Indie iOS and macOS apps are going on-device first, swapping cloud-heavy AI for privacy-first design. The latest drops spell out the trend with concrete examples: ThunDroid AI, ECAD Aura, and ToolsDeck.
ThunDroid AI — A 100% local storage guarantee on your iPhone keeps chats private with end-to-end encryption; there are no servers storing personal data [1]. The app includes a 24/7 AI venting companion, a guided journaling toolkit, 13 breathing exercises, and a 3-day free trial.
ECAD Aura — An iPad ECAD app built for on-the-go circuit design, heavily oriented to Apple Pencil use. It includes an AI assistant to source parts and suggest layouts and allows exporting the full BOM, design, and manufacturing files. The offline/on-device plan aims to keep sensitive data local [2].
ToolsDeck — Version 1.5.0 brings a Professional Health Calculator and a powerful File Converter; the privacy-first health suite keeps sensitive data on-device, using WHO standards for BMI and calculating BMR and TDEE. It supports six activities and Waist-to-Hip Ratio with gender-specific analysis. The File Converter handles TXT, PDF, HTML, and Markdown, processes up to 100MB, with a real-time preview and smart file management [3].
These indie moves formalize a broader trend: privacy-first, on-device processing is becoming the default for iOS/macOS apps. Expect more releases that keep data local.
References
I was tired of AI wellness apps uploading my private thoughts. So I built one that stores everything 100% on your device
Founder launches ThunDroid AI, an iOS journaling app prioritizing privacy with on-device storage; sparks discussion on end-to-end claims.
View sourceECAD iPAD Aura
Developer builds iPad ECAD Aura; offline AI, exportable BOM; seeks TestFlight testers; cloud step files may be used later soon.
View sourceToolsDeck v1.5.0 is LIVE! We added a Professional Health Calculator and a powerful File Converter based on YOUR feedback.
ToolsDeck updates adds health calculator and file converter; privacy-first, on-device processing; seeks feedback from iPhone users and future ideas too.
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