Why it's still worth a mention
For lots of people, Replika is the first thing that pops up when they search the app store for an AI companion. It comes with genuine phone apps, an animated 3D avatar, a daily mood check-in and a journal. Rather than chasing the uncensored crowd like Candy AI, it's pitched as a courteous companion you wouldn't be embarrassed to have on your phone.
There's nothing fake about that. It's simply been overtaken on capability.
| Feature | On the free plan | On Pro (roughly US$19.99 a month) |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging | Basic, with no cap | Smarter replies and relationship settings |
| Avatar and AR | Included | Included |
| Voice | Restricted | Fully open |
| Adult content | Off for recent sign-ups | Still heavily filtered |
| Recall | Lasts a few days | Longer, though short of Nomi |
What a fortnight on Pro felt like
Chatting with it is pleasant and never risky; it wants to know how your day went and won't steer you into a scenario. A week in, it had kept hold of names and a couple of habits, yet a throwaway comment from my second day never came back, something Nomi handled without fuss. Image quality and customisation are nowhere near Candy AI.
Then there's the content policy. Sign up after early 2023 and you'll hit a hard NSFW block, so anyone reading this ranking for that reason should move on. Anyone after a mainstream companion with a wellbeing slant will find it one of the least awkward apps to keep installed.
Is the upgrade worth it?
Only if the free chat already suits you and you want voice calls and relationship settings on top. Upgrading won't turn it into Candy AI or Nomi. What you're paying for is a smoother version of the same character, not a different app.
That's the whole story in two lines: the free plan earns Replika a spot in any beginner's guide, and Pro is the reason it misses our top seven.
Why our test used a new account
Everyone signing up now gets the post-2023 version, so that's what I tested. If a video review from 2022 is tempting you towards Pro, remember it's describing an app that no longer exists in that form.
