Private LLM vs privateSLM: an honest comparison
Private LLM is the established name in on-device AI for Apple platforms — shipping since June 2023, roughly 700 ratings on the US App Store, and a regular in the paid Utilities chart. privateSLM is the younger challenger. Neither has a subscription, both run models entirely on your device, and both will keep answering in airplane mode. If you're choosing between them, here is the real difference — including the rows where they beat us.
Side by side
| privateSLM | Private LLM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free · optional expert packs $4.99 each or $9.99 for all, once | $4.99 once |
| Subscription | None | None |
| First answer after install | Instant on Apple Intelligence devices — 0 MB to download | After downloading a model (the app itself is a 1.4–2.7 GB install) |
| Engines | Apple Foundation Models (system model) + llama.cpp GGUF | Its own OmniQuant/GPTQ-quantized model stack |
| Catalog | 22 curated models, updated live — no app update needed | 140+ models, including 70B-class on high-RAM Macs |
| Specialist models | Dedicated categories: coding, math, medical, legal, finance, translation | Some specialists among a large general catalog |
| Uncensored variants | Not offered | Yes — a core focus |
| Siri & Shortcuts | Not yet (on the public roadmap) | Yes, today |
| Voice | Voice input and spoken replies built in | Text-first |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro |
| Family Sharing | Yes | Yes |
Where Private LLM wins
It has a far larger model catalog, including big 70B-class models if you own a Mac with serious RAM. It integrates with Siri and Shortcuts today, runs on Vision Pro, and it has three years of reputation behind it. One $4.99 purchase covers that whole catalog, where our specialist models come in paid packs. If you specifically want uncensored model variants, that is their specialty and we don't compete there.
Where privateSLM wins
The first five minutes. On any device with Apple Intelligence, privateSLM answers immediately after install — the system model is already on your device, so there's nothing to download. Private LLM's own reviews show the cost of the other approach: multi-gigabyte downloads before the first conversation, and heavier models struggling on older phones. We also think a curated catalog is a feature, not a limitation — every model in privateSLM states its RAM needs up front, ships with a correct chat template, and is checked before it's listed (the process runs in public on our daily blog). Add built-in voice input and spoken replies, and full chat history with search. And it costs nothing to start: chat with Apple Intelligence or the general models, documents and voice are free.
The honest verdict
Choose Private LLM if you want the biggest possible model selection, uncensored variants, Siri/Shortcuts automation today, or 70B models on a big Mac.
Choose privateSLM if you want AI that works the moment it's installed, a specialist for a concrete job — code, math, medical or legal reading, finance, translation — without wading through 140 options, and voice conversations. Both respect your privacy; neither sends your chats anywhere.
FAQ
Is Private LLM or privateSLM better for offline use?
Both run entirely on-device and work in airplane mode. The difference is the first minutes: privateSLM can answer instantly on Apple Intelligence devices with zero downloads; Private LLM needs a multi-gigabyte model download before the first chat.
Which is cheaper?
privateSLM is free to download: chat with Apple Intelligence or the general models, documents and voice cost nothing, and its specialist models are sold in one-time packs ($4.99 each or $9.99 for all). Private LLM is $4.99 once for the whole app. Neither has a subscription, and both cover iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Does either app send conversations to a server?
No. Both run inference on-device and keep conversations local. Neither requires an account.