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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 Replika

Character.AI's lowest verified plan is $9.99 a month. Replika's price is not verified. Character.AI states a minimum age of 18+ on the US App Store; Google Play rates it Teen; Replika states 18+ (Google Play rates it Teen). We found 2 verified differences between them, listed below.

Character.AI vs Replika: side by side

Character.AIReplika
Price fromfrom $9.99 a month (Character.AI+ (c.ai+))Not verified
Free tierYesYes
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android, Web
Minimum age18+ on the US App Store; Google Play rates it Teen18+ (Google Play rates it Teen)
Adult contentFilteredNot allowed
Voice✓ Yes✓ Yes
ImagesNot verified✓ Yes
MemoryNot verified✓ Yes
Group chatNot verifiedNot verified
Custom characters✓ Yes✓ Yes
Video✓ Yes✓ Yes
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.Adults-only service that asks for date of birth at sign-up, reserves the right to use age-assurance measures and deletes accounts found to belong to under-18s.
CompanyCharacter Technologies, Inc.Luka, Inc.
Launched20222017

Key differences

  • Minimum age: Character.AI states 18+ on the US App Store; Google Play rates it Teen; Replika states 18+ (Google Play rates it Teen).
  • Adult content: filtered on Character.AI; not allowed on Replika.

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 Replika if…

Adults who want a single long-running, customisable companion focused on conversation and emotional support.

Replika: full profile →

Frequently asked questions

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

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.