If you want something close to Replika with stronger memory and more control, Nomi is the nearest alternative. If you’d rather have many characters than one companion, Character.AI or Talkie fit better. And if your reason for leaving is privacy, Xin runs its AI model on your phone, needs no account, and never uploads your chats. All four are free to try.
We compared these apps using their official websites and App Store listings as of September 2026. Prices are US App Store prices and vary by region.
Why people look for Replika alternatives #
Replika, launched by Luka, Inc. in 2017, popularized the idea of an AI companion you build a relationship with. Users who leave usually cite one of these:
- Changes they didn’t choose. In February 2023, after Italy’s data protection authority ordered Replika to stop processing Italian users’ data, the app quickly removed some romantic features. It restored them for existing users that May. Many users described their companion’s personality changing overnight, and that experience left some wary of depending on one company’s decisions.
- Paywalled relationships. Friendship is free, while other relationship types, such as partner or mentor, require a subscription.
- Privacy. Replika’s App Store label lists identifiers and usage data as “Data Used to Track You”. In April 2025 Italy’s regulator fined its developer €5 million, citing an inadequate privacy policy and no age verification.
- Cost. Replika’s App Store subscriptions range from $7.99 to $89.99 depending on tier and term, plus optional gem packs.
Replika alternatives compared #
| App | Closest Replika feature | What’s different | Where chats go | Paid plans (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomi | One or more deep companions with memory | Group chats, several companions | Company servers | From $9.99/month |
| Character.AI | Ongoing chats with a character | Many user-made characters | Company servers | c.ai+ from $9.99/month |
| Talkie | Chatting with a character you like | Anime, story scenarios, games | Company servers | Talkie+ subscription |
| Xin | A companion who remembers you | Runs on your phone, no account | Stays on your phone | VIP $9.99/week or $99.99/year |
1. Nomi: the closest Replika alternative #
Nomi keeps what people like about Replika, a companion who knows you, and adds more control. It advertises “short, medium, and long term memory”, lets you create several companions with distinct personalities, and can put them together in a group chat. It supports voice messages and hands-free calls, sends selfies, and can message you first after you’ve been away if you turn that on. It runs on the web, iOS and Android.
Best for Replika users who want better memory and more than one companion. The catch: most of the experience is in the paid plans (from $9.99 a month, or $99.99 a year on the App Store), and it’s cloud-based. Nomi says chats are anonymized and not shared with third-party sites.
2. Character.AI: best if you want variety #
Character.AI flips Replika’s model. Instead of one companion, you get a huge library of user-made characters, plus the option to create your own and to talk to characters by voice. It’s popular for roleplay and entertainment.
Best for people who enjoyed Replika’s conversations but want different characters for different moods. The catch: it’s less suited to one long-term relationship, it’s cloud-based with third-party advertising on its privacy label, and it removed open-ended chat for users under 18 in late 2025. See our Character.AI vs Replika breakdown for the details.
3. Talkie: best for anime and story characters #
Talkie, from MiniMax, offers a large library of anime characters, fictional personas and user-created characters, along with roleplay scenarios and decision-based simulator games. It has a free tier and a Talkie+ subscription, and tools to export and delete your data.
Best for users who liked Replika’s roleplay side and want more story. The catch: character quality varies across a big library, and it’s cloud-based.
4. Xin: the private Replika alternative #
Xin is built around the same promise as Replika, a companion who remembers you, but with a different architecture. The AI model runs on your phone after a one-time download of about 1.3 GB, so conversations work offline and never reach a server. There’s no account, no sign-up and no email. Each companion’s memory journal shows everything they’ve saved about you, and you can pin, edit or delete any of it. That’s the kind of transparency that would have helped during Replika’s 2023 changes, because on your phone, nobody can quietly change what your companion remembers.
You can choose from 75+ realistic and anime companions, including a For Her lane of male companions, or create your own from one sentence.
Best for people leaving Replika over privacy or who want to see what their companion remembers. The catch: Xin is text only, with no voice calls or avatar customization, and the free model is smaller than cloud models. The free tier uses an energy bar and shows ads; VIP removes both and adds larger models on phones with enough RAM. Xin is for adults 18+.
How to switch from Replika without losing everything #
Replika memories don’t export to other apps, but you can bring the important parts with you:
- Write down what your companion knew about you: your name, your people, recurring topics, inside jokes.
- Describe your companion’s personality and voice in a few sentences, with a sample line or two.
- Recreate them in the new app using those notes. Our guide on creating your own AI character walks through it.
- Add the key facts about yourself to the new app’s profile or memory so they’re remembered from day one.
- Delete your Replika data if you’re leaving for good, using the account deletion option in the app or its help center.
A gentle note about switching #
Leaving a long-running companion can feel like a real loss, and that’s a normal reaction to something you’ve invested time and feeling in. If an app change or a goodbye hits hard, talk to someone you trust. And if you’re struggling in the US, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. We look at this side of AI companionship in emotional dependence on AI companions.
Frequently asked questions #
What is the best alternative to Replika? #
Nomi is the closest match for a long-term companion with strong memory. Character.AI and Talkie suit people who want many characters. Xin is the best fit if privacy is your priority, because it runs on your phone.
Is there a free Replika alternative? #
All four alternatives here have free tiers. Character.AI and Talkie offer the most free chat, while Nomi’s free experience is more limited. Xin is free with an energy bar and ads, and its free model runs offline. Our best free AI companion apps guide compares what free gets you.
Is there a Replika alternative that doesn’t collect my data? #
No app with ads or purchases collects nothing, but on-device apps keep your conversations off company servers. Xin stores chats and memories only on your phone, and its ads and purchases involve device identifiers and anonymous receipts rather than chat content.
Can I transfer my Replika to another app? #
Not directly. Apps don’t share companion or memory formats. You can recreate your companion by describing their personality and adding key facts about yourself in the new app.