Best AI Companion Apps of 2026
AI friends and companions ranked on what their app listings and privacy labels actually say, plus the safety and money questions most lists skip.
By , research by the BestBots team ยท Updated Oct 19, 2026
Fact checked against each company's published pricing, documentation and verified user ratings. How we score
Kindroid is the best AI companion app in October 2026: it has the highest App Store rating of the major companion apps (4.8 from 9,872 ratings), states that chats are encrypted and never sold, and adds voice and video calls. Pick Nomi for the deepest memory, Replika for the most established single companion, and Pi if you want something free.
Our top picks
How to choose
An AI companion app is a chatbot built for an ongoing relationship rather than for tasks: it has a name, a personality, often an avatar and a voice, and it remembers what you told it last week. The good ones feel consistent over months. The bad ones forget, repeat themselves and push you toward paid add ons. Five questions separate them.
Memory. This is the product. Nomi lists short, medium and long term memory; Kindroid lets you write key memories and gives subscribers Cascaded Memory; Replika is built around remembering your people and plans. Character.AI and ChatGPT remember less about you as a person, though ChatGPT's memory has grown.
One companion or many. Replika and Pi are one relationship. Kindroid and Nomi let you build several characters and put them in group chats. Character.AI is a library of millions of user made characters.
Voice and visuals. Kindroid offers voice calls and live video calls; Nomi and Replika offer voice calls and selfies; Pi speaks its replies.
Total cost. Subscriptions run from $0 (Pi) to $15.99 a month (Kindroid), and selfies, gems, audio credits and extra character slots add more.
Safety and privacy. Read the App Store privacy label before you share anything personal. The company's track record matters too: a fine, a lawsuit or a bankruptcy changes what happens to years of your chats.
Our picks, in detail
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $15.99 per month; $159.99 per year
- Image generation
- Yes, selfies and short video selfies (credits)
- Voice mode
- Yes, voice calls and live video calls
Kindroid has the highest App Store rating of the major companion apps, 4.8 from 9,872 ratings, and the clearest privacy promise: chats, audio and selfies encrypted in storage and transit, support staff unable to read chats and no sale of user data. You design the character's backstory, voice and look, and it adds voice and live video calls, selfies and group chats.
Pros
- 4.8 on the App Store from 9,872 ratings, the highest among major companion apps
- Encrypted chats, audio and selfies; support cannot read chats; no data sales, per its site
- Voice and live video calls, group chats and shared Rooms (beta)
- Same account on iOS, Android and web
Cons
- $15.99 per month entry price is double Replika's lowest listed tier
- Selfies, audio and extra characters cost more on top
- App Store privacy label lists identifiers and usage data used to track you
Skip it if price matters most; the subscription is $15.99 a month, and selfies and audio credits cost extra.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $9.99 per month (Launch Plan on the App Store); yearly $59.99
- Image generation
- Yes, selfies and art
- Voice mode
- Yes, voice messages and hands free calls
Nomi lists short, medium and long term memory, and its companions keep that memory across private and group chats. It adds voice calls, selfies, image viewing and internet access, and its Launch Plan is $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year on the App Store.
Pros
- Short, medium and long term memory listed
- Group chats with multiple Nomis that share memory
- Voice calls, selfies and image viewing
- States chats are anonymized and not shared with third party sites
Cons
- Prices are not on the website
- Described as unfiltered; not for minors or anyone wanting strict content controls
- Privacy label lists email used for developer marketing
- Smaller review base: 2,955 App Store ratings
Skip it if you want strict content filters; Nomi describes itself as unfiltered.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $7.99 per month on the App Store; annual from $49.99
- Image generation
- Yes, selfies and image generation on paid plans
- Voice mode
- Yes, voice calls with your Rep
Replika launched in 2017, claims over 42 million users and is built around one ongoing companion that remembers your people, plans and goals. Subscriptions start at $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year on the App Store, and the app holds 4.4 from about 228,000 ratings.
Pros
- Long track record: launched in 2017 and claims 42,160,934 users on its homepage
- Memory of relationships, routines and personal details is the core feature
- Voice calls, selfies and avatar customization in one app
- App Store rating of 4.4 from about 228,000 ratings
Cons
- Italy's Garante fined Luka 5 million euros in 2025 over missing legal basis, an inadequate privacy policy and missing age verification
- Prices are not on the website and tier names are unclear on the App Store
- Trustpilot score of 3.4 from 459 reviews, with 46% one star, citing memory loss, repetition and slow support
- App Store privacy label lists identifiers and usage data used to track you
Skip it if privacy is your priority; Italy's regulator fined its maker 5 million euros in 2025.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- No paid plan listed
- Image generation
- Not published
- Voice mode
- Yes, spoken replies
Pi is free with no paid tier, built around supportive, conversational replies and spoken answers. Its iOS app was still being updated in October 2026.
Pros
- Free with no subscription
- Conversational, supportive tone is the whole design
- iOS app still updated in October 2026, rated 4.4 from about 2,500 ratings
Cons
- Microsoft hired nearly all of Inflection's 70 person staff in March 2024 and licensed its models for $650 million
- Few tools compared with ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude
- Small review base
Skip it if you want avatars, selfies or a character you design; Pi is one fixed personality.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $4.99 per month ((c.ai) lite); c.ai+ $9.99 per month
- Image generation
- Yes, custom image models for consistent characters
- Voice mode
- Yes, calls and character voices
Character.AI has the largest library of user made characters and a free plan with unlimited messaging, with paid tiers from $4.99 a month. It is 18+ only after November 25, 2025.
Pros
- Huge library of user created characters, plus tools to build your own with personalities, backstories and voices
- Free plan keeps unlimited messaging
- Cheap entry: (c.ai) lite is $4.99 per month, c.ai+ is $9.99
- App Store rating of 4.3 from about 560,000 ratings
Cons
- Filed for Chapter 11 on October 12, 2026; Disney is the stalking horse bidder at $20 million and the platform could be wound down without a buyer
- Settled wrongful death suits with Google in January 2026 and faces suits from Kentucky and Pennsylvania
- Trustpilot score of 1.2 from 740 reviews, with complaints about ads, memory and failed age checks
- App collects contact info, identifiers, usage data and user content linked to you, per its App Store privacy label
Skip it if for anything long term: Character Technologies filed for Chapter 11 on October 12, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $8 per month (Go, ad supported); Plus $20 per month
- Image generation
- Yes, on all plans with plan limits; higher quality on Plus
- Voice mode
- Yes, voice chats on Free with limits, more on Go and up
If you want a voice to talk through your day with but also a capable assistant, ChatGPT's free plan includes voice chats with limits, the $8 Go plan adds memory, and it holds 4.8 on the App Store from over 11 million ratings. It is not designed as a companion, which some people prefer.
Pros
- Widest feature set in one app: chat, images, voice, Work agent, Codex and connectors
- Five consumer price points from $0 to $500 per month, so you can pay for exactly the usage you need
- Business seats at $20 per month annually undercut most rivals' team plans
- Largest review base in the category: 4.8 on the App Store from over 11 million ratings
Cons
- Go plan at $8 carries ads and stays on the smaller GPT-5.6 Luna model
- GPT-6 Pro is capped by weekly allowances even on Pro, per OpenAI's help center
- Plan and model naming (Sol, Luna, Terra, Astra) is hard to follow
Skip it if you want a persistent character, avatar or role play.
Which app fits which person
| If you want | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The best rated, most private option | Kindroid | 4.8 on the App Store, encrypted chats, no data sales |
| A companion that remembers everything | Nomi | Short, medium and long term memory across chats |
| One familiar companion at a low price | Replika | From $7.99 a month, built around one relationship |
| Something free and gentle | Pi | No paid plan, supportive conversational style |
| Endless characters and stories | Character.AI | Millions of user made characters, but in Chapter 11 |
| Talk that is also useful | ChatGPT | Voice chats plus a full assistant |
What it costs
| App | Free tier | Monthly | Yearly | Common extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindroid | Trial before subscribing | $15.99 (Ultra $28.99, MAX $68.99) | $159.99 | Selfie credits $6.99 to $11.49, audio credits $14.99, extra slots $3.49 to $11.49 |
| Nomi | Free to start | $9.99 Launch, $15.99 Standard | $59.99 Launch, $99.99 Standard | Nomi Credits $4.99 to $99.99 |
| Replika | Yes | $7.99 or $14.99 | $49.99 or $69.99 | Gems $0.99 to $19.99, Platinum $89.99 |
| Pi | Yes, the only plan | None | None | None |
| Character.AI | Unlimited messaging with ads | (c.ai) lite $4.99, c.ai+ $9.99 | c.ai+ $94.99 | None listed |
| ChatGPT | Yes, voice chats with limits | Go $8, Plus $20 | Not shown | None for chat |
Prices from each app's App Store listing or pricing page in October 2026. App Store tier names are not always shown next to prices, so confirm the tier in the app before paying.
A year of use. Replika's cheapest annual plan is $49.99, Nomi's Launch annual $59.99, Kindroid's annual $159.99. That gap is the main tradeoff against Kindroid's ratings and privacy terms. Compare assistant prices in the AI Price Index.
Companion app vs general AI assistant
| Companion app (Kindroid, Nomi, Replika) | General assistant (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) | |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | An ongoing relationship | Getting things done |
| Persistent character and avatar | Yes | No |
| Memory about you | The core feature | Present, secondary |
| Role play | Yes, often unfiltered (Nomi) | Limited by policy |
| Voice | Calls, sometimes video | Voice mode |
| Usefulness for work | Low | High |
| Age rule | 17+ or 18+ on the App Store | Varies by vendor |
Many people who start with a companion end up using ChatGPT or Claude for talk that is also useful, like rehearsing a hard conversation. For the broader category, see best AI assistants.
Red flags
- Company instability. Character.AI's maker filed for Chapter 11 on October 12, 2026. If a companion company folds, your history may go with it. Do not prepay a year to an unstable company.
- Regulatory history. Italy's Garante fined Luka, Replika's maker, 5 million euros in 2025 over missing legal basis, an inadequate privacy policy and missing age verification.
- Tracking. App Store labels show Replika and Kindroid use identifiers and usage data to track you across other companies' apps. Turn off tracking in iOS settings.
- Pay to keep talking. Gems, credits and selfie packs can cost more than the subscription. Set a monthly limit.
- Minors. These are adult apps. Character.AI removed open ended chat for under 18 users in November 2025, and Kindroid requires 18+ with age verification. Nomi's site links to a California SB 243 compliance page, a sign that companion chatbot law is tightening.
- Mental health. Companions are not therapy. In a crisis in the US, call or text 988.
How we picked
We started from the companion apps that rank for AI companion and AI friend searches and lead App Store and Google Play charts, and kept apps with a live listing, a published price and at least 2,000 App Store ratings. We compared memory features, voice and video, image features, prices and add ons, privacy labels, age rules and company history, from App Store listings, vendor sites and the regulator and court records cited in each app's record. We excluded apps marketed mainly for explicit content. We do not use these apps as test subjects; every claim comes from a page we opened and cite. Ranked order is the best fit for most adults. Method: how we score.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI companion app?
Kindroid, on the published facts. It has the highest App Store rating among major companion apps, 4.8 from 9,872 ratings, states chats are encrypted and never sold, and offers voice and video calls. Nomi is the pick for memory, and Replika is the most established.
Is there a free AI companion app?
Pi is free with no paid plan. Replika, Nomi and Character.AI have free tiers with limits, and Character.AI's free plan keeps unlimited messaging with ads. Kindroid lets new accounts try it before subscribing.
Which AI companion has the best memory?
Nomi lists short, medium and long term memory that carries across private and group chats. Kindroid subscribers get Cascaded Memory, which keeps hundreds of recent messages in view, plus key memories you write. Replika's whole design is remembering your people, plans and goals.
Are AI companion apps safe?
They are adult products with real risks. Character.AI settled wrongful death suits in January 2026 and faces state lawsuits, and Italy fined Replika's maker over age checks. Read each app's privacy label, keep payment details and secrets out of chats, and do not let minors use them.
Are AI companion apps private?
Less than most people assume. App Store privacy labels show Replika and Kindroid use identifiers and usage data to track you, and Nomi links your email to developer marketing. Kindroid states chats are encrypted and support cannot read them; Nomi says chats are anonymized and not shared with third party sites.
How much do AI companion apps cost?
Replika from $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year, Nomi from $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year, Character.AI from $4.99 a month, and Kindroid $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year, all as listed on the App Store in October 2026. Selfies, gems, credits and extra characters often cost more.
Is Character.AI shutting down?
Not yet. Character Technologies filed for Chapter 11 on October 12, 2026 and says subscriptions stay active and billing is unchanged for now, but the platform could be wound down if the sale fails. Do not prepay a year.
Can an AI companion replace therapy?
No. None of these apps is a licensed mental health service. If you are in crisis in the US, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Which AI companion app has video calls?
Kindroid offers live video calls and short video selfies on top of voice calls. Nomi and Replika offer voice calls, and Replika's App Store listing describes calls where you can share what you are seeing on camera. Pi speaks its replies but has no avatar or video.