9 Best AI Companion Apps in 2025 (Tested & Reviewed)

With the rise of AI, a friend can now be virtual and fully tailored to your preferences. AI companions offer friendly conversations and even mental wellness features, making them increasingly popular in today's fast-paced, tech-driven world.

In this blog, you'll discover the top 9 AI companion apps and learn how to create the perfect look for your ideal AI companion character.

• What is an AI Companion?
• 9 Best AI Companion Apps (Free & Paid)
• AI Companion Apps Comparison Chart
• AI Companion Concerns and Risks
• FAQ About AI Companion

What is an AI Companion?

An AI companion is a type of artificial intelligence application designed to simulate conversation, companionship, or interaction with a human user in a friendly, supportive, or entertaining way. It comes in many forms, such as chatbots, avatars, or virtual characters, and is often used on smartphones, computers, or within apps.

Generally, AI companion apps can be categorized into five types of uses, as shown in the table below.

9 Best AI Companion Apps (Free & Paid)

• PowerDirector
• Nomi
• Grok Ani
• Replika
• Kindroid
• Anima
• Paradot
• Talkie
• Character.AI

1. PowerDirector

   

   Compatibility:

   Android / iOS / Windows / Mac

   Pricing: Free version available; premium plans for $5.00/month

   Pros

   • You can fully customize every detail, such as face, body shape, hair color, clothing, and even voice tone.
   • Enjoy high-quality visual generation through an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.
   • Choose from more than 30 unique character styles.

   Cons

   • Characters can only speak using the text you provide.
   • Certain features are locked behind a premium subscription.

   PowerDirector makes it super easy and fun to create your dream AI friend. Just type out your imagination and watch the app magically turn it into a cute talking companion that fits your style perfectly, maybe even better than you pictured. Want them to chat with you? You got it. Pick the voice tone and speaking style that suits your vibe.

   Ready to bring your AI BFF to life? Just follow these simple steps:

   
   1. Free download the best AI companion character app PowerDirector
   2. Tap on ‘Text to Image' in ‘AI Magic.' Describe your ideal companion in detail; include as many specific features as possible.
   3. Open a new project in the home screen and upload the AI friend image you just created.
   4. Head to the ‘Talking Avatar' in ‘AI Magic', apply any preferred styles or size adjustments, and then click ‘Continue.'
   5. Enter text into the ‘Text to Speech' tool and select a voice tone from the available options.
   6. Click ‘Generate' to bring your AI companion into life and start chatting with him/her!

2. Nomi

   

   Compatibility: Android & iOS

   Pricing: Free version available; premium plans range from $8.33 to $15.99/month, depending on the subscription length (AI Credits are sold separately.)

   Pros

   • Chat with multiple Nomis at once for fun group dynamics or storytelling.
   • Fully personalize your Nomi's appearance, personality, and backstory.
   • Images, videos and links are allowed to be sent in the chat.
   • Create AI art personalized for you.
   • Your chats are kept private and are not used for ads.

   Cons

   • The free version has daily message limits and only one Nomi.
   • Premium features and AI image credits require separate payments.
   • Users may encounter glitches or memory lapses in longer chats.

   Nomi is an advanced AI companion platform that lets you create, customize, and cultivate relationships with AI-driven characters, called Nomis. Besides basic features like short- and long-term memory, users have a high degree of flexibility when creating Nomis, including choosing names, appearance, personality traits, initial interests, and even a backstory.

   After testing, we found that the best part of Nomi is its ability to let you have multiple Nomis and chat at once. This means you can discuss your career growth, your rocky relationship and share a video of your newly adopted kitten video at the same time with different Nomis! It feels just like you have different types of friends, each with their own personality, ready for a variety of conversations.

   However, this feature is only available to premium subscribers and is limited to 10 Nomis. If you want to create a new Nomis after reaching the limit, you need to “kill” (i.e., delete) one of the existing Nomis first.

3. Grok Ani

   

   Compatibility: iOS

   Pricing: Free version available only for iOS app users; subscription plan $30/month

   Pros

   • Engaging affection system with clear goals.
   • Immersive 3D anime design with lively animations.
   • Unlockable features, including optional NSFW mode.

   Cons

   • Need to subscribe SuperGrok to unlock the companion.
   • Raise NSFW and ethical concers.

   Grok Ani is xAI's anime‑inspired AI companion integrated into the Grok iOS app. Styled like a gothic‑themed animated girl, Ani offers an immersive, gamified experience where users build affection levels through daily interactions. As you progress, you can unlock new animations, personality traits, and even optional NSFW content, making Ani a distinctive yet controversial addition to the AI companion scene.

   Alongside Ani, xAI also introduced two other characters, Good Rudi and Bad Rudi. Both feature highly polished interactive modes and strong personalities, but Ani's striking design and captivating affection system have drawn most of the attention, leaving the Rudis less explored for now.

   Learn More About Ani

   Your Guide to Grok Ani: Chat & Grow Affection with AI Companion

4. Replika

   

   Compatibility: Android & iOS

   Pricing: Free version available; premium plans range from $5.83 to $19.19/month, depending on the subscription length; a lifetime plan is also available for $299.99

   Pros

   • Support multiple languages, making it accessible globally.
   • Offer a variety of features like games, journal prompts, personality tests, and VR/AR.
   • Even in the free version, you won't be interrupted by ads.
   • Create AI art personalized for you.
   • Shape how your AI looks, acts and talks to reflect your AI companion.

   Cons

   • The character's appearance doesn't look very realistic or refined.
   • May “forget” certain details unless you're a paying user.
   • Many intimate features are only accessible via Pro.
   • Past discussions flagged issues around data usage and protection.

   Replika is an AI-powered chatbot developed to act as a personal companion, like a friend, mentor or partner. It surged in popularity during the pandemic and went viral on social media because of its emotional and sometimes intense conversations, making a magnet for Gen Z and millennials.

   Additional features like language tutoring, games, tarot readings, journaling, room decoration and interactive stories make Replika stand out from other AI companions. It was built as a virtual world where you and your AI companion can enjoy thousands of activities together (not just chatting), which significantly enhances the fun and increases the time users spend with Replika.

5. Kindroid

   

   Compatibility: Android & iOS

   Pricing: Free version available; premium plans range from $11.66 to $13.99/month, depending on the subscription length (AI Credits are sold separately.)

   Pros

   • The AI companion generates realistic “selfies” based on the backstory you created.
   • Fetch real-world info and images during conversations.
   • Provide more context about body language or environment conditions while chatting.
   • Each AI companion has their own profiles and social media feed.

   Cons

   • Customization can be overwhelming at first due to many settings.
   • AI selfie generation may cost credits beyond the free quota.

   Kindroid is an AI companion app that lets you engage in lifelike conversations, ranging from breakfast options to the latest global news. It offers relatively high privacy, with every message encrypted; even the developers do not have access.

   Kindroid is great at bringing your AI companion to life, just like a real person living next door. It creates a realistic profile for each character and updates their social feed based on their personality. During conversations, beyond just text messages, your AI companion's facial expressions, body language, and emotional changes are also displayed in the chat, making it feel like you're reading a story and truly immersed in the experience.

6. Anima

   

   Compatibility: Android

   Pricing: Free version available; premium plans range from $3.33 to $9.99/month, depending on the subscription length

   Pros

   • Proactively initiate topics, ask questions, and keep conversations engaging.
   • Include role-play and mini-games like trivia, riddles, “Truth or Lie,” gifting, and XP systems.
   • Offer 30+ avatar appearances.

   Cons

   • Forgets recent conversations, shifts personas randomly, and contradicts itself.
   • No voice chat and image exchange support.
   • Data may be shared with third-party platforms, and tracking practices aren't always clear.

   Anima (Anima: AI Friend & Companion) is a mobile AI chatbot designed to act as your virtual companion—whether as a friend, romantic partner, or roleplay character.

   Compared to other AI companion apps, Anima is better suited for those seeking a bplayful chatbot for casual conversations. Shy users may also find Anima's proactive questions and ability to drive dialogues especially appealing. However, if you prioritize emotional depth or long-term memory, you may find the experience shallow or repetitive.

7. Paradot

   

   Compatibility: Android & iOS & Web Broswer

   Pricing: Free version available; premium plans $9.99/month

   Pros

   • The companion's personality is highly customized.
   • Easy to check, delete and revise the memory record.
   • Flexible interaction modes across diverse scenarios.

   Cons

   • Limited messgaes in the free mode.
   • Uploding photos is only available for premium users.
   • Responses sometimes take a lot of time or are unable to generate.

   Paradot is an AI-powered platform that offers truly one-of-a-kind AI companions within a digital parallel universe. It’s designed to provide emotional support and entertaining interactions. Within Paradot, you can customize countless aspects of your AI companion, including appearance, outfits, demographic info, voice, character traits, and personality, all tailored to your preferences. Best of all, its memory management is highly user-friendly and customizable, allowing you to easily edit, delete, categorize, and mark your AI friend’s memories as favorites.

   By subscribing, you can unlock several premium features worth trying. ‘Dating Space’ lets you go on immersive dates with your AI Being. Each topic comes with its own unique setting and storyline, and your AI companion may reveal unexpected sides of herself. For instance, in the ‘Love Corner,’ you can discover her more intimate and sensual side, deepening your bond. However, for reasons unclear, the app sometimes fails to generate full responses or displays single words instead of complete sentences, especially within ‘Dating Space.’ Still, overall, this app is ideal for those who value immersive scenarios and want an AI companion that deeply understands them.

8. Talkie

   

   Photo Credit: AllAboutAI

   Compatibility: Android

   Pricing: Free version available; premium plans change depending on the subscription length and region.

   Pros

   • Choose from pre-made personas, including celebrities, or create your own.
   • Combines voice calls (up to ~10 minutes), text, and avatars for immersive chats.
   • Retain conversation context, creating more natural and ongoing dynamics.

   Cons

   • Advanced tweaks require time to master.
   • Customer service response may be a bit slow.
   • Many raise doubts about privacy and data handling questions

   Talkie is an interactive AI companion platform created by a Chinese startup. It allows people to chat through text and voice with virtual companions.

   Talkie is worth trying if you're looking for a highly engaging, game-like AI companion app. We were impressed by its deep and personalized conversations, powered by evolving memories. The collectible cards earned during chats add a fun, game-like element. However, like TikTok, originated in China, Talkie is entangled in data privacy concerns and faces scrutiny in the U.S.

9. Character.AI

   

   Compatibility: Android & iOS

   Pricing: Free version available; premium plans $9.99/month

   Pros

   • Allow chats with fictional or real-life-inspired characters (like Sherlock Holmes, Elon Musk, or anime characters).
   • Good for creative use, such as roleplay, writing help, or simulating characters for stories or games.
   • Create or chat with characters tailored to specific roles, tones, or scenarios.

   Cons

   • There can be lag or message delays, especially during peak times.
   • The platform strictly filters adult or explicit conversations.
   • Sometimes responses don't match the defined persona.

   Character.AI is a platform that allows users to chat with AI-generated characters designed to simulate both realistic and fictional personalities. It strictly controls NSFW content, which may be beneficial for younger users but receives mixed reactions from adults.

   If you've ever imagined talking to famous characters or celebrities, this is the place for you. Character.AI offers a wide range of chatbots that mimic well-known figures, ranging from real people like Elon Musk to fictional characters like Draco Malfoy. We tested several characters, including Usada Pekora (a VTuber), Ginny and Georgia (from the Netflix series), and Donald Trump (the U.S. president). The experience was quite amusing. Although the characters occasionally express themselves in ways that don't fully align with their personas, most of the time it genuinely feels like you're talking to them, and it's exciting to hear their "opinions."

AI Companion Apps Comparison Chart

AI Companion Concerns and Risks

1. Privacy and Data Security

   AI companions often collect personal conversations and behavioral data, raising concerns about how this information is stored, shared, or potentially misused.

2. Emotional Overdependence

   Some users may form deep emotional attachments to AI companions, leading to reduced real-life social interaction and potential emotional isolation.

3. Bias and Inappropriate Responses

   AI systems can unintentionally reflect biases in their training data, which may result in harmful stereotypes or unsettling replies during conversations.

4. Blurred Reality Boundaries

   Highly realistic AI companions may cause confusion between real and artificial relationships, especially for younger users or those in vulnerable emotional states.

FAQ About AI Companion

What is the best AI companion?

How much does an AI companion cost?

Are AI companions safe?

What do AI companions do?

What are the key features a good AI companion app must have?