone straight to the provider you picked. OpenChat does not sit in the middle. API keys and search keys stay in the iOS Keychain. The app is free. Cloud usage is billed by the provider on your key, not by OpenChat. On-device chats do not use a provider key. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/openchat-connect/id6798106079 Source (MIT): https://github.com/robert-garay/openchat Support: robert@genion.ai

Screenshots

opchat4 screens
OpenChat Connect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenChat Connect at none against opchat's 2. opchat's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. opchat sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. OpenChat Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

opchat ships an update every 2 days, OpenChat Connect every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
opchat versus OpenChat Connect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteropchatOpenChat Connect
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size162 MB30 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperPrzemyslaw KlosekROBERT MIHALY GARAY

In-app purchases

2 purchases

opchat

One-time2
  • Pro Unlock Promo$1.99
  • Pro Unlock$4.99
None

OpenChat Connect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is opchat free?
opchat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenChat Connect free?
OpenChat Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do opchat or OpenChat Connect have ads?
Neither opchat nor OpenChat Connect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, opchat or OpenChat Connect?
opchat ships an update every 2 days, and OpenChat Connect every 2 weeks. Most recently, opchat was updated on October 14, 2026 and OpenChat Connect on October 25, 2026.

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