Character AI
Rating source: app-store aggregate, re-verification pending. See methodology.
The largest character-chat platform by a wide margin, with millions of user-made AI personas across every fandom, trope, and personality type. Safe-for-work by default, which narrows roleplay compared to uncensored competitors but makes it the only app in the top 10 that's genuinely free for serious daily use. Best entry point for anyone who doesn't want to pay to try the category.
Character AI key facts
| Price | Free / $9.99/mo |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Adult content | Not the focus / restricted |
| Official site | character.ai/ |
Facts current as of . Spotted something stale? The change timeline below records every correction.
Memory benchmark
Not yet benchmarked. We run every companion through the same published memory test: the same facts planted at increasing distance, then probed. No score appears here until a real run exists, and every score links to its raw data. How the benchmark works.
Character AI pricing
Current price: Free / $9.99/mo (Freemium). Prices in this category change quietly and often; any price change we record appears as a dated entry in the timeline below, so this page doubles as Character AI's price history.
Character AI change timeline
Every recorded price, model, policy, and feature change, newest first. This is the record we maintain for every companion: what you sign up for today is rarely what the app was a year ago.
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model being verified
Roar model replaced by PipSqueak 2
Character AI swapped its Roar model for PipSqueak 2. Model swaps on character platforms change how every existing character writes, which is why users experience them as personality changes rather than upgrades.
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feature being verified
Swipes, playbacks, and Memos removed
Character AI removed several long-standing features (alternate-reply swipes, playbacks, Memos) in a series of early-2026 changes that free-tier users experienced as a steady narrowing of the product.
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policy being verified
Character AI rolls out age verification via Persona
Following the under-18 ban, Character AI began requiring age verification through Persona, including ID or face-scan checks for flagged accounts. Backlash contributed to the iOS App Store rating falling sharply.
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policy being verified
Character AI ends open-ended chat for under-18 users
Character AI announced that users under 18 lose access to open-ended companion chat, with age verification to follow. One of the largest policy changes in the category's history, affecting a substantial share of its user base.
Character AI alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is Character AI still free?
Yes, Character AI has a free tier, with a c.ai+ subscription at $9.99/month for faster responses and perks. The free tier has been restricted several times during 2026; each change is recorded in the timeline on this page.
Did Character AI ban users under 18?
Character AI announced in late 2025 that users under 18 would lose access to open-ended companion chat, with age verification rolling out afterwards. See the change timeline on this page for the dated sequence.