Watchful: Personal AI Alerts
Personal AI web checks
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Stop repeating the same searches. Watchful checks the web for your interests and alerts you on your terms. Bring your own Gemini or OpenAI API key; usage charges apply.
Keep an eye on what matters. Leave the checking to Watchful.
Turn a question you keep searching for into a personal watcher. Add your interests, choose when to check, and tell Watchful what deserves a notification. Your selected AI provider searches the web and returns an answer with source links you can explore.
MAKE IT PERSONAL
Look for new seasons of your favourite shows, nearby petrol prices, conference calls for papers, or mentions of a name or topic. Start with a preset or write your own question. Add the context that makes an answer useful to you: your region, preferences, requirements or price threshold.
CHECK ON YOUR TERMS
Run a check whenever you like, or set a recurring schedule. Choose the conditions that should trigger a notification and use a cooldown to space out checks. On iPhone and iPad, background timing is managed by iOS and is not an exact alarm. You can also configure a Shortcuts automation to run a car-triggered check.
SEARCH AROUND YOUR AREA
With your permission, Watchful can request location when a check runs, including in the background, to help find nearby results. Rounded coordinates are sent to your selected AI provider. A saved fallback town can be used when location is unavailable. Watchful does not continuously track your journey.
FOLLOW THE SOURCES
Open the links behind an answer and check the original information. AI-generated answers may contain mistakes or outdated details; verify important information before acting.
CHOOSE YOUR AI PROVIDER
Connect your own Gemini or OpenAI API key. Only your selected provider receives new checks; Watchful does not automatically switch providers.
Gemini results are available only during the current app session and disappear when the app process closes. They are not saved for later comparisons. OpenAI results and comparison history are stored on your device. Provider-side processing and retention follow your provider's terms.
START WITH TWO WATCHERS
Two active watchers are included without a Watchful purchase. An optional one-time Pro purchase removes the app's active-watcher limit. There is no Watchful subscription.
IMPORTANT BEFORE YOU START
A compatible Gemini or OpenAI API account and your own API key are required for AI checks. Provider access, regional availability, billing requirements and usage limits apply. API usage may incur separate charges, including for checks with the free app. Pro does not include API credit or guarantee background execution. Watchful is intended for adults aged 18 and over.
Support: https://jamescullimore.dev/watchful/support/
Privacy: https://jamescullimore.dev/watchful/policy_ios/
Ratings & Reviews
- This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
The developer, James Cullimore, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Linked to You
The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
- Location
- User Content
- Search History
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Purchases
- Identifiers
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- James Cullimore
- Size
- 37.3 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 and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 2.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
18+
- 18+
- In-App Purchases
Yes
- Watchful Pro $3.99
- Copyright
- © James Cullimore - Software Engineering