Cumbersome: AI LLM API Client

Name: Cumbersome: AI LLM API Client
Rating: 4.9 (28 reviews)
Author: Folding Sky Co

API to ChatGPT, OpenAI, Ollama

Free

28 Ratings
Age Rating

18+
Years
Category

Productivity
Developer

Folding Sky Co
Size

44.2
MB

IMPORTANT: Requires your own API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, Google AI Studio, Z.ai, or Vercel AI Gateway, or your own OpenAI-compatible endpoint. I built Cumbersome because consumer AI apps kept dumbing things down. Cumbersome is the manual transmission of AI apps: more complex, but with far greater control. WHY I BUILT THIS Consumer AI providers like ChatGPT and Claude route requests to cheaper models to keep their costs down. They charge monthly subscriptions whether you use them once or a thousand times. They hide the technical controls that let you tune how models respond. And they lock you into one provider. I wanted an AI client that connects directly to AI provider APIs. I wanted to pick exactly which model I use and know I'm getting it. I wanted to compare different models on the same prompt. I wanted to pay per use instead of subscriptions. So I built it. This is the app I use every day to interact with AI, so I pay attention and try to get it right. SUPPORTED PROVIDERS Bring your API keys, or add your own OpenAI-compatible endpoint, for any of the following: — ChatGPT / OpenAI — Claude / Anthropic — Gemini / Google AI Studio — OpenRouter multi-provider — Vercel AI Gateway multi-provider — Z.ai — OpenAI-compatible custom endpoints, including Ollama, Azure, LM Studio, Groq, Together, and self-hosted backends WHAT YOU GET — A free app. — A versatile API client. One app, every major provider and model. — Total control. Pick your model, tune the parameters, switch providers mid-conversation. — Compare models head to head. Stream multiple chats in parallel and let an AI judge pick the best. — Bring your own tools. Local browser use, reasoning, web search, image generation. — Rich, editable conversations. Markdown, LaTeX, code blocks, attachments, edit and export anything. — Private by design. iCloud sync across devices. Nothing saved to our servers. — Native and accessible on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. MAJOR FEATURES ADDED IN 2026 2026-06-07: Run JavaScript and HTML directly from Cumbersome. 2026-06-04: Pick how OpenRouter processes your PDFs. Free text extraction, OCR, or model-native parsing. 2026-06-04: Choose which web search engine OpenRouter uses. 2026-05-30: Offload oversized and edited messages to iCloud Drive so sync stays fast. 2026-05-12: Configurable Quick Prompt shortcut and App Visibility settings on Mac. 2026-05-09: Conversation folders. Group, move, and organize your chats. 2026-05-03: Collapsible conversation sections in the sidebar, synced across devices. 2026-04-26: Faster native transcript lists on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. 2026-04-22: AI image generation with OpenAI and Gemini. 2026-04-18: Local browser tool use. AI can search and browse pages in your local browser. 2026-04-11: Headless mode. Let the AI work the browser in the background, out of your way. 2026-04-03: Searchable model picker for providers with long model lists. 2026-03-15: Extended thinking and reasoning across providers, including custom endpoints. 2026-03-10: iOS Lock Screen widget. 2026-03-09: Auto-delete conversations after a set number of days. 2026-02-28: OpenAI-compatible custom providers. Connect Ollama, Azure, LM Studio, Groq, and more. 2026-02-25: Only Search When Requested. Smart toggle to keep web search off until you ask. 2026-02-24: Image paste, interactive attachment previews, and PDF thumbnails. 2026-02-21: Siri and Shortcuts integration. 2026-02-20: Vercel AI Gateway provider support, with model exclusion filters. 2026-02-06: Voice Control, Larger Text, color-independent states, and higher contrast. 2026-01-28: Collapse and expand long messages in the conversation view. 2026-01-11: Major accessibility pass. VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and full keyboard navigation. 2026-01-06: OpenRouter multi-provider integration. THE DEAL The app is free. You pay providers directly for API access. I'm Peter, an indie developer in Portland, Oregon. No VC money. No growth hacking. Just a tool I wanted to exist.

Ratings & Reviews

4.9

out of 5

28 Ratings

Great app!
May 16
Fitzgerald2125
I have looked around for different LLM API Clients for a while now and this one is definitely the best one I’ve tried by far. It has sync with iCloud so I can use it with my Mac, headless search (didn’t even know that was possible), and easy access to all the models you want (I use DeepInfra). Honestly can’t believe you give it away for free but I’m glad you do :)

Developer Response
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😀
Great app!
May 16
Fitzgerald2125

I have looked around for different LLM API Clients for a while now and this one is definitely the best one I’ve tried by far. It has sync with iCloud so I can use it with my Mac, headless search (didn’t even know that was possible), and easy access to all the models you want (I use DeepInfra). Honestly can’t believe you give it away for free but I’m glad you do :)
Developer Response May 18
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😀
Excellent LLM client
Jun 6
codeanish
I’ve been using local LLMs through openwebui for a while, but the lack of a proper iPad client makes the usability hard. Cumbersome is an excellent alternative to being able to access models you host on your own network. If you use VPN or tailscale, you’ll always have access to these models.
Excellent LLM client
Jun 6
codeanish

I’ve been using local LLMs through openwebui for a while, but the lack of a proper iPad client makes the usability hard. Cumbersome is an excellent alternative to being able to access models you host on your own network. If you use VPN or tailscale, you’ll always have access to these models.
Very awesome, but..
May 22
MahdisCool
The app itself is pretty cool! And very nice and easy to use for Local LLMs, but I do have an issue.. some APIs actually provide free-to-use, with no api key required… and the app needs an API key, so im asking if we can get update to make it not needed or whatever. Overall, Thanks!

Developer Response
Keyless is now available in >= 1.49.0
Very awesome, but..
May 22
MahdisCool

The app itself is pretty cool! And very nice and easy to use for Local LLMs, but I do have an issue.. some APIs actually provide free-to-use, with no api key required… and the app needs an API key, so im asking if we can get update to make it not needed or whatever. Overall, Thanks!
Developer Response Jun 5
Keyless is now available in >= 1.49.0
Great way to use api keys
Feb 13
John fr Vantucky
Solid way to use api keys from OpenAI and Claude instead of paying per subscription. Interesting features that I haven’t see before too.
Great way to use api keys
Feb 13
John fr Vantucky

Solid way to use api keys from OpenAI and Claude instead of paying per subscription. Interesting features that I haven’t see before too.

feat(settings): add reusable system message presets per conversation feat(settings): offload long global system messages to iCloud Drive feat(settings): add toggle to pause custom API parameters

Version 1.52.0 11h ago

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The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Usage Data
- Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Supported Features
- VoiceOver
- Voice Control
- Larger Text
- Dark Interface
- Differentiate Without Color Alone
- Sufficient Contrast
- Reduced Motion

For more information, visit the developer’s accessibility website .

Information

Seller: Folding Sky Co
Size: 44.2 MB
Category: Productivity
Compatibility: Requires iOS 18.0 or later.

iPhone
Requires iOS 18.0 or later.

iPad
Requires iPadOS 18.0 or later.

Mac
Requires macOS 15.0 or later.

Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 2.0 or later.
Age Rating: 18+

18+

Learn More

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Mature or Suggestive Themes
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