PolyBuzz review
A vast user-built character library, free to start, with ad breaks and short memory
Edited by Troy · Published
Pick PolyBuzz if you want a free, enormous library of user-built characters and the option to make and share your own. Skip it if you need a character to remember a long story, or if ad breaks every few dozen messages and broad data sharing with ad partners are deal-breakers.
- Best for
- Free roleplay with community-made characters you can also build yourself
- Pricing
- Free to download with in-app purchases on iOS and Google Play at this review. PolyBuzz publishes no subscription prices in the official sources checked for this review.
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
Overall: Microwaved
0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below.
55/100
Prose
Does it write like a person? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app.
Memory
Cafeteria
70
Free chats forget about twenty messages back, and the paid permanent memory holds 200 characters per box, with users reporting amnesia around message 40 and lost memories.
Asks: Does it remember you?
Characters
Microwaved
50
Most of the claimed 20 million characters are user-built, so each personality rests on whatever its creator wrote.
Asks: Does everyone sound the same?
Story
Does anything happen? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app.
Pricing
Cafeteria
68
Free to download with in-app purchases and no published price, and App Store reviewers describe a mid-chat break prompt that asks you to pay or watch ads.
Asks: Does it charge you for caring?
Art
Home-cooked
32
The character avatars on PolyBuzz's homepage are a user-uploaded grab bag: clean anime and manga-style art for the My Hero Academia bots, Pinterest-style photos of real-looking people for the romance bots, and some glossy webtoon portraits. Not much of it looks like raw generator output, but none of it looks made for PolyBuzz either, and nothing ties one character's look to the next.
Asks: Does the art look like a person made it?
Decent
0 to 10, higher is better.
5/10
A huge free library and your own bots, broken up by ad breaks and characters who forget.
Key facts
| Type | Character chat |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Pricing at this review | Free to download with in-app purchases on iOS and Google Play at this review. PolyBuzz publishes no subscription prices in the official sources checked for this review. |
| Age rating | 18+ on the iOS App Store; Mature 17+ on Google Play |
| Content policy | Mature themes, not explicit |
| Who writes the characters | Made by other users |
| Memory | Free chats keep only a short stretch of recent conversation. Users say Ultimate subscribers get permanent memory boxes capped at 200 characters each. |
| Best for | Free roleplay with community-made characters you can also build yourself |
Strengths and watch-outs
- Anyone can create a character and keep it private or share it publicly, according to the App Store listing.
- Logging in unlocks multiple chat rounds, an advanced chat model, unlimited searches, free image generation and character creation.
- Reviewers report the company claims over 20 million characters, most of them user-built.
- Creators can add a Greeting Visual that shows a character's personality, setting and story before the chat starts, according to users.
- App Store reviewers say free chat stops every 10 to 50 messages for ads and a prompt to pay for ad-free chat. One reviewer reports 6 to 8 unskippable ads roughly every 30 messages.
- Reviewers report free-tier characters forget what you said twenty messages ago. Users say paid permanent memory is capped at 200 characters per box, works in English only, and has had saved memories deleted or overwritten.
- PolyBuzz's cookie consent says device data may be shared with 210 partners for personalised advertising, and those partners may use precise geolocation data.
- Reviewers report self-reported age checks on iOS and Android, no birthdate prompt on the web, and violent content appearing even with Pure Mode on.
- Users say event currency expires. Leftover keys from the September 2026 "Time Box" event were gone when it ended.
What it is
PolyBuzz is a character chat app for iPhone, Android and the web, built around characters that users make. The App Store listing says anyone can create a character and keep it private or share it publicly. The developer is Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC. Reviewers report the company claims over 20 million characters, most of them user-built, and that the app was called Poly.AI until it became PolyBuzz on January 25, 2025.
Logging in on PolyBuzz's site unlocks multiple chat rounds, an advanced chat model, unlimited searches, free image generation and character creation.
What it is like to use
Ads set the pace. App Store reviewers say ads start after about 10 to 50 messages. A "take a short break" prompt then asks you to pay for unlimited ad-free chat or watch 1 to 3 ads. Another reviewer puts the break at roughly every 30 messages, costing 6 to 8 unskippable ads.
Memory runs short, and messages do too. Users and reviewers describe these limits:
- Messages are capped at 500 characters.
- Free-tier characters keep only a short stretch of recent conversation and forget what you said twenty messages ago.
- Ultimate subscribers got permanent memory on the LM5X model in September 2025, in English only, with each memory box holding 200 characters.
- Amnesia still arrives around message 40.
- In October 2025, PolyBuzz acknowledged that saved memories were being deleted or overwritten.
The character art is a user-uploaded grab bag. The My Hero Academia bots get clean anime and manga-style art, the romance bots get Pinterest-style photos of real-looking people, and some characters have glossy webtoon portraits. Little of it looks like raw generator output, but none of it looks made for PolyBuzz, and nothing ties one character's look to the next. Users say creators can now add a Greeting Visual, announced September 21, 2026, that shows a character's personality, setting and story before the chat starts.
Pure Mode is a setting meant to restrict NSFW content entirely, and reviewers report the company says it uses a multilayered AI screen plus human moderation. Those same reviewers report that users still see violent content with Pure Mode on.
Pricing at this review
PolyBuzz is free to download, with in-app purchases on both the App Store and Google Play. PolyBuzz publishes no subscription prices in the official sources checked for this review. The free tier covers the logged-in features above, and the break prompt in free chat sells unlimited ad-free chat.
Reviewers and users describe three kinds of spending:
- A tiered subscription topped by Ultimate.
- Packs of coins and opals for one-off unlocks.
- Event currencies, such as the keys from the September 2026 "Time Box" event, which unlocked hidden sides of characters and expired when the event ended.
Who should skip it
Skip PolyBuzz if you want a character to carry a long story, or if an ad break every few dozen messages would end a scene for you. Skip it too if you object to sharing data with advertisers. The site's cookie consent allows device data to go to 210 advertising partners, and those partners may use precise geolocation. Google Play's data safety section says the app may collect personal and financial info and share data with third parties. That section also says data is encrypted in transit and deletion can be requested.
Age checks are thin outside Australia. Reviewers report the iOS and Android apps accept a self-reported age with no proof, and the web version asks for no birthdate. The terms set minimum account ages of 14 on the web and 18, 18 and 16 in the US, UK and EEA. Since early March 2026, adult content in Australia requires a selfie-based AI age estimate through a third-party service, or a government ID plus a live selfie if the estimate is inconclusive. The App Store rates PolyBuzz 18+ and Google Play rates it Mature 17+.
Receipts
Every claim on this page, with the source text we copied and the day we read it. Last checked against the live app on October 9, 2026.
- Receipt 1App store listing
The iOS App Store lists PolyBuzz with an 18+ age rating.
"Age Rating 18+ Years"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 2App store listing
PolyBuzz is free to download on iOS with in-app purchases; developer is Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC.
"Free · In‑App Purchases"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 3App store listing
The App Store listing says character creation is open to everyone, and characters can be kept private or shared publicly.
"craft a character that can be kept entirely private or shared for everyone to engage with"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 4App store listing
An App Store reviewer says ads appear after about 10 to 50 messages, followed by a "take a short break" prompt that asks you to pay for unlimited ad-free chat or watch 1 to 3 ads.
"You get an ad after like 10 to 50 messages of typing, then it asks you to take a break by one paying (the paywall) for infinite chatting with no ads, or two, watch an ad that has 1 to 3 ads."
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 5Official site
PolyBuzz's site says logging in unlocks multiple chat rounds, an advanced chat model, unlimited searches, free image generation and character creation.
"Multiple chat rounds Advanced chat model Unlimited searches Generate images for free Create characters by yourself"
www.polybuzz.ai, retrieved
- Receipt 6Official site
The polybuzz.ai cookie consent says device data may be shared with 210 partners, used for personalised advertising, and that partners may use precise geolocation data.
"may be stored by, accessed by and shared with 210 partners, or used specifically by this site. We and our partners may use precise geolocation data."
www.polybuzz.ai, retrieved
- Receipt 7Reviewer
Reviewers at Plisio report three paid tiers: Basic $9.90/month ($99/year), Premium $19.90/month ($199/year), Ultimate $29.90/month ($299/year).
"| Basic | $9.90 | $99 ($8.30/mo) | Ads removed, longer memory window | | Premium | $19.90 | $199 ($16.60/mo) | Advanced model, unlimited voice, image unlocks | | Ultimate | $29.90 | $299 ($24.90/mo) | Top model and permanent cross-session memory |"
plisio.net, retrieved
- Receipt 8Reviewer
Reviewers report that besides subscriptions, PolyBuzz sells "coins" and "opals" in packs for one-off unlocks.
"Three paid tiers, plus a microcurrency of "coins" and "opals" you buy for one-off unlocks."
plisio.net, retrieved
- Receipt 9Reviewer
Reviewers report that on the free tier the AI keeps only a short stretch of recent conversation, so a character forgets what you said twenty messages ago.
"On the free tier the AI holds only a short stretch of recent conversation and prunes the rest, so a character forgets what you told it twenty messages ago."
plisio.net, retrieved
- Receipt 10Reviewer
Reviewers report that the maker, Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC, rebranded Poly.AI as PolyBuzz on January 25, 2025.
"The maker is Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC, a developer registered in Delaware with a Singapore arm, which rebranded Poly.AI as PolyBuzz on January 25, 2025."
plisio.net, retrieved
- Receipt 11Reviewer
Reviewers report the company claims over 20 million characters, most of them user-built.
"The company claims more than 20 million of them, most built by users, filed under tags like anime, fantasy, horror, celebrity and a long list of romance categories."
plisio.net, retrieved
- Receipt 12Reviewer
Reviewers report PolyBuzz holds 4.4 stars from over 431,000 App Store reviewers and 3.9 on Google Play from nearly a million Android users.
"it holds a 4.4-star rating from more than 431,000 reviewers on the Apple App Store. On Google Play it scrapes 3.9 from nearly a million Android users."
plisio.net, retrieved
- Receipt 13Reviewer
Reviewers at Cybernews report that users see violent content even with Pure Mode enabled, a setting meant to restrict NSFW content entirely.
"Others report seeing violent content, even when the Pure Mode setting is enabled. Pure Mode is a parental control setting that is supposed to entirely restrict user exposure to NSFW content on PolyBuzz."
cybernews.com, retrieved
- Receipt 14Reviewer
Reviewers at Cybernews report that the iOS and Android apps use self-reported age verification with no proof requested, and the web version has no birthdate prompt.
"both the iOS and Android apps use self-reported age verification. That means there's no request for proof, so it's easy for teens to bypass. On the web version, there isn't even a prompt to enter a birthdate"
cybernews.com, retrieved
- Receipt 15Reviewer
Reviewers report the company says it uses a multilayered AI screen plus human moderation to remove NSFW content.
"The company claims that it uses a multilayered AI screen and human moderation approach to eliminate NSFW (not safe for work) content"
cybernews.com, retrieved
- Receipt 16Forum
Users on Reddit say a PolyBuzz-posted update (v2.1.40, Sept 26 2025) gave Poly Ultimate subscribers permanent memory on the LM5X model, English only.
"Poly Ultimate are getting a seriously awesome upgrade! We've given the LM5X model a deep dive optimization, boosting the memory to... permanent!"
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 17Forum
Users on Reddit say (Sept 2026) that Ultimate's Permanent Memory boxes are capped at 200 characters each, chat messages at 500 characters, and that amnesia hits around message 40.
"Individual 200-character memory boxes are too tiny for deep character design, the data routing causes severe 40-message amnesia"
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 18Forum
Users on Reddit say chat messages are limited to 500 characters.
"The 500-character limit on our actual chat messages completely kills cinematic pacing, too."
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 19Forum
Users on Reddit say PolyBuzz acknowledged (Oct 2025) reports of permanent memories being deleted or overwritten, and that memory editing/deletion was in planning.
"We've noticed some reports of memories being deleted or overwritten. This can happen if you delete chat content or messages while interacting with a character using the model"
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 20App store listing
An App Store reviewer says ads appear roughly every 30 messages, requiring 6 to 8 unskippable ad views.
"every 30 or so messages it makes you watch an add 6 to 8 times without being able to skip"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 21App store listing
Google Play rates PolyBuzz Mature 17+, with Users Interact and In-App Purchases; it has 1.19M reviews and was updated Sep 21, 2026.
"Mature 17+ Cash Rewards Users Interact, In-App Purchases"
play.google.com, retrieved
- Receipt 22App store listing
The Google Play data safety section says the app may share data with third parties and may collect personal info, financial info and 5 other data types; data is encrypted in transit and deletion can be requested.
"This app may collect these data types Personal info, Financial info and 5 others Data is encrypted in transit You can request that data be deleted"
play.google.com, retrieved
- Receipt 23Reviewer
Reviewers at VPNOverview report that PolyBuzz enforced age verification in Australia in early March 2026, requiring AI age estimation or a government ID upload to access adult content.
"Polybuzz enforced age verification in Australia in early March 2026, aligning with broader age verification enforcement across the country"
vpnoverview.com, retrieved
- Receipt 24Reviewer
Reviewers report Australian age checks run through the third-party service Ondato: a selfie-based AI age estimate first, then a government ID plus live selfie if that is inconclusive.
"The Polybuzz age verification process is done via a secure third-party service, Ondato. With it, users are first asked to undergo an AI-based age estimation process, which involves taking a selfie."
vpnoverview.com, retrieved
- Receipt 25Reviewer
Reviewers at Cybernews report that PolyBuzz's terms set a minimum account age of 14 on the web, and 18, 18 and 16 in the US, UK and EEA respectively.
"According to PolyBuzz's terms of use, users must be at least 14 years old to create an account."
cybernews.com, retrieved
- Receipt 26App store listing
A Play Store reviewer says PolyBuzz bots are arguably smarter than Character AI's, but Character AI has more characters and more free features.
"The bots are arguably smarter than the ones that CharacterAI has, but CharacterAI has more characters, and more free stuff"
play.google.com, retrieved
- Receipt 27Forum
Users on Reddit say PolyBuzz's account announced "Greeting Visual" (Sept 21, 2026), which lets creators show a character's personality, setting and story before the chat starts, for both regular and event-themed characters.
"That's what we're trying to improve with Greeting Visual - giving creators more ways to communicate personality, setting, and story before the chat begins."
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 28Forum
Users on Reddit say PolyBuzz ran a "Time Box" event in Sept 2026 where keys unlocked hidden sides of characters, and leftover keys expired when the event ended.
"Any leftover keys and balances that don't add up to a full key will expire once the event ends. No extensions, no exceptions!"
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 29Official site
A PolyBuzz official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "LIEUTENANT".
"LIEUTENANT"
cdn-dual.polyspeak.ai, retrieved
- Receipt 30Official site
The PolyBuzz official site page with art judged for the score says "Talk to AI, Chat with AI Characters Free, and Explore Endless AI Roleplay".
"Talk to AI, Chat with AI Characters Free, and Explore Endless AI Roleplay"
www.polybuzz.ai, retrieved
Questions people ask
Is PolyBuzz AI free?
Yes, PolyBuzz is free to download, with in-app purchases on both the App Store and Google Play. Logging in on PolyBuzz's site unlocks multiple chat rounds, an advanced chat model, unlimited searches, free image generation and character creation. App Store reviewers say free chat pauses every 10 to 50 messages for ads and a prompt to pay for unlimited ad-free chat. PolyBuzz publishes no subscription prices in the official sources checked for this review.
Why is PolyBuzz 18+?
The iOS App Store lists PolyBuzz at 18+, and Google Play rates it Mature 17+, noting that users interact and that it has in-app purchases. Reviewers report that users see violent content even with Pure Mode on. They also report that the company's terms set minimum account ages of 18 in the US and UK, 16 in the EEA and 14 on the web.
Does PolyBuzz have permanent memory?
Only for Ultimate subscribers, according to users. They say a PolyBuzz update, v2.1.40, posted September 26, 2025, added permanent memory on the LM5X model, in English only. They also say each memory box is capped at 200 characters and that amnesia still sets in around message 40. In October 2025, PolyBuzz acknowledged reports of permanent memories being deleted or overwritten, users say. On the free tier, reviewers report characters forget what you said twenty messages ago.
Is PolyBuzz safe?
PolyBuzz shares device data widely for advertising. Its cookie consent says data may go to 210 partners for personalised ads, and those partners may use precise geolocation. Google Play's data safety section says the app may share data with third parties and may collect personal and financial info. It also says data is encrypted in transit and you can request deletion. Reviewers report that the apps take a self-reported age with no proof and that the web version has no birthdate prompt.
Why do people play PolyBuzz?
People come for the size of the library and the freedom to build. Reviewers report the company claims over 20 million characters, most made by users, and the App Store listing says anyone can create a character and keep it private or share it. Reviewers also report a 4.4-star rating from over 431,000 App Store reviewers.
Where can I download PolyBuzz?
PolyBuzz is on the iOS App Store and Google Play, and it also runs in a web browser. The developer is Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC, and at this review the Google Play listing shows 1.19 million reviews.
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