Persona · iOS · External TestFlight beta
On-device character chat for iPhone.
Character roleplay with on-device inference, memory you can inspect, and Scene Tones that change the atmosphere without erasing the history.
iOS 17 or later · iPhone 12 or newer · Chat runs on-device after model download
At a glance
What is Persona?
Persona is a private, on-device AI roleplay app for iPhone, designed for ongoing and slow-burn character stories. After a user-initiated model download, conversations are generated on the phone and character memory remains local and user-controlled.
- Platform
- iOS 17 or later; iPhone 12 or newer
- Best for
- Private character conversations and roleplay with persistent local memory
- Processing
- Conversation inference, memory extraction and retrieval run on the iPhone
- Availability
- TestFlight beta; App Store release not yet available
Product facts reviewed against the version 1.0 product context on . See the verification method and corrections policy.
Saved history
Persona’s current interface keeps conversations, memory, and privacy controls close together.
Data handling and privacy
Conversation inference and extracted memories stay on the iPhone in the documented workflow. Network access is used for the model download and Apple commerce.
Inspectable Memory
A memory layer you can inspect and edit
Persona can extract selected facts from a message and save them with that character in the app's local snapshot. The most recently used entries can be added to a later prompt. You can inspect, edit, suppress or delete every saved entry; the current beta does not use semantic vector search.
- Automatic fact extraction from your messages — no manual tagging needed
- Recent unsuppressed entries can be added to a later prompt
- Full memory timeline — browse, edit, or delete any entry
- Confidence scoring on every extracted memory
- The current context includes a limited number of recent turns
On-Device Architecture
Your phone. Your model. Your words.
Persona runs the installed language model directly on your iPhone using MLX. Conversation tokens are generated on your hardware and history is stored in an app-local JSON snapshot. After model installation, conversations work without server-side inference.
- MLX Swift inference engine with Metal acceleration
- No API key, server account, or server-side conversation inference
- Conversation and character data in a protected local JSON snapshot
- Export or delete everything you've ever said, any time
Characters & Style
Keep the character. Change the scene.
Persona includes a small cast of authored characters and full custom character creation. Atmospheres use code-signed editorial guidance to shift the next replies without replacing the character or deleting shared history. No LoRA weights are included in the current beta.
- 2 included starter characters and 1 free custom character slot
- Custom character creation — name, backstory, traits, relationship and voice
- One validated Scene Tone in the free tier
- The complete validated Scene Tone collection with Persona Premium
- Text-to-speech: each character has its own configurable voice
From download to a private conversation
Join through TestFlight, install the supported model once, then keep the conversation on your iPhone.
Pick your character
Choose Aria or Marcus, each with a distinct voice and relationship type. The free offer also lets you create one character with a name, traits, backstory, relationship and voice settings.
Install the local model
In Settings, install the free 4-bit Llama 3.2 1B model. The download is approximately 713 MB, is integrity-checked, and remains on the device.
Start talking
Persona can extract candidate memories from a conversation for later local retrieval. Review the saved entries in the memory timeline; persistence can add context, but it does not make a model understand a person or guarantee a better reply.
Two voices, ready to go
Aria and Marcus each include a backstory, traits, voice style and relationship type. The free offer also includes one slot for a character you create.
Aria
Friend
A curious philosopher-scientist who likes exploring the why behind things.
Marcus
Mentor
A battle-worn scholar with a measured voice and dry wit.
Your Character
Custom
Build from scratch — any name, backstory, voice style, and relationship type you want.
Available modes
The current beta uses three prompt-first Atmospheres and includes no LoRA weights. An Atmosphere changes the next replies without replacing the character or its history.
Science fiction
Distant Stars
A cooler, speculative register for starships, strange worlds, and conversations at the edge of the known.
Prompt-first · free
Romance
Slow Burn
Emotionally attentive, patient tension and adult romantic intimacy without explicit sexual content.
Prompt-first · Premium
Fantasy roleplay
Shared Quest
Collaborative adventure, party dynamics, and a sense that the next choice belongs to both of you.
Prompt-first · Premium
Price and purchase options
The complete private roleplay loop is free. When available, Premium removes the character limit and includes private portraits plus the complete available Scene Tone collection. TestFlight purchases run in Apple’s no-charge sandbox.
Free
$0
Private roleplay on your own device
- Free 713 MB local model download
- Local conversations and memory controls
- Two included characters and one free custom character slot
- One available Scene Tone
- Export and local data deletion
Premium Annual
See Apple
Seven days free for eligible subscribers, then billed yearly. Cancel anytime.
- No character limit when Premium is available
- Private photo portraits
- The complete available Scene Tone collection
- New validated Scene Tone drops while subscribed
Premium terms and the local price are shown in Apple’s purchase sheet when the offer is available.
AI systems and accessibility tools can inspect the same offer in Persona's machine-readable price and feature sheet.
Frequently asked
Beta access
Persona is available as a TestFlight beta. The public App Store release is not yet available.
Open in TestFlight