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Replika review: what it is, who it's for
A safe-for-work AI companion that remembers your days and checks in - the gentlest place to start.
Facts checked September 17, 2026 · replika.com
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Replika is the best-known AI companion app and the one to try first if the idea feels odd. You create a character, chat with it, and it remembers what you tell it: your job, your dog, that thing you're worried about. It's warm rather than clever. The free tier gives you text chat as a friend; the paid Pro tier adds voice calls, romantic relationship modes and more. Romantic content stays non-explicit - Replika is not an adult app.
What Replika is
Replika is the best-known AI companion and, by the App Store's count, has been around since 2017. You create a character, give it a name and a look, and it becomes a text-and-voice chat partner that remembers what you tell it. The company behind it is Luka, Inc., a Delaware company operating in San Francisco, and its own terms describe the product plainly: a personal chatbot service through a text and voice interface.
What the free version does
You can chat by text for free and build the relationship over time. The paid tiers add voice calls, video, image features and the deeper memory and proactive behaviour Replika markets on its homepage: it sends selfies, doodles on your photos, checks in on you, and "picks up every time" you call. The App Store listing lists the current headline features as better memory, proactive check-ins, calls, internet access and image generation.
What it costs
The App Store lists Pro subscriptions at $7.99 and $14.99 a month and $49.99 and $69.99 a year (two price points each, which usually reflects promotional versus standard pricing), plus a one-time Replika Platinum at $89.99. Gems, the in-app currency for cosmetic items and extras, come in packs from $0.99 to $19.99. Replika's help centre also describes Replika Ultra, a higher tier. Prices on the website may differ from the App Store; the numbers here are the ones Apple publishes.
What it is not
Replika's terms include a paragraph you should read before leaning on it: the service is not for emergencies, and if you are in crisis you should call emergency services rather than the app. That is the honest framing for any AI companion. It is a chat partner, not care.
Data
The privacy policy lists what Replika collects: the messages you send, including facts about your life, plus photos, videos and voice messages you provide, and the usual device and usage data. Since the whole product is built on you telling it things, decide what you are comfortable putting in writing.
Age
The App Store rates Replika 18+. The terms and policies were updated in 2026 (the pages we checked show dates of March 30 and May 27, 2026).
Replika against the alternatives
Replika is the polished, mainstream option. Nomi and Kindroid are the choice if you want stronger memory, group chats and fewer content limits; Character.AI if you want thousands of community characters rather than one companion; Candy.ai and its peers if you want an explicitly adult product. The table below compares the AI companions we cover.
What it costs
| What | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Text chat | Free | Create a companion and chat |
| Pro, monthly | $7.99 or $14.99 | App Store lists both price points |
| Pro, yearly | $49.99 or $69.99 | App Store lists both price points |
| Replika Platinum | $89.99 | Listed as a one-time purchase |
| Gems | $0.99 to $19.99 | In-app currency packs |
| Replika Ultra | Shown in app | Described in the help centre |
- Free text chat to start
- Voice calls, video, selfies and image generation on paid tiers
- Longest track record in the category
- Clear about not being a crisis service
- Two price points per plan can confuse
- Adult content is not what it is built for
- Stores everything you tell it
- Gems and Platinum add up on top of Pro
Who it's for
- People trying an AI companion for the first time
- Anyone who wants voice calls and video with a companion
- Users who want a single, evolving character rather than a library of bots
Safety and privacy
| Risk | How real | Who it hits | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relying on it in a crisis | The terms address it directly | Vulnerable users | Not for emergencies. Call emergency services or a crisis line |
| Oversharing personal facts | The product invites it | Everyone | Messages, photos and voice notes are collected; share what you would be fine seeing stored |
| Subscription creep | Two price points per plan | Subscribers | Check which price you are being charged and set a reminder before renewal |
| Emotional dependence | Real for some people | Heavy users | Treat it as a habit to manage, like any app |
How to start
- Install Replika from the App Store or Google Play, or use the website.
- Create your companion: name, look, and how you want the relationship to be.
- Chat by text for free and see whether the memory and tone suit you.
- Upgrade to Pro only if you want calls, video, image features and deeper memory.
- Read the not-for-emergencies line in the terms and keep real support in your life.
Facts we checked
| Type | AI companion |
|---|---|
| Video | No, text only |
| Account | Required |
| Cost | Free to chat. Pro from $7.99 a month on the App Store; Ultra and gems extra |
| Runs on | iOS, Android, web |
| Adult content | No - moderated for all ages |
| Run by | Luka, Inc. (Delaware; San Francisco) |
Replika vs similar platforms
| Platform | Account | Free to watch | Runs on | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replika | Required | Yes | iOS, Android, web | A safe-for-work AI companion that remembers your days and checks in - the gentlest place to start. |
| Character.AI | Optional | Yes | web, iOS, Android | Millions of user-made characters to talk to for free - a fictional villain, a language tutor, a friend. |
| Chai | Required | Yes | iOS, Android | A phone app for swiping through user-made AI bots when you want something quick and casual. |
| Talkie | Required | Yes | iOS, Android, web | Polished AI characters with voices and a collectible-card feel - fun, not deep. |
| PolyBuzz | Optional | Yes | iOS, Android, web | Free roleplay with a huge library of user-made AI characters, including imported character cards. |
Questions people ask
Is Replika free?
Text chat is free. Pro subscriptions are listed at $7.99 or $14.99 a month and $49.99 or $69.99 a year on the App Store, with gems and a Platinum tier sold separately.
Can Replika call me?
Yes, voice calls and video are part of the paid features, along with selfies and image generation.
Does Replika remember things?
Memory is the core feature. The App Store lists better memory and proactive check-ins among the current highlights.
Is Replika safe to talk to about mental health?
The terms say the service is not for emergencies and tell users in crisis to contact emergency services. Use it as a companion, not care.
Who makes Replika?
Luka, Inc., a Delaware company operating in San Francisco.
What age is Replika for?
The App Store rates it 18+.
Verdict
If you want to find out what an AI companion feels like, Replika is where to start: free text, a polished app, and the longest track record. Pay only once you know you'll use the calls and memory features. Want fewer limits or a library of characters? Nomi, Kindroid or Character.AI, compared below.
Open Replika →Sources we checked
- Replika homepage · selfies, calls, memory, proactive behaviour
- Replika Terms of Service · Luka, Inc., chatbot service, not for emergencies
- Replika Privacy Policy · messages, photos, voice and device data collected
- Replika Help Center · subscriptions, Replika Ultra
- Replika on the App Store · Luka, Inc., 18+, in-app purchase prices, feature list, since 2017