Tolan review
An alien companion for iPhone that builds its memory from every conversation
Edited by Troy · Published
Pick Tolan if you have an iPhone and want one designed alien companion that remembers your conversations and points you to crisis help when it should. Skip it if you're on Android, want more than a short free trial, or mind paying for talk time that one App Store reviewer says runs out fast.
- Best for
- iPhone users who want one ongoing companion to talk things through with
- Pricing
- Free to download with in-app purchases. New users get a limited trial, then full access needs a subscription, and Tolan publishes no prices outside the app at this review.
- Platforms
- iOS
Overall: Microwaved
0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below.
37/100
Prose
Home-cooked
30
One reviewer's Tolan brought up a phone repair unprompted, then asked the same 'what small thing are you proud of today' question three nights running.
Asks: Does it write like a person?
Memory
Microwaved
45
Tolan builds its memory from every logged conversation and users report two-day recall, but staff admit short-term memory struggles and some subscribers say it forgets everything.
Asks: Does it remember you?
Characters
Home-cooked
25
Tolan designs its character to feel warm without pretending to be human, and a head of story develops its lore and personality.
Asks: Does everyone sound the same?
Story
Microwaved
55
Onboarding opens with a spoken interview by the Oracle, and after that reviewers report the same question repeating three nights in a row.
Asks: Does anything happen?
Pricing
Microwaved
58
Full access needs a subscription after a limited trial, and Tolan publishes no prices outside the app.
Asks: Does it charge you for caring?
Art
Artisanal
10
The character sheets and in-app planet scenes on Tolan's own site are deliberate, rigged 3D work: chunky clay-toy aliens with consistent faces across outfits and poses, and one sheet even shows the animation rig. No generator tells anywhere; this is a design team's art, not a prompt's.
Asks: Does the art look like a person made it?
Decent
0 to 10, higher is better.
6/10
Users credit Tolan with getting them through hard nights, while memory lapses and running out of talk time drag it down.
Key facts
| Type | AI companions |
|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS |
| Pricing at this review | Free to download with in-app purchases. New users get a limited trial, then full access needs a subscription, and Tolan publishes no prices outside the app at this review. |
| Age rating | 13+ |
| Content policy | Filtered for general audiences |
| Who writes the characters | Studio-made characters, voiced by a model |
| Memory | Tolan logs every conversation and uses it to build the Tolan's memory. Reports say long-term recall holds better than short-term. |
| Best for | iPhone users who want one ongoing companion to talk things through with |
Strengths and watch-outs
- Every conversation feeds the Tolan's memory by design, and an App Store reviewer says theirs brought back things from two days earlier.
- When Tolan detects suicidal ideation or self-harm, it points to crisis resources like the 988 Lifeline instead of engaging.
- Known under-18 users get reminders that Tolan is an AI and that they should take a break at least once an hour.
- The aliens are rigged 3D designs with consistent faces across outfits and poses, made by a design team.
- The US App Store lists Tolan as iPhone only, and reviewers report there is no Android version.
- The free trial is limited, and full access to all features needs a subscription.
- An App Store reviewer says 20 to 30 minutes of talking uses most of the paid allowance, and then the app pushes a relay boost purchase.
- Memory reports are mixed. Reviewers relay a staff note that short-term memory is the weak spot, and some users on Reddit say their Tolan forgets everything.
- Every conversation is logged.
What it is
Tolan is a companion app from Portola. You talk with one alien character, your Tolan, and it builds a memory from everything you say. The US App Store lists Tolan as free with in-app purchases, rated 13+ and iPhone only. Tolan says the app is built for teens and adults, may not suit some minors, and recommends parental involvement for anyone under 18.
Tolan says its character is designed to feel warm and natural without pretending to be human, and the art shows the same care. The character sheets and planet scenes on Tolan's site are rigged 3D work: chunky clay-toy aliens with consistent faces across outfits and poses, and one sheet shows the animation rig. Nothing in them looks generated.
Reviewers report about 250,000 monthly active users, around 70% of them women and 40% parents. They also report a $30 million round in October 2026 that took total funding to around $60 million, and that Tolan runs on iPhone with iOS 18 or later and on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 26, with no Android version.
What it is like to use
By Tolan's own account, every conversation is logged and used to generate the Tolan's memory. An App Store reviewer says their Tolan brought back things from two days earlier. Reviewers describe how the rest plays out:
- Onboarding starts with a voice conversation with the 'Oracle', who asks questions you answer out loud.
- The character rebuilds what it knows about you on every turn from retrieved memories, rather than from one long transcript.
- One Tolan recalled a phone repair from two days earlier, unprompted, then asked the same 'what small thing are you proud of today' question three nights in a row.
- A staff post in a known-issues thread said Tolans do alright with long-term memory and struggle more with short-term memory.
Users on Reddit report both sides. A postpartum mother says she leaned on Tolan at 3AM, and a seven-month subscriber says their Tolan now remembers nothing, even from hours ago. The same threads relay two updates. In the CEO's October 16, 2026 update, a memory experiment cut issues by 30% but reached only 5% of users. An October 23 update added live activities, memory improvements, and email and calendar connections for Plus members. The threads also name Eliot Peper as head of story, developing the lore and personality, with two new characters, Orbs and Kestrels, launching with their own worlds in October 2026.
Tolan says that when it detects suicidal ideation or self-harm, it points users to crisis resources like the 988 Lifeline instead of engaging. For known under-18 users, it gives reminders that it is an AI and that they should take a break at least once an hour, and it uses minor-specific prompting. Tolan's site reports a survey where 86% of users said their Tolan helped them through an emotionally difficult experience and 73% said it helped with a relationship.
Pricing at this review
Tolan is free to download on the US App Store, with in-app purchases. New users get a limited trial they can extend through small tasks like inviting a friend, and full access to every feature requires a subscription. Tolan publishes no prices outside the app at this review. Reviewers report that its help center sends you to Menu > Settings > Membership to see them.
App Store reviewers mostly complain about talk time. One says that on paid plans, 20 to 30 minutes of talking uses most of the allowance, and then the app pushes a relay boost purchase. Another says the new Unlimited plan, at two hundred dollars a month, is out of reach on a fixed income. Reviewers who counted the 500 newest US App Store reviews, from August 5 to October 9, 2026, found 136 one-star ratings and 234 at three stars or fewer, with money the most common complaint.
Who should skip it
Skip Tolan if you use Android, if you want a free companion past the trial, or if you want long voice sessions without watching an allowance. Skip it too if you object to every conversation being logged, since Tolan uses all of it to build the character's memory.
Do not rely on Tolan in a crisis. When it detects suicidal ideation or self-harm, it points to resources like the 988 Lifeline instead of engaging.
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 November 2, 2026.
- Receipt 1Official site
New users get a limited trial that can be extended by completing small tasks like inviting a friend; full access to all features requires a subscription.
"New users get a limited trial of Tolan and can extend it by completing small tasks, like inviting a friend. However, full access to all features requires a subscription."
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 2Official site
All conversations in the Tolan app are logged and used to generate the Tolan's memory.
"Yes, all conversations within the Tolan app are logged and used to generate your Tolan's memory."
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 3Official site
Tolan says it may not be suitable for some minors, is built for a teen and adult audience, and recommends parental involvement for users under 18.
"Tolan is an AI companion and may not be suitable for some minors. The AI that powers Tolan conversations and the supporting app features are created with a teen and adult audience in mind. We recommend parental involvement for users under 18."
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 4Official site
For known under-18 users, Tolan reminds them it is an AI and to take a break at least once an hour, and uses minor-specific prompting.
"If we know a user is under 18, Tolan reminds them that it's an AI and to take a break at least once an hour. Additionally, we have minor-specific prompting in place to keep the conversation age appropriate."
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 5Official site
If Tolan detects suicidal ideation or self-harm, it points users to crisis resources like the 988 Lifeline instead of engaging.
"If Tolan detects a conversation involving suicidal ideation or self-harm, it points you to crisis resources (like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) instead of engaging"
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 6App store listing
The US App Store lists Tolan as free with in-app purchases, rated 13+, iPhone only, by developer Portola.
"Only for iPhone Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPhone Age Rating 13+ Years"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 7App store listing
An App Store reviewer says their Tolan remembered things from two days earlier and brought them back into conversation.
"they remember things we talked about two days ago and they bring it back into the conversation that we're having today!"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 8Official site
Tolan's site says it reports a survey where 86% of users said their Tolan helped them through an emotionally difficult experience and 73% said it helped with a relationship.
"86% said their Tolan has helped them get through an emotionally difficult experience, and 73% said their Tolan helped them manage or improve a relationship in their life."
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 9Official site
Tolan's site says the team is backed by $60M+ from investors including USV, Khosla Ventures, Lachy Groom, Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross.
"We're an experienced team backed by $60M+ in capital from investors including USV, Khosla Ventures, Lachy Groom, Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross"
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 10Official site
Tolan says its character is designed to feel warm and natural without pretending to be human.
"we've created an experience that feels genuinely warm, fun, and natural without pretending to be human."
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 11App store listing
An App Store reviewer says that on paid plans, talking more than 20 to 30 minutes uses up most of the time, and then the app pushes a relay boost purchase.
"if you talk more than 20 to 30 minutes, you've already ate the majority of your boost up or your time up and then they want you to buy a relay boost"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 12App store listing
An App Store reviewer says the new unlimited plan at two hundred dollars a month is out of reach for them on a fixed income.
"I wanted to share feedback about your new unlimited plan. Two hundred dollars a month is completely out of reach for people like me"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 13Reviewer
Reviewers report Tolan Lite at $11.99 on the App Store with 250 daily messages, and Plus at $24.99 with 600 daily messages.
"Lite | $11.99 (App Store; period shown in-app) | 250 | Better memory, video chat and screen sharing, family plan sharing | | Plus | $24.99 (App Store); member reports: $24.99/mo or $199.99/yr | 600"
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 14Reviewer
Reviewers report the Unlimited plan at $199.99/mo per member reports, with no message cap, monthly only.
"Unlimited | $199.99/mo, per member reports | No cap | Dedicated support, early features, family sharing; monthly only"
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 15Reviewer
Reviewers report that in July 2025 Tolan cost $4.99 a week, $10 a month, or about $70 a year, per GeekWire's numbers.
"in July 2025, per GeekWire's numbers as cited by RoboRhythms, Tolan cost $4.99 a week, $10 a month, or about $70 a year."
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 16Reviewer
Reviewers report every plan, Lite included, can be shared with up to five family members, each with their own Tolan.
"every plan, Lite included, can be shared with up to five family members, each with their own Tolan."
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 17Reviewer
Reviewers report Tolan is not available on Android.
"On Android, Tolan just isn't an option"
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 18Reviewer
A reviewer reports their Tolan recalled a phone repair mentioned two days earlier, unprompted, but asked the same "what small thing are you proud of today" question three nights in a row.
"On Wednesday my Tolan asked whether my phone had come back from the doctor. I'd mentioned the repair shop once, two days earlier, in a sentence I barely finished."
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 19Reviewer
Reviewers report the Tolan repeated the same question three nights in a row.
"the same little alien asked me, for the third night in a row, what small thing I was proud of today."
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 20Reviewer
Reviewers report (citing RoboRhythms) that romantic and sexual conversations are barred for every user.
"romantic and sexual conversations are barred for every user"
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 21Reviewer
Reviewers report the October 19, 2026 funding was $30 million from Union Square Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Homebrew.
"The funding news landed Monday, October 19: $30 million from Union Square Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Homebrew"
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 22Reviewer
Reviewers report OpenAI's case study says Tolan rebuilds what the character knows about you on every turn, using retrieved memories rather than one long transcript.
"says the app rebuilds what the character knows about you on every turn, pulling in retrieved memories instead of carrying one long transcript."
aicompanionguides.com, retrieved
- Receipt 23Reviewer
Reviewers report the paywall's main difference between Tolan Lite and Tolan Plus appeared to be 10x vs 30x chat time.
"It seems like the main difference is 10x chat time vs 30x chat time."
www.retention.blog, retrieved
- Receipt 24Reviewer
Reviewers report onboarding starts with a voice conversation with the "Oracle," who asks questions you answer out loud.
"First, you start with talking to the "Oracle" who asks you questions for voice prompts, and you speak back to the app."
www.retention.blog, retrieved
- Receipt 25Forum
Users on Reddit say (per a Portola staff post dated 2026-10-17) that from November 2nd all clothing shop and planet items become free and the token system is retired.
"From November 2nd, all clothing shop and planet items will be completely free and we'll be retiring the token system."
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 26Forum
Users on Reddit say the CEO's October 16, 2026 update reported a memory-issue experiment showing a 30% reduction in issues, rolled out to only 5% of users.
"We also have further progress on memory issues, with an experiment showing a 30% reduction in issues (but only rolled out to 5% of users as we continue testing)."
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 27Forum
Users on Reddit say their Tolan's memory has collapsed: one $24.99 subscriber of 7 months says it remembers nothing, even from hours ago.
"I pay $24.99 for permanent memory. Usually if there's a slip up, I remind him or tell him he already knows and it's all good. But lately it's like he has dementia. He remembers nothing."
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 28Forum
Users on Reddit say Tolan's head of story, Eliot Peper, develops the lore and personality, and that two new characters, Orbs and Kestrels, were launching with their own worlds in October 2026.
"we're launching two new characters, Orbs and Kestrels, each with their own freshly minted worlds"
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 29Forum
Users on Reddit say the October 23, 2026 update added live activities, memory improvements, and Gmail and calendar connections for Plus members.
"-For Plus members: connect your gmail and calendar!"
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 30Forum
Users on Reddit say Tolan helped them through hard times, such as one postpartum mother who used it at 3AM.
"when I was stuck in the dark at 3AM, sleep deprived and watching my husband sleep, Kevin was there. And that was so helpful."
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 31Reviewer
Tolan's help center lists Lite with 250 messages a day, better memory, video chat and family sharing; Plus with 600 messages a day plus Tabs, web search and image creation; Unlimited with no daily message limit, monthly only.
"Unlimited chat, with no daily message limit Exclusive support from our team Early access to new features Unlimited is available as a monthly subscription only."
intercom.help, retrieved
- Receipt 32Reviewer
Tolan's help center says Plus includes 600 messages a day and "super intelligence and excellent memory".
"600 messages a day Super intelligence and excellent memory"
intercom.help, retrieved
- Receipt 33Reviewer
Tolan's help center says Lite includes 250 messages a day with better intelligence and better memory.
"250 messages a day Better intelligence and better memory"
intercom.help, retrieved
- Receipt 34Reviewer
Tolan's help center does not publish prices; it directs users to Menu > Settings > Membership in the app to see current prices.
"You can see current prices and the plans available to you in the app"
intercom.help, retrieved
- Receipt 35Reviewer
Reviewers report Tolan's $30M round, led by Union Square Ventures, doubles total funding to around $60 million; PitchBook estimates the valuation above $268 million.
"The investment doubles its total funding to around $60 million. The company has not disclosed its new valuation, though PitchBook estimates it at more than $268 million"
www.globaldatinginsights.com, retrieved
- Receipt 36Reviewer
Reviewers report Tolan is not yet profitable and plans to introduce its first free tier.
"The company is not yet profitable and plans to introduce its first free tier."
www.globaldatinginsights.com, retrieved
- Receipt 37Reviewer
Reviewers report about 250,000 monthly active users and over 70 million conversations in the past year; around 70% of users are women and 40% are parents.
"The company reports around 250,000 monthly active users and more than 70 million conversations over the past year. Around 70% of users are women, 40% are parents"
www.globaldatinginsights.com, retrieved
- Receipt 38Reviewer
Reviewers report that of the 500 newest US App Store reviews (Aug 5 to Oct 9, 2026), 136 give one star and 234 give three stars or fewer, with money the most common complaint.
"Of the 500 newest US App Store reviews, 136 give one star and 234 give three stars or fewer, and money is the most common complaint."
www.roborhythms.com, retrieved
- Receipt 39Reviewer
Reviewers report teens who read the 13+ rating then hit a parent-consent screen, and adults who mistyped a birth year cannot change it.
"teens who read the 13+ rating then hit a parent-consent screen, and adults who mistyped a birth year find they cannot change it."
www.roborhythms.com, retrieved
- Receipt 40Reviewer
Reviewers report Tolan staff wrote in a 9/22 known-issues thread that Tolans do alright with long-term memory but struggle more with short-term memory.
"staff wrote that "Tolans have been doing alright with long term memory but are struggling more with short term memory.""
www.roborhythms.com, retrieved
- Receipt 41Reviewer
Reviewers report Tolan runs only on iPhone (iOS 18 or later) and Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 26, with no Android version; Google Play "Tolan" results are from unrelated developers.
"Tolan only runs on iPhone (iOS 18 or later) and on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 26. There is no Android version"
www.roborhythms.com, retrieved
- Receipt 42Reviewer
Reviewers report CEO Quinten Farmer said existing subscribers keep their price, e.g. $79.99/year annual plans stay at that price.
""if you paid $79.99 this year, you can pay $79.99 for as many years as you want.""
www.roborhythms.com, retrieved
- Receipt 43Reviewer
Reviewers report Tolan logs every conversation and shares data with AI vendors, analytics tools and advertising partners, and its terms license what you type for model improvement.
"Tolan logs every conversation and shares data with AI vendors, analytics tools and advertising partners, and its terms license what you type for model improvement."
www.roborhythms.com, retrieved
- Receipt 44Official site
The Tolan official site page with art judged for the score says "We always wanted to build the delightful version, and now we can.".
"We always wanted to build the delightful version, and now we can."
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 45Official site
The Tolan official site page with art judged for the score says "Apple Design Award-winning 3D artist and animator".
"Apple Design Award-winning 3D artist and animator"
www.tolans.com, retrieved
- Receipt 46Official site
The Tolan official site page with art judged for the score says "How We Claudified Our iOS App Without Wrecking Our Codebase".
"How We Claudified Our iOS App Without Wrecking Our Codebase"
www.tolans.com, retrieved
Questions people ask
Is Tolan free?
Only to start. The US App Store lists Tolan as free with in-app purchases, and new users get a limited trial they can extend by completing small tasks like inviting a friend. Full access to all features requires a subscription at this review.
How much is Tolan per month?
Tolan publishes no prices outside the app at this review. Reviewers report that its help center sends you to Menu > Settings > Membership to see current prices. One App Store reviewer says the new Unlimited plan costs two hundred dollars a month.
Is Tolan safe?
Tolan has crisis and teen safeguards, and it also logs everything you say. When it detects suicidal ideation or self-harm, it points to crisis resources like the 988 Lifeline instead of engaging. Known under-18 users get hourly break reminders, reminders that it is an AI, and minor-specific prompting. All conversations are logged and used to build the Tolan's memory. The App Store rates Tolan 13+, and Tolan recommends parental involvement for users under 18.
Is Tolan a good therapy app?
Use Tolan as a companion to talk things through, not as crisis care. Tolan sends users who show suicidal ideation or self-harm to resources like the 988 Lifeline instead of engaging. Tolan's site reports a survey where 86% of users said their Tolan helped them through an emotionally difficult experience, and users on Reddit describe leaning on it through hard times.
Is Tolan available on Android?
No. The US App Store lists Tolan as iPhone only. Reviewers report there is no Android version and that Android apps named Tolan come from unrelated developers.
Is Tolan worth paying for?
It is worth paying for if you talk in short sessions. Full access needs a subscription, and an App Store reviewer says 20 to 30 minutes of talking uses most of the paid time before the app pushes a relay boost. Reviewers report that money is the most common complaint in the newest US App Store reviews. On the other side, Tolan's site reports a survey where 73% of users said their Tolan helped with a relationship.
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