In our Replika review, the verdict was best starting point, not best companion. You get plenty of free chat, sound iOS and Android apps, and no pressure towards explicit material. Its shortfalls are what push people to look around.
From the gap to the app
Name what's missing and the answer follows.
| The gap | Try this | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Memory and depth of conversation | Nomi | Longest-lasting memory in our whole test, and it rarely slips out of character |
| A free plan worth using | Sweetdream | Only free tier in our ranking that ran long enough for a fair verdict |
| A real phone app with a warm feel | Kupid AI | Native iOS and Android apps, characters built around romance |
| Images and voice under one bill | Candy AI | Chat, steady images and voice, all included in the standard plan |
| Detailed control over a character | Camsoda AI | A six-step builder with hard limits, and memory held per character |
| Adult roleplay | Read best NSFW AI girlfriend apps | Replika blocks NSFW on newer accounts |
The picks up close
Nomi, if the conversation was your reason for staying. Valued being remembered? Nomi is the upgrade. During our test, a small detail from day two came back on its own in week two. The price is higher than most on this list, and images are an afterthought. See the full comparison in which AI girlfriend remembers best.
Sweetdream, if cost is what's putting you off. Its free plan is a proper product rather than a teaser, and chats open with a scene, not a questionnaire. Memory is shorter than Nomi's, and it repeats itself over long sessions.
Kupid AI, if you liked the phone-first feel. As with Replika, the apps are native, and characters tend to be affectionate rather than explicit. Premium plans cost a lot, and memory is shallower than at the top.
Candy AI, if text alone isn't enough. It was the only app in our tests where chat, images of one consistent character and voice replies all came on a single bill. Expect a cluttered interface and a slim free plan.
Where Replika still wins
- Beginner features: mood tracking, a journal and avatar options that new users really do use.
- Feel: it doesn't nudge conversations towards sex, which suits plenty of people.
- Free chat: the most workable free chat among the veteran apps we tried.
If those are your favourites, keeping the free plan and adding a second app for the missing piece makes sense.
Bringing her along, more or less
No app exports to another, but a character is mostly a description. Before cancelling:
- Note down her personality, backstory, speech style and the shared memories that count.
- Save three or four exchanges that capture her voice.
- If you'd like a full record, ask Replika for your data. Australian privacy law lets you ask an organisation for access to your personal information, and our guide on how to request your data walks through it.
- Recreate her in the new app, then wait a week before passing judgement.
Switching AI companion apps has the full method, and our ranking puts all eight tested apps side by side.
