OpenChat Connect vs Overtchat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
OpenChat Connect
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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
Overtchat
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Your models. Your conversations. Your server. OvertChat connects your iPhone and iPad to an OvertChat server you choose. Chat with local or hosted AI models, keep conversations organized, and pick up your work across devices. A PLACE TO THINK โข Stream responses as they arrive, with readable formatting and code blocks. โข Organize conversations into projects and search your history. โข Attach photos and documents for models that support them. โข Use light or dark appearance and adjust your chat preferences. YOUR SERVER, YOUR MODELS Your server administrator chooses the model providers and optional services. Connect to local inference servers or hosted providers through the same app. Chats, projects, and uploaded files are stored on your configured server. MORE WHEN YOUR SERVER SUPPORTS IT Use web search, voice dictation, and spoken responses when the corresponding services are configured. Agent Connections lets you follow coding-agent sessions and respond to approvals through an OvertChat Host Connector on your own infrastructure. GETTING STARTED You need a compatible OvertChat server URL and an account created by its administrator. Enter the server address, sign in, and start a conversation. The app does not include a hosted AI service or run language models on your device. Available features and model capabilities depend on your server configuration. An internet or local-network connection to your server is required. OvertChat is free and open source. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements. Your hosting and any third-party model provider charges are separate. Learn more and find setup instructions at overtchat.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Overtchat at every 3 days against OpenChat Connect's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
OpenChat Connect ships an update every 2 weeks, Overtchat every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OpenChat Connect | Overtchat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days โ better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad โ better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 80 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | ROBERT MIHALY GARAY | Swamita Gupta |
In-app purchases
OpenChat Connect
No in-app purchases
Overtchat
No in-app purchases









