Indie, privacy-first, offline-first apps are taking center stage on Mac and iOS. Health, journaling, and personal data are getting private, self-contained treatments from scrappy studios.
CalNotes AI Food Diary offers AI-calculated calories from plain-English meal entries, with 2 months free. [1] You type "chicken wrap and fries" and the AI figures calories instantly, with an optional photo mode if you want it.
HelloHabit Journal now has a rich text editor and a unified timeline for habit activity and notes. [2] It’s downloadable on iOS or Mac, built in-house without external tools.
Alera is an AI-powered mental-health app that creates a personalized weekly therapy plan from chat. [3] It’s running a Lifetime Free offer for the next 24 hours, with updates like guided routines, better chat, and privacy—no ads, no account.
Pawfolio started as a local, pet-feeding tracker and now offers a 7-day free Pawfolio Premium trial to showcase features like reminders and family syncing. [4] It has grown to over 200 users, with a friendly feedback loop.
Still (希声) is a minimalist, privacy-focused audiobook player for your personal library. [5] It supports full offline listening and cross-device sync, connecting directly to your own server Audiobookshelf for private data control. The app is free, with an optional one-time purchase for personalization features at $2.99 (50% off first month). [5]
These indie Mac/iOS hits prove privacy and offline-first design aren’t niche anymore.
References
CalNotes: AI Food Diary [2 months free] Write what you ate, AI calculates calories instantly
CalNotes AI food diary uses plain text to calculate calories and macros; includes photo option; iOS app with free trial.
View sourceCheck out the newly improved Journal in HelloHabit!
HelloHabit journal update for iOS/Mac; highlights journal, habit tracker, timer, calendar; asks for promo codes in comments.
View source🚀 [$99.99 → Lifetime FREE] Mental Health App Alera is Free for 24 Hours + UPDATE!
Alera iOS update adds guided routines and weekly therapy plan; 24-hour lifetime free offer; clinical grounding; feedback welcomed.
View sourceMy first app already has HUNDREDS of Users! 🎉
Person launches Pawfolio iOS app, reaches 200 users, offers seven-day free trial; feedback suggests vet-visit logging and improved UI features.
View sourceStill, a minimalist and privacy-focused audiobook player for your personal library
New iOS audiobook player Still discussed; privacy-focused, offline, sync with Audiobookshelf; CarPlay plans; comparisons to Prologue and Bound in comments.
View source