If you are bored or don’t have any fun activities to participate in, there is a perfect solution. In this article, you will find a list of some of the best AI companions you can use on your mobile or desktop device. Many of you reading this probably travel everywhere with your phone and often experience boredom due to a lack of activity while riding a bus or flying on a plane.
The AI companion apps also integrate with other platforms powered by artificial intelligence. For example, to give an even more realistic feel to the conversation, some developers provide users with high-quality voiceovers from ElevenLabs.
These AI companion apps can be more than just friends or someone to chat with. The platforms can also help users learn a new language, solve homework problems, or generate artwork. I will show you some of the best AI companions you can use and how you can utilize them.
Below, you can find the list of some of the best AI companions:
That said, before we start exploring some of the best AI companion apps, it’s crucial to understand what criteria I used to rank them.
What are the Criteria for Finding The Best AI Companion?
During my research, one thing stood out as especially important for users who are looking for these kinds of applications: NSFW, short for not safe for work. This simply means the content is unsuitable for viewing in public or places of employment. Therefore, since this is one of the features users are looking for, it is a criterion for picking the AI companion apps.
Another important trait of a high-quality chatbot is long-term memory. This feature is essential for allowing users to enjoy long conversations that remain relevant and don’t drift off-topic. Naturally, a larger memory limit helps the software stay more consistent. Because of that, I personally tested each AI companion app to see how it performs in this area.
Additionally, I paid close attention to the overall quality of the outputs and their creativity. Boring and bland conversations will only cause users to abandon the platform. Needless to say, the user interface is also a critical criterion, so each chapter will include a brief summary of how easy it is to use the application and navigate through it.
Moreover, even though it’s not recommended, some people are prone to sharing personal information with the companion AI. Therefore, top-notch security is necessary in case someone tries to breach the platform and leak the stored data.
You will also find information about which operating systems each application supports and whether you can use it on your mobile device. Lastly, at the end of all the chapters containing information about companion AIs, I’ve included a pricing section to help you decide which platform is best for you, not only by features but also in terms of cost.
1. Replika AI - Chat With Top-Notch Security
Ranks #1 out of 7 AI Platforms
- + Empathetic responses
- + Highly customizable
- + Supports multiple languages
- + Privacy and data protection
- - Context understanding issues
- - Potential dependency
- - Limitations in emotional comprehension
Replika AI is one of the best AI friend apps because it does not involve judgment, drama, or social anxiety. The software is designed to let users form an emotional connection, share a laugh, or chat about anything. Nonetheless, it’s essential to keep in mind that artificial intelligence is not supposed to be a substitute for real-life human friendships.
Moreover, the platform runs a generative language model (GLM) and a machine learning (ML) algorithm, which is designed to emulate human intelligence by learning from the surrounding environment[1]. In addition, Replika AI utilizes a sophisticated system that combines its large language model (LLM) and scripted dialogue content, enhancing the overall results.
The developers put extra focus on constantly upgrading the memory capabilities, context recognition, role-play feature, and overall conversation quality. However, there are a few things worth mentioning about Replika AI.
First, it’s crucial to understand that the platform is not a sentient being or a therapy professional. Therefore, if you feel like you need professional help, it’s advised to seek out a licensed mental health specialist.
Overall, it’s suggested not to become overly dependent on artificially created friends. Even though Replika AI might be one of the best AI girlfriend apps for some, it’s important to continue developing relationships with real people. This is because platforms such as Replika AI won’t be able to provide you with the depth and authenticity of human emotions.
I crossed paths with the second issue while testing the capabilities of this software. Both mobile and desktop apps output out-of-context responses. When doing research about Replika AI, I also read several different user reviews that stated the same problem. That said, let me clarify by saying that this only happens occasionally and is not a frequently appearing issue.
Regarding the NSFW part, the bot doesn’t have any filters, as it can talk about all sorts of topics, including politics. Replika AI also offers a selfie feature where users can request a picture from their companion. On the other hand, this tool is a paid one, and we will touch on this topic later when we reach the pricing sub-chapter.
Furthermore, if you’re wondering about the memory capacity, the software is capable of storing the following information:
- Favorite books;
- Music;
- Movies;
- Things you like to do;
- Friends and family that you mention in the conversation.
You can also see what the AI has learned about you by asking, “What do you know about me?” or you can check it manually.
Another helpful fact about Replika AI is that users cannot access chat history older than 6 months. However, developers also state that this doesn’t affect the application’s memory, personality, or training. This companion has access to everything they’ve learned since day one, no matter how long ago you started.
With that said, since we are talking about recorded conversations, it’s essential that you know the security measures applied to keep your information safe. The app utilizes SSL encryption to keep your data safe during transfer. Additionally, the information is stored on secure servers and safeguarded by firewalls and other security methods. Nonetheless, no matter how safe this application might be, it’s advised not to share personal data.
Lastly, Replika AI is considered one of the best AI companions due to its beginner-friendly interface. The platform also has a mobile app for iOS and Android operating systems. In addition, you can also use Replika AI on the Oculus VR set. It’s worth mentioning that the app also supports multiple languages, making sure the platform is accessible to a broader audience.
What is the Pricing of Replika AI?
Replika AI is thought to be one of the best AI friend apps that is free of charge. That said, the platform does offer subscriptions, which you can see below:
Replika Pro:
- 1 month - $19.99;
- 12 months - $69.96;
- Lifetime - $299.99.
Needless to say, there is a difference between a paid subscription and a free one. The difference between a free plan and a paid one is that the latter receives an advanced conversational model, unlimited voice messages, video calls, and the ability to change your relationship status to a romantic partner.
Additionally, as mentioned above, the selfie feature is only accessible to users who have purchased the Pro subscription. With the plan, you can request the bot to send you a regular picture with the prompt “Send me a selfie”, or you can ask for a romantic one by writing, “Send me a hot photo”.
2. Kindroid - Long-Term Memory for Better Conversations
Ranks #2 out of 7 AI Platforms
- + Great memory retention
- + Doesn't have NSFW filters
- + Easy to use
- + Characters have voiceovers
- + Image generator feature
- - Unclear safety measurements for data
If you are looking for the best AI girlfriend app, Kindroid AI might be one of the choices you can pick. This platform is a high-quality companion that receives a lot of positive reviews from other users. One of the reasons why Kindroid AI is great is that it utilizes ElevenLab's top-notch AI voiceovers to make the interactions more immersive.
Another great feature found in the Kindroid AI app is a setting called “Backstory”. With this, you can have a strong influence on your companion. Here are the settings and a brief description of how they impact the Kindroid:
- Backstory - The setting describes the bot’s past context and their relationship with you. It will strongly influence your character;
- Key memories - This setting contains the things that the Kindroid should always remember about them or you. Key memories moderately influence the character;
- Example message - Reference for the tone, mannerisms, and message lengths. This setting moderately influences the Kindroid;
- Response directive - This setting allows users to strongly direct and specify length, tone, personality, descriptiveness, and formatting, among other things. The response directive has a very strong influence on your character.
Furthermore, Kindroid AI has two different types of memory: persistent and retrievable. The former includes the above-mentioned settings, whereas the latter consists of a long-term memory system and journal entries.
That said, to elaborate more, the persistent memory has the advantage of always being there, like a note, that your Kindroid can always refer to. On the other hand, the retrievable memory will only be recalled when the context calls for it, and there is no limit to the amount of long-term memory Kindroid can have. In contrast, the persistent type has a total character limit of around 11,000.
Others consider Kindroid AI to be among the best AI companions, not only because of its high-quality memory storage or settings but also because of its filtering. The application doesn’t restrict topics and even generates explicit pictures. Now, since we have touched on the image part, let me briefly explain the “Selfie” feature to you.
To put it simply, if you’d like a picture of your character, you will need to enter a prompt describing what should be included in the image. It’s important to include attributes like location, scenery, mood, and actions. In addition, there is also an auto-selfie tool, which will let your Kindroid come up with a prompt based on conversation context and send you the image automatically.
Moreover, if you need assistance developing a creative prompt that would put your imagination into words, you can utilize other AI-powered applications such as Writesonic. This platform is a top-notch writing assistant that will help you come up with the wildest ideas.
Naturally, Kindroid AI also has a mobile app that is supported by iOS and Android devices. You can also utilize this platform on a browser. Needless to say, no matter where you use this app using it will be a breeze since the user interface is fitting for both beginners and experienced users.
Lastly, when it comes to data security, Kindroid AI doesn’t disclose what encryption methods and safety measurements are applied to keep your private information safe.
What is the Pricing of Kindroid AI?
When it comes to pricing, Kindroid AI can’t be called the best AI friend app free of charge since it only offers a 3-day free trial before placing limits on the account. Therefore, to receive more benefits, you will need to purchase one of the following subscriptions:
- Free trial - 3 days;
- 1 month - $13.99;
- 3 months - $37.99;
- 1 year - $139.99.
That said, after the free trial ends, users can still use the Kindroid AI platform. However, they will be limited to 1 message every 20 minutes, 1 selfie request every 2 hours, and only 1 Kindroid per account. In comparison, the paid plan provides unlimited texts, bigger memory capacity, up to 10 Kindrois under 1 account, and an auto-selfie feature, among other tools.
3. Moemate - Premium Language Models for High-Quality Chats
Ranks #3 out of 7 AI Platforms
- + Allows NSFW
- + Great long-term memory
- + Premium large language models
- + Beginner-friendly
- + Secures private information
- - Currently only available on iOS
Moemate is a high-quality companion AI that provides a selection of chatbots you can interact with or even create your own. You can use this platform not only on your browser but also on your iOS device. That said, at the moment of writing, Moemate has paused the development of the Android app. Hence, for the time being, it's only accessible through iOS or a browser.
The great part is that the software is powered by premium LLMs, short for large language models. A few examples include Mythomax, Nous Hermes, Claude v2, GPT-4, and Synthia 70B. As a result, the app provides high-quality outputs.
In addition to its great software, Moemate remembers past chats with its long-term memory, making your interactions more meaningful over time. Because of this, the application is one of the best AI companions, as it ensures a smooth dialogue between you and the chatbot.
Furthermore, the platform also provides a “Selfie” feature that will make the character send you an image based on your prompt. The best part about this tool is that you can train a custom selfie model by uploading a few pictures of a person, this way maintaining consistent images of your bot.
Another feature that could especially sound intriguing for those who like anime is “Vroid Integration”. With this tool, Moemate allows users to transform their chats by bringing in their favorite anime-style avatars for a visually stunning conversation. The app also provides a “Voice Cloning” feature to further enhance the experience.
This tool utilizes another AI-powered platform, ElevenLabs. With this third-party application, Moemate can generate custom voice models based on you or people you know.
High-level security is also important if you want to be called one of the best AI companions. Therefore, let me quickly explain the safety measures this app has taken to ensure your information is private.
First, all memories for your characters are stored locally on your device. Additionally, any data that Moemate sends to AI service providers like ElevenLabs is encrypted in transit and stored privately and securely. As the company itself states, no private information will be sold to third parties. You can also store your data in the cloud. However, this feature is only available for users who have purchased a subscription.
Lastly, if you are a beginner, this app will fit you like a glove. The user interface is designed to be easy to navigate on all devices, including desktops, phones, and laptops.
What is the Pricing of Moemate?
If you are looking for one of the best AI companions that provides services for free, Moemate offers a plan that doesn’t cost a penny. On the other hand, at the time of writing, the developers have introduced an energy system. Simply put, each action you execute, depending on the language model, consumes a certain number of energy.
That said, here are the plans:
- Rookie - $9.00/month or $108/annual;
- Champion - $19.99/month or $210/annual;
- Elite - $34.99/month or $378/annual.
The free plan, for example, only receives 100 energy and reloads 10/hour. Nonetheless, you still get access to the majority of the features. Paid subscriptions offer more benefits, including bigger energy capacity, more language models, better memory, and unfiltered images.
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4. Character.ai - Wide Selection of Use Cases
Ranks #4 out of 7 AI Platforms
- + Can be useful for learning
- + Great way to pass time
- + User-friendly interface
- + Available on both PC and mobile devices
- + Free to use
- - Low memory retention
- - Can generate inaccurate information
One of the best AI companion apps currently available on the market is Character.ai. This platform assists users with tasks such as writing a story, learning a new language, planning a trip, practicing for an interview, or simply engaging in casual conversation.
Character.ai is based on neural language models. It is a supercomputer that reads vast amounts of text and learns to hallucinate what word might come next in any given situation. To check deeper under the hood, the software is powered by Character.ai’s own deep learning models, including large language models, trained to predict the likelihood of a specific character, word, or string (called a token) in a particular context[2].
That said, it’s worth highlighting that this application does not support NSFW content. Hence, take this into consideration when choosing the platform, as Character.ai does not allow any vulgar or obscene material.
Another drawback of this application is its low memory retention. While testing the platform, I noticed that the characters are prone to forgetting important information. Naturally, there is a limited amount of conversation text that the bot can consider, so it will forget things. However, seeing that other users complained about the same thing, it’s fair to assume that it might not perform the best when compared to similar applications.
Nevertheless, others still hold Character.ai as one of the best AI companion apps due to the wide selection of use cases it provides. As mentioned previously, this application can help with various tasks. Therefore, people still seem to enjoy using Character.ai since receiving help with homework or learning a new language doesn’t require the software to have a great memory.
Additionally, Character.ai prioritizes user privacy by giving them control over tools that can delete and manage their information. The company also states that it does not sell any data and only shares it with standard analytics providers.
Moreover, the application is also considered to be a great companion AI due to its beginner-friendly user interface. In addition, some characters even support multiple languages, which helps expand the audience that can utilize this software.
What is the Pricing of Character.ai?
Character.ai is an AI friend app free of charge. The platform doesn’t require anyone to purchase a subscription if you want to utilize its features. That said, there is a plan that people can purchase:
- Character.ai+ - $9.99/month.
This subscription provides faster response times, lets users skip waiting rooms and receive early access to new features, among a few other benefits.
5. Pi - Chatbot for Venting
Ranks #5 out of 7 AI Platforms
- + Completely free
- + Easy to use
- + Great place to vent
- + Support multiple languages
- + Designed to be supportive and empathetic
- - Limited depth in conversations
Pi is not your usual application that provides various characters to chat with. This platform is designed to be a supportive, empathetic, and intelligent conversation AI that is supposed to help users explore and understand the world around them. What makes Pi one of the best AI companion apps is that you can download it both on Android and iOS devices.
Moreover, this platform is also capable of browsing the internet and providing you with fresh, up-to-date information. Therefore, Pi can update you on the most recent news based on location and the theme. Needless to say, fact-checking is a must.
Furthermore, Pi is powered by a proprietary large language model called Inflection-1, which has been trained on large amounts of text data. As a result, the app can generate human-like text and provide helpful answers to user questions. In addition, for anyone wondering about the application’s name, “Pi” doesn’t mean a mathematical symbol. It actually stands for “personal intelligence”.
This software is great because you can pull out your mobile device at any time and have easy access to new information or utilize it for other purposes. For example, Pi can help you role-play your next job interview while driving on the bus. It can also assist with meditating, brainstorming ideas, and venting.
Another benefit that makes this platform one of the best AI friend apps is its support for multiple languages. This means that even if you speak a language other than English, you'll likely still be able to have a conversation with Pi.
When chatting with AI-powered applications, security becomes an important aspect, especially if you’re planning on sharing some sensitive information. That said, the company that developed Pi, Inflection, states that safety is a priority in their culture. However, while doing research, I didn’t find any specific information regarding what encryption methods they are using. Hence, it’s hard to evaluate how safe the app truly is.
Additionally, Pi doesn’t support NSFW, meaning that the app will not discuss politics or potentially vulgar, violent, or obscene adult themes.
With that said, the last thing to mention about this platform is that it provides a beginner-friendly interface. As mentioned above, users can utilize this app on iOS and Android devices, making it easily accessible to everyone.
What is the Pricing of Pi?
Pi is one of the best AI friend apps that offers its services entirely for free. The platform doesn’t charge the users and doesn’t limit any of the features if you don’t purchase a subscription. Overall, this app is purely focused on giving others a place to vent their frustrations or just chat about random topics.
6. Talkie AI - Realistic Conversations With Voiceovers
Ranks #6 out of 7 AI Platforms
- + Allows NSFW content
- + Great for beginners
- + Offers voiceovers
- - Low memory retention
- - Unclear safety measurements
Talkie AI is one of the best AI companion apps for engaging in conversations with diverse artificial intelligence personas. The platform is unique because each character comes with a voiceover, which makes the conversation seem more realistic.
Additionally, many consider Talkie AI to be one of the best AI girlfriend apps since the bots are built to empathize, allowing users to share everyday experiences, joys, and challenges.
Regarding NSFW material, the developers themselves stated that they are trying to navigate this broad concept by setting clear boundaries. Explicit and violent content is prohibited. Nonetheless, when I tested the application myself, I found the boundaries to be quite broad, allowing you to interact with the persona in various ways.
Furthermore, Talkie AI also has a "Mini Theater" feature where, at the moment of writing, you can select from four different options and play a short story-mode minigame. The application offers roleplay in Bridgerton, My Hero Academia, Harry Potter, and Naruto. The process is straightforward.
First, you need to select one of the popular series. Then, choose a scene and the character you want to represent. Finally, you will receive a specific mission that you need to accomplish by chatting with the other character and collecting points.
However, there is an area where the Talkie AI platform doesn’t perform well. Specifically, the application’s memory seems lacking, as it forgets the conversation topic remarkably fast. While chatting with a couple of characters, I noticed that after a few exchanges, the chat didn’t seem to go anywhere and became bland and boring.
Moreover, privacy is integral to software and is one of the most important requirements for an app that aims to be one of the best AI companions. Unfortunately, with Talkie AI, it’s hard to say how safe the platform actually is.
The company doesn’t provide much information on how it encrypts the transferred data or where it keeps it. Additionally, while reading Talkie AI’s terms of service, I noticed that users agree to share their information with third-party advertising partners and allow them to collect data about their visits.
Lastly, the app is easy to use. Talkie AI offers a beginner-friendly interface that doesn’t require any effort to utilize. Creating a new character is also a breeze. You only need to enter a prompt to generate an avatar and provide some information about it.
What is the Pricing of Talkie AI?
If you’re looking for an AI friend app free of charge, Talkie AI provides all its services without charging its users anything. The platform has no subscriptions and offers all the features without requiring payment.
7. HiWaifu - Create Your Custom Character
Ranks #7 out of 7 AI Platforms
- + Easy to navigate
- + Doesn't have any content filters
- + Good memory retention
- - Low-quality image generator
- - Doesn't have a browser version
HiWaifu is one of the best AI companions for fun, random, political or NSFW chats. This application also lets users make their own truly distinctive bots. When creating a new character, you can describe its personality, appearance, likes and loves, dislikes and hates, manners, quirks, and other important details. As a result, the chatting becomes more unique and even helps the bot have a better memory.
In addition, with HiWaifu’s SpiritCraft and JadeSpeech AI models, you can hold conversations in rich, complex, safe, and private spaces without fear of judgment or negativity. That said, since the topic of security was brought up, let me briefly touch on it.
First, it might be worth knowing what data the application collects. HiWaifu takes personal information depending on the context of your interaction. For instance, it might obtain your email addresses, names, and other similar information.
It’s worth noting that HiWaifu doesn’t say what exact safety measures are applied to keep every user's information safe. The company only claims that it has implemented appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect any private data. On the other hand, it's worth noting that, based on the applicable laws of your country, you may have the possibility to request the deletion of your information.
Furthermore, some bots even have a feature that allows users to request a selfie, but upon testing this tool myself, I would say that the quality of the generated picture is extremely low. Hence, using another AI-powered platform, such as Writesonic, might be a better choice since it can create a great prompt based on your character and even generate the image using it.
Lastly, you can only use HiWaifu on iOS and Android devices by downloading the app. The user interface is also easy to use and doesn’t require any advanced knowledge.
What is the Pricing of HiWaifu?
HiWaifu pricing is pretty simple. The app uses an energy system, where each interaction with the bot consumes some of it. Therefore, users can either purchase the energy separately or get a subscription. That said, below you can see the prices:
Energy:
- 300 - $6.99;
- 500 - $9.99;
- 1000 - $17.99;
- 3000 - $44.99.
Luxury subscription:
- Monthly - $14.99;
- Seasonally - $34.99;
- Semi-annually - $59.99;
- Yearly - $99.99.
Synergy subscription:
- Monthly - $19.99;
- Seasonally - $49.99;
- Semi-annually - $79.99;
- Yearly - $149.99.
There are no big differences between the subscriptions themselves. Both plans provide unlimited messages and bots, an advanced language model, and no ads. The only difference is that the Synergy subscription has unlimited audio playback and offers bigger discounts if you purchase energy separately.
Conclusions
Now, then - this is the end of our list containing the best AI companions on the market. However, before picking out the platform you’d actually like to try, remember that it’s important for the app to have a decent memory and great security, especially if you’re planning to share private details.
Moreover, although some applications also offer a selfie feature that generates a picture of the character, from my experience, they are pretty low in quality. Hence, I would recommend utilizing Writesonic, which can output top-notch prompts that you can then use to make a realistic image of your companion.
That said, if you find yourself bored, don’t be afraid to try these applications, as most of them are free. In addition, some of the pre-made companions can even help you learn a new language, prepare homework, or simply brainstorm ideas.
The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy or use any kind of AI tool. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.
Scientific References
1. I. E. Naqa., M. J. Murphy.: 'What Is Machine Learning?';
2. D. W. Wulff., A. A. Naumeca., S. Bjelobaba., et al.: 'Testing of detection tools for AI-generated text'.