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ResearchStudy Links AI Companion Vulnerability to Wellbeing
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Head to head · facts checked 12 November 2026

Character.AI vs Chai

Character.AI's lowest verified plan is $9.99 a month. Chai's price is not verified. Character.AI states a minimum age of 18+ on the US App Store; Google Play rates it Teen; Chai states 18+. We found 3 verified differences between them, listed below.

Character.AI vs Chai: side by side

Character.AIChai
Price fromfrom $9.99 a month (Character.AI+ (c.ai+))Not verified
Free tierYesNot verified
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebAndroid
Minimum age18+ on the US App Store; Google Play rates it Teen18+
Adult contentFilteredNot allowed
Voice✓ YesNot verified
ImagesNot verifiedNot verified
MemoryNot verifiedNot verified
Group chatNot verifiedNot verified
Custom characters✓ Yes✓ Yes
Video✓ YesNot verified
Teen safetyOpen-ended chat for under-18s ended in November 2025, with teens limited to features such as Stories, and age assurance uses an in-house model plus third-party verification via Persona.Under-18s are barred and age checks run through Persona using a selfie-based age estimate or a government photo ID.
CompanyCharacter Technologies, Inc.Chai Research Corp.
Launched2022Not verified

Key differences

  • Minimum age: Character.AI states 18+ on the US App Store; Google Play rates it Teen; Chai states 18+.
  • Adult content: filtered on Character.AI; not allowed on Chai.
  • Platforms: Character.AI is also on iOS, Web.

Choose Character.AI if…

Users who want a very large library of user-made characters for role-play and casual chat.

Character.AI: full profile →

Choose Chai if…

Adults on Android who want quick chats with a large catalogue of user-built characters.

Chai: full profile →

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Character.AI or Chai?
Character.AI's lowest verified plan is $9.99 a month (Character.AI+ (c.ai+)); Chai's price is not verified. Prices were checked on 12 November 2026 and can change.
Are Character.AI and Chai free?
Character.AI has a free tier; Chai's free tier is not verified.
What are the age limits for Character.AI and Chai?
Character.AI states 18+ on the US App Store; Google Play rates it Teen; Chai states 18+.
Do Character.AI and Chai allow adult content?
Adult content: on Character.AI it is filtered; on Chai it is not allowed.
Who should choose Character.AI or Chai?
Character.AI: Users who want a very large library of user-made characters for role-play and casual chat. Chai: Adults on Android who want quick chats with a large catalogue of user-built characters.

More comparisons

Sources

Facts checked 12 November 2026. Prices and policies change; confirm in the app before you pay. “Not verified” means we could not confirm it from a reliable source.