Character.AI vs Replika (2026): Which to Choose, and Where Candy AI Fits

Character.AI and Replika are two of the best-known names in AI companions, and they are built for different jobs. Character.AI is a huge library of user-created characters that you can browse and chat with for free. Replika has focused on one emotional companion since 2017: it has more than 227,000 App Store ratings, a 3D avatar with an AR mode that no other platform we review offers, and a wellness layer (mood tracking, a diary and coaching activities) at the center of the product. They share a category label, but on most dimensions they are not direct competitors.

That makes the choice easier than it looks once you know what each platform is. People who move from Character.AI to Replika often find it too narrow (one companion when they want variety). People who move from Replika to Character.AI often find it too shallow (characters built for switching, not for a relationship that builds over months). Both reactions are fair for that person's use case, and both miss what the other product does well. This guide helps you decide which one fits before you spend time on the wrong one.

Many people also weigh a third name against these two: Candy AI, the multimedia AI girlfriend platform. So alongside the head-to-head, we show where Candy AI fits, with our scores and a three-way feature table. The Replika and Candy AI details come from our Replika review and Candy AI review: published features, plans and our editorial scores. Character.AI is not a platform we review or score, so we stick to its widely known basics; check its site for current plans and features.

Quick Verdict

Choose Character.AI if you want to browse and chat with a huge library of community-created characters, free everyday SFW chat, and the entertainment-app feel of trying a different character when your mood shifts.

Choose Replika if you want one emotional companion that grows over months and years, built-in wellness tools (mood tracking, a diary and coaching activities), a 3D avatar with AR mode, and a product designed around long-term continuity.

Look at Candy AI instead if neither fits because you want uncensored chat with voice, images and video, 100+ curated characters and a detailed character builder. It is a paid product once its 5-message free account runs out, and it scores 8.5/10 in our ratings, against Replika's 7.4/10.

Character.AI answers "which character do I want to talk to today?" Replika answers "how do I build a long-term relationship with an AI?" If you can say which question matches your use case, the choice is straightforward.

What Each Platform Actually Is

Character.AI: the character library at scale

Character.AI is one of the best-known character chat platforms. The positioning is direct: a huge library of user-built characters spanning fictional, historical and original creations, a free tier for everyday chat, and a browse-and-chat workflow that feels closer to social media than to a traditional chatbot. An optional paid subscription (c.ai+) adds perks such as faster responses.

The distinguishing features:

• A huge library of community characters: characters from books and films, historical figures, original creations, archetypes and almost every niche imaginable
• Create your own: you can write your own characters and share them
• Free to use: you can browse the library and chat without paying
• Browse-and-chat workflow: discovery is as much a part of the product as conversation
• Strict content filter: no NSFW content or explicit roleplay; the platform positions itself as broadly family-friendly
• Built around text chat: the product is centered on typed conversation with characters, not on image or video generation
• Apps on every platform: iOS, Android and the web

Memory: long-term continuity is not the product's focus. A common complaint is that characters lose track of details in long chats and don't carry a relationship forward across sessions, and it is one of the most common reasons people look for alternatives (covered in Character.AI Alternatives).

Pricing: the free tier is the core product; the optional c.ai+ subscription adds quality-of-life perks without changing the core experience. Check the app for current pricing.

Replika: the emotional companion pioneer (since 2017)

Replika launched in 2017 and has more than 227,000 App Store ratings. It started as a project to recreate the conversational patterns of a deceased friend, and it is still built around long-term, emotionally focused conversation. The 3D avatar, voice and AR were added as supporting features rather than as the main draw.

The distinguishing features:

• One companion you build: you create one Replika, name them and customize the 3D avatar, and the relationship builds over months and years
• 3D avatar with AR mode: your companion appears as a customizable 3D model that reacts with facial expressions during chat and calls; AR mode places the avatar in your real-world surroundings through your phone camera
• Mood tracking and diary: built-in tools for logging how you feel and journaling, which the AI can draw on to understand patterns over time
• Coaching activities (Pro): guided conversations around mindfulness, self-reflection, gratitude and personal growth
• Memory across sessions: Replika remembers emotional context from earlier sessions; some memories are visible in its Memory tab, and Ultra can save messages to memory
• Native iOS and Android apps: plus a legacy web app and a Meta Quest VR beta; our UI/UX score for Replika is 9.5/10
• Romantic, not explicit: Pro unlocks romantic partner mode, but Replika's Terms ban obscene or pornographic content

Pricing: chatting is free, with limits on topics and features, and there is no free trial of the paid plans. Paid tiers are Pro, Ultra (an annual plan) and Platinum, with prices shown in the app. The US App Store lists Monthly at $7.99 and $14.99, Annual at $49.99 and $69.99, and Replika Platinum at $89.99, without saying which tier each price belongs to. Lifetime is no longer on the current US App Store list, though existing Lifetime subscriptions include Ultra. Our overall score for Replika is 7.4/10. Full breakdown: Replika review.

Candy AI: the multimedia option people weigh against both

Candy AI sits outside the Character.AI-vs-Replika axis. It is a consumer platform for AI girlfriend experiences with 100+ pre-made characters, each with a backstory, plus a detailed "Create My AI Girlfriend" builder covering ethnicity, age, eyes, hair, body, personality, voice and hobbies. Chat, voice messages, voice calls (beta), image generation and short videos are included, and content is uncensored.

A free account includes 5 messages, one custom character and one image. Premium adds unlimited text chat and 100 tokens a month for voice, images, video and custom characters. Billing is discreet (charges show as "EverAI"), and cards, crypto, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted. There is no native iOS or Android app; Candy AI runs in the browser as an installable web app. Our overall score is 8.5/10. Full breakdown: Candy AI review.

Feature Comparison Table

Character.AI cells stick to its widely known basics. "Not tracked" means we don't review that part of Character.AI.

Our Scores: Replika vs Candy AI

Our scores are editorial ratings from 0 to 10 in eight categories, weighted into an overall score, and they have to agree with what each platform documents (see our methodology). We don't review Character.AI, so it has no score here.

The two tie on chat quality. Replika leads on UI/UX, realism and community; Candy AI leads on image, video and voice and on character depth. For context, the highest overall score we give any platform is 9.1/10, to SweetDream AI.

Head-To-Head: Companionship Model

This is the core difference between Character.AI and Replika, and the one that should drive your pick.

Character.AI's model is variety at scale. You browse a huge library of characters and chat with whichever one fits your mood today: a historical figure for an hour, a fictional character after that, then an original creation by another user. The product is designed for discovery and rotation rather than depth with any single character, which is why long-term memory has never been its focus.

Replika's model is the single deep relationship. You build one Replika at the start, name them, customize their 3D avatar, and the relationship deepens over months and years. The product is designed for continuity: mood tracking the AI can refer back to, diary entries that connect to current conversations, coaching activities that build on each other, and an avatar that becomes "yours" through cumulative customization.

Neither model is better; they serve different needs. If you want to explore characters, Character.AI fits. If you want a relationship that grows, Replika fits. Using Character.AI for a deep relationship tends to frustrate, because it isn't built for it. Using Replika for variety frustrates too, because you only have one companion.

Verdict: Pick Character.AI for character variety. Pick Replika for relationship depth. The choice is structural, not a matter of taste.

Head-To-Head: Memory and Continuity

Memory is the dimension where Character.AI and Replika sit at opposite ends of the AI companion spectrum.

Character.AI is not built for long-term memory. Within a conversation, the model works from the recent chat history. Across sessions, or once a long chat runs past what the model can hold, characters can lose track of details, and if you want a character to remember last week's conversation you may have to reintroduce the context yourself. That fits a product designed for rotating between characters rather than building one relationship.

Replika is built around long-term emotional continuity. Our review notes that it remembers emotional context from earlier sessions and can refer back to past difficulties or progress. Its memory is layered: some memories are visible in the Memory tab, Ultra adds the option to save messages to memory, and the mood tracking, diary and coaching activities all give it more material about you over time.

If your use case needs the AI to remember meaningful detail across sessions (your relationships, your work, your emotional state, your history together), Character.AI is the wrong product and Replika is the better answer of the two. If you want more control over what is remembered, a few platforms let you view and edit your companion's memory, including Nomi AI (Mind Map), Kindroid (editable Learned Context and journal entries) and AI Peeps (editable memory on Peep Pro); see AI Girlfriends with Memory. Candy AI's memory is automatic: it "remembers what matters", and deleting or resetting a chat clears that conversation's memory.

Verdict: Pick Replika for memory and continuity. Pick Character.AI only if memory doesn't matter much for how you use it.

Head-To-Head: NSFW and Content Boundaries

The content policy difference is sharp and consequential.

Character.AI enforces a strict no-NSFW policy. Explicit content is filtered, and romantic roleplay is kept within tight limits. The platform positions itself as broadly family-friendly and keeps the filter in place. People who came to Character.AI for romantic or NSFW chat often leave for this reason; see Character.AI Alternatives for the options.

Replika is romantic, not explicit. Replika's Terms ban obscene or pornographic content. Pro unlocks romantic partner mode and unblurred romantic selfies within those limits. Replika's earlier reversal on erotic roleplay (restricted in early 2023, then partly restored after a backlash) left a lasting trust gap among users who care about explicit content.

Where Candy AI lands: it is uncensored, which is the main reason people who hit Character.AI's filter or Replika's limits look at it.

If your use case includes any meaningful NSFW component, neither Character.AI nor Replika is the right answer. Uncensored options include Candy AI, SweetDream AI (our highest overall score, 9.1/10), SpicyChat AI (the same browse-and-chat format as Character.AI, with 100,000+ community characters) and Muah AI. See Best Uncensored AI Chatbots for the wider picture.

If your use case is SFW only, both work. Character.AI's filter is consistent, and Replika's romantic-but-not-explicit positioning also suits SFW romance.

Verdict: Both restrict NSFW. Skip both for explicit content; either works for SFW. Of the three platforms on this page, Candy AI is the only uncensored one.

Head-To-Head: Multimedia

Neither Character.AI nor Replika is a multimedia leader, but they handle it differently.

Character.AI is centered on text chat. The product is built around typed conversation with a huge library of characters. We don't track its voice and media features, so if generated images, video or calls are what you are after, a multimedia platform is the better fit.

Replika has voice calls on Pro and the 3D avatar throughout. Voice calls are part of Pro. The 3D avatar appears in chat and during calls, and AR mode places it in your real-world surroundings through the phone camera. Pro also includes image generation and selfies, video calls are advertised in its app-store listings (Platinum adds real-time video recognition), and video generation is limited to up to 10 realistic selfie videos on the top Platinum tier. Our Image Generation and Video Generation scores for Replika are both 4.0: it invested in voice and 3D rather than in media generation.

Where Candy AI lands: it bundles chat, voice messages, voice calls (beta), image generation and short videos into one subscription, with media paid from its monthly token allowance. Our scores: 9.0 for Image Generation and 7.5 for Video Generation.

For more than that, SweetDream AI (9.1/10) adds live video calls and Live Cam with featured characters, and AI Peeps (9.0/10) pairs voice, image and video generation with 100,000+ community-created characters.

Verdict: Between Character.AI and Replika, Replika has the documented multimedia: voice calls, the 3D avatar, AR and video calls. For image and video generation, look at Candy AI or the platforms above.

Head-To-Head: Pricing

The three platforms have very different cost structures.

Character.AI pricing: the free tier is the core product and covers everyday chat with the whole character library. The optional c.ai+ subscription adds perks such as faster responses. Check the app for the current price.

Replika pricing: the free tier covers chat with limits on topics and features. Pro unlocks romantic partner mode, voice calls, roleplay during voice and AR calls, coaching activities, and image generation and selfies. Ultra (an annual plan) and Platinum sit above it. The US App Store lists Monthly at $7.99 and $14.99, Annual at $49.99 and $69.99, and Platinum at $89.99; Replika shows the exact price for each tier in the app. Lifetime is no longer on the current US App Store list.

Candy AI pricing: Premium is $13.99/month ($9.99 for the first month), $8.99/month billed $26.97 every 3 months, or $3.99/month billed $47.88 a year (shown as 70% off). Every length includes unlimited text chat and 100 tokens a month for voice, images, video and custom characters, and a Premium Plus tier includes 330 tokens a month. Token top-ups are available.

Real cost comparison:

• At $0/month: Character.AI wins. Its free tier covers the whole character library, while Replika's free tier has topic and feature limits and Candy AI's free account stops at 5 messages.
• On a paid plan: the subscriptions do different jobs. Character.AI's subscription is a quality-of-life upgrade; Replika Pro is a real feature unlock (romantic partner mode, voice calls, coaching); Candy AI Premium is what makes the product usable beyond a first look.
• On annual billing: Replika's annual plan (from $49.99/year on the US App Store) is the value play for committed users. Candy AI's yearly plan ($47.88) costs about the same, but voice, image and video use draws on its 100 monthly tokens.
• Lifetime: no longer on Replika's current US App Store list; existing Lifetime subscriptions include Ultra.

What to watch for:

• Replika: romantic partner mode, voice calls and coaching sit behind Pro, there's no free trial of the paid plans, and Ultra and Platinum cost more.
• Character.AI: the free tier works on its own, so check what the current paid plan adds before upgrading.
• Candy AI: the token system. Heavy users of voice messages, images or video can use up 100 monthly tokens and need top-ups, subscription tokens must be used within their billing period, and card refunds have to be requested within 24 hours and only if 20 or fewer tokens were used (EU and UK withdrawal rights differ).

For monthly budgets across pricing models, see AI Girlfriend Cost in 2026.

Verdict: Character.AI wins on the free tier. Replika's annual plan is the value play for committed users. Candy AI's yearly plan is good value if its token allowance covers the media you use.

Head-To-Head: Mobile Experience

Character.AI and Replika both ship native iOS and Android apps. Candy AI does not; it runs in the browser as an installable web app.

Character.AI's mobile apps deliver the same browse-and-chat experience as the web product, and the free tier works the same way on mobile. The content filter applies everywhere, so there is no mobile-vs-web content gap.

Replika's mobile apps are the platform's main surface, and our UI/UX score for Replika is 9.5/10. The 3D avatar, AR mode and the wellness routine (daily check-ins, mood tracking, short reflective conversations) all map naturally to phone use. The trade-off is the content rules: romance is available on Pro, explicit content is not.

For the wider mobile picture, see Best AI Girlfriend Apps for iPhone & iOS and Best AI Girlfriend Apps for Android.

Verdict: Both have native apps. For a phone-first daily routine, Replika is the one built around it. If you want Candy AI, plan on using it in the browser.

Where Candy AI Fits

If Character.AI's filter rules it out and Replika's single wellness companion isn't what you want, Candy AI is the third common option. Here is how it compares with each.

Replika vs Candy AI

Replika is emotional depth with limited media. Candy AI is a multimedia AI girlfriend with strong chat.

• For multimedia (images, voice, video): Candy AI. Replika offers voice calls on Pro, but its image generation is limited (our score 4.0 vs Candy AI's 9.0) and its video generation is limited to a few selfie videos on the Platinum tier.
• For wellness and a 3D avatar with AR: Replika. Candy AI has no 3D avatar, AR mode or mood tracking.
• For NSFW and uncensored content: Candy AI. Replika's Terms prohibit explicit content.
• For pricing predictability: Replika, with annual plans from $49.99/year on the US App Store. Candy AI's token system means heavy users of voice, images or video may need top-ups.
• For character building: Candy AI. Its builder covers ethnicity, age, eyes, hair, body, personality, voice and hobbies; Replika's customization focuses on the 3D avatar (hairstyles, outfits, facial features, accessories).
• For native apps: Replika, on iOS and Android. Candy AI is browser only.
• For privacy at checkout: Candy AI documents discreet billing (charges show as "EverAI") and crypto payment.

Verdict: Pick Replika for the wellness-oriented emotional companion with a 3D avatar. Pick Candy AI for an uncensored multimedia AI girlfriend. More detail: Replika vs Candy AI and Replika Alternatives.

Character.AI vs Candy AI

Free character variety vs a paid multimedia experience: different price models, different content policies, different goals.

• For free use: Character.AI. Its free tier is ongoing; Candy AI's free account stops at 5 messages, then it's a subscription.
• For NSFW or romantic roleplay: Candy AI. Character.AI filters explicit content; Candy AI is uncensored.
• For multimedia (images, voice, video): Candy AI, which bundles all three into one subscription. Character.AI is built around chatting with characters.
• For character variety: Character.AI. A huge community library vs Candy AI's curated 100+.
• For consistency between characters: Candy AI. Its curated characters each come with a backstory and a consistent look; community-made characters vary widely.
• For the kind of use: Candy AI fits a relationship-style companion; Character.AI fits exploration and entertainment.

Verdict: Pick Character.AI for free SFW character chat and discovery. Pick Candy AI for a paid, uncensored multimedia AI girlfriend. If you want Character.AI's format without the filter, see Character.AI Alternatives.

Use-Case Winners

"Skip The Others If..." Quick Decision Callouts

Skip Replika if: your priority is character variety, free everyday chat, or a browse-and-chat discovery experience. Replika's single-companion model can't match Character.AI's free tier and library size.

Skip Character.AI if: your priority is long-term continuity, wellness features, a 3D avatar, voice calls, or romantic content beyond mild flirting. Replika is built for these; Character.AI is not.

Skip both and look at Candy AI if: you want an uncensored multimedia AI girlfriend with a real character builder and discreet billing, and you're happy to pay for it.

Skip all three if: you want live video calls and Live Cam with featured characters (SweetDream AI, our highest overall score at 9.1/10), Character.AI's browse-and-chat format without the filter (SpicyChat AI, with 100,000+ community characters and unlimited free text), a large community library plus voice, image and video generation (AI Peeps, 9.0/10), or custom voices from your own audio (AI Peeps, Kindroid or Nomi AI).

Migration Paths

People who switch between Character.AI and Replika usually do so for specific reasons:

Character.AI → Replika typically happens when someone wants long-term continuity, gets frustrated by characters that don't remember, or wants the wellness companion experience. The move trades character variety for relationship depth. It's a common transition when the use case shifts from "explore characters" to "build a relationship."

Replika → Character.AI typically happens when someone wants character variety, gets bored of the single-companion model, or wants free everyday chat without paying for Pro. The move trades emotional depth for breadth. If the reason for leaving Replika is images, video or uncensored content, multimedia platforms such as SweetDream AI or Candy AI fit better than Character.AI.

Characters, chat history and memories don't transfer between platforms, so plan on rebuilding your setup. For a step-by-step approach, see the AI girlfriend platform migration guide. For wider options, see Character.AI Alternatives and Replika Alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Character.AI or Replika?

They are different products with different right answers. Character.AI is the pick for free SFW character variety and discovery. Replika is the pick for long-term emotional companionship with a 3D avatar and wellness features. The use-case table above maps each need to a winner; neither is better for everyone.

Can I use Character.AI and Replika at the same time?

Yes. A common setup is Character.AI's free tier for casual character chat and a Replika paid plan for the deep companion relationship. Replika's annual plans are listed at $49.99 or $69.99 a year on the US App Store, which works out to about $4.17 to $5.83 a month, so with Character.AI on its free tier the combined cost stays under $6 a month. If you also want to see Candy AI, its free account (5 messages, one custom character, one image) is enough for a first look.

Which has better memory?

Replika. Character.AI is designed for switching between characters, and long-term memory is not its focus. Replika is built around memory across sessions: emotional context, mood patterns and diary entries it can refer back to, some memories visible in the Memory tab, and save-to-memory on Ultra. If memory is a priority, Character.AI is the wrong product.

Does Character.AI allow NSFW?

No. The platform enforces a strict no-NSFW policy, explicit content is filtered, and its family-friendly positioning depends on that. If NSFW is your priority, plan on a different platform rather than waiting for Character.AI to change; see Character.AI Alternatives.

Does Replika allow NSFW?

Only up to a point. Pro unlocks romantic partner mode and unblurred romantic selfies, but Replika's Terms ban obscene or pornographic content, and its content rules have shifted over the years. If your use case is mainly NSFW, neither Replika nor Character.AI is the right answer; see Best Uncensored AI Chatbots.

Which is best for NSFW: Replika, Character.AI or Candy AI?

Candy AI. It is the only one of the three that is uncensored: Character.AI filters explicit content, and Replika's Terms prohibit it.

Which is cheaper?

Character.AI, because its free tier is the core product and covers everyday chat with the whole library. Replika's free tier is more limited, and its paid plans start at $7.99/month or $49.99/year on the US App Store. Candy AI's free account is 5 messages; Premium is $13.99/month or $3.99/month billed $47.88 a year. Replika's Lifetime option is no longer on its current US App Store list.

Why are Character.AI conversations so short or repetitive?

Every chatbot works from a limited window of recent conversation, and Character.AI is designed around rotating between characters rather than building one relationship, so long chats can lose earlier details. If you want longer, continuous conversations, look at Replika or a platform with editable memory: Nomi AI lets you view and edit memories in its Mind Map, and AI Peeps lets you view and edit stored memories on Peep Pro.

Why does Replika feel limited compared to Character.AI?

The single-companion model. Replika gives you one companion to deepen with rather than a library to browse. If you want variety, that feels limiting. If you want depth, that is the whole point.

Can I import my Character.AI characters into Replika?

No. Characters don't transfer between platforms. Replika's product model is a single Replika you build, not a library of imported characters.

Are Character.AI and Replika safe?

Both are established companies that publish privacy policies and terms of service. Replika has the longer track record (since 2017). Character.AI uses a strict content filter, but community characters vary widely in tone, and it has tightened its rules for younger users over time, so parental judgement still applies. Candy AI is an adult platform. Check each platform's current terms for exact age rules, and whichever you use, avoid sharing sensitive personal details. For more, see Are AI Girlfriend Apps Safe?

Should I pay for Character.AI's subscription?

For most people, no. The free tier already covers everyday chat with the whole library; the subscription adds perks such as faster responses without changing the core experience. It's mainly worth it for heavy users who find waits at busy times annoying.

Should I get Replika Pro?

It depends on your use case. The free tier gives you chat with topic limits and avatar customization; Pro unlocks romantic partner mode, voice calls, roleplay during voice and AR calls, coaching activities, and image generation and selfies. If you want the full wellness companion experience or romantic interaction, Pro is the right pick, and annual billing (from $49.99/year on the US App Store) is the value play. If you only want basic chat with the 3D avatar, free is enough.

Is Candy AI better than Character.AI or Replika?

It depends on what you want. Candy AI has the higher overall score of the two we rate (8.5/10 vs Replika's 7.4/10), and it leads on images, video, voice and character building. But it has no free tier beyond 5 messages, no native app and no wellness features, and it uses tokens for media. Choose it for uncensored multimedia; choose Character.AI for free character variety and Replika for a long-term wellness companion.

Which has the most realistic conversations?

Replika and Candy AI tie on our chat quality score (9.0 each), and Replika scores higher for realism (9.0 vs 8.5), in line with its focus on emotional continuity. Candy AI's strength is multimodal: conversation, voice, images and video around the same character. On Character.AI, quality depends on the character: well-made community characters can be very good, others are uneven.

What's the best alternative if I want both character variety and multimedia?

A few platforms combine a large character library with multimedia. AI Peeps pairs 100,000+ community-created characters and a free tier of 30 messages a day with voice, image and video generation (our score: 9.0/10). Candy AI offers 100+ curated characters plus a builder, with chat, voice, images and video (8.5/10). SpicyChat AI has hundreds of thousands of community characters, though its media is limited to conversation images and text-to-speech on paid tiers (7.8/10). For multimedia that includes live video calls, see SweetDream AI, our highest overall score (9.1/10).

What about Muah AI, Nectar AI or SweetDream AI?

Each is a legitimate alternative that stands out in specific areas, and we compare them with Candy AI in Muah AI vs Candy AI, Nectar AI vs Candy AI and SweetDream vs Candy AI. For Replika specifically, see Replika vs SweetDream AI and Nomi AI vs Replika.

Bottom Line

Two of the best-known brands in AI companions, two completely different products, and a third option for people who want neither.

Character.AI = the character library at scale. A huge library of community characters, a free tier that covers everyday chat, and a browse-and-chat discovery model. The right pick if you want variety, free SFW use or character-rotation roleplay. The wrong pick if you want continuity, romantic content or multimedia.

Replika = the emotional companion pioneer. One relationship that grows over years, a 3D avatar with AR, wellness features (mood tracking, diary, coaching), memory across sessions and native mobile apps. The right pick if you want a relationship that builds up over time or the wellness layer. The wrong pick if you want character variety or explicit content.

Candy AI = the multimedia girlfriend. 100+ curated characters plus a detailed builder, uncensored chat, voice, images and video, and discreet billing, with the higher overall score of the two we rate (8.5/10). The right pick if you want a polished, uncensored AI girlfriend and are willing to pay.

Still not sure? Try them in this order, all at $0:

1. Character.AI's free tier for a week, to see whether the variety-and-browse experience suits you and whether the lack of long-term memory bothers you.
2. Replika's free tier for a week, to see whether the single wellness companion speaks to you.
3. Candy AI's free account, to see whether multimedia and the builder are what you actually want.

If Character.AI and Replika both appeal for different reasons, run them in parallel: Character.AI free plus a Replika annual plan (from $49.99/year on the US App Store) is a reasonable two-platform setup.

For decision support beyond this comparison, see How to Choose an AI Girlfriend App, Replika vs SweetDream AI and Replika vs Candy AI.