# Replika alternatives: five options, and who each one suits Canonical: https://heyaifriend.com/alternatives/replika-alternatives/ Last updated: 2026-10-17 heyaifriend is a free AI friend you talk to in Telegram, and one of five Replika alternatives compared here. The others are Nomi, Kindroid, Character.AI and Pi. The table is alphabetical, and we say where each one is the better pick. We make heyaifriend, so we are not neutral. We say where the others do better, and every fact below carries its source and the date we checked it. Last updated 17 October 2026. Every fact in the table was checked on that date unless the source line says otherwise. ## Why look elsewhere People move on from Replika for different reasons: price, features that sit behind a paid plan, or a feel they no longer like. We make heyaifriend, one of the options below, so treat this as a guide from a participant. We have tried to be fair, and every fact has a source and a date in the table. You can read the head-to-head in [Replika vs heyaifriend](https://heyaifriend.com/compare/replika-vs-heyaifriend/). For what Replika's policy says about your chats, see our [privacy table](https://heyaifriend.com/blog/ai-companion-privacy-comparison/#privacy-replika). For the wider field, keep reading. ## Nomi: the closest in spirit Nomi is a paid companion that leans on memory, with calls, voice messages and group chats on top. It is the best match if you liked the feel of a dedicated companion and want more depth. It costs $15.99 a month in the US, more than Replika's lowest listed price, and its free allowance is described differently by different reviewers. Our [Nomi comparison](https://heyaifriend.com/compare/nomi-vs-heyaifriend/) goes deeper. ## Kindroid: the most customisable Kindroid is for people who like to shape things. It sells memory add-ons and voice options and lets you tune a lot. The catch for newcomers: it retired its free plan on 2026-10-01. New accounts get a one-time preview of 50 messages and then need a trial, which asks for a payment method. If you want to tinker and are happy to pay, it is a strong choice. If you only want to see whether this is for you, it is a hard place to start. ## Character.AI: the biggest choice Character.AI is less a companion and more a library of characters. Free messaging is unlimited with ads, and c.ai+ costs $9.99 a month. It is the best pick for stories and roleplay and the weakest fit if you want one steady friend. See [Character.AI vs heyaifriend](https://heyaifriend.com/compare/character-ai-vs-heyaifriend/). ## Pi: the calm, free one Pi, from Inflection, is listed as free in the App Store and describes itself as a personal intelligence partner you can vent to, think out loud with and set reminders in. It is positioned as an assistant with warmth rather than a companion with a persona. We could not verify how it handles memory. On privacy, its policy says it trains on conversations by default with an opt-out in account settings, that inputs are gone at most 15 days after deletion, and that replies are kept longer for limited purposes. Check both before relying on it. ## Five Replika alternatives side by side | Option | Price | Platform | Memory | Privacy stance | Free tier | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Character.AI | c.ai+ $9.99 a month or $94.99 a year. | Website and apps. | Basic on free, better on paid plans. | Lists training its models on user content as a use, with an opt-out for people in the EEA and UK. May disclose data to advertising and analytics providers. | Unlimited messaging with ads. | | heyaifriend | Free to use. | Telegram. No separate app. | Your friend remembers you. Ask what it remembers or to forget. | Own servers in the Netherlands. Never sent to other AI companies, never used for training. Not end-to-end encrypted. | Everything is free, with a daily message limit. | | Kindroid | $13.99 a month on the web, $15.99 in the apps. | Website and mobile apps. | Memory add-ons are sold separately. | Encrypted at rest and in transit, but says it is not end-to-end encrypted. Authorized staff may review excerpts flagged by safety systems. Training not stated. | Retired on 2026-10-01. New accounts get 50 messages, then a trial that needs a payment method. | | Nomi | $15.99 a month or $99.99 a year (US App Store listing). | Website and mobile app. | Its main selling point. | Says it does not sell or rent personal information. Training not clearly stated: deletion terms mention "our training archives". | Free to start. Reports differ on the exact limits. | | Pi | Free in the App Store. | Website and mobile apps. | We could not verify how it remembers. | Trains on conversations by default, with an opt-out in account settings. Inputs are gone at most 15 days after deletion; replies are kept longer for limited purposes. Says it does not sell or share data for advertising. | Free. | | Last checked | 2026-10-17 | 2026-10-17 | 2026-10-17 | 2026-10-17 | 2026-10-17 | Last checked 2026-10-17. Prices are US list prices in dollars and change often; check the page named in the sources before you buy anything. - Source links are listed in the Sources section below the comparison. ## heyaifriend: the simplest to start Our friend lives in Telegram, so there is nothing to install and nothing to sign up for. It is free to use, with a daily message limit. Your friend remembers you, and you control that by asking: what it remembers, to forget something, for a copy, or to delete everything. What we do not have: an avatar, voice calls, images, or a cast of characters. If those matter, pick another option from this list. ## How to choose - **You want depth and extras and will pay:** Nomi or Kindroid. - **You want stories and variety on a free plan:** Character.AI. - **You want a calm assistant-style chat:** Pi. - **You want free, simple and already in your phone:** heyaifriend. If you are leaving Character.AI instead, see [Character.AI alternatives](https://heyaifriend.com/alternatives/character-ai-alternatives/). Everything we have written is collected on the [comparison hub](https://heyaifriend.com/compare/). None of these companies, including ours, can promise you a conversation as private as a secret chat. Use judgment about what you share. ## Sources - Character.AI plans and free tier: [support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/55845963766555-C-ai-FAQ](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/55845963766555-C-ai-FAQ) (read 2026-10-17) - Character.AI privacy policy: [character.ai/privacy](https://character.ai/privacy) (effective 2026-07-01) - Replika plans, for comparison: [help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/39551043419149-Choosing-a-Subscription](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/39551043419149-Choosing-a-Subscription) (read 2026-10-17) - Kindroid plans: [kindroid.ai/v2/docs/subscriptions/](https://kindroid.ai/v2/docs/subscriptions/) (read 2026-10-17) - Kindroid privacy and legal: [kindroid.ai/v2/docs/kindroid-legal/](https://kindroid.ai/v2/docs/kindroid-legal/) (policy effective 2026-10-06) - Kindroid free tier ending: [companionhunt.com/news/kindroid-free-tier/](https://companionhunt.com/news/kindroid-free-tier/) (third-party report, unverified) - Kindroid privacy FAQ rewrite: [elizareport.com/changelog/2026-09-26-kindroid-privacy-faq-rewrite/](https://elizareport.com/changelog/2026-09-26-kindroid-privacy-faq-rewrite/) (third-party report, unverified) - Pi in the App Store: [apps.apple.com/us/app/pi-your-personal-ai/id6445815935](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pi-your-personal-ai/id6445815935) (read 2026-10-17) - Pi privacy policy: [inflection.ai/privacy-policy](https://inflection.ai/privacy-policy) (last updated 2026-08-11) - Nomi privacy policy: [nomi.ai/privacy-policy/](https://nomi.ai/privacy-policy/) (effective 2026-04-27) - Nomi in the US App Store (prices and features): [apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929) (read 2026-10-18) - Our own table of ten privacy policies: [heyaifriend.com/blog/ai-companion-privacy-comparison/](https://heyaifriend.com/blog/ai-companion-privacy-comparison/) (published 2026-10-17) ## Questions people ask ### What is the best free Replika alternative? It depends on what you mean by free. Character.AI offers unlimited free messaging with ads. Pi is listed as free in the App Store. heyaifriend is free to use, with a daily message limit. Kindroid retired its free plan on 2026-10-01. ### Why do people leave Replika? The reasons we saw in public posts were price changes, a paywall for features that used to be free, and memory that felt short. Those are opinions from users, not facts we can verify, so weigh them accordingly. ### Is there a Replika alternative that works in Telegram? Yes, heyaifriend. Your friend lives in a Telegram chat, so there is no new app to install and no signup form. ### Which alternative has the best memory? Nomi and Kindroid both put memory at the centre of their pitch, and Kindroid sells memory add-ons. We have not run a controlled test, so try the free options for a week before you pay. ### Are these alternatives private? Each company states its own policy and they differ. We list the main point for each in the table. None of them, including us, is end-to-end encrypted in the way a secret chat is, so do not share anything you would not put in an email. ## Want to try a free one? Say hi in Telegram. No app to install, no signup form. Questions? Write to [hi@heyaifriend.com](mailto:hi@heyaifriend.com).