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Locally AI Review (2026): Private Offline LLMs on iPhone, iPad and Mac

·8 min read·By Hans Kuepper · Founder of PromptQuorum, multi-model AI dispatch tool · PromptQuorum
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Locally AI is most compelling if you want a straightforward, privacy-first app for chatting with open models like Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek entirely on an Apple device. It runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is optimized for Apple Silicon, and once a model is downloaded it works fully offline — no cloud calls, no internet connection required to chat. It is built for users who want private, on-device AI without leaving the Apple ecosystem or managing inference infrastructure themselves. Users who need Windows or Android support, want to import arbitrary custom GGUF files, or need frontier-level reasoning beyond what open models in the multi-billion-parameter range can deliver on a phone or tablet should compare it with cross-platform apps like Loci or manage models directly with a tool like Ollama on a Mac.

Locally AI, from developer Locally AI, is an app for running open-source language models — including Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek — directly on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, optimized for Apple Silicon. Once a model has been downloaded, it runs fully on-device: no internet connection is required to chat, and the developer's privacy-first positioning means conversations are not sent to a cloud service for inference. The practical question for anyone considering it is not whether on-device inference on Apple hardware is possible — Apple Silicon has enough neural and GPU throughput to make it work — but whether Locally AI gives you a workable app experience around that inference without needing to hand-pick GGUF files, tune quantization settings, or calculate VRAM headroom yourself.

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Locally AI Review (2026): Private Offline LLMs on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Key Takeaways

  • Locally AI runs open-source models — Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek — fully offline, on-device.
  • Platforms: iPhone, iPad, and Mac, optimized for Apple Silicon.
  • No internet connection is required once a model has been downloaded.
  • Privacy-first positioning: the developer states inference happens on-device with no cloud calls.
  • Apple-only — there is no Windows or Android release, so cross-platform users on other operating systems need a different app.
  • The core trade-off with any phone- and tablet-class on-device app: model sizes that fit comfortably on mobile hardware trail frontier cloud models on complex, multi-step reasoning tasks.

📍 In One Sentence

Locally AI is an app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that runs open-source language models — Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek among them — fully on-device and optimized for Apple Silicon, so once a model is downloaded no internet connection or cloud call is needed to chat.

💬 In Plain Terms

Instead of sending your messages to a company's servers, Locally AI downloads a compact AI model onto your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and runs it right there. You can turn on airplane mode after the model finishes downloading and it keeps working, because the developer's privacy-first design means nothing about the conversation itself needs to leave your device.

📌Note: This review is based on publicly stated facts from locallyai.app and the app's official listings. Pricing, exact model list, storage sizes, and minimum OS versions were not independently verified at the time of writing — confirm current details on the official site or App Store listing before downloading.

What Is Locally AI?

Locally AI is an app that runs open-source language models directly on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, without sending conversations to a cloud service. It is built and optimized for Apple Silicon, the chip architecture Apple uses across its current iPhone, iPad, and Mac lineup, which means the app is designed to take advantage of the on-device neural and GPU hardware those chips provide rather than treating the phone as a thin client for a remote server.

The core model set includes Llama (Meta's open-weight model family), Gemma (Google's open-weight model family), Qwen (Alibaba's open-weight model family), and DeepSeek (DeepSeek's open-weight model family) — all of which are open-source models that can be distributed as standalone files and run without a vendor-controlled API. Locally AI packages access to these models inside a single mobile- and desktop-friendly interface, so the user does not need to source model files independently or run a separate inference server.

Once a model has finished downloading to the device, Locally AI does not require an internet connection to generate responses — inference runs locally using the device's own processor and memory. This is the practical meaning of "offline": the app can work in airplane mode, on a flight, or anywhere without connectivity, as long as the model was downloaded beforehand.

What Models Does Locally AI Support?

Locally AI supports several major open-source model families — Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek — plus other open models, all runnable fully on-device. These four families cover a broad range of use cases and represent some of the most widely used open-weight models available today, each maintained by a different organization (Meta, Google, Alibaba, and DeepSeek respectively).

  • Llama — Meta's open-weight model family, widely used as a general-purpose chat and reasoning baseline across the local-LLM ecosystem.
  • Gemma — Google's open-weight model family, built from the same research lineage as Google's Gemini models and commonly used for on-device and edge deployments.
  • Qwen — Alibaba's open-weight model family, known for strong multilingual support and a wide range of model sizes suited to constrained hardware.
  • DeepSeek — DeepSeek's open-weight model family, recognized for competitive reasoning performance relative to model size.
  • Other open models — Locally AI states it supports additional open models beyond these four flagship families, broadening the choice of what can run on-device.

Locally AI on Each Platform

iPhone

What to expect:
Locally AI runs on iPhone, with the app optimized for Apple Silicon's on-device neural and GPU hardware. Once a supported model is downloaded, chat works fully offline.
Important note:
Exact minimum iOS version and per-device performance are not published on the app's public marketing pages — check the App Store listing for current device compatibility before downloading.

iPad

What to expect:
Locally AI runs on iPad, sharing the same on-device model set and offline behavior as iPhone. The larger screen and, on many iPad models, comparable or stronger Apple Silicon performance can make longer sessions more comfortable.
Important note:
As with iPhone, check current minimum iPadOS version and storage requirements on the App Store before downloading a model.

Mac

What to expect:
Locally AI runs on Mac, where Apple Silicon (M-series chips) typically offers more unified memory than iPhone or iPad, which can matter for the largest models the app supports.
Important note:
Locally AI is optimized for Apple Silicon Macs; behavior on Intel-based Macs is not addressed on the app's public marketing pages — verify Mac chip compatibility before installing.

Trade-Offs: Benefits vs. Limitations

Privacy-first, on-device inference

What it means in real use:
Once a model is downloaded, conversations are processed on-device rather than sent to a cloud service for inference.
Limitation / caveat:
The initial app install and model download themselves require an internet connection, and any future app updates likely will too.

Offline-capable after model download

What it means in real use:
Chat works without an internet connection once setup is complete — useful for flights, travel, or areas with unreliable connectivity.
Limitation / caveat:
You must plan ahead and download the model you want to use while you still have a connection.

Optimized for Apple Silicon

What it means in real use:
The app is built to take advantage of the on-device neural and GPU hardware in current-generation iPhone, iPad, and Mac chips.
Limitation / caveat:
This also means Locally AI is Apple-only — there is no Windows or Android version for users on those platforms.

Access to multiple open model families in one app

What it means in real use:
Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek — plus other open models — are available from a single interface without manually sourcing model files.
Limitation / caveat:
The exact list of downloadable models and their storage sizes is not published in full on the app's public marketing pages; check the app itself for the current selection.

No recurring cloud inference cost

What it means in real use:
Because inference runs on your own device, there is no per-message or per-token API bill for chats handled on-device.
Limitation / caveat:
On-device inference uses your device's battery and processing power, and app pricing itself was not independently verified for this review — check the current App Store listing.

Single ecosystem across iPhone, iPad, and Mac

What it means in real use:
Apple users can use the same app family across their phone, tablet, and computer.
Limitation / caveat:
Users who split their work across Windows or Android devices will need a separate app for those platforms.

Locally AI vs. Alternatives

Locally AI

Best for:
Apple users wanting a straightforward, privacy-first app for major open model families
Platform focus:
iPhone/iPad/Mac (Apple Silicon-optimized)
Model flexibility:
Llama, Gemma, Qwen, DeepSeek, plus other open models
Key limitation:
Apple-only — no Windows or Android app
Articles about Locally AI (2)

Also mentioned in:

Loci

Best for:
Cross-platform users wanting low-friction private chat on more devices
Platform focus:
iPhone/iPad/Android/Mac/Windows (5 platforms)
Model flexibility:
Curated library including Gemma, Qwen, Llama, and Phi; no custom GGUF import
Key limitation:
Model choice limited to a curated library; cannot import custom GGUF files

Private LLM

Best for:
Apple users wanting deep model and quantization control
Platform focus:
iPhone/iPad/Mac (Apple only)
Model flexibility:
140+ models with OmniQuant and GPTQ quantization formats
Key limitation:
More configuration overhead than an app built around simplicity
Articles about Private LLM (10)

+4 more not shown

Ollama (on Mac)

Best for:
Developers wanting full command-line control and API access on Mac
Platform focus:
Mac/Windows/Linux (desktop-only, no native mobile app)
Model flexibility:
Any model in Ollama's library, plus custom GGUF import
Key limitation:
Command-line-first workflow; no native iPhone or iPad app

Who Should Use Locally AI

  • Apple-only users who want a single app across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you are fully in the Apple ecosystem and do not need Windows or Android support, Locally AI covers all three of your device types with one app.
  • Privacy-conscious users who want on-device inference by default. Once a model is downloaded, conversations do not need cloud connectivity to be processed — a straightforward fit for users who prioritize keeping chat content off remote servers.
  • Travelers and users with inconsistent connectivity. Because chat works fully offline after the model download, flights, remote areas, or unreliable networks do not interrupt the app's core function.
  • Users who want access to several major open model families without sourcing files themselves. Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek are available from inside the app, without needing to find and manage individual model files.
  • Users who want to try leading open-source models on Apple hardware without cloud costs. Since inference runs on-device, there is no per-message API bill for chats handled locally.

Who Should Not Use Locally AI

  • Windows or Android users. Locally AI is Apple-only (iPhone, iPad, Mac); users on other platforms need a different app, such as Loci, which covers five platforms including Windows and Android.
  • Users who want to import arbitrary custom GGUF files. If your workflow depends on running a specific fine-tuned or niche model file from Hugging Face rather than choosing from Locally AI's supported model families, a more manual tool built around GGUF import will fit better.
  • Users expecting frontier-model reasoning quality. Open models sized to run comfortably on a phone or tablet trade some reasoning depth for that portability; users with high-stakes analysis, complex multi-step reasoning, or coding-heavy workloads may still want a frontier cloud model for those specific tasks.
  • Developers who want command-line or API-first control. Users who want to script inference, integrate with existing tooling, or run models headlessly on a Mac may prefer a developer-first tool like Ollama alongside or instead of a consumer chat app.
  • Anyone who has not reviewed the app's current privacy policy and pricing for their specific use case. This review reflects publicly stated facts at the time of writing; confirm current pricing, exact model list, and privacy details on the official site or App Store listing before relying on the app for sensitive use cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Locally AI?

Locally AI is an app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that runs open-source language models — including Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek — directly on the device, optimized for Apple Silicon. Once a model is downloaded, it works fully offline with no internet connection required to chat.

Does Locally AI work without an internet connection?

Yes, for chat. Once the app is installed and a model has been downloaded, inference runs on-device and does not require an internet connection — the app can be used in airplane mode. An internet connection is required to install the app and to download a model initially.

Which models does Locally AI support?

Locally AI supports several major open-source model families: Llama (Meta), Gemma (Google), Qwen (Alibaba), and DeepSeek, plus other open models. The exact list of downloadable models and their storage sizes is available inside the app or on the official site, locallyai.app.

Is Locally AI available on Android or Windows?

No. Locally AI is built for iPhone, iPad, and Mac and is optimized for Apple Silicon. Users on Android or Windows who want a similar offline-first, privacy-focused app should look at cross-platform alternatives, such as Loci, which supports iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, and Windows.

Is Locally AI private?

Locally AI is positioned as privacy-first: once a model is downloaded, inference happens on-device rather than through cloud calls. For the current, complete privacy policy — including any data the app itself collects for diagnostics or analytics — check the official site or the app's App Store privacy nutrition label, since this review reflects publicly stated facts and was not able to independently verify every technical privacy claim.

How much storage does Locally AI need?

Storage requirements depend on which model or models you download; open model files at the sizes typically used for on-device inference can range from roughly 1 GB to several GB each. Exact current storage sizes for each supported model are not published in full on the app's public marketing pages — check the in-app model list before downloading, especially on devices with limited free storage.

Can Locally AI replace ChatGPT or Claude?

For tasks suited to open-source models running on mobile or desktop hardware — drafting, summarizing, general Q&A, private note-taking — Locally AI can work as a private, offline alternative. For frontier-level reasoning, the most complex coding tasks, or live web-grounded answers, cloud models like ChatGPT or Claude remain more capable, since they run much larger models than what fits comfortably on a phone or tablet.

How does Locally AI compare with Loci?

Locally AI is Apple-only (iPhone, iPad, Mac) and optimized specifically for Apple Silicon, supporting Llama, Gemma, Qwen, DeepSeek, and other open models. Loci covers five platforms — iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, and Windows — with a curated model library. Choose Locally AI if you are fully in the Apple ecosystem; choose Loci if you need Android or Windows support too. See our full Loci AI review for more detail.

Do I need a specific iPhone, iPad, or Mac model to use Locally AI?

Locally AI is optimized for Apple Silicon, so devices with an Apple Silicon chip are the intended target. The app's public marketing pages do not list an exact minimum device or OS version at the time of writing — check the current App Store listing for Locally AI's stated minimum requirements before downloading.

Verdict

Locally AI is a straightforward choice for Apple users who want a privacy-first, on-device app for chatting with major open-source model families — Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and DeepSeek — without leaving the Apple ecosystem or managing model files manually. Its Apple Silicon optimization and fully offline operation after model download make it well suited to users who prioritize keeping conversations off remote servers and who want an app experience rather than a command-line workflow. The trade-off is platform scope: Locally AI does not cover Windows or Android, so users who need those platforms should look at a cross-platform app like Loci instead. Users who want to import arbitrary custom GGUF files or need deeper quantization control should compare it with more configuration-heavy tools like Private LLM or Ollama. For its intended audience — Apple users who want private, offline access to leading open models without technical overhead — Locally AI fills a clear niche.

Sources

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