Updated September 17, 2026. Prices and policies can change; verify the checkout and privacy policy before subscribing.
AI companion subscriptions are hard to compare because the lowest advertised price rarely tells the whole story. Some services hide their current price until checkout, some sell memory as an extra tier, and their rules for conversation data differ sharply. We checked the official pricing, feature and privacy pages for four widely used apps to build a like-for-like 2026 benchmark.
Quick verdict
- Best low-cost upgrade: Character.AI c.ai+ at $9.99 monthly or $94.99 annually, though its model-training policy deserves attention.
- Best privacy wording: Nomi says it does not sell or rent personal information and offers account deletion, with some archive and legal exceptions.
- Best power-user controls: Kindroid has the clearest public feature and price ladder, but high-memory add-ons can raise the web bill to $38.98 or $98.97 a month.
- Best avatar-led experience: Replika offers the broadest mix of calls, images, avatars and higher tiers, but its official help page sends users to checkout for current pricing.
AI companion price, privacy and features comparison
| App | Free option | Paid price checked | Standout features | Privacy point to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Character.AI | Yes | $9.99/mo; $94.99/yr | Many characters, voice, better memory and latest models on Plus | Certain data may help train models; new-content opt-out is documented for EEA/UK users |
| Kindroid | Yes, Lite model | Web: $13.99/mo or $139.99/yr; apps: $15.99/mo or $159.99/yr | Detailed backstories, strong memory, groups, voice/video, selfies and web access | Public/shared content may remain elsewhere after account deletion |
| Nomi | Yes | US iOS Standard: $15.99/mo or $99.99/yr | Long-term memory, voice, selfies, art and multi-Nomi group chat | Policy says personal data is not sold or rented; deletion usually completes in about 28 days, subject to exceptions |
| Replika | Yes | Official help says price is shown in app/store; US App Store shows several IAP price points | Avatar, selfies, images, voice/background calls; advanced Ultra and Platinum tools | Third-party model providers process minimized conversation data; Replika says providers may not train on it |
Price snapshot: September 17, 2026, in USD where available. App-store, web, legacy and regional prices may differ. Taxes and add-ons are excluded.
How we scored the apps
This benchmark uses first-party subscription pages, legal policies and US App Store listings. We compared five things: entry price, useful free access, memory, voice/visual features, and what the policy says about message use and deletion. We did not award points for vague claims such as “private” without reading the underlying policy.
1. Character.AI: cheapest simple paid plan
Character.AI has the easiest price to understand. Its official subscription page lists c.ai+ at $9.99 monthly or $94.99 annually. The paid tier adds better memory, removes ads and slow mode, unlocks newer models and offers unlimited voice calls. The free version still covers basic chats.
The trade-off is data use. Character.AI says certain user data is retained to improve and train its generative models. Its published opt-out path for new chat content is specifically described for EEA and UK users. If your conversations are sensitive, that distinction matters more than the $5 or $6 monthly saving.
2. Kindroid: clearest power-user pricing
Kindroid publishes unusually detailed prices. A direct web subscription costs $13.99 monthly or $139.99 yearly, while iOS and Android list $15.99 monthly or $159.99 yearly. The free plan uses a smaller Lite model and limits selfies, audio, companion count and memory.
Subscribers get flagship models, longer context, improved long-term memory, up to 10 Kindroids, groups, voice and video, more selfies, internet access and image sharing. Heavy users should budget carefully: Ultra and MAX are separate add-ons. With the required base plan, current web totals are $38.98 and $98.97 per month.
3. Nomi: strong memory with comparatively direct privacy language
Nomi’s US iOS listing shows a Standard plan at $15.99 monthly or $99.99 yearly. Its product pages emphasize short- and long-term memory, voice, contextual selfies, art, group chats and sharing links or photos. A free account is available, though exact limits can change.
Nomi’s policy says the company does not sell or rent personal information and encourages users to choose a pseudonym or Apple’s private relay. It says account deletion removes personal information in roughly 28 days, while noting exceptions for communications archives, legal requirements and some training records. That is clearer than a generic “we value privacy” promise, but it is not instant erasure of every record.
4. Replika: broad feature ladder, less price transparency
Replika’s free option supports basic use. Pro adds relationship settings, activities, selfies, image generation, voice messages and background calls. Ultra adds smarter conversation and memory tools; Platinum adds video recognition, training mode and selfie video limits.
Unlike the others, Replika’s official subscription guide does not state a single current price. It tells users to check the app or marketplace, and the US App Store displays several monthly, annual and tier-specific in-app purchases. Treat the checkout screen as the final source.
Its privacy policy says conversation content is not used for marketing. It also says third-party language-model providers receive de-identified and minimized conversation data to generate replies, are contractually barred from training on it, and must delete or return it after processing. Profile and message content may be retained for up to 60 days after the contract ends, while some account and transaction records can be held much longer.
What should privacy-conscious users check?
- Assume intimate chats are sensitive even when a company says it does not sell them.
- Check whether conversation data trains models, and whether an opt-out applies in your country.
- Read the deletion timeline. “Delete account” may not mean immediate removal from every backup, archive or legal record.
- Use a separate email or private relay when the service allows it.
- Recheck the policy after major app updates.
Bottom line
Choose Character.AI when price and a huge character library matter most. Choose Kindroid when fine control, memory and multimodal features justify a higher bill. Choose Nomi when memory and comparatively plain privacy commitments are the priority. Choose Replika for its polished avatar-and-calls experience, but confirm the exact subscription price before paying.
Still comparing? Read our Anima AI review and our guide to Kupid AI.
