The Locally AI Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Locally AI in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Locally AI
The Insider’s Guide
Free app that runs open AI models offline on iPhone, iPad and Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from Locally AI’s own pages.
Made by Element Labs, Inc. · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Locally AI’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Locally AI’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 48 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade
Locally AI is a free app that downloads open models such as Llama, Gemma, Qwen and DeepSeek and runs them on an iPhone, iPad or Mac with Apple's MLX framework. It needs no login, and no internet connection once a model is on the device. LM Studio acquired it in April 2026 and now presents it as its mobile app: through LM Link it can also use larger models running in LM Studio on your own computer.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Locally AI, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There's no account to make: download a model and start chatting.
- 1
Best for open AI models offline on an iPhone or Mac
Locally AI runs open models like Llama, Gemma and Qwen on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, with no account and no internet once a model is downloaded, and it costs nothing.
- 2
It is free
Locally AI has no paid plan at all. The app is free on the App Store and Mac App Store, with no login. The US listing shows no in-app purchases.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 4
On-device models through MLX
Downloads and runs open models from the Llama, Gemma, Qwen, DeepSeek, SmolLM, Granite, Cogito and LFM families on Apple Silicon, using Apple's MLX framework.
- 5
Offline, with no account
Once a model is downloaded, chats run with no internet connection and no login. The vendor says processing stays on the device and no data is collected.
- 6
LM Link to LM Studio
Links the app to LM Studio on your own computer over an end-to-end encrypted connection, so an iPhone or iPad can use larger models than it could run itself.
- 7
A 3.2 GPA, above 48 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Locally AI is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Locally AI at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Element Labs, Inc.
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 1,745 ratings
The report card
Best for open AI models offline on an iPhone or Mac
Locally AI runs open models like Llama, Gemma and Qwen on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, with no account and no internet once a model is downloaded, and it costs nothing. It's Apple only and only for recent devices, your device's memory decides which models run, and the bigger ones need LM Studio running on a computer of your own.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It costs nothing. The app is free on the App Store and the Mac App Store, with no login, and the US listing shows no in-app purchases at all. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full app is free: local models, voice mode, Siri and Shortcuts actions, and LM Link to LM Studio. There's no paid plan to hold anything back. |
| Features | C | It runs open models from eight families on the device, offline, with a voice mode, picture reading and Siri actions. That job it does fully, and it's a smaller one: your device's memory decides what runs, and the bigger models need LM Studio on a computer of yours. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.7 from about 1,700 App Store ratings. There's no account to make: download a model and start chatting. You do have to pick one that fits your device first. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | iPhone, iPad and Mac, and only recent ones, since it's tuned for Apple Silicon. It hooks into Siri, Shortcuts and LM Studio. All Apple, though: no Windows, Android or web version is listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Locally AI is for
- Fits if you want private chats that work on a plane, with no account and no connection
- Works for people who already run LM Studio and want its bigger models on their phone
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Android, because it's iPhone, iPad and Mac only
- Not for you if your device is a few years old, as it's only for recent Apple models
- Too light for the largest models on a phone alone, since your device's memory decides what runs
- Watch out: the bigger models come through LM Link, which needs LM Studio running on a computer of yours
Good to know
Good for
- Trying open models on an iPhone, iPad or Mac at no cost
- LM Studio users who want their desktop models on a phone
- Private chats that work with no connection and no account
Worth knowing
- It is available only for recent iPhone, iPad and Mac models, and is optimized for Apple Silicon chips.
- Which models run depends on the device's memory; the site points to iPad and Mac for the largest ones.
- Using larger models through LM Link requires LM Studio running on a computer of your own.
- LM Studio acquired the app in April 2026, and the App Store now lists it as Locally AI by LM Studio.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Locally AI is free to use.
The app is free on the App Store and the Mac App Store, with no login, and the US listing shows no in-app purchases at all.
Free
$0
The full app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: local models, voice mode, Siri and Shortcuts actions, and LM Link to LM Studio.
The free plan
The app is free on the App Store and Mac App Store, with no login. The US listing shows no in-app purchases.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Free app that runs open AI models offline on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, AI features, chat assistant.
It runs open models from eight families on the device, offline, with a voice mode, picture reading and Siri actions.
- On-device models through MLX
- Downloads and runs open models from the Llama, Gemma, Qwen, DeepSeek, SmolLM, Granite, Cogito and LFM families on Apple Silicon, using Apple's MLX framework.
- Offline, with no account
- Once a model is downloaded, chats run with no internet connection and no login. The vendor says processing stays on the device and no data is collected.
- LM Link to LM Studio
- Links the app to LM Studio on your own computer over an end-to-end encrypted connection, so an iPhone or iPad can use larger models than it could run itself.
- Local voice mode
- Holds real-time spoken conversations with a model, with the speech handled on the device instead of by a cloud service.
- Language and vision models
- Some models take images as well as text, so a chat can analyze a picture. The app also supports Apple's on-device Foundation Models on current OS releases.
- Siri, Shortcuts and Control Center
- Talk to a local model through Siri, call models from the Shortcuts app to build automations, and open the app from Control Center, the Lock Screen or the Action Button.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- LM Studio
- Siri
- Apple Shortcuts
Who makes Locally AI
Locally AI is now made by Element Labs, Inc., the New York company behind LM Studio, which announced in April 2026 that it had bought the app and taken on its creator. LM Studio is free for personal and work use, and the company sells enterprise plans.
- Founded
- 2022sec.gov
- Based
- New York, USAlmstudio.ai
- Ownership
- Privately held. Privately held and venture-backed. Element Labs, Inc. is a Delaware corporation whose Form D names Yagil Burowski as an executive officer and director and Matt Turck as a director; Locally AI became part of it in April 2026.sec.gov
- Funding
- No funding round has been announced on the company's own pages. Element Labs filed a Form D with the SEC on 30 May 2025 reporting an equity offering of $19,324,955 sold to 16 investors, first sold on 25 April 2025, which it says includes $3,965,000 of earlier convertible securities that converted in the offering.sec.gov
- Founders and leaders
- Yagil Burowski, Chief Executive Officersec.gov
- Adrien Grondin, Creator of Locally AI; leads work on native AI experienceslmstudio.ai
- Hiring
- Its careers page lists seven open roles, all in New York City: four software engineering jobs plus a technical recruiter, an enterprise go-to-market role and a marketing role.lmstudio.ai
- Lately
- Run (your largest) local models from your iPhone · Jun 4, 2026
- Locally AI joins LM Studio · Apr 8, 2026
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
48/57
Other AI assistants it is graded above
Locally AI's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 48 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 44 of 57) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Locally AI has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. Locally AI’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 38 of 57
- AFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 57
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 57
- AEase of useAbove 44 of 57
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 57
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 45 AI assistants. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Locally AI is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Locally AI is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 48 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade.
What you could not
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Hooks into the device itself: Siri, Shortcuts and the lock screen.
What this rests on. Locally AI’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Private LLM, PocketPal AI, LM Studio, Jan and Cherry Studio
The 5 tools Locally AI is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Private LLM
From $4.99 one-time
Offline AI chat app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with a one-time price.
- Locally AI has a free plan. Private LLM does not.
- Private LLM can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
PocketPal AI
Free plan · from $0.99 one-time
Open-source app for running AI models offline on phones and tablets.
- Only Locally AI lists a macOS app.
- Only PocketPal AI lists an Android app.
- PocketPal AI is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
LM Studio
Free plan · from $20/mo
Desktop app for running open AI models on your own computer.
- Only Locally AI lists an iOS app.
- Only LM Studio lists Windows and Linux apps.
- LM Studio also covers AI agents.
- 3.0GPA
Jan
Free
Open-source desktop app for running local and cloud AI models.
- Only Locally AI lists an iOS app.
- Only Jan lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Jan is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Cherry Studio
Free plan
Open-source desktop AI client for 50+ model providers.
- Only Cherry Studio lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Cherry Studio is open source, according to its own site.
- Cherry Studio also covers AI agents.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Locally AI free?
Yes. Locally AI is free to use.
How much does Locally AI cost?
Locally AI lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Locally AI work on?
Locally AI is available on macOS and iOS.
How is Locally AI rated?
Locally AI's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1,745 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Locally AI have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Locally AI is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does Locally AI have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Locally AI is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is Locally AI open source?
Locally AI is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Locally AI work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Locally AI integrate with?
Locally AI's listing names LM Studio, Siri and Apple Shortcuts. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Locally AI?
Locally AI is made by Element Labs, Inc. Privately held and venture-backed.
What are the alternatives to Locally AI?
The closest alternatives to Locally AI in our directory are Private LLM, PocketPal AI, LM Studio, Jan and Cherry Studio.
How does Locally AI compare with other AI assistants?
Locally AI's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 48 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 4.
Is Locally AI good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Locally AI A for value for money. Locally AI has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Locally AI?
Locally AI is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Locally AI’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Locally AI's own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-19.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Element Labs, Inc. Prices change, so check locallyai.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Locally AI, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/locally-ai
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Locally AI: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/locally-ai
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/locally-ai/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after Locally AI, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Assistants Insider's GuideEvery one of the 58 AI assistants we grade, compared
- Gemini Insider's GuideGoogle's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps3.8 GPA
- Chatbox Insider's GuideAI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan3.4 GPA
- ChatGPT Insider's GuideOpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Locally AI’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Locally AI is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Element Labs, Inc. Prices and plans change: check locallyai.app before you buy.