Short answer: pick Replika if you want a long-running avatar companion with a free text tier and can live with its privacy record. Pick Nomi if you want a memory-focused chat companion on one flat subscription. Neither is a big character catalogue, and neither gives refunds you can count on. Everything below comes from our own Replika review and Nomi review, which cite the original sources.
Replika vs Nomi at a glance
| Replika | Nomi | |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Avatar companion, “virtual friend” pitch | Conversation-first, builds a history with you |
| Free tier | Basic text chat | 50 messages per day, indefinite |
| Paid | Pro listed at $19.99/mo, $69.99/yr, $299.99 lifetime (CompanionWise, Mar 2026) | One plan, no tiers; ~$16/mo per the founder, June 2025 |
| Refunds | Billed via the app store; cancel there | Subscriptions nonrefundable per its wiki |
| Privacy record | €5M Garante fine, April 10, 2025 (EDPB, Reuters) | Company says it is private; no independent audit we can cite |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, web | iOS, Android, web |
Sources: Reuters, May 19, 2025; European Data Protection Board; CompanionWise Replika pricing guide; Nomi wiki and June 2025 community stream summary. Prices vary by store and region, so check the checkout screen.
- Deep character customization
- Voice messages and calls
- High-quality image generation
- Memory that keeps context
- Build-a-girlfriend creator
- Realistic and anime styles
- Image and voice generation
- Plans from $12.99/mo
- Thousands of ready characters
- Free tier, no card needed
- Uncensored chat modes
- Image generation included
Privacy: the biggest difference
Reuters reported on May 19, 2025 that Italy’s data regulator fined Replika’s developer, Luka Inc., 5 million euros after finding it lacked a legal basis for processing users’ data and had no age-verification system. The EDPB lists the decision as dated April 10, 2025. Replika’s own policy says it does not sell personal information.
Nomi’s wiki says conversations are private and adds that the company cannot prove it beyond its word. Thumbs up or down on a message may be used to teach Nomis, with details such as names anonymised first. That is the company’s description, and no regulator has ruled on it that we found. For either app, keep passwords, financial details and identifying information out of the chat.
Price and free tier
Replika’s free text chat is open-ended, but voice calls, coaching activities and some relationship modes sit behind Pro. Nomi’s free plan is capped at 50 messages a day, and a single subscription unlocks the rest. Over a year, Replika’s listed annual price of $69.99 is well under twelve months at Nomi’s roughly $16, though the founder’s figure is a stream comment rather than a price list. Both can show different in-app prices by store.
Which one fits you
- Replika: you want a slow, avatar-led companion and a free text tier, and you are comfortable with the privacy trade-offs after reading the policy.
- Nomi: you want long-running memory, one flat plan and a daily free allowance.
- Neither: you mainly want custom images, a big character library or a refund option. Start with our ranking of the best AI girlfriend apps instead.
- Deep character customization
- Voice messages and calls
- High-quality image generation
- Memory that keeps context
- Build-a-girlfriend creator
- Realistic and anime styles
- Image and voice generation
- Plans from $12.99/mo
- Thousands of ready characters
- Free tier, no card needed
- Uncensored chat modes
- Image generation included
FAQ
Is Replika or Nomi free?
Both have a free tier. Replika’s is basic text chat; Nomi’s is 50 messages per day, according to its wiki.
Which has the better privacy record?
Replika’s developer was fined 5 million euros by Italy’s regulator in 2025. Nomi has no comparable ruling we found, but its claims are unaudited.
Can I get a refund?
Nomi’s wiki says subscriptions are nonrefundable. For Replika, billing runs through the app store you subscribed with.
See also the Kindroid review for deeper customisation and the CrushOn AI review for a character marketplace.
