Replika Review 2026 — Still the Easiest Way In, No Longer the Best

Replika

The most generous free version; the paid one feels dated next to newer apps.

4.0 Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Visit the site: replika.com

  • Best for Trying the category for free
  • Platforms Web, iOS, Android
  • Price from $19.99/month
  • Free tier Yes
  • Launched 2017
  • Rating 4 / 5

Replika is the app that made AI companions mainstream. I used the free tier and then Pro for two weeks. The free version is still the friendliest door into this category. The paid one feels a generation behind Candy AI and Nomi.

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Our verdict

Best on-ramp in the category, not the best companion. Use the free tier to learn the shape of these apps. If you are ready to pay, the ranking is the better shopping list.

Pros

  • Most usable free chat of any veteran app
  • Real iOS and Android apps, not a wrapper
  • Mood, journal and avatar tools beginners actually use
  • Does not shove explicit content at you

Cons

  • Paid plan feels dated next to Candy AI and Nomi
  • NSFW is blocked on newer accounts
  • Memory trails the top of this ranking
  • Pro is expensive for what you get

Why it is still on the list

Most people who type “AI girlfriend” into a store land here first. Native iOS and Android apps, a 3D avatar, mood tracking, a journal. It does not try to be uncensored Candy AI. It tries to be a polite companion you could leave on the home screen without explaining it.

That is a real product. It is just no longer the most capable one.

Free Pro (listed ~$19.99/mo)
Text chat Unlimited basic Better model, relationship modes
Avatar / AR Yes Yes
Voice Limited Unlocked
NSFW Blocked on newer accounts Still tightly filtered
Memory Fine for a few days Better, still behind Nomi

Two weeks on Pro

Conversation is warm and safe. It asks how you are. It does not push a scene. After a week the memory held first names and a couple of routines; it did not bring back a small detail from day two the way Nomi did. Images and customisation trail Candy AI by a wide margin.

Content policy is the other split. Accounts created after early 2023 sit behind a hard NSFW block. If that is why you opened this ranking, skip Replika. If you want a mainstream, wellbeing-leaning companion, it is still the least embarrassing install in the family.

Who should pay

Pay if you already like the free chat and want voice plus relationship modes. Do not pay hoping it will catch Candy or Nomi. The extra money buys polish on the same personality, not a different product.

The free tier is the reason it still belongs in a beginner conversation. The paid plan is why it does not belong in the top seven.

After the 2023 policy change

I tested a new account, because that is what a reader signing up tonight gets. Do not buy Pro on a YouTube review filmed in 2022.

Frequently asked questions

Is Replika still worth it in 2026?

The free tier is. Pro is only worth it if you already live in the app and want voice and relationship modes. For a paid AI girlfriend, start with the ranking instead.

Does Replika allow NSFW?

Not on accounts created after February 2023. The filter is at the model, not a toggle you can flip. If uncensored chat is the point, look at Secret Desires or Joi.

Is Replika free?

Yes for basic text chat, avatar and journaling. Voice and relationship modes sit on Pro. Check the product card above for the current Pro price.