On-device AI Apps Are Redefining Privacy and Speed for Mac and iOS

On-device AI apps are redefining privacy and speed on Mac and iOS. A cluster of indie tools proves AI can run entirely offline—with no cloud taps.

ClarityAI - Journal with complete privacy. All AI processing happens on-device using Gemma 2B/9B and DeepSeek models (no cloud, no servers).^[1] Features semantic search, mood tracking with pattern recognition, and Google Drive RAG for your personal knowledge base. Your entries never leave your phone. Currently testing cross-platform sync, TTS voices, and AI-powered insights that spot patterns in your writing habits.

Spenly uses on-device AI for finance tasks and lets you create custom template shortcuts to automate transactions. The creator reports strong early traction with 70+ premium lifetime users.^[2]

Comolib delivers Screen Time Analytics + AI Category Classification + Web/App Blocker + Local AI Reports, all 100% local on macOS.^[3] It automatically tracks apps and websites, classifies activities with an AI model trained on 300k data points, and offers automatic distraction blocking while staying battery-friendly. Coming soon: community-built report templates, more languages, and custom rules.

Alt Update - Multilingual Transcription Support for 100 Languages.^[4] Alt is an AI notetaker for lectures, seminars, meetings, and Zoom calls, with language support across 100 languages. A Matrix room for users is also available.

These indie, on-device AI apps point to a privacy-first, offline-capable AI era expanding on the App Store and Mac App Store.

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