--- title: "PromptPlay: AI games, without the slop" url: https://promptplay.io/ license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- Reviews without the slop # AI games, without the slop For those of us who like AI games, but hate the [mega piles of AI slop](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) out there. ChatGPT-sounding ["A beat."](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model#deepseek "More DeepSeek slop lines") or ["you're absolutely right."](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model#claude "More Claude slop lines") The character who forgets your name after 5 chat turns. We play all of it and [document it](/methodology#receipts) here. No bullsh\*t opinions. [See the rankings](/best)[How we test](/methodology) ![The PromptPlay mark: a game controller with a winking chat bubble](/_next/image?url=%2Fbrand%2Fmark.png\&w=2048\&q=75\&dpl=dpl_7wDmVU3CM5TB3BePbFyVZxyxymdP) Slop Score ## The Slop Meter Every app gets a Slop Score from 0 to 100. Lower is better. [run your chat through the AI slop detector](/ai-slop-detector) 1. 0-15 Artisanal Specific, varied, and surprisingly human. 2. 16-35 Home-cooked Some familiar habits, but mostly fresh. 3. 36-60 Microwaved Repetition starts to show. Characters and scenes blur together. 4. 61-80 Cafeteria The same phrases, reactions, and story beats keep coming back. 5. 81-100 Pure Slop You can practically predict the next sentence. Example we wrote WordsArt I brought the map back. Sorry it took three days. Artisanal replyThree days, and you folded it along the coast. There's a crease through Harrow Point now, right where the ferry docks. Mira asked on Tuesday if you'd skipped town. I told her you owed me eleven coppers and would be back.Three days, and you folded it along the coast. There's a crease through Harrow Point now, right where the ferry docks. Mira asked on Tuesday if you'd skipped town. I told her you owed me eleven coppers and would be back. Our slop counter found no stock phrases in this one. Artisanal picture, in wordsShe looks like her avatar: same freckles, same chipped front tooth. She holds the folded map by one corner, five fingers on each hand. No art tells in this one. Home-cooked replyThree days! I was starting to worry. You folded it wrong, though, and now there's a crease right through Harrow Point. A beat. Come in, the kettle's still warm and Mira left half a pie.Three days! I was starting to worry. You folded it wrong, though, and now there's a crease right through Harrow Point. *A beat.* Come in, the kettle's still warm and Mira left half a pie. Our slop counter highlighted 1 stock phrase. Home-cooked picture, in wordsShe looks like her avatar and holds the map by one corner, but the whole picture has a warm yellow cast. - Yellow cast Microwaved replyYou're back. My breath hitches when I see the map. "Three days," I say. A beat. "Don't pretend this means something." Then I put the kettle on anyway, because Mira left half a pie.You're back. My *breath hitches* when I see the map. "Three days," I say. *A beat.* "*Don't pretend this means* something." Then I put the kettle on anyway, because Mira left half a pie. Our slop counter highlighted 3 stock phrases. Microwaved picture, in wordsHer face looks nothing like her avatar, and the whole picture has a warm yellow cast. - Yellow cast - Avatar and selfie don't match Cafeteria replyThe house held its breath. My breath hitches. "Three days." A beat. Somewhere, a pipe breaks. "Don't pretend this means something." I take the map, all teeth and desperation. "Stay. Just stay."The *house held its breath*. My *breath hitches*. "Three days." *A beat.* *Somewhere, a pipe breaks*. "*Don't pretend this means* something." I take the map, *all teeth and desperation*. "*Stay. Just stay*." Our slop counter highlighted 7 stock phrases. Cafeteria picture, in wordsHer face looks nothing like her avatar, the hand on the map has six fingers, and everything is tinted yellow. - Yellow cast - Avatar and selfie don't match - Extra fingers Pure Slop replyThe house held its breath. A beat. Her breath hitches, the scent of ozone thick in the air, nails leaving crescent moons in her palms. "Three days." Somewhere, a pipe breaks. "Don't pretend this means something. Tick tock." All teeth and desperation. "You're absolutely right. It's not just a map, it's everything. Stay. Just stay." Smells like regret.The *house held its breath*. *A beat.* Her *breath hitches*, the *scent of ozone* thick in the air, nails leaving *crescent moons* in her palms. "Three days." *Somewhere, a pipe breaks*. "*Don't pretend this means* something. *Tick tock*." *All teeth and desperation*. "*You're absolutely right*. It's *not just a map, it's* everything. *Stay. Just stay*." *Smells like regret*. Our slop counter highlighted 13 stock phrases. Pure Slop picture, in wordsHer hair was black in the last picture and is red now. She has your face. Seven fingers on each hand, one of them holding a blob where the map should be. All of it glows yellow. - Yellow cast - Same character, different face - Faces bleed between characters - Hands holding nothing * [More Claude slop lines](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model#claude) * [More DeepSeek slop lines](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model#deepseek) * [More JLLM (Janitor AI) slop lines](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model#jllm) * [More ChatGPT slop lines](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model#gpt) * [More Gemini slop lines](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model#gemini) * [More Grok slop lines](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model#grok) AI slop ## Start here [The Slop Bible](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) ### [AI slop words list, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) [Every line Claude, DeepSeek and ChatGPT can't stop saying, with receipts. Yes, "delve" is in there.](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) [Read the list](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) [Free tool](/ai-slop-detector) ### [AI slop detector](/ai-slop-detector) [Paste a chat, get a slop score. It also guesses which model wrote it, which some bots take personally.](/ai-slop-detector) [Check a chat](/ai-slop-detector) [The viral game](/blog/your-ai-slop-bores-me) ### [Your AI Slop Bores Me](/blog/your-ai-slop-bores-me) [The viral game where humans pretend to be the AI and somehow do a better job. How to play, the rules, and which site is the real one.](/blog/your-ai-slop-bores-me) [Read the guide](/blog/your-ai-slop-bores-me) ### Receipts or it didn't happen Every complaint comes with the exact line that earned it and the day we caught it. Feel free to argue with the receipt. It has never lost. ### Tested by people. Counted by code. A person sits through the chats so you don't have to. Code counts every repeated line and forgotten birthday, so nobody gets to pick a score they like. ### We grade our own pages too Every page here goes through the same slop counter before it ships. One em dash and the build refuses to go out. It has hurt our feelings more than once. Rankings ## [Featured rankings](/best) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Top pick: Nomi](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [8 apps ranked](/best/character-ai-alternatives) ### [The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Eight apps people actually switch to, ranked by the one thing each fixes, from memory and plot to freedom and setup time.](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Top pick: Frontier](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [All rankings of AI story, chat and companion apps](/best) Reviews ## [Latest reviews](/apps) [Interactive videoOctober 12, 2026](/apps/dramabox) ### [DramaBox review](/apps/dramabox) [Micro dramas of 1-3 minutes, unlocked with coins, ads or an auto-renewing plan](/apps/dramabox) [53MicrowavedFun 4/10](/apps/dramabox) [Character chat + AI sandboxesOctober 12, 2026](/apps/sillytavern) ### [SillyTavern review](/apps/sillytavern) [Free, open-source roleplay frontend: you bring the model, it runs the characters](/apps/sillytavern) [35Home-cookedFun 6/10](/apps/sillytavern) [Story gamesOctober 9, 2026](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) ### [Love & Magic: Spellfyre review](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) [A romantasy visual novel with six love interests, unlocked one short scene at a time](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) [36MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) [Character chatOctober 9, 2026](/apps/polybuzz) ### [PolyBuzz review](/apps/polybuzz) [A vast user-built character library, free to start, with ad breaks and short memory](/apps/polybuzz) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/polybuzz) [AI sandboxesOctober 7, 2026](/apps/ai-dungeon) ### [AI Dungeon review](/apps/ai-dungeon) [An AI text adventure built on player-written scenarios and memory you manage yourself](/apps/ai-dungeon) [49MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/ai-dungeon) [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) [All app reviews and Slop Reports](/apps) Guides ## [Guides](/guides) 1. [GuideOctober 12, 2026](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) ### [AI roleplay guide: how to keep long roleplays from falling apart](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) [How to run AI roleplay that lasts: short character cards, keyword lorebooks, session summaries and fresh chats, and why long chats forget and cost more.](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) 2. [GuideOctober 12, 2026](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) ### [How to Use SillyTavern: Install It, Connect a Model and Start Chatting](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) [How to use SillyTavern from SillyTavern's own docs: install on Windows, Mac, Linux or Android, connect a model in API Connections, and load a character.](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) 3. [GuideSeptember 15, 2026](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) ### [What is AI slop? A field guide for AI chat and story apps](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) [AI slop means low-effort, interchangeable AI content. Where the word came from, what it looks like in AI chat and story apps, and how to spot it.](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) [All guides to AI chat and story apps](/guides) The Slop Report ## [What we score](/methodology#rubric) Every review scores each axis that applies from 0 to 100, lower is better. Each one answers a single question. Art only counts when an app has art. Prose Does it write like a person? Best: Specific, varied writing. Stock phrases are rare, and people write or edit what you read. Memory Does it remember you? Best: Remembers specific events across sessions, by design. Characters Does everyone sound the same? Best: Distinct, consistent voices written or edited by people. Story Does anything happen? Best: Authored plots with stakes, branches and endings. Pricing Does it charge you for caring? Best: Free or one flat price, with no limit that interrupts a scene. Art Does the art look like a person made it? Best: Hand-drawn or finished art, consistent across every image. No generator tells. Fun Meter Is it any fun? 0 to 10, higher is better. 9 and up: Can't put it down. [The Slop Index: every app ranked by slop](/slop)[Read the full rubric](/methodology#rubric) Latest ## [New on PromptPlay](/blog) 1. [GuideOctober 12, 2026](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) ### [AI roleplay guide: how to keep long roleplays from falling apart](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) [How to run AI roleplay that lasts: short character cards, keyword lorebooks, session summaries and fresh chats, and why long chats forget and cost more.](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) 2. [ReviewOctober 12, 2026](/apps/dramabox) ### [DramaBox review](/apps/dramabox) [DramaBox review: 1-3 minute micro dramas unlocked with coins, ads or subscriptions. What users pay, the AI question, billing complaints and Slop Score.](/apps/dramabox) 3. [GuideOctober 12, 2026](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) ### [How to Use SillyTavern: Install It, Connect a Model and Start Chatting](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) [How to use SillyTavern from SillyTavern's own docs: install on Windows, Mac, Linux or Android, connect a model in API Connections, and load a character.](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) 4. [ReviewOctober 12, 2026](/apps/sillytavern) ### [SillyTavern review](/apps/sillytavern) [SillyTavern review: a free, open-source AI roleplay frontend. What setup takes, how memory and privacy work, what models cost, and its Slop Score.](/apps/sillytavern) 5. [RankingOctober 12, 2026](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Janitor AI, Character.AI, Frontier, SillyTavern and AI Dungeon, ranked for roleplay by memory, content rules, price and setup.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) 6. [ReviewOctober 9, 2026](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) ### [Love & Magic: Spellfyre review](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) [Love & Magic: Spellfyre review: a free romantasy visual novel with six love interests, scene-by-scene key timers, ads, AI-art complaints and Slop Score.](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) [Everything we have published, newest first](/blog) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Rankings url: https://promptplay.io/best license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /Rankings Rankings # The best AI story, chat and companion apps, ranked Ranked lists of AI companion, character chat, roleplay and AI story apps, each scored for slop and fun, with pricing dated at the review. Every list names the categories each app wins, and the ones it loses. 2 ranked ## Companions and chat Apps for talking to one character or a whole library of them. [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Top pick: Nomi](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [8 apps ranked](/best/character-ai-alternatives) ### [The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Eight apps people actually switch to, ranked by the one thing each fixes, from memory and plot to freedom and setup time.](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Top pick: Frontier](/best/character-ai-alternatives) 1 ranked ## Roleplay Open-ended scenes you steer, with as much or as little filtering as you want. [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Reviews url: https://promptplay.io/apps license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /Reviews Reviews # AI app reviews, scored for slop Reviews of AI story games, character chat apps and AI companions, each with a Slop Report, a Fun Meter and receipts for every claim. 12 reviewed ## Newest reviews first 1. [Interactive videoOctober 12, 2026](/apps/dramabox) ### [DramaBox review](/apps/dramabox) [Micro dramas of 1-3 minutes, unlocked with coins, ads or an auto-renewing plan](/apps/dramabox) [53MicrowavedFun 4/10](/apps/dramabox) 2. [Character chat + AI sandboxesOctober 12, 2026](/apps/sillytavern) ### [SillyTavern review](/apps/sillytavern) [Free, open-source roleplay frontend: you bring the model, it runs the characters](/apps/sillytavern) [35Home-cookedFun 6/10](/apps/sillytavern) 3. [Story gamesOctober 9, 2026](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) ### [Love & Magic: Spellfyre review](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) [A romantasy visual novel with six love interests, unlocked one short scene at a time](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) [36MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) 4. [Character chatOctober 9, 2026](/apps/polybuzz) ### [PolyBuzz review](/apps/polybuzz) [A vast user-built character library, free to start, with ad breaks and short memory](/apps/polybuzz) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/polybuzz) 5. [AI sandboxesOctober 7, 2026](/apps/ai-dungeon) ### [AI Dungeon review](/apps/ai-dungeon) [An AI text adventure built on player-written scenarios and memory you manage yourself](/apps/ai-dungeon) [49MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/ai-dungeon) 6. [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) 7. [Interactive videoOctober 5, 2026](/apps/reelshort) ### [ReelShort review](/apps/reelshort) [One-to-two-minute serial dramas, a few free episodes, then coins or a weekly pass](/apps/reelshort) [49MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/reelshort) 8. [AI companionsOctober 2, 2026](/apps/replika) ### [Replika review](/apps/replika) [One AI companion that remembers your people and plans, sold across three paid tiers](/apps/replika) [43MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/replika) 9. [Story games + Character chatSeptember 28, 2026](/apps/frontier) ### [Frontier review](/apps/frontier) [Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending](/apps/frontier) [16Home-cookedFun 8/10](/apps/frontier) 10. [AI companionsSeptember 13, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026](/apps/nomi) ### [Nomi review](/apps/nomi) [An 18+ AI companion you build yourself, with layered long-term memory](/apps/nomi) [39MicrowavedFun 7/10](/apps/nomi) 11. [Character chat + AI sandboxesSeptember 1, 2026 · Updated September 15, 2026](/apps/janitor-ai) ### [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai) [Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month](/apps/janitor-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/janitor-ai) 12. [Character chatAugust 23, 2026 · Updated September 21, 2026](/apps/character-ai) ### [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai) [Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay](/apps/character-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/character-ai) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Guides url: https://promptplay.io/guides license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /Guides Guides # Guides to AI chat and story apps Guides to AI chat and story apps: what slop is, how memory works, what things cost and how to get out. Sourced, dated, newest first. 1. [GuideOctober 12, 2026](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) ### [AI roleplay guide: how to keep long roleplays from falling apart](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) [How to run AI roleplay that lasts: short character cards, keyword lorebooks, session summaries and fresh chats, and why long chats forget and cost more.](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) 2. [GuideOctober 12, 2026](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) ### [How to Use SillyTavern: Install It, Connect a Model and Start Chatting](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) [How to use SillyTavern from SillyTavern's own docs: install on Windows, Mac, Linux or Android, connect a model in API Connections, and load a character.](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) 3. [GuideSeptember 15, 2026](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) ### [What is AI slop? A field guide for AI chat and story apps](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) [AI slop means low-effort, interchangeable AI content. Where the word came from, what it looks like in AI chat and story apps, and how to spot it.](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) 4. [GuideSeptember 12, 2026](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) ### [How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it)](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) [A checklist for spotting AI art slop by the tells that still work, how to avoid making it, and how the AI character apps we review score on art.](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) 5. [GuideAugust 22, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) ### [The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) [The AI words list, sorted by model: what Claude, DeepSeek, JLLM, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok overuse, with a receipt for each. Signs of AI writing you can check.](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Latest url: https://promptplay.io/blog license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /Latest Latest # New on PromptPlay Everything PromptPlay publishes, newest first: app reviews, rankings, guides and features about AI story games, character chat and AI companions. 1. [GuideOctober 12, 2026](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) ### [AI roleplay guide: how to keep long roleplays from falling apart](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) [How to run AI roleplay that lasts: short character cards, keyword lorebooks, session summaries and fresh chats, and why long chats forget and cost more.](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) 2. [ReviewOctober 12, 2026](/apps/dramabox) ### [DramaBox review](/apps/dramabox) [DramaBox review: 1-3 minute micro dramas unlocked with coins, ads or subscriptions. What users pay, the AI question, billing complaints and Slop Score.](/apps/dramabox) 3. [GuideOctober 12, 2026](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) ### [How to Use SillyTavern: Install It, Connect a Model and Start Chatting](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) [How to use SillyTavern from SillyTavern's own docs: install on Windows, Mac, Linux or Android, connect a model in API Connections, and load a character.](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) 4. [ReviewOctober 12, 2026](/apps/sillytavern) ### [SillyTavern review](/apps/sillytavern) [SillyTavern review: a free, open-source AI roleplay frontend. What setup takes, how memory and privacy work, what models cost, and its Slop Score.](/apps/sillytavern) 5. [RankingOctober 12, 2026](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Janitor AI, Character.AI, Frontier, SillyTavern and AI Dungeon, ranked for roleplay by memory, content rules, price and setup.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) 6. [ReviewOctober 9, 2026](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) ### [Love & Magic: Spellfyre review](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) [Love & Magic: Spellfyre review: a free romantasy visual novel with six love interests, scene-by-scene key timers, ads, AI-art complaints and Slop Score.](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) 7. [ReviewOctober 9, 2026](/apps/polybuzz) ### [PolyBuzz review](/apps/polybuzz) [PolyBuzz review: a free character chat app with a huge user-built library, ad breaks every few dozen messages, capped memory and wide data sharing.](/apps/polybuzz) 8. [ReviewOctober 7, 2026](/apps/ai-dungeon) ### [AI Dungeon review](/apps/ai-dungeon) [AI Dungeon review: thousands of player-written scenarios, Story Cards memory, plans from free to $99.99 a month, default training settings and Slop Score.](/apps/ai-dungeon) 9. [RankingOctober 7, 2026](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Nomi leads for a girlfriend you build who remembers you. Replika, Frontier, Candy AI and Character.AI compared on memory, price and privacy at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) 10. [ReviewOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Candy AI review: €13.99 a month after a €9.99 first month, 100 tokens for images and video, fading memory and a privacy claim to check.](/apps/candy-ai) 11. [ReviewOctober 5, 2026](/apps/reelshort) ### [ReelShort review](/apps/reelshort) [ReelShort review: one-to-two-minute dramas, what coins and the weekly pass cost, how to cancel, the 13+ vs 18+ age gap, AI use and the Slop Score.](/apps/reelshort) 12. [ReviewOctober 2, 2026](/apps/replika) ### [Replika review](/apps/replika) [Replika is an 18+ AI companion that remembers your people and plans. Our review covers Free Use, Pro, Ultra and Platinum, the privacy record and Slop Score.](/apps/replika) 13. [ReviewSeptember 28, 2026](/apps/frontier) ### [Frontier review](/apps/frontier) [Frontier review: human-written visual novels whose characters keep chatting after the ending and remember what you played. Quill prices, memory and Slop Score.](/apps/frontier) 14. [GuideSeptember 15, 2026](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) ### [What is AI slop? A field guide for AI chat and story apps](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) [AI slop means low-effort, interchangeable AI content. Where the word came from, what it looks like in AI chat and story apps, and how to spot it.](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) 15. [ReviewSeptember 13, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026](/apps/nomi) ### [Nomi review](/apps/nomi) [Nomi review: an 18+ AI companion you build yourself, with layered memory, group chats and a 50-message free plan. Limits and watch-outs at this review.](/apps/nomi) 16. [GuideSeptember 12, 2026](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) ### [How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it)](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) [A checklist for spotting AI art slop by the tells that still work, how to avoid making it, and how the AI character apps we review score on art.](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) 17. [ReviewSeptember 1, 2026 · Updated September 15, 2026](/apps/janitor-ai) ### [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai) [Janitor AI review: unlimited free chats with millions of community bots, about 9k tokens of free context, and Janitor+ at $12.99/month for 5x memory. 18+.](/apps/janitor-ai) 18. [ReviewAugust 23, 2026 · Updated September 21, 2026](/apps/character-ai) ### [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai) [Free unlimited chat with millions of community bots, plus ads, age checks and patchy memory. At this review, lite is $4.99/mo and c.ai+ $9.99/mo.](/apps/character-ai) 19. [GuideAugust 22, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) ### [The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) [The AI words list, sorted by model: what Claude, DeepSeek, JLLM, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok overuse, with a receipt for each. Signs of AI writing you can check.](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) 20. [FeatureAugust 22, 2026 · Updated October 13, 2026](/blog/your-ai-slop-bores-me) ### [Your AI Slop Bores Me: the game where humans play the AI](/blog/your-ai-slop-bores-me) [What Your AI Slop Bores Me is, how to play as the human or the AI, the 60-second timer, the rules, and how to find the real site among the copies.](/blog/your-ai-slop-bores-me) 21. [RankingAugust 16, 2026 · Updated September 22, 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives) ### [The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026, ranked by what each one fixes, from memory and plot to filters and setup time. Prices dated at this review.](/best/character-ai-alternatives) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: The Slop Index url: https://promptplay.io/slop license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /The Slop Index Slop Index # The Slop Index Slop is AI writing that could have come from anywhere: stock phrases, characters who share one voice, details that vanish between sessions, scenes that loop, prices that climb once you care, and art with generator tells. We score each of those from 0 to 100. Lower is better. Where the word comes from and how to spot it: [What is AI slop? A field guide for AI chat and story apps](/guides/what-is-ai-slop) The lines each model repeats, with sources: [The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) Leaderboard ## Every app, least slop first Overall score is the average of the axes each app is scored on. | # | App | Overall slop | Prose | Memory | Characters | Story | Pricing | Art | Fun | | -- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | ----- | ------ | ---------- | ----- | ------- | --- | ---- | | 1 | [Frontier review](/apps/frontier) | 16Home-cooked | 20 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 35 | 18 | 8/10 | | 2 | [SillyTavern review](/apps/sillytavern) | 35Home-cooked | - | 50 | 45 | - | 10 | - | 6/10 | | 3 | [Love & Magic: Spellfyre review](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) | 36Microwaved | 20 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 66 | 58 | 6/10 | | 4 | [Nomi review](/apps/nomi) | 39Microwaved | 32 | 24 | 40 | - | 50 | 48 | 7/10 | | 5 | [Replika review](/apps/replika) | 43Microwaved | - | 25 | 48 | - | 58 | 42 | 5/10 | | 6 | [AI Dungeon review](/apps/ai-dungeon) | 49Microwaved | 50 | 48 | - | 45 | 45 | 58 | 6/10 | | 7 | [ReelShort review](/apps/reelshort) | 49Microwaved | 48 | - | 45 | 28 | 64 | 58 | 6/10 | | 8 | [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai) | 51Microwaved | 50 | 55 | 45 | - | 48 | 55 | 5/10 | | 9 | [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai) | 51Microwaved | - | 50 | 45 | 50 | 40 | 68 | 6/10 | | 10 | [DramaBox review](/apps/dramabox) | 53Microwaved | 55 | - | 52 | 35 | 70 | 55 | 4/10 | | 11 | [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) | 55Microwaved | 55 | 58 | 50 | - | 56 | 56 | 5/10 | | 12 | [PolyBuzz review](/apps/polybuzz) | 55Microwaved | - | 70 | 50 | - | 68 | 32 | 5/10 | Per axis ## Least slop on each axis Prose Does it write like a person? [Frontier](/apps/frontier) 20 [Love & Magic: Spellfyre](/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre) 20 Memory Does it remember you? [Frontier](/apps/frontier) 10 Characters Does everyone sound the same? [Frontier](/apps/frontier) 10 Story Does anything happen? [Frontier](/apps/frontier) 5 Pricing Does it charge you for caring? [SillyTavern](/apps/sillytavern) 10 Art Does the art look like a person made it? [Frontier](/apps/frontier) 18 Rubric ## What each score means Each axis has five bands, one per Slop Meter tier. A score has to sit in the band its receipts support. | Tier | ProseDoes it write like a person? | MemoryDoes it remember you? | CharactersDoes everyone sound the same? | StoryDoes anything happen? | PricingDoes it charge you for caring? | ArtDoes the art look like a person made it? | | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Artisanal0-15 | Specific, varied writing. Stock phrases are rare, and people write or edit what you read. | Remembers specific events across sessions, by design. | Distinct, consistent voices written or edited by people. | Authored plots with stakes, branches and endings. | Free or one flat price, with no limit that interrupts a scene. | Hand-drawn or finished art, consistent across every image. No generator tells. | | Home-cooked16-35 | Mostly specific, with a few repeated habits. | Long-term recall holds for the details that matter, with occasional misses. | Consistent characters, with some sameness between them. | Structured scenarios or quests that move forward. | Clear prices shown before you pay, and limits you can predict. | Generated or assisted art that someone fixed and finished: consistent faces, clean hands, deliberate style. | | Microwaved36-60 | Stock phrasing in most replies. Readable, but you have seen it before. | Remembers within a session; long-term recall is patchy or up to you. | Voices blur together, and personality depends on the character card. | A plot exists if you drive it; the app follows more than it leads. | Features you will want sit behind a subscription or a currency, with caps you will notice. | Clearly generated, with the default gloss and occasional errors, but characters stay recognizable. | | Cafeteria61-80 | A cliche in nearly every reply: whispers, smirks, racing hearts. | Forgets between sessions unless you maintain notes yourself. | Most characters share one default voice. | Scenes loop and stall without heavy steering. | Caps or paywalls that land mid-conversation, or a currency that hides the real price. | Frequent tells: broken hands or anatomy, garbled text, the same waxy face, or a character who looks different in every picture. | | Pure Slop81-100 | Wall-to-wall stock phrases and stock names. Any two replies could swap places. | No memory past the current chat, or it confidently remembers things that never happened. | Every character is the same assistant in a different costume. | Nothing happens unless you write it. | Costs climb as you get attached, or cancelling is a fight. | Raw generator output shipped as final: melted features, gibberish text, and no two images of a character match. | Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: "AI Slop Detector: check any text for AI phrases" url: https://promptplay.io/ai-slop-detector license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /AI Slop Detector Free tool # AI Slop Detector Paste a chat reply, a story or a post. You get a slop score from 0 to 100, every stock AI phrase highlighted, and a guess at which model it sounds like. It runs in your browser, and nothing you paste leaves this page. Paste text here Try a sloppy exampleClear Scores update as you type. Paste something above and the score lands on one of these five cards. 1. 0-15 Artisanal Specific, varied, and surprisingly human. 2. 16-35 Home-cooked Some familiar habits, but mostly fresh. 3. 36-60 Microwaved Repetition starts to show. Characters and scenes blur together. 4. 61-80 Cafeteria The same phrases, reactions, and story beats keep coming back. 5. 81-100 Pure Slop You can practically predict the next sentence. Method ## How the score works The detector checks your text two ways. First, exact rules: the stock phrases of AI roleplay, companion and assistant replies, the words and shapes Wikipedia's editors list in its "Signs of AI writing", and em dashes. A structural tell like three short sentences in a row counts 0.5 of a hit and an em dash counts 0.5, because people write those on purpose. Second, near-misses. Each sentence with no exact hit is compared against 123 real lines people reported, using BM25, a search-ranking formula. A sentence that shares at least 2 content words with a line and covers 70% of its weight is flagged, and counts 0.5 of a hit. The score is hits per 100 words on a curve that reaches 100 at 14, so the first few tells move it most. Texts shorter than 100 words are scored as if they were 100 words long, so one stray phrase in a single sentence does not read as Pure Slop. The tiers are the same ones every app review on this site uses. Every phrase and its source is in [the AI slop words list, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model). How we score whole apps is on [How we test](/methodology). FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Does the AI slop detector send my text anywhere? No. The detector runs in your browser. Nothing you paste is uploaded, stored or logged, and it keeps working if you go offline after the page loads. ### Can it tell whether AI wrote something? No, and nothing can with certainty. It counts the stock phrases and shapes AI models overuse, so a high score means the text reads like default AI output, whoever typed it. ### How does it guess which model wrote the text? Each stock phrase in our catalog is tied to the model its source names. When at least 2 tells point at one model more than any other, the detector names it and links to that model's list. --- title: How we test url: https://promptplay.io/methodology license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /How we test Methodology # How we test How PromptPlay ranks AI story, chat and companion apps: receipts for every claim, a 90-day re-review rule, the Slop Report rubric and how we check our own copy. On this page (5)Show 1. [How rankings work](#rankings) 2. [Receipts and freshness](#receipts) 3. [The Slop Report rubric](#rubric) 4. [How scores are made](#how-scores-are-made) 5. [How we check our own copy](#our-copy) On this page 1. [How rankings work](#rankings) 2. [Receipts and freshness](#receipts) 3. [The Slop Report rubric](#rubric) 4. [How scores are made](#how-scores-are-made) 5. [How we check our own copy](#our-copy) Rankings ## How rankings work Each ranked list answers one search a reader actually makes, like "Character.AI alternatives". Apps are ordered by how well they fix the problem that sent the reader looking. When another app wins a category, the list names it in an award. Every app gets watch-outs, including the one ranked first. Prices are written as true "at this review", and the review date is on the page. Receipts ## Receipts and freshness Every claim about an app comes from a receipt: the source text copied word for word, the link, the kind of source and the day we read it. Receipts are printed at the bottom of each review. Official sites and app store listings back prices, limits, age ratings and content policies. Reviewer and forum sources only ever appear as what reviewers or users report. Every review and ranking is checked against the live product at least every 90 days. The page shows when it was last updated, and our content check flags any page that goes past 90 days until someone re-reviews it. Rubric ## The Slop Report rubric A Slop Report scores up to 6 axes from 0 to 100, lower is better. Each axis has five bands that line up with the Slop Meter tiers, and a score has to sit in the band its receipts support. Axes that do not apply are left out, so an app with no art gets no art score. The overall score is the rounded average of the axes scored. | Tier | ProseDoes it write like a person? | MemoryDoes it remember you? | CharactersDoes everyone sound the same? | StoryDoes anything happen? | PricingDoes it charge you for caring? | ArtDoes the art look like a person made it? | | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Artisanal0-15 | Specific, varied writing. Stock phrases are rare, and people write or edit what you read. | Remembers specific events across sessions, by design. | Distinct, consistent voices written or edited by people. | Authored plots with stakes, branches and endings. | Free or one flat price, with no limit that interrupts a scene. | Hand-drawn or finished art, consistent across every image. No generator tells. | | Home-cooked16-35 | Mostly specific, with a few repeated habits. | Long-term recall holds for the details that matter, with occasional misses. | Consistent characters, with some sameness between them. | Structured scenarios or quests that move forward. | Clear prices shown before you pay, and limits you can predict. | Generated or assisted art that someone fixed and finished: consistent faces, clean hands, deliberate style. | | Microwaved36-60 | Stock phrasing in most replies. Readable, but you have seen it before. | Remembers within a session; long-term recall is patchy or up to you. | Voices blur together, and personality depends on the character card. | A plot exists if you drive it; the app follows more than it leads. | Features you will want sit behind a subscription or a currency, with caps you will notice. | Clearly generated, with the default gloss and occasional errors, but characters stay recognizable. | | Cafeteria61-80 | A cliche in nearly every reply: whispers, smirks, racing hearts. | Forgets between sessions unless you maintain notes yourself. | Most characters share one default voice. | Scenes loop and stall without heavy steering. | Caps or paywalls that land mid-conversation, or a currency that hides the real price. | Frequent tells: broken hands or anatomy, garbled text, the same waxy face, or a character who looks different in every picture. | | Pure Slop81-100 | Wall-to-wall stock phrases and stock names. Any two replies could swap places. | No memory past the current chat, or it confidently remembers things that never happened. | Every character is the same assistant in a different costume. | Nothing happens unless you write it. | Costs climb as you get attached, or cancelling is a fight. | Raw generator output shipped as final: melted features, gibberish text, and no two images of a character match. | ### What the art axis looks for We check each image for these tells, in this order. 1. 1\. Anatomy and structure errors Hands with extra or fused fingers, melted features, limbs that merge into furniture, backgrounds that stop making sense. 2. 2\. Gibberish text Signs, labels, books or UI inside an image with letters that spell nothing. 3. 3\. Generic gloss Waxy or airbrushed skin, a yellow or orange-teal cast, flat uniform lighting, the default AI anime look. 4. 4\. Same face and drift Every character shares one face, or one character's face changes between images, or the avatar does not match the selfies. 5. 5\. Zero iteration Raw generator output shipped as final, with no sign anyone fixed or finished it. ### The Fun Meter Fun runs the other way, 0 to 10, higher is better. It scores whether you would keep playing once the novelty wears off. | Score | Band | | ----- | ----------------- | | 9-10 | Can't put it down | | 7-8 | A good time | | 5-6 | Decent | | 3-4 | Meh | | 0-2 | A chore | Scores ## How scores are made Every score starts with the standard test. People run the same set of test chats with each app and keep the transcripts. Our slop counter scores the transcripts: stock phrases, repeated lines, forgotten details, scenes that loop and characters who share one voice. An editor then applies the rubric to what a transcript cannot show, like pricing, and writes one line on each score saying why it sits in its band. Every score is checked again at each review, at least every 90 days. Our copy ## How we check our own copy Every page on this site goes through the same slop counter before it ships. The build renders every page, runs the counter over the HTML, and fails if it finds stock phrases, em dashes, curly quotes or anything else on the list. A page you can read here passed. The example replies we wrote to show what slop looks like are labeled as ours, and the counter skips them. Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: About url: https://promptplay.io/about license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /About About # About PromptPlay A note from Troy Hi, I'm Troy. I edit every page on PromptPlay. The reviews here check how AI story games, character chat apps and companions hold up after the first hour: whether the writing repeats, whether characters remember you, whether anything happens, and what it costs once you care. If something on a page is wrong, email me at . Fixes go on the page with a new Updated date. Troy Coverage ## What we cover ### AI games Games where a model writes, voices or runs part of what happens. ### AI story apps Interactive fiction and visual novels, authored or generated. ### Character chat Apps for talking to characters, from one small cast to big community libraries. ### AI companions One ongoing character who is supposed to remember you. Rules ## Editorial rules 1. ### 1. Categories get conceded by name When another app is better at something, the ranking says which app and what it is better at. Our top pick does not win every category, and the awards say so. 2. ### 2. Every app gets watch-outs Including the apps we rank first. Every app, whoever makes it, gets the same rubric, the same receipts and the same watch-outs. 3. ### 3. Prices are dated Prices change. Every price is written as true at this review, and the review date is on the page. 4. ### 4. No invented facts Every claim about an app comes from a receipt: source text copied word for word, with the link and the day we read it. No receipt, no claim. The full scoring method, the rubric and the freshness rule are on [How we test](/methodology). The rankings start at [Rankings](/best). Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: AI use and attribution url: https://promptplay.io/ai-license license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- # AI use and attribution You may index PromptPlay's original public text, use it as input to AI systems, and use it for AI training without a fee. When you publish or display our text, excerpts or answers based on it, credit PromptPlay and link to the original page. Keep the review date with prices and scores. Do not imply that we endorse your product or answer. For training, retain the original page URL and PromptPlay attribution in the source records. Outputs that quote or closely reproduce our text must credit PromptPlay and link to the source. This permission covers only text whose rights PromptPlay controls. Third-party quotations, screenshots, artwork, logos, trademarks and linked material remain subject to their owners' rights. Site code is not licensed by this policy. The text is provided as is, without a warranty. These permissions do not remove rights or exceptions that the law already gives you. --- title: Privacy Policy url: https://promptplay.io/privacy license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- # Privacy Policy Last updated 2026-10-13 PromptPlay is a review site. You can read every page without an account, and there is nothing to sign up for. This page lists what happens to your data when you visit. ## The short version PromptPlay has no accounts, sign-up forms, comments or newsletter. Our pages run no analytics, advertising or tracking scripts. Our code sets no cookies and stores nothing in your browser's local storage. Fonts, images and scripts all load from promptplay.io itself, not from other hosts. Our web host sees standard request details, as every web host does. That is covered below. ## Hosting and request logs PromptPlay is hosted on Vercel. When your browser asks for a page, Vercel's servers receive the details any web server receives: your IP address, the address you asked for, the time, your browser's user agent and the page that linked you here. Vercel processes these details to serve and protect the site. How Vercel handles them is set out in [Vercel's privacy policy](https://vercel.com/legal/privacy-policy). We do not feed these details into analytics or use them to build a profile of you. ## The AI Slop Detector The [AI Slop Detector](/ai-slop-detector) checks your text with code that runs in your browser. The text you paste is not sent to our server or anyone else, and it is not saved. Close or reload the page and it is gone. The copy button puts the result on your own clipboard and nowhere else. ## Site search for people and AI agents The [/ask](/ask) endpoint searches our public pages. A search query you send there goes to our server, gets matched against our pages and comes back with the results. Our code does not save or log the query. If a search fails, the server logs the error. A query sent in the address (a GET request) is part of the address, so it can appear in the host's request logs. The Markdown versions of our pages, [/llms.txt](/llms.txt) and [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt) only serve our public pages. The /webmcp.js script loads only in browsers that offer AI agent tools, and it only reads PromptPlay's own pages. ## Email If you email us at , Troy gets your email address and whatever you write. We use it to read your message, reply and fix pages. We do not add you to a mailing list. ## Links to other sites Reviews link to app stores, app websites and the sources behind each claim. Once you follow a link, the other site's own privacy policy applies. ## Children PromptPlay is not directed at children under 13. Some of the apps we review are for adults only. The site has no accounts or forms, so it does not ask anyone for personal information, and we do not knowingly collect it from children. ## Changes to this policy If what the site collects changes, this page changes first, with a new Last updated date at the top. ## Contact Questions about this policy go to Troy at . The rules for using the site are in the [Terms of Use](/terms). --- title: Terms of Use url: https://promptplay.io/terms license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- # Terms of Use Last updated 2026-10-13 These terms cover your use of PromptPlay, its tools and its public endpoints. By using the site you agree to them. If you do not agree, please do not use the site. ## Using the site PromptPlay is free to read and needs no account. You can use the reviews, rankings, guides and the [AI Slop Detector](/ai-slop-detector) for your own reading and decisions. ## Reviews are editorial Reviews, rankings, Slop Scores and Fun Meter scores are our editorial judgment. They are opinions built on receipts, and [How we test](/methodology) explains how we reach them. Apps change. Prices, limits, policies and scores are true at this review, and the review date is on each page. Check the app's own site or store listing before you pay for anything. ## The AI Slop Detector The detector counts stock AI phrases and makes a guess at which model wrote a text. Its score is an estimate, not proof of who or what wrote something. Do not use it as the only basis for a decision about a person. ## No warranty We work to keep every page accurate, and we fix errors when we find them. Even so, the site, its scores and its tools are provided as they are, without any warranty. A page can be wrong or out of date. ## Limits on our liability To the extent the law allows, PromptPlay is not liable for any loss that comes from using the site, its tools, or any app or site we review or link to. That includes money spent on an app because of a review. Nothing here limits a liability that the law does not allow us to limit. ## Links and trademarks Our pages link to app stores, app websites and the sources behind each claim. Those sites are run by other people, and we are not responsible for their content, prices or policies. App names, logos, screenshots and other trademarks belong to their owners. Using them to identify an app in a review does not mean the owner endorses PromptPlay, or that we endorse the owner. ## Our text and AI use How search engines and AI systems may use PromptPlay's text is set out in [AI use and attribution](/ai-license). That page governs AI use of our text. ## Public endpoints People and AI agents are welcome to use our public endpoints: the [/ask](/ask) search endpoint, the Markdown version of each page, [/llms.txt](/llms.txt) and [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt). Please use them at a reasonable rate. Do not send traffic meant to overload the site, and do not try to get around its limits. The /ask endpoint accepts queries up to 500 characters and request bodies up to 4 KB, and it rejects anything larger. We may block traffic that breaks these rules. ## Privacy What the site does with your data is in the [Privacy Policy](/privacy). ## Changes to these terms We may update these terms. When we do, this page changes, with a new Last updated date at the top. Using the site after a change means you accept the new terms. ## Contact Questions about these terms go to Troy at . --- title: "AI roleplay guide: how to keep long roleplays from falling apart" url: https://promptplay.io/guides/ai-roleplay-guide updated: 2026-10-12 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Guides](/guides) 3. /AI roleplay guide: how to keep long roleplays from falling apart Guide # AI roleplay guide: how to keep long roleplays from falling apart How to run AI roleplay that lasts: short character cards, keyword lorebooks, session summaries and fresh chats, and why long chats forget and cost more. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 12, 2026 Short answer Run long roleplays in sessions, not one endless chat. Keep the character card short and put lore in keyword-triggered lorebook entries. Stop at a natural break, summarize what happened and check the summary. Then start a fresh chat seeded with the summaries and this session's goals. Every reply resends the whole history, and models lose track of details as that history grows. On this page (8)Show 1. [Why long roleplays fall apart](#why-long-roleplays-fall-apart) 2. [What a long chat costs](#what-a-long-chat-costs) 3. [Set up the character](#set-up-the-character) 4. [Keep lore in a lorebook, not the prompt](#keep-lore-in-a-lorebook-not-the-prompt) 5. [The session routine](#the-session-routine) 6. [What to expect afterwards](#what-to-expect-afterwards) 7. [Sources](#sources) 8. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Why long roleplays fall apart](#why-long-roleplays-fall-apart) 2. [What a long chat costs](#what-a-long-chat-costs) 3. [Set up the character](#set-up-the-character) 4. [Keep lore in a lorebook, not the prompt](#keep-lore-in-a-lorebook-not-the-prompt) 5. [The session routine](#the-session-routine) 6. [What to expect afterwards](#what-to-expect-afterwards) 7. [Sources](#sources) 8. [Questions people ask](#faq) ## Why long roleplays fall apart Long roleplays break down because every reply has to reread the whole chat. One model maker's documentation explains how this works. Each turn's input contains all previous conversation history plus your new message, and the context window holds up to 1M tokens depending on the model. A bigger window doesn't solve the problem. The same documentation says the model's ability to recall information drops as tokens pile up, which it calls context rot. It also says context has diminishing returns, and this degradation appears across all models. Chat interfaces can manage the window on a rolling first in, first out basis, so the oldest messages drop out first. Those are often the ones that set up your story. Research on long inputs reaches the same conclusion. The "Lost in the Middle" study found models perform best when the relevant information sits at the beginning or end of the input. Performance degraded significantly when the information sat in the middle, even for models built for long contexts. Its authors conclude that current models do not reliably use information in long inputs. A separate report tested 18 models and found performance degraded with input length in every experiment. It also found that distractors hurt more as inputs grow. Distractors are content on the same topic as the answer that doesn't actually answer the question, like five earlier tavern scenes when you need the details of one. Near-perfect "needle in a haystack" scores don't contradict any of this, because that test is a simple retrieval task. A huge lore bible pasted into the character definition causes the same problem from message one. [SillyTavern](/apps/sillytavern)'s documentation gives the arithmetic: on a model with a 2048-token context limit, a 1000-token character definition cuts the AI's memory of the chat in half. ## What a long chat costs Cost rises with every message, because the full history is resent each turn. At this review, the same model maker charges $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens for one of its models. Another of its models costs $0.10 per million input tokens for prompts up to 100,000 tokens and $0.50 per million above that. A chat that crosses 100,000 tokens on that model therefore pays five times the input rate on every turn. Prompt caching softens this. It reuses previously processed parts of a prompt, such as conversation history, and reads them at a fraction of the standard input price. ## Set up the character A character card is a collection of prompts that sets how the model behaves, according to the [SillyTavern](/apps/sillytavern) docs. SillyTavern is free, open source and installed locally, and its makers say it will always be free. It is only an interface, so you also need an LLM backend such as AI Horde, an OpenAI-compatible API or KoboldAI. The docs list several fields as permanent tokens sent with every request: name, description, personality and scenario. Every word in those fields costs chat history, because a large permanent definition leaves the model less room for your conversation. The first message matters most for voice. The docs say the model is more likely to copy style and length from the character's first message than from anything else. Write that message at the length you want replies to run. The Examples of dialogue field shows how the character speaks. Example blocks go in only if there is free context space, and they are pushed out block by block as the chat fills. For traits that must hold all the way through, the Character's Note injects text at a fixed depth in the chat, however far the chat has progressed. ## Keep lore in a lorebook, not the prompt World Info, which SillyTavern also calls Lorebooks or Memory Books, inserts prompts into the chat dynamically. It works like a dictionary: an entry goes in only when its keywords appear in the message text. That means a city's history costs nothing until someone mentions the city. The docs give a few rules for entries: - Keep entry contents concise to save prompt tokens. - Write each entry as a standalone description, because keywords and titles aren't inserted. - Give an entry a larger insertion order number to place it closer to the end of the context, where it has more impact on output. Lorebooks can be bound to a character, a persona or a single chat. A chat-bound lorebook stays active only in that conversation. Other story tools with a Lorebook work the same way. Each entry has activation keys, and the entry's text is inserted when a key appears in the recent context. One such tool also hides entry titles from the AI, so put the title inside the entry text. It offers an "Always On" option that inserts an entry whether or not its keys appear. Save that for the few facts every scene needs. ## The session routine 1. Install SillyTavern and connect it to an LLM backend. 2. Create the character card, keeping name, description, personality and scenario short. 3. Write the first message in the style and length you want replies to match. 4. Fill the Examples of dialogue field with lines in the character's own voice. 5. Put the traits that must never slip into the Character's Note. 6. Open World Info and create one entry per place, person or faction, each with its keywords. 7. Bind the lorebook to the character, persona or chat it belongs to. 8. Raise the insertion order number on the entries that should steer replies most. 9. Play until a natural break, such as a finished quest or chapter, or until messages start dropping out of the prompt. 10. Generate a summary with the Summarize extension. 11. Read the summary and correct anything it lost or made up. 12. Switch on Pause in the Summarize extension if you would rather write the summary yourself. 13. Start a fresh chat for the next session. 14. Paste the summaries so far into the Author's Note, keeping only the details this session needs. 15. Add this session's intent to the Author's Note: where each character is right now, who should appear and what should happen. 16. Before a fight or action scene, add a response length or writing style to the Author's Note so the scene stays short. The Author's Note can sit at any position and frequency in the prompt. The closer it is to the bottom, the more it affects the next reply, which suits session goals and pacing instructions. Seeding the new chat this way follows the model maker's advice to find the smallest set of high-signal tokens. It also puts the important material at the start and end of the context, where the research found models use it best. ## What to expect afterwards World Info does not guarantee the lore shows up in replies. The docs say that depends on how well the model uses the extra information. Summaries will drift if you stop checking them, because generated summaries can lose details or contain hallucinations. Example dialogue drops out first as a chat fills, so if the character's voice slips late in a session, end the session there. The rule is to start a new chat whenever the old one forgets something you had to repeat. Reviews ## [Apps this guide covers](/apps) - [SillyTavern review](/apps/sillytavern)35Home-cooked Free, open-source roleplay frontend: you bring the model, it runs the characters Receipts ## Sources The source text behind the claims above, and the day we read it. 1. Receipt 1Reviewer The "Lost in the Middle" research found language model performance is often highest when relevant information is at the beginning or end of the input, and degrades significantly when models must use information in the middle of long contexts, even for explicitly long-context models. > "performance is often highest when relevant information occurs at the beginning or end of the input context, and significantly degrades when models must access relevant information in the middle of long contexts, even for explicitly long-context models" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.03172), retrieved October 12, 2026 2. Receipt 2Reviewer Anthropic's docs say more context isn't automatically better: as token count grows, accuracy and recall degrade, which it calls context rot. > "more context isn't automatically better. As token count grows, accuracy and recall degrade, a phenomenon known as context rot." [docs.anthropic.com](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/context-windows), retrieved October 12, 2026 3. Receipt 3Reviewer Anthropic's docs explain each turn's input contains all previous conversation history plus the current user message. > "Input phase: Contains all previous conversation history plus the current user message" [docs.anthropic.com](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/context-windows), retrieved October 12, 2026 4. Receipt 4Reviewer Anthropic's docs say the context window holds up to 1M tokens depending on the model, covering conversation history plus new output. > "The context window ( up to 1M tokens, depending on the model ) holds the conversation history plus the new output Claude generates." [docs.anthropic.com](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/context-windows), retrieved October 12, 2026 5. Receipt 5Reviewer Anthropic says chat interfaces like claude.ai can manage the context window on a rolling first in, first out basis. > "Chat interfaces such as claude.ai can also manage the context window on a rolling "first in, first out" basis." [docs.anthropic.com](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/context-windows), retrieved October 12, 2026 6. Receipt 6Reviewer SillyTavern's World Info (also called Lorebooks or Memory Books) inserts prompts dynamically into a chat to guide AI replies. > "World Info (also known as Lorebooks or Memory Books) is a powerful tool available in ST to insert prompts dynamically into your chat to help guide the AI replies." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/worldinfo/), retrieved October 12, 2026 7. Receipt 7Reviewer World Info works like a dynamic dictionary that only inserts an entry when its keywords appear in the message text. > "It functions like a dynamic dictionary that only inserts relevant information from World Info entries when keywords associated with the entries are present in the message text." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/worldinfo/), retrieved October 12, 2026 8. Receipt 8Reviewer SillyTavern notes World Info does not guarantee the lore appears in output; that depends on how well the model uses the extra information. > "it does not guarantee its appearance in the generated output messages. That depends on how good your model is at making use of additional information!" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/worldinfo/), retrieved October 12, 2026 9. Receipt 9Reviewer SillyTavern advises keeping World Info entry contents concise to conserve prompt tokens, and says each entry should be a standalone description because keywords and titles aren't inserted. > "To conserve prompt tokens, it is advisable to keep entry contents concise." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/worldinfo/), retrieved October 12, 2026 10. Receipt 10Reviewer In World Info, entries with larger insertion order numbers are placed closer to the end of the context, where they have more impact on output. > "Entries with larger order numbers will be inserted closer to the end of the context as they will have more impact on the output." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/worldinfo/), retrieved October 12, 2026 11. Receipt 11Reviewer Lorebooks in SillyTavern can be bound to a character, a persona, or an individual chat; chat-bound lorebooks stay active only in that conversation. > "Entries from a chat-bound lorebook are only active in that specific conversation and will not carry over to other chats with the same character." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/worldinfo/), retrieved October 12, 2026 12. Receipt 12Reviewer SillyTavern's Summarize extension creates and stores automatically generated summaries of chat events, which can act like long-term memory, with caveats. > "Summarization can help with outlining general details of what is happening in the story, which could be interpreted as a long-term memory, but take that statement with a grain of salt." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/extensions/summarize/), retrieved October 12, 2026 13. Receipt 13Reviewer SillyTavern warns model-generated summaries can lose important details or contain hallucinations, so users should check and correct them manually. > "the outputs may lose some important details or contain hallucinations, so you're always advised to keep track of the summary state and correct it manually if needed" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/extensions/summarize/), retrieved October 12, 2026 14. Receipt 14Reviewer The Summarize extension has a Pause option useful for supplying your own custom summary instead of automatic updates. > "Pause - check this to prevent the summary from being automatically updated. This is useful if you want to provide a custom summary of your own" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/extensions/summarize/), retrieved October 12, 2026 15. Receipt 15Reviewer SillyTavern suggests the first summary be generated when messages start dropping out of the prompt. > "Ideally, you'd want to have the first summary generated when the messages are starting to get dropped out of the prompt." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/extensions/summarize/), retrieved October 12, 2026 16. Receipt 16Reviewer The Lost in the Middle paper concludes current language models do not reliably use information in long input contexts. > "indicating that current language models do not robustly make use of information in long input contexts" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.03172), retrieved October 12, 2026 17. Receipt 17Reviewer SillyTavern's docs say a 1000-token character definition cuts the AI's memory in half on a model with a 2048-token context limit. > "If you're working with an AI model with a 2048 context token limit, a 1000-token character definition cuts the AI's 'memory' in half." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/characterdesign/), retrieved October 12, 2026 18. Receipt 18Reviewer A large permanent character definition means the AI has less chat history available, so less 'memory'. > "The only negative side effect this can have is that the AI will have less 'memory', as it will have less chat history available to process." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/characterdesign/), retrieved October 12, 2026 19. Receipt 19Reviewer SillyTavern says the model is more likely to pick up style and length from the character's first message than anything else. > "The model is more likely to pick up the style and length constraints from the first message than anything else, so it's important to write it in a way that you want the responses to be" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/characterdesign/), retrieved October 12, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer The Examples of dialogue field describes how the character speaks; example blocks are inserted only if there is free context space and are pushed out block by block. > "Describes how the character speaks. Before each example, you need to add the \ tag. The blocks of example dialogue are only inserted if there is free space in the context for them and are pushed out of context block by block." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/characterdesign/), retrieved October 12, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer SillyTavern's Character's Note is an in-chat injection at a fixed depth, usually used to reinforce character traits regardless of how far the chat has progressed. > "It is usually used to reinforce certain character traits, as it always stays at a static depth in the chat history, regardless of its progression." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/characterdesign/), retrieved October 12, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer SillyTavern's docs list character name, description, personality and scenario as permanent tokens sent with every generation request. > "These will always be sent to the AI with every generation request:" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/characterdesign/), retrieved October 12, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer Anthropic's engineering blog says as tokens in the context window increase, the model's ability to accurately recall information from it decreases (context rot). > "as the number of tokens in the context window increases, the model's ability to accurately recall information from that context decreases." [www.anthropic.com](https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/effective-context-engineering-for-ai-agents), retrieved October 12, 2026 24. Receipt 24Reviewer Anthropic says context must be treated as a finite resource with diminishing marginal returns, and that this degradation appears across all models. > "this characteristic emerges across all models. Context, therefore, must be treated as a finite resource with diminishing marginal returns." [www.anthropic.com](https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/effective-context-engineering-for-ai-agents), retrieved October 12, 2026 25. Receipt 25Reviewer Anthropic recommends finding the smallest possible set of high-signal tokens that maximize the chance of the desired outcome. > "good context engineering means finding the smallest possible set of high-signal tokens that maximize the likelihood of some desired outcome" [www.anthropic.com](https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/effective-context-engineering-for-ai-agents), retrieved October 12, 2026 26. Receipt 26Reviewer Anthropic's API pricing lists Claude Sonnet 5.5 at $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. > "Claude Sonnet 5.5 The best combination of speed and intelligence | $2 / MTok | $10 / MTok" [platform.claude.com](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/about-claude/pricing), retrieved October 12, 2026 27. Receipt 27Reviewer Anthropic's prompt caching reuses previously processed parts of a prompt, like conversation history, reading them at a fraction of the standard input price instead of reprocessing them every request. > "Instead of reprocessing the same large system prompt, document, or conversation history on every request, the API reads from cache at a fraction of the standard input price." [platform.claude.com](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/about-claude/pricing), retrieved October 12, 2026 28. Receipt 28Reviewer Claude Haiku 5.5 costs $0.10 per million input tokens for prompts up to 100,000 tokens and $0.50 per million for prompts over 100,000 tokens. > "$0.10 / MTok for prompts up to 100,000 tokens" [platform.claude.com](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/about-claude/pricing), retrieved October 12, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer Chroma's Context Rot report evaluated 18 LLMs, including GPT-4.1, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5 and Qwen3, and found performance grows increasingly unreliable as input length grows. > "we evaluate 18 LLMs, including the state-of-the-art GPT-4.1, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5, and Qwen3 models. Our results reveal that models do not use their context uniformly; instead, their performance grows increasingly unreliable as input length grows." [research.trychroma.com](https://research.trychroma.com/context-rot), retrieved October 12, 2026 30. Receipt 30Reviewer Chroma found that across all its experiments, model performance consistently degraded with increasing input length. > "Across all experiments, model performance consistently degrades with increasing input length." [research.trychroma.com](https://research.trychroma.com/context-rot), retrieved October 12, 2026 31. Receipt 31Reviewer Chroma notes near-perfect Needle in a Haystack scores lead people to assume long-context performance is uniform, but that test is a simple retrieval task. > "Because these models achieve near-perfect scores on widely adopted benchmarks like Needle in a Haystack (NIAH) \[ 1 ], it's often assumed that their performance is uniform across long-context tasks." [research.trychroma.com](https://research.trychroma.com/context-rot), retrieved October 12, 2026 32. Receipt 32Reviewer Chroma found distractors, content topically related to the needle that doesn't answer the question, have a non-uniform impact that grows more prominent as input length increases. > "We see this impact more prominently as input length increases, and observe distinctions in how various models respond to them." [research.trychroma.com](https://research.trychroma.com/context-rot), retrieved October 12, 2026 33. Receipt 33Reviewer SillyTavern's Author's Note inserts text into the prompt at any position and frequency; the closer to the bottom of the prompt, the more impact on the next response. > "The closer the Author's Note is to the bottom of the prompt, the more impact it has on the next AI response." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/authors-note/), retrieved October 12, 2026 34. Receipt 34Reviewer SillyTavern's docs give Author's Note examples for steering response style and length, such as setting a response length or a writing style. > "\[Your next response must be 300 tokens in length.]" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/authors-note/), retrieved October 12, 2026 35. Receipt 35Reviewer The Author's Note can act as temporary World Info, for example stating where a character is right now. > "As temporary World Info, Character Bias, or Instruct for non-Instruct models" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/core-concepts/authors-note/), retrieved October 12, 2026 36. Receipt 36Reviewer The New York Times (April 4, 2026) reports role-playing chatbot apps are used by tens of millions of people, with engagement times rivaling or surpassing TikTok, per Sensor Tower. > "Apps that feature role-playing chatbots are used by tens of millions of people, with engagement times that rival or surpass those of social media behemoths such as TikTok, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower." [www.nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/technology/ai-chatbots-teen-roleplay.html), retrieved October 12, 2026 37. Receipt 37Reviewer The NYT reports Character.AI settled lawsuits from parents and, in October, barred people under 18 from using its chatbots. > "The company settled those lawsuits, and, in October, barred people under 18 from using its chatbots." [www.nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/technology/ai-chatbots-teen-roleplay.html), retrieved October 12, 2026 38. Receipt 38Reviewer The NYT reports chatbot companies like Character.AI reserve the right to use bot conversations for AI training, personalization and ad targeting. > "chatbot companies like Character.AI reserve the right to use interactions with their bots for A.I. training, personalization and to tailor ads to users." [www.nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/technology/ai-chatbots-teen-roleplay.html), retrieved October 12, 2026 39. Receipt 39Reviewer NovelAI describes its Lorebook as a repository of supplemental information added to the AI's context as each entry comes up in the story. > "You can think of the Lorebook as a repository for supplemental information that's added to the AI's context as each entry comes up in your story." [docs.novelai.net](https://docs.novelai.net/text/lorebook.html), retrieved October 12, 2026 40. Receipt 40Reviewer In NovelAI, each Lorebook entry has activation keys; when a key appears in the recent context, the entry's text is inserted. > "Each entry has its own activation key(s), and when an activation key is found in the recent context, the entry's text gets inserted into the context." [docs.novelai.net](https://docs.novelai.net/text/lorebook.html), retrieved October 12, 2026 41. Receipt 41Reviewer NovelAI's entry titles aren't visible to the AI, so you should include the title inside the entry text. > "The Entry Title is only for organizational purposes and isn't visible by the AI. For this reason, you should always include the entry's title somewhere inside the entry text itself" [docs.novelai.net](https://docs.novelai.net/text/lorebook.html), retrieved October 12, 2026 42. Receipt 42Reviewer NovelAI's "Always On" option inserts a Lorebook entry into context whether or not its keys appear. > "If Always On is enabled, the entry will always be inserted into the context regardless if their keys are found in the recent story or not." [docs.novelai.net](https://docs.novelai.net/text/lorebook.html), retrieved October 12, 2026 43. Receipt 43Reviewer SillyTavern is a locally installed interface for text generation LLMs, image generation and TTS, and is free and open source. > "SillyTavern (or ST for short) is a locally installed user interface that allows you to interact with text generation LLMs, image generation engines, and TTS voice models." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 44. Receipt 44Reviewer SillyTavern says it will always be free and open-sourced. > "will always be free and open-sourced" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 45. Receipt 45Reviewer SillyTavern is only an interface; you need an LLM backend such as AI Horde, an OpenAI-compatible API or KoboldAI. > "Since SillyTavern is only an interface, you will need access to an LLM backend to provide inference." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 46. Receipt 46Reviewer SillyTavern defines a character card as a collection of prompts that set the LLM's behavior, similar to ChatGPT's GPTs or Poe's bots. > "A character card is a collection of prompts that set the behavior of the LLM and is required to have persistent conversations in SillyTavern. They function similarly to ChatGPT's GPTs or Poe's bots." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 47. Receipt 47Reviewer Character.ai announced no more open-ended chat for under-18 users, rolling out from November 24th, with chat time limited starting at 2 hours per day during the transition. > "No more open-ended chat for under-18 users This change will begin rolling out on November 24th." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/42645561782555-Important-Changes-for-Teens-on-Character-ai), retrieved October 12, 2026 48. Receipt 48Reviewer Character.ai says it uses an in-house age assurance model combined with third-party tools including Persona. > "We have built an age assurance model in-house and will be combining it with leading third-party tools, including Persona." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/42645561782555-Important-Changes-for-Teens-on-Character-ai), retrieved October 12, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What is the best AI to use for roleplay? The best choice is a model you can afford to run with lean context, because no model holds a long chat on its own. One report tested 18 models from four major labs and found performance degraded as input length grew in every experiment. Separate research found models miss information buried in the middle of long inputs. How you manage memory decides more than which model you pick. ### What is a lorebook in AI roleplay? A lorebook is a set of lore entries that the tool adds to the AI's context only when the entry's keywords come up in the chat. In SillyTavern it is called World Info, and the docs compare it to a dynamic dictionary. Each entry should be a short, standalone description, because the keywords and titles themselves are not inserted. ### How do I stop the AI from forgetting the story? Summarize at natural breaks and start fresh chats from the summaries. SillyTavern's Summarize extension generates and stores summaries of chat events, and its docs suggest making the first one when messages start dropping out of the prompt. Those docs also warn that generated summaries can lose details or invent them, so read and correct each one. ### Is it okay to use AI for roleplaying? It is common, but read the app's data and age terms first. A newspaper report puts role-playing chatbot use at tens of millions of people. The same report says companies in the category reserve the right to use conversations for AI training, personalization and ad targeting. It also says one character chat app barred users under 18 after settling lawsuits from parents. That app announced an end to open-ended chat for under-18 users, with daily chat time capped from 2 hours during the transition, and says it checks age with an in-house model plus third-party tools. Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: DramaBox review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/dramabox updated: 2026-10-12 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /DramaBox Interactive video # DramaBox review Micro dramas of 1-3 minutes, unlocked with coins, ads or an auto-renewing plan Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 12, 2026 Verdict DramaBox suits adults who want cliffhanger micro dramas in 1-3 minute episodes and will either watch ads for coins or track every charge. Skip it if you want to finish a series at a price you know up front, or if billing complaints and AI-made shows are deal-breakers. Overall slop53MicrowavedFun 4/10 - Best for Adults who binge cliffhanger micro dramas and will sit through ads - Pricing Free to download with in-app purchases. Episodes unlock with coins earned from ads and tasks or bought in the app, and subscriptions auto-renew. DramaBox's store and official facts give no price list at this review. - Platforms iOS, Android [DramaBox official site](https://www.dramaboxdb.com/) On this page (9)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [What it is](#what-it-is) 5. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 6. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 7. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 8. [Receipts](#receipts) 9. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [What it is](#what-it-is) 5. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 6. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 7. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 8. [Receipts](#receipts) 9. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 53/100 - Prose Microwaved 55 The catalogue mixes translated adaptations and local originals, but reviewers call the storylines repetitive and the dubbing poor, and trade press describes prompt-generated, sometimes uncanny shows. Asks: Does it write like a person? - Memory Does it remember you? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Characters Microwaved 52 Casts of influencers and low-budget actors now share the app with a growing number of synthetic actors, and reviewers say the AI series mispronounce characters' names. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Home-cooked 35 Series are scripted with set episode counts, often 80-100, but reviewers say the plots repeat and many stop on cliffhangers that never resolve. Asks: Does anything happen? - Pricing Cafeteria 70 Episodes unlock with an in-app coin currency earned from ads and tasks or bought, no price list is published, and subscriptions renew unless you switch them off a day early. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Microwaved 55 The series covers on DramaBox's official site look generated: airbrushed skin, a golden or purple glow, and chiseled leading men who could swap between posters. The title lettering is clean and clearly added by hand, and nothing is badly broken at cover size. One oddity: the cover for "Love Is A Dangerous Game" is still titled "The Husband Swap Party." Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## Meh 0 to 10, higher is better. 4/10 Minute-long cliffhangers that users say are broken up by long ads and coin walls. At this review ## Key facts | Type | Interactive video | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | iOS, Android | | Pricing at this review | Free to download with in-app purchases. Episodes unlock with coins earned from ads and tasks or bought in the app, and subscriptions auto-renew. DramaBox's store and official facts give no price list at this review. | | Age rating | 18+ | | Content policy | Mature themes, not explicit | | Who writes the characters | Written by people | | Memory | No characters remember you. DramaBox recommends shows from your viewing history and ratings, and keeps the playlists and saved titles you make. | | Best for | Adults who binge cliffhanger micro dramas and will sit through ads | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +Reviewers say the first 5-10 episodes of a series are free, and the developer says coins from ads and tasks can unlock the rest. - +Users on Reddit say ads can unlock around 15-20 episodes a day without paying. - +Episodes run 1-3 minutes, according to users, so a single episode fits a short break. - +The App Store listing says DramaBox recommends shows from your viewing history and ratings, and lets you build playlists and save titles. Watch out for - !Ads are the price of the free path. App Store and Google Play reviewers report ads of nearly 3 minutes to unlock a 1-minute episode, 1 coin per ad, and interactive ads that ran past 10 minutes with no way back to the show. - !Subscriptions auto-renew unless you turn renewal off at least 24 hours before the period ends. Users report charges after cancelling, and an annual plan that still asked for payment per episode. - !Trade press reports DramaBox is moving toward synthetic actors and settings. Reviewers complain of AI-made series with poor dubbing and mispronounced character names. - !DramaBox is rated 18+. Users report shows with slapping, strangling and violence between romantic partners, and people drugged for sex. - !Google Play's data safety section says the app may share photos and videos, app activity and other data with third parties. ## What it is DramaBox is a phone app for micro dramas. It is on the App Store, where it is rated 18+, and on Google Play, which labels it "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised." STORYMATRIX PTE. LTD. in Singapore publishes it. Users on Reddit say episodes run 1-3 minutes and most shows run 80-100 episodes. DramaBox describes its catalogue as a mix of translated adaptations and locally original productions. Trade press reports more than 460 million downloads since the app launched in 2023. It also reports live-action originals in production in Colombia and Brazil, and a September 2026 shift among major microdrama apps, DramaBox included, toward synthetic actors and settings. A partner's July 2026 announcement says DramaBox runs in 200+ countries and has over 90 million registered users. ## What it is like to use The App Store listing says DramaBox recommends shows from your viewing history and ratings, and lets you build playlists and save titles. App Store and Google Play reviewers describe what happens between episodes. They report ads close to 3 minutes long to unlock a 1-minute episode, 1 coin per ad watched, and interactive ads that grew from 1 minute to more than 10, sometimes with no way back to the show. They also say many stories stop on a cliffhanger that never resolves. Viewers disagree about who makes the shows. Users on Reddit say the shows in DramaBox's ads have human casts, mostly influencers and low-budget actors. The same users flag slapping, strangling and violence between romantic partners, and people drugged for sex. Reviewers elsewhere say most series feel AI-made, with repetitive storylines, poor dubbing and mispronounced character names. The series covers on DramaBox's official site look generated: airbrushed skin, a golden or purple glow, and chiseled leading men who could swap between posters. The title lettering is clean and clearly added by hand, and nothing is badly broken at cover size. One cover is out of date: the official site lists "Love Is A Dangerous Game," a 43-episode series about a couples-swapping getaway, but its cover still reads "The Husband Swap Party." ## Pricing at this review DramaBox is free to download with in-app purchases, and its store and official facts give no price list at this review. The developer's App Store reply says dramas can be unlocked free with coins collected from tasks or ads. The free path exists. Reviewers say the first 5-10 episodes of a series are free and that coins come from daily check-ins and ads, though rewarded ads per day may be capped. Users on Reddit put that cap at around 15-20 episodes a day, and they say some members-only shows need a subscription. Paying users report these costs and problems: - $20 for roughly 40 one-minute episodes - $18.99 every two weeks, or $19 a week - An annual plan that still asked for payment per episode - Charges that continued after cancelling, from one reviewer who called it the hardest app to cancel they had seen Apple subscriptions auto-renew unless you turn renewal off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. If you subscribe, switch renewal off the same day and check your next statement. ## Who should skip it Skip DramaBox if you are under 18, if you want to finish a series at a price you know before you start, or if AI-made shows put you off. At 80-100 episodes a series and about 40 episodes for $20 by one reviewer's count, a full show bought with coins costs well over $20. Skip it as well if data sharing matters to you. Google Play's data safety section says the app may share photos and videos, app activity and other data with third parties, and collects personal info and device IDs. You can request deletion. Sources ## 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 12, 2026. 1. Receipt 1App store listing The App Store lists DramaBox as free with in-app purchases and an age rating of 18+. > "Free · In‑App Purchases Age Rating 18+ Years" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramabox-stream-drama-shorts/id6445905219), retrieved October 2, 2026 2. Receipt 2App store listing Apple subscriptions auto-renew unless the user turns off automatic renewal at least 24 hours before the current period ends. > "Unless the user turns off automatic renewal at least 24 hours before the current subscription period ends. Otherwise, the system automatically extends the validity period." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramabox-stream-drama-shorts/id6445905219), retrieved October 2, 2026 3. Receipt 3App store listing An App Store reviewer says paying $20 gets roughly 40 one-minute episodes, and that watching one ad earns just 1 coin. > "Having to pay 20 dollars for the equivalent of 40 episodes, each episode being 1 minute long, making that 20 dollars for not even a 1 hour binge? Absolutely ridiculous." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramabox-stream-drama-shorts/id6445905219), retrieved October 2, 2026 4. Receipt 4App store listing Google Play labels DramaBox "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised" with in-app purchases. > "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised In-App Purchases" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.storymatrix.drama\&hl=en\&gl=US), retrieved October 2, 2026 5. Receipt 5App store listing Google Play's data safety section says the app may share photos and videos, app activity and other data with third parties, and collects personal info and device IDs; deletion can be requested. > "This app may share these data types with third parties Photos and videos, App activity and 2 others" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.storymatrix.drama\&hl=en\&gl=US), retrieved October 2, 2026 6. Receipt 6App store listing DramaBox is published by STORYMATRIX PTE. LTD., based at Raffles City Tower in Singapore. > "STORYMATRIX PTE. LTD. 250 North Bridge Road #29-03 Raffles City Tower Singapore 179101" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.storymatrix.drama\&hl=en\&gl=US), retrieved October 2, 2026 7. Receipt 7App store listing An App Store reviewer says ads can be nearly 3 minutes long to unlock 1-minute episodes. > "it's very unfair that I have to watch ads that can be nearly 3 minutes long, just for 1 minute long content" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramabox-stream-drama-shorts/id6445905219), retrieved October 2, 2026 8. Receipt 8App store listing A Play Store reviewer says ads went from 1 minute to 10+ minutes of fiddling with interactive ads, sometimes with no way back to the show. > "Used to be 1 minute ads and easy to go through them and get back to my short movie..now it's 10+ minutes of fiddling with the interactive ads to get back to the movie, if it even lets you!" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.storymatrix.drama\&hl=en\&gl=US), retrieved October 2, 2026 9. Receipt 9Reviewer The Hollywood Reporter (September 2026) reports DramaBox is among major microdrama apps increasingly embracing synthetic actors and settings, with prompt-generated, sometimes uncanny fare. > "some major players, including DramaBox, DramaWave and FlareFlow, have increasingly been embracing synthetic actors and settings and showering their apps with prompt-generated, sometimes uncanny fare, no human actors required." [www.hollywoodreporter.com](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ai-hollywood-microdramas-1236694483/), retrieved October 2, 2026 10. Receipt 10Reviewer In July 2026 Globavend signed a global distribution deal with DramaBox for its AI-produced micro drama "The Wolf King's Forbidden Bride." > "has signed a global distribution agreement with DramaBox for its AI-produced micro drama "The Wolf King's Forbidden Bride."" [www.investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/globavend-signs-distribution-deal-with-dramabox-for-ai-drama-93CH-4800004), retrieved October 2, 2026 11. Receipt 11Reviewer Per the Globavend statement, DramaBox operates in 200+ countries with over 90 million registered users and 100 million+ Google Play downloads. > "DramaBox operates across more than 200 countries and has over 90 million registered users worldwide, according to the company's statement. The platform has surpassed 100 million downloads on Google Play." [www.investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/globavend-signs-distribution-deal-with-dramabox-for-ai-drama-93CH-4800004), retrieved October 2, 2026 12. Receipt 12Forum Users on Reddit say episodes are 1-3 minutes long and you pay per episode after a few free ones. > "Episodes are 1-3 minutes long, and you pay per episode after watching a few ones for free." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1g1lhsc/whats_the_deal_with_dramabox_shows/), retrieved October 2, 2026 13. Receipt 13Forum Users on Reddit say DramaBox lets you unlock around 15-20 episodes per day through ads, while some members-only shows need a paid subscription; most shows run 80-100 episodes. > "DramaBox allows you to unlock around 15-20 episodes per day through ads. Most shows are 80-100 episodes, so I usually finish one in about a week." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1g1lhsc/whats_the_deal_with_dramabox_shows/), retrieved October 2, 2026 14. Receipt 14Forum Users on Reddit say some shows (notably Chinese dramas) feature slapping, strangling and violence between romantic partners, and people being drugged for sex. > "the Chinese ones strongly feature slapping, strangling, and other physical violence, even between romantic partners that end up together, as well as people being drugged to have sex." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1g1lhsc/whats_the_deal_with_dramabox_shows/), retrieved October 2, 2026 15. Receipt 15Forum A Reddit user (Feb 2026) says some content may be AI-generated but advertised shows feature human casts, mostly influencers and low-budget actors. > "Some of the content may be AI generated, but the shows I've seen advertised feature human casts." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1g1lhsc/whats_the_deal_with_dramabox_shows/), retrieved October 2, 2026 16. Receipt 16App store listing The App Store listing says DramaBox gives personalized recommendations based on viewing history and ratings, and lets users create playlists and save titles. > "Get personalized recommendations based on your viewing history and ratings." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramabox-stream-drama-shorts/id6445905219), retrieved October 2, 2026 17. Receipt 17Official site The official site lists "Love Is A Dangerous Game" at 43 episodes, about a couples-swapping getaway. > "Olivia is dragged by her husband Ryan to a couples-swapping getaway-only to be paired with Jake, the husband of her closest friend Mia." [www.dramaboxdb.com](https://www.dramaboxdb.com/movie/42000028173/love-is-a-dangerous-game), retrieved October 2, 2026 18. Receipt 18Reviewer Reviewers on Trustpilot give dramaboxdb.com a 1.6 TrustScore from 39 reviews, 77% of them 1-star. > "1.6 Bad 39 reviews" [www.trustpilot.com](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.dramaboxdb.com), retrieved October 2, 2026 19. Receipt 19Reviewer A Trustpilot reviewer (Sept 2026) says they were charged 18.99 every 2 weeks and still billed monthly after cancelling. > "I canceled my subscription and they still charged my card monthly. A big scam. I want to sue to get my money back. And it is more expensive than Netflix. Charged 18.99 for every 2 weeks." [www.trustpilot.com](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.dramaboxdb.com), retrieved October 2, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer A Trustpilot reviewer (Aug 2026) says they paid for an annual subscription but were still asked to pay per episode. > "They take your money for an annual subscription, but still request payment per episode." [www.trustpilot.com](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.dramaboxdb.com), retrieved October 2, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer A Trustpilot reviewer (Aug 2026) says storylines are repetitive and most are AI-generated with terrible dubbing. > "Storylines are repetitive and most are AI generated with terrible dubbing, if any." [www.trustpilot.com](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.dramaboxdb.com), retrieved October 2, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer A Trustpilot reviewer (June 2026) says the series seem AI-made, mispronounce characters' names and are not worth $19.00 a week. > "I'm pretty sure these are all AI which is not a problem except for when they can't pronounce the last names of the main characters and have terrible editing that is not worth $19.00 a week." [www.trustpilot.com](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.dramaboxdb.com), retrieved October 2, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer A Trustpilot reviewer (Sept 2026) calls it the hardest app to cancel they've seen. > "I have never seen an app that is so hard to cancel. This app is pure slop" [www.trustpilot.com](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.dramaboxdb.com), retrieved October 2, 2026 24. Receipt 24Reviewer Reviewers at HeyUGuys (a sponsored post) report the first 5-10 episodes of a series are free, after which episodes are locked behind coins or a subscription. > "The first 5-10 episodes are available at no cost, but some series may offer fewer free episodes. Once the free episodes end, the next episode displays a lock icon." [www.heyuguys.com](https://www.heyuguys.com/dramabox-coin-system-for-new-viewers/), retrieved October 2, 2026 25. Receipt 25Reviewer Reviewers at HeyUGuys report free coins come from daily check-ins and watching ads, and rewarded ads per day may be capped. > "The number of rewarded ads available each day may be capped." [www.heyuguys.com](https://www.heyuguys.com/dramabox-coin-system-for-new-viewers/), retrieved October 2, 2026 26. Receipt 26Reviewer Deadline (Aug 2026) reports DramaBox has been downloaded more than 460 million times since launching in 2023, and is putting a Brazilian series starring telenovela actor Duda Reis into production with Cimarrón. > "For DramaBox, the microdrama app that's been downloaded more than 460 million times since launch in 2023, the production is part of a wider expansion into Brazil." [deadline.com](https://deadline.com/2026/08/dramabox-cimarron-brazil-series-colombia-rollout-1237040433/), retrieved October 2, 2026 27. Receipt 27Reviewer Deadline reports DramaBox is rolling out three live-action Colombian originals made with Dos Ke Tres Films in August 2026. > "A similar expansion is ongoing in Colombia, where three titles are debuting this month, each of which was developed with Willy Barragán's Dos Ke Tres Films." [deadline.com](https://deadline.com/2026/08/dramabox-cimarron-brazil-series-colombia-rollout-1237040433/), retrieved October 2, 2026 28. Receipt 28Reviewer In April 2026 The Trade Desk partnership went live, opening DramaBox's ad inventory to advertisers globally. > "The partnership between The Trade Desk and DramaBox is now live, with advertising inventory now available to advertisers globally." [www.prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-trade-desk-powers-open-internet-growth-with-dramabox-short-drama-partnership-302752834.html), retrieved October 2, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer DramaBox describes its content strategy as a hybrid of translated adaptations and locally original productions. > "Through a hybrid content strategy combining translated adaptations and locally original productions, the platform offers a diverse range of short drama genres." [www.prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-trade-desk-powers-open-internet-growth-with-dramabox-short-drama-partnership-302752834.html), retrieved October 2, 2026 30. Receipt 30App store listing An App Store reviewer says many stories end on cliffhangers with no resolution. > "There many more stories with like cliff hangers type ending." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramabox-stream-drama-shorts/id6445905219), retrieved October 2, 2026 31. Receipt 31App store listing The developer's App Store reply says dramas can be unlocked free by collecting coins through tasks or watching ads, and that it pays copyright fees for its content. > "All the dramas on our APP are genuine content for which we pay a high copyright fee.We offer a variety of options to meet your needs." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramabox-stream-drama-shorts/id6445905219), retrieved October 2, 2026 32. Receipt 32Official site A DramaBox official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "THE Husband SWAP PARTY". > "THE Husband SWAP PARTY" [thwztchapter.dramaboxdb.com](https://thwztchapter.dramaboxdb.com/data/cppartner/4x2/42x0/420x0/42000028173/42000028173.jpg@w=360\&h=640), retrieved October 2, 2026 33. Receipt 33Official site A DramaBox official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Deny Me, Dragon King". > "Deny Me, Dragon King" [thwztchapter.dramaboxdb.com](https://thwztchapter.dramaboxdb.com/data/cppartner/4x2/42x0/420x0/42000021382/42000021382.jpg@w=360\&h=640), retrieved October 2, 2026 34. Receipt 34Official site A DramaBox official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "KNEEL BEFORE THE DRAGON QUEEN". > "KNEEL BEFORE THE DRAGON QUEEN" [thwztchapter.dramaboxdb.com](https://thwztchapter.dramaboxdb.com/data/cppartner/4x2/42x0/420x0/42000025240/42000025240.jpg@w=240\&h=400), retrieved October 2, 2026 35. Receipt 35Official site A DramaBox official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "SHIFTER ACADEMY TAMING THREE WILD MATES". > "SHIFTER ACADEMY TAMING THREE WILD MATES" [thwztchapter.dramaboxdb.com](https://thwztchapter.dramaboxdb.com/data/cppartner/4x2/42x0/420x0/42000021919/42000021919.jpg@w=240\&h=400), retrieved October 2, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### How much does DramaBox cost? DramaBox publishes no price list in its store or official facts at this review. It is free to download with in-app purchases, and episodes unlock with coins or a subscription. Users report paying $20 for roughly 40 one-minute episodes, and subscriptions billed at $18.99 every two weeks or $19 a week. ### Is DramaBox free? DramaBox is free to download, and you can watch part of most series without paying. Reviewers say the first 5-10 episodes of a series are free. After that, free coins come from daily check-ins and ads, and the number of rewarded ads may be capped each day. Users on Reddit put the ceiling at around 15-20 ad-unlocked episodes a day, and they say some members-only shows need a paid subscription. ### Is DramaBox worth paying for? Paying makes sense only if you will finish a short series and will cancel on time. Most shows run 80-100 episodes, according to users, and one App Store reviewer says $20 buys about 40. Apple renews subscriptions unless you turn renewal off at least 24 hours before the period ends. Reviewers also report charges after cancelling and an annual plan that still charged per episode. ### Is DramaBox a legitimate app? Yes. DramaBox is listed on the App Store and Google Play, it is published by STORYMATRIX PTE. LTD. in Singapore, and the developer says it pays copyright fees for its content. The complaints about it concern billing and cancelling. On one consumer review site, dramaboxdb.com scores 1.6 from 39 reviews, and 77% of those reviews are one-star. Google Play's data safety section says the app collects personal info and device IDs and may share data with third parties, and you can request deletion. ### Is DramaBox AI? Partly. Trade press reports that DramaBox is among the major microdrama apps increasingly using synthetic actors and settings. A distributor also signed a global deal in July 2026 for one of its AI-produced series, "The Wolf King's Forbidden Bride." DramaBox is putting live-action originals into production in Colombia and Brazil as well. One Reddit user says the shows in its ads have human casts. ### Does DramaBox have explicit content? DramaBox is rated 18+ on the App Store, and Google Play labels it "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised." Users on Reddit report slapping, strangling and violence between romantic partners, and people drugged for sex, notably in Chinese dramas. The official site also lists a 43-episode series about a couples-swapping getaway. Keep reading ## More like this [Interactive videoOctober 5, 2026](/apps/reelshort) ### [ReelShort review](/apps/reelshort) [One-to-two-minute serial dramas, a few free episodes, then coins or a weekly pass](/apps/reelshort) [49MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/reelshort) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: "How to Use SillyTavern: Install It, Connect a Model and Start Chatting" url: https://promptplay.io/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern updated: 2026-10-12 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Guides](/guides) 3. /How to Use SillyTavern: Install It, Connect a Model and Start Chatting Guide # How to Use SillyTavern: Install It, Connect a Model and Start Chatting How to use SillyTavern from SillyTavern's own docs: install on Windows, Mac, Linux or Android, connect a model in API Connections, and load a character. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 12, 2026 Short answer Install NodeJS (latest LTS) and Git, clone SillyTavern's release branch, then run Start.bat on Windows or bash start.sh on Mac/Linux. It opens in your browser. Enter a persona name, click API Connections in the top bar and connect a model. AI Horde is free with the key 0000000000 at this review. Then open Character Management, pick Seraphina and press Enter. On this page (16)Show 1. [What you need before installing](#what-you-need-before-installing) 2. [Install SillyTavern on Windows](#install-sillytavern-on-windows) 3. [Install SillyTavern on Mac or Linux](#install-sillytavern-on-mac-or-linux) 4. [Install SillyTavern on Android](#install-sillytavern-on-android) 5. [Use SillyTavern on an iPhone, iPad or another device](#use-sillytavern-on-an-iphone-ipad-or-another-device) 6. [Set your persona](#set-your-persona) 7. [Connect a model in API Connections](#connect-a-model-in-api-connections) 8. [Start your first chat](#start-your-first-chat) 9. [Create or import a character](#create-or-import-a-character) 10. [Set SillyTavern up for roleplay](#set-sillytavern-up-for-roleplay) 11. [Update SillyTavern](#update-sillytavern) 12. [Reset settings and back up your data](#reset-settings-and-back-up-your-data) 13. [Fix a slow or laggy interface](#fix-a-slow-or-laggy-interface) 14. [What new users run into](#what-new-users-run-into) 15. [Sources](#sources) 16. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [What you need before installing](#what-you-need-before-installing) 2. [Install SillyTavern on Windows](#install-sillytavern-on-windows) 3. [Install SillyTavern on Mac or Linux](#install-sillytavern-on-mac-or-linux) 4. [Install SillyTavern on Android](#install-sillytavern-on-android) 5. [Use SillyTavern on an iPhone, iPad or another device](#use-sillytavern-on-an-iphone-ipad-or-another-device) 6. [Set your persona](#set-your-persona) 7. [Connect a model in API Connections](#connect-a-model-in-api-connections) 8. [Start your first chat](#start-your-first-chat) 9. [Create or import a character](#create-or-import-a-character) 10. [Set SillyTavern up for roleplay](#set-sillytavern-up-for-roleplay) 11. [Update SillyTavern](#update-sillytavern) 12. [Reset settings and back up your data](#reset-settings-and-back-up-your-data) 13. [Fix a slow or laggy interface](#fix-a-slow-or-laggy-interface) 14. [What new users run into](#what-new-users-run-into) 15. [Sources](#sources) 16. [Questions people ask](#faq) ## What you need before installing [SillyTavern](/apps/sillytavern) needs NodeJS 20 or higher, plus Git for the recommended install. The project's README makes these points: - **Hardware:** anything that runs NodeJS 20 is enough. Running a model on your own machine raises the bar to a 3000-series NVIDIA card with at least 6GB of VRAM. - **What it is:** a locally installed interface for text-generation LLMs, image generation engines and TTS voice models. - **Hosting and tracking:** the project offers no online or hosted services, doesn't programmatically track user data, and will always be free and open source. - **Platforms:** there are install guides for Windows, MacOS/Linux, Android (Termux) and Docker. SillyTavern runs no model itself. Reviewers report that even once it's running locally, you can't chat until you connect a backend, either with an API key or a local inference server. Pick the release branch. SillyTavern's docs recommend it for most users because it is the most stable and typically updates once a month. The staging branch has the latest features and updates several times a day, but the docs say it may break at any time and isn't for casual use. Install with Git rather than a zip. The docs always recommend Git because updating is then just git pull, while zip installs need a tedious manual process. ## Install SillyTavern on Windows 1. Install NodeJS. The docs recommend the latest LTS. 2. Install Git for Windows. 3. Make a folder for SillyTavern outside Windows-controlled folders such as Program Files and System32. 4. Open a Command Prompt in that folder. 5. Clone the release branch. 6. Double-click Start.bat. Don't run it as admin. NodeJS installs the requirements, the server starts, and SillyTavern opens in your browser. Windows 7 can't run it because it can't run NodeJS 20. The docs also describe a GitHub Desktop route, and cloning the repository doesn't require a GitHub account. ## Install SillyTavern on Mac or Linux 1. Install git and nodeJS. 2. Open a Terminal and clone the repo. 3. Run cd SillyTavern. 4. Run bash start.sh. Mac users have a second route: install Homebrew, then git, then clone and run the SillyTavern Launcher. ## Install SillyTavern on Android SillyTavern runs natively on Android through Termux, but the docs say Termux installs are not officially supported and aren't guaranteed to work. Install Termux from F-Droid (the docs' recommendation) or GitHub releases, never Google Play, whose version is no longer maintained. 32-bit Android needs an external dependency that npm can't install, so a 64-bit phone is the easier path. Once SillyTavern is installed, optional aliases give you shortcuts: - **st** starts SillyTavern. - **stup** updates it. - **pkgup** updates Termux packages. ## Use SillyTavern on an iPhone, iPad or another device iPhones and iPads can't run the whole app. Instead, run SillyTavern on a computer on your home Wi-Fi and open it in the mobile browser. By default the server only accepts connections from its own machine, so change that first: 1. Open config.yaml in the SillyTavern root folder, not /SillyTavern/default/config.yaml. 2. Set listen to true. 3. Configure at least one access control method. With remote listening on, the server won't start without one. 4. If you whitelist addresses, include 127.0.0.1, or you can't connect from the host machine. 5. On Windows 11, enable the Private Network profile under Settings > Network and Internet > Ethernet. Without it, remote devices can't connect even with firewall rules. 6. In the phone's browser, type the address with the plain http prefix, not https. Don't port-forward to expose the server to the internet. For access away from home, the docs point to a VPN or a tunnel such as Cloudflare Zero Trust, ngrok or Tailscale. ## Set your persona The onboarding screen asks for a persona name. That name is how you appear in the chat. ## Connect a model in API Connections AI Horde is the free way to test your install. SillyTavern's docs describe it as a community-driven AI service with a variety of models. 1. Click API Connections in the top bar. 2. Enter an API key. At this review 0000000000 works, or you can get a free key from AI Horde. 3. Select a few AI models from the top of the list. You can change them later. 4. Close API Connections. Horde works out of the box on volunteers' GPUs, so the worker you land on decides your wait times, settings and available models. To connect OpenAI instead: 1. Click API Connections in the top bar. 2. Under API, select Chat Completion (OpenAI). 3. Under Chat Completion Source, select OpenAI. 4. Paste your API key. 5. Click Connect. 6. Check that it says Valid. SillyTavern uses GPT-4 Turbo with OpenAI by default. You can choose other models, and the docs warn you to learn the pricing before you do. Your key is saved in secrets.json in the user data directory (/data/default-user/secrets.json by default) and is hidden in the interface after you save and refresh. Never share it: whoever has your OpenAI secret key can use GPT at your expense. ### Which backend to pick | Backend | Cost at this review | Notes from the docs | | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | AI Horde | Free | Volunteer workers set wait times, settings and models | | OpenRouter | Pay-per-token credits, plus free models with limited daily requests | No enforced moderation unless the LLM vendor requires it | | Google AI Studio | Free tier with rate limits (Gemini Flash) | May require billing information | | DeepSeek | Credit purchase, $2 minimum | Fairly cheap for the quality | | OpenAI, Claude | Prepaid credits, charged per prompt | Cloud content filtering applies | | Local model | Free | Complex setup the SillyTavern team doesn't support; models are 5-50GB each | The docs frame the choice as a trade-off: - **Cloud APIs** are smarter than most local models, but all filter content to varying degrees and most require payment. The FAQ adds that paid web-service AIs log everything on their servers. - **Local models** have no content filter, offer total privacy and can run without internet. Use Horde to confirm the install works. Pick a cloud API if you want quality, or a local model if privacy matters and you have the GPU. ## Start your first chat 1. Click Character Management at the far right of the top bar. 2. Select an existing character, such as Seraphina. 3. Type in the chat box at the bottom. 4. Press Enter or click Send. Once the chat is running, these controls do most of the work: - **Swipe** generates a different response. The Right arrow key does the same. - **Edit** changes any message. The Up arrow key edits the last one. - **Options**, next to the chat bar, holds author's notes and chat file management. - **The ••• message menu** has Checkpoint, which creates a story checkpoint, and Branch, which starts an alternate story path. SillyTavern keeps your chat history, so you can resume a chat, start a new one or review old ones. If replies come back short, send an empty message to make the bot keep writing, or raise Response Length. ## Create or import a character 1. Click Character Management. 2. Click Create New Character. 3. Fill in Character Name. 4. Fill in Description. 5. Fill in First Message. 6. Click Create Character. Choose the name carefully: you can edit everything about a character after creating it except the name. Reviewers report that a character card is a PNG image with personality, dialogue style, scenario and behavior rules embedded as metadata. If a card throws an invalid PNG card error, the docs give two usual causes: - The embedded definitions were stripped. Use the raw PNG exactly as posted. - The file is really a WEBP. Try renaming it to .webp. SillyTavern wasn't designed for huge libraries, and slowdown becomes noticeable past 1000 characters. ## Set SillyTavern up for roleplay The FAQ fixes the most common complaint, the AI writing your character's actions, with an Author's Note phrase such as "You are never allowed to dictate actions or speech for {{user}}." Three more features matter for roleplay: - **World Info (lorebooks):** reviewers report it injects persistent character, location and context snippets into the prompt whenever their keywords appear in the conversation. - **Visual Novel mode:** characters appear as sprites, as in visual novels like Doki Doki Literature Club. - **Presets:** a June 2026 user post describes a preset as telling the AI how to roleplay in a frontend like SillyTavern. ## Update SillyTavern 1. Open a terminal in the SillyTavern folder. 2. Run git pull. 3. Start SillyTavern again. On Windows, try UpdateAndStart.bat first. Two errors come up after updates: - **"Cannot find module" on startup:** a new npm package is required. Run npm install in the SillyTavern folder. Start.bat and start.sh do this automatically. - **Changed system files block git pull:** move or delete the file, or run git pull --rebase --autostash. ## Reset settings and back up your data 1. Open User Settings. 2. Go to Account. 3. Click Download Backup to export all user data, or save a Settings Snapshot. 4. In the Danger Zone, click Reset Settings to restore factory defaults, or Reset Everything for a complete account wipe and factory reset. In default standalone mode, config.yaml and the data directory live in the server directory, and all data stays in the installation path. The Clean-Up tool permanently deletes files and can't be undone, so back up first if you're unsure. ## Fix a slow or laggy interface In User settings, enable No Blur Effect (Fast UI) and Reduced motion, and make sure hardware acceleration is on. For input lag, check browser extensions first, which the docs name as the most common cause. ## What new users run into One September 2026 review calls SillyTavern one of the least beginner-friendly AI tools right now, though worth it if you survive the setup. Users report similar friction: - A returning user found every beginner video tutorial obsolete. - Another got "weird" output and wondered whether they had picked the wrong APIs or set up characters poorly. - One got a refusal message from Claude, which fits the docs' warning that cloud APIs filter content. - The June 2026 preset post says the hobby is getting more expensive. Reviews ## [Apps this guide covers](/apps) - [SillyTavern review](/apps/sillytavern)35Home-cooked Free, open-source roleplay frontend: you bring the model, it runs the characters Receipts ## Sources The source text behind the claims above, and the day we read it. 1. Receipt 1Official site SillyTavern's docs say you can use AI Horde for free; it is a community-driven AI service with a variety of models. > "You can use AI Horde for free. AI Horde is a community-driven AI service that provides access to a variety of AI models." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/quick-start/), retrieved October 12, 2026 2. Receipt 2Official site On the onboarding screen, you enter a name for your persona, which is used in the chat. > "In SillyTavern's onboarding screen, enter a name for your persona. This name will be used in the chat." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/quick-start/), retrieved October 12, 2026 3. Receipt 3Official site For AI Horde, click API Connections in the top bar and enter an API key; 0000000000 works for now, or get a free key from AI Horde. > "Enter an API key for AI Horde. You can use 0000000000 for now, or get a free key from AI Horde." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/quick-start/), retrieved October 12, 2026 4. Receipt 4Official site Select a few AI models from the top of the list (changeable later), close API Connections, type in the chat box at the bottom and press Enter. > "Select some AI models to use. Just choose a few from the top. You can always change them later. Close the API Connections window. Enter a message in the chat box at the bottom and press Enter." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/quick-start/), retrieved October 12, 2026 5. Receipt 5Official site For OpenAI: under API select Chat Completion (OpenAI), under Chat Completion Source select OpenAI, paste the key, click Connect and confirm it says Valid. > "Under API, select Chat Completion (OpenAI). Under Chat Completion Source, select OpenAI. Paste the API key you saved in the previous step. Click the Connect button. Confirm it says Valid." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/quick-start/), retrieved October 12, 2026 6. Receipt 6Official site By default SillyTavern uses GPT-4 Turbo with OpenAI; other models can be chosen, but the docs warn to learn the pricing. > "By default, SillyTavern will use GPT-4 Turbo. You can choose a different model, but educate yourself on the pricing." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/quick-start/), retrieved October 12, 2026 7. Receipt 7Official site The docs warn never to share your OpenAI secret key, since whoever has it can use GPT at your expense. > "DO NOT SHARE THIS KEY. WHOEVER HAS IT CAN USE YOUR ACCOUNT TO USE GPT AT YOUR EXPENSE." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/quick-start/), retrieved October 12, 2026 8. Receipt 8Official site To test, click Character Management at the far right of the top bar and select an existing character such as Seraphina, then type and press Enter or click Send. > "In SillyTavern's top bar, click Character Management at the far right. Select an existing character such as Seraphina." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/quick-start/), retrieved October 12, 2026 9. Receipt 9Official site The release branch is recommended for most users, is the most stable, and is typically updated once a month. > "release - \&##x1F31F; Recommended for most users. This is the most stable and recommended branch, updated only when major releases are pushed. It's suitable for the majority of users. Typically updated once a month." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/), retrieved October 12, 2026 10. Receipt 10Official site The staging branch is not recommended for casual use: it has the latest features but may break at any time and updates several times daily. > "staging - ⚠️ Not recommended for casual use. This branch has the latest features, but be cautious as it may break at any time. Only for power users and enthusiasts. Updates several times daily." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/), retrieved October 12, 2026 11. Receipt 11Official site In default standalone mode, config.yaml and the data directory live in the server directory; all data stays in the installation path. > "Standalone mode (default) - uses the config.yaml file and data directory in the server directory. All data will be constrained to the installation path." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/), retrieved October 12, 2026 12. Receipt 12Official site The Windows guide says not to install into Windows-controlled folders (Program Files, System32), not to run Start.bat as admin, and that Windows 7 can't run it because it can't run NodeJS 20. > "DO NOT INSTALL INTO ANY WINDOWS CONTROLLED FOLDER (Program Files, System32, etc). DO NOT RUN START.BAT WITH ADMIN PERMISSIONS INSTALLATION ON WINDOWS 7 IS IMPOSSIBLE AS IT CANNOT RUN NODEJS 20" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/windows/), retrieved October 12, 2026 13. Receipt 13Official site The Git install on Windows: install NodeJS (latest LTS recommended) and Git for Windows, then open a Command Prompt in your folder and clone the release branch. > "for Release Branch: git clone https\://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern -b release" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/windows/), retrieved October 12, 2026 14. Receipt 14Official site After cloning, double-click Start.bat; NodeJS installs requirements, the server starts and SillyTavern opens in your browser. > "Once everything is cloned, double-click Start.bat to make NodeJS install its requirements. The server will then start, and SillyTavern will pop up in your browser." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/windows/), retrieved October 12, 2026 15. Receipt 15Official site There's also a GitHub Desktop route, and you don't need a GitHub account to clone the repository. > "After installing GitHub Desktop, click on Clone a repository from the internet.... (Note: You do NOT need to create a GitHub account for this step)" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/windows/), retrieved October 12, 2026 16. Receipt 16Reviewer The GitHub README describes SillyTavern as a locally installed interface for interacting with text-generation LLMs, image generation engines and TTS voice models. > "SillyTavern (or ST for short) is a locally installed user interface that allows you to interact with text generation LLMs, image generation engines, and TTS voice models." [github.com](https://github.com/sillytavern/SillyTavern), retrieved October 12, 2026 17. Receipt 17Reviewer The README says the project offers no online or hosted services, doesn't programmatically track user data, and will always be free and open source. > "We do not provide any online or hosted services, nor programmatically track any user data. SillyTavern is a passion project brought to you by a dedicated community of LLM enthusiasts, and will always be free and open sourced." [github.com](https://github.com/sillytavern/SillyTavern), retrieved October 12, 2026 18. Receipt 18Reviewer Hardware requirements are minimal (anything that runs NodeJS 20 or higher); for local LLM inference the project recommends a 3000-series NVIDIA card with at least 6GB of VRAM. > "The hardware requirements are minimal: it will run on anything that can run NodeJS 20 or higher. If you intend to do LLM inference on your local machine, we recommend a 3000-series NVIDIA graphics card with at least 6GB of VRAM" [github.com](https://github.com/sillytavern/SillyTavern), retrieved October 12, 2026 19. Receipt 19Reviewer The README lists install guides for Windows, MacOS/Linux, Android (Termux) and Docker. > "Android (Termux) Installation Guide" [github.com](https://github.com/sillytavern/SillyTavern), retrieved October 12, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer SillyTavern supports many LLM APIs (KoboldAI/CPP, Horde, NovelAI, Ooba, Tabby, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Claude, Mistral and more), a mobile-friendly layout, Visual Novel Mode, image generation, TTS and WorldInfo lorebooks. > "SillyTavern provides a single unified interface for many LLM APIs (KoboldAI/CPP, Horde, NovelAI, Ooba, Tabby, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Claude, Mistral and more), a mobile-friendly layout, Visual Novel Mode" [github.com](https://github.com/sillytavern/SillyTavern), retrieved October 12, 2026 21. Receipt 21Official site In chat, the Swipe button generates a different response and the Edit button edits any message; Right arrow swipes and Up arrow edits the last message. > "You can also use the Right arrow key to swipe, and the Up arrow key to edit the last message in the chat." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/chatting/), retrieved October 12, 2026 22. Receipt 22Official site The Options button next to the chat bar holds more chat options such as author's notes and chat file management. > "Chat options : Click the Options button next to the chat bar for more chat options like author's notes and chat file management." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/chatting/), retrieved October 12, 2026 23. Receipt 23Official site The message actions (•••) menu includes Checkpoint (create a story checkpoint) and Branch (start an alternate story path). > "Checkpoint : Create story checkpoint" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/chatting/), retrieved October 12, 2026 24. Receipt 24Official site SillyTavern runs natively on Android through Termux. > "SillyTavern can be run natively on Android devices using Termux." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/android-\(termux\)/), retrieved October 12, 2026 25. Receipt 25Official site Don't install Termux from Google Play, since that version is no longer maintained; use F-Droid (recommended) or GitHub releases. > "Avoid installing Termux from the Google Play Store, that version is no longer maintained. Instead, use F-Droid (recommended) or GitHub releases to get the latest version." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/android-\(termux\)/), retrieved October 12, 2026 26. Receipt 26Official site 32-bit Android needs an external dependency that npm can't install. > "32-bit Android requires an external dependency that can't be installed with npm." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/android-\(termux\)/), retrieved October 12, 2026 27. Receipt 27Official site Optional aliases give shortcuts: st starts SillyTavern, stup updates it, pkgup updates Termux packages. > "st to start SillyTavern stup to update SillyTavern pkgup to update Termux packages" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/android-\(termux\)/), retrieved October 12, 2026 28. Receipt 28Reviewer MakeUseOf (Sept 2026) reports SillyTavern is one of the least beginner-friendly AI tools right now, though worth it if you survive the setup. > "that same customizability also makes it one of the least beginner-friendly tools in the AI space at the moment. If you survive the setup, it's an app that's worth the effort" [www.makeuseof.com](https://www.makeuseof.com/customizable-llm-chat-app-free-open-source-survive-setup/), retrieved October 12, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer Reviewers report a character card is a PNG image with personality, dialogue style, scenario and behavior rules embedded as metadata. > "A character card is literally a PNG image with the personality description, dialogue style, scenario setup, and behavior rules embedded as metadata inside the file" [www.makeuseof.com](https://www.makeuseof.com/customizable-llm-chat-app-free-open-source-survive-setup/), retrieved October 12, 2026 30. Receipt 30Reviewer Reviewers report World Info (lorebooks) injects persistent character, location and context snippets into the prompt when keywords appear in the conversation. > "a system for defining persistent characters, locations, and context snippets that automatically get injected into the prompt when specific keywords appear in the conversation" [www.makeuseof.com](https://www.makeuseof.com/customizable-llm-chat-app-free-open-source-survive-setup/), retrieved October 12, 2026 31. Receipt 31Reviewer Reviewers report that even once it runs locally you can't chat until you connect a model backend, with an API key or a local inference server. > "Even if you get it running locally, you still won't be chatting with anything. You then need to separately connect a model backend, paste in an API key or point it at a local inference server" [www.makeuseof.com](https://www.makeuseof.com/customizable-llm-chat-app-free-open-source-survive-setup/), retrieved October 12, 2026 32. Receipt 32Official site The FAQ says SillyTavern handles communication with AI models, lets you create character cards and import other people's characters, and keeps chat history so you can resume, start new chats or review old ones. > "It will keep your chat history with a character, allowing you to resume at any time, start a new chat, review old chats, etc." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 33. Receipt 33Official site The FAQ says paid web-service AIs cost money, log everything on their servers, and are often censored; self-hosted models offer total privacy and can run without internet. > "They cost money to use. Everything is logged on their server. Privacy concerns. They are often censored and will refuse to chat with you about certain subjects." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 34. Receipt 34Official site iPhones and iPads can't run the whole app, but you can run it on another computer on home Wi-Fi and open it in a mobile browser. > "iPhones and iPads are not capable of running the whole SillyTavern app, but since it's just a web interface, you can run it on another computer on your home Wi-Fi, and then access it in your mobile browser." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 35. Receipt 35Official site Termux installs on Android are not officially supported and aren't guaranteed to work. > "(NOTE: Termux installations are not officially supported, and we can't guarantee it will work.)" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 36. Receipt 36Official site An invalid PNG card error usually means the embedded definitions were stripped (use the raw PNG as posted) or the file is really a WEBP; try renaming it to .webp. > "The PNG file was actually a WEBP file with a.png filename. You can try renaming the card to.webp before importing, or look for a proper PNG version of the image." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 37. Receipt 37Official site To make a character: click Character Management, then Create New Character, fill in Character Name, Description and First Message, and click Create Character. > "Click the Character Management button Click Create New Character Under Character Name, give a name, like Amanda" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 38. Receipt 38Official site You can edit everything about a character after creating it except the name. > "NOTE: you can go back and edit any of this information once the character is created, except the name." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 39. Receipt 39Official site API keys are saved in secrets.json in the user data directory (default /data/default-user/secrets.json) and are hidden in the interface after saving and refreshing. > "SillyTavern saves your API keys to a secrets.json file in the user data directory ( /data/default-user/secrets.json is the default path)." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 40. Receipt 40Official site Slowdown becomes noticeable with more than 1000 characters; SillyTavern wasn't designed for huge character libraries. > "Evidential data suggests that the performance degradation starts to become noticeable when you have more than 1000 characters." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 41. Receipt 41Official site For a slow or jittery UI, enable No Blur Effect (Fast UI) in User settings, enable Reduced motion, and use hardware acceleration; input lag is most often caused by browser extensions. > "Try enabling the No Blur Effect (Fast UI) mode on the User settings panel." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 42. Receipt 42Official site To make the bot keep writing, send an empty message (type nothing, click Send); raising Response Length also helps with short replies. > "you can send an empty user message by typing nothing into the Input Bar and clicking Send. This will force the bot to continue the story." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 43. Receipt 43Official site To stop the AI from writing your character's actions, the FAQ suggests Author's Note phrases like "You are never allowed to dictate actions or speech for {{user}}." > "You are never allowed to dictate actions or speech for {{user}}." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/faq/), retrieved October 12, 2026 44. Receipt 44Official site Local APIs are free with no content filter, but setup can be complex, the SillyTavern team doesn't support it, and models are 5-50GB each. > "They are free to use and have no content filter. Installation process can be complex ( The SillyTavern dev team does not provide support for this )." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/api-connections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 45. Receipt 45Official site Cloud LLM APIs are smarter than most local models but all filter content to varying degrees, and most require payment. > "However, they all have content filtering of varying degrees, and most require payment" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/api-connections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 46. Receipt 46Official site AI Horde works out of the box using volunteers' GPUs, but you're at the mercy of the worker for wait times, settings and available models. > "At the mercy of the Worker in terms of generation wait times, AI settings, and available models" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/api-connections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 47. Receipt 47Official site OpenRouter has a pay-per-token credit system plus free models with limited daily requests, and no enforced moderation unless the LLM vendor requires it. > "Pay-per-token credit system, as well as free models with limited daily requests No enforced moderation, unless required by the LLM vendor" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/api-connections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 48. Receipt 48Official site DeepSeek requires a credit purchase ($2 minimum), though its models are fairly cheap for their quality. > "Requires a payment for credits ($2 minimum), but the models are fairly cheap for their quality" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/api-connections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 49. Receipt 49Official site Google AI Studio has a free tier with rate limits (Gemini Flash) and may require billing information. > "Has a free tier with rate limits (Gemini Flash), may require billing information" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/api-connections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 50. Receipt 50Official site OpenAI and Claude both require prepaying for credits and charge per prompt. > "Requires prepayment for credits and charges per prompt" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/api-connections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 51. Receipt 51Forum A Reddit user returning to SillyTavern said all the beginner YouTube tutorials are obsolete and no one had an easy-to-follow tutorial. > "All the beginner tutorials on youtube are obsolete now, and everyone here seems to already be too deep noone has an easy to follow tutorial." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1hkouuc/is_there_an_actual_beginner_friendly_updated/), retrieved October 12, 2026 52. Receipt 52Forum A Reddit user said their setup output was "weird" and wondered whether they had picked the wrong APIs or set characters up poorly. > "Like I sometimes think I didn't use the right APIs or I just set the characters up like very underwhelming. Is it really so complicated or do I just miss the right informations ?" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1jwvk68/beginner_guide/), retrieved October 12, 2026 53. Receipt 53Forum A Reddit user who tried Claude got a refusal message when generating text. > "I will not engage with or generate that type of content." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1lq9ix4/how_do_i_jailbreak_claude_in_sillytavern_is_there/), retrieved October 12, 2026 54. Receipt 54Forum A June 2026 Reddit preset post describes a preset as telling the AI how to roleplay in a frontend like SillyTavern, and says the hobby is getting more expensive. > "Developed to save money on cache in a climate where this hobby is getting more expensive." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1u2wrvq/preset_introducing_freaky_frankenstein_micro_my/), retrieved October 12, 2026 55. Receipt 55Official site On Mac/Linux you install git and nodeJS, clone the repo in a Terminal, cd SillyTavern, and run bash start.sh. > "cd SillyTavern to navigate into the install folder. Run the start.sh script with one of these commands: bash start.sh" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/linuxmacos/), retrieved October 12, 2026 56. Receipt 56Official site Mac users can also install Homebrew, then git, then clone and run the SillyTavern Launcher. > "Download Sillytavern Launcher with: git clone https\://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern-Launcher.git" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/linuxmacos/), retrieved October 12, 2026 57. Receipt 57Official site By default the server only accepts connections from its own machine; set listen to true in config.yaml to let other devices such as phones connect. > "By default, the ST server only accepts connections from the machine that it's running on (localhost). To allow it to listen for connections from other devices, set the listen option in config.yaml to true." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/remoteconnections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 58. Receipt 58Official site Once remote listening is on, you must configure at least one access control method or the server won't start. > "After enabling remote connection listening, you must configure at least one access control method. Otherwise, the server will not start." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/remoteconnections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 59. Receipt 59Official site The docs say not to port-forward to expose the server to the internet; use a VPN or a tunnel like Cloudflare Zero Trust, ngrok or Tailscale. > "You should not use port forwarding to expose your ST server to the internet. Instead, use a VPN or a tunneling service like Cloudflare Zero Trust, ngrok, or Tailscale." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/remoteconnections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 60. Receipt 60Official site Edit the config.yaml in the SillyTavern root folder, not /SillyTavern/default/config.yaml; when whitelisting, include 127.0.0.1 or you can't connect from the host machine. > "Ensure 127.0.0.1 is included, or you will be unable to connect from the host machine." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/remoteconnections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 61. Receipt 61Official site On Windows 11, enable the Private Network profile under Settings > Network and Internet > Ethernet, or remote devices can't connect even with firewall rules. > "On Windows 11, enable the Private Network profile type in Settings > Network and Internet > Ethernet. This is VERY important for Windows 11" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/remoteconnections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 62. Receipt 62Official site When connecting from the remote device's browser, use http\:// not https\://. > "Use http\:// NOT https\://" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/remoteconnections/), retrieved October 12, 2026 63. Receipt 63Official site In User Settings > Account, the Danger Zone has Reset Settings (restore all settings to factory defaults) and Reset Everything (complete account wipe and factory reset). > "Reset Settings : Restore all settings to factory defaults Reset Everything : Complete account wipe and factory reset" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/user-settings/), retrieved October 12, 2026 64. Receipt 64Official site The Account dialog also offers Settings Snapshots to back up and restore user settings, and Download Backup to export all user data. > "Settings Snapshots : Create, manage, and restore backups of your user settings Download Backup : Export a complete backup of all your user data" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/user-settings/), retrieved October 12, 2026 65. Receipt 65Official site Visual Novel mode lets you chat with characters shown as sprites, as in visual novels like Doki Doki Literature Club. > "Chat to characters with sprites, like in visual novels such as Doki Doki Literature Club and other famous VN games." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/user-settings/), retrieved October 12, 2026 66. Receipt 66Official site The Clean-Up tool permanently deletes files and can't be undone, so make a backup first if unsure. > "The Clean-up tool will permanently delete files. This action cannot be undone!" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/usage/user-settings/), retrieved October 12, 2026 67. Receipt 67Official site To update on Linux/Termux/Mac, run git pull in the SillyTavern folder and start it again; on Windows, try UpdateAndStart.bat first. > "First try using the UpdateAndStart.bat which is located in your SillyTavern installation base folder." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/updating/), retrieved October 12, 2026 68. Receipt 68Official site The docs always recommend installing with git, since updating is just git pull; zip installs need a tedious manual process. > "When you have installed via git clone, all you have to do to update is type git pull" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/updating/), retrieved October 12, 2026 69. Receipt 69Official site A "Cannot find module" error on startup means a new npm package is required; run npm install in the SillyTavern folder (Start.bat and start.sh do it automatically). > "This means that SillyTavern added a new npm package requirement. Run npm install in the SillyTavern directory to fix this." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/updating/), retrieved October 12, 2026 70. Receipt 70Official site If changed system files block git pull, try moving or deleting the file, or use git pull --rebase --autostash. > "Another solution is using git pull --rebase --autostash" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/installation/updating/), retrieved October 12, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What do people use SillyTavern for? People use SillyTavern to chat and roleplay with AI characters through a model they connect themselves. SillyTavern's FAQ says it handles communication with AI models, lets you create character cards and import other people's, and keeps chat history so you can resume a chat, start a new one or review old ones. The project's README adds image generation, TTS voices, Visual Novel Mode and WorldInfo lorebooks. It also lists many supported APIs, including KoboldAI/CPP, Horde, NovelAI, Ooba, Tabby, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Claude and Mistral. ### How do I reset SillyTavern settings? Open User Settings, go to Account, and use the Danger Zone. Reset Settings restores all settings to factory defaults, and Reset Everything is a complete account wipe and factory reset. The same Account dialog has Settings Snapshots for backing up and restoring settings, and Download Backup for exporting all user data, so take one of those first. ### Can I use SillyTavern on my phone? On Android, yes: SillyTavern runs natively through Termux, though the docs say Termux installs aren't officially supported or guaranteed to work. Get Termux from F-Droid or its GitHub releases, not Google Play, whose version is no longer maintained. iPhones and iPads can't run the whole app. Instead, run SillyTavern on a computer on your home Wi-Fi with listen set to true in config.yaml, then open it in the phone's browser. ### How do I set up SillyTavern for roleplay? Start by connecting a model in API Connections and creating or importing a character, then adjust a few settings: - To stop the AI from writing your character's actions, the FAQ suggests an Author's Note such as "You are never allowed to dictate actions or speech for {{user}}." - To make the bot keep writing, send an empty message. - For short replies, raise Response Length. - For persistent lore, reviewers report that World Info lorebooks inject character, location and context snippets into the prompt when keywords come up. ### Is SillyTavern safe? SillyTavern itself keeps everything on your machine. The project's README says it offers no online or hosted services and doesn't programmatically track user data, and the docs say all data stays in the installation path in default standalone mode. The exposure comes from what you connect to it: - The FAQ says paid web-service AIs log everything on their servers. - Anyone holding your OpenAI key can use GPT at your expense. - The docs say never to port-forward the server to the internet. Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: SillyTavern review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/sillytavern updated: 2026-10-12 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /SillyTavern Character chat + AI sandboxes # SillyTavern review Free, open-source roleplay frontend: you bring the model, it runs the characters Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 12, 2026 Verdict SillyTavern is a free, open-source frontend for roleplaying with AI characters on a model you choose, local or cloud. Pick it if you want control over characters, memory and filters and will put in the setup. Skip it if you want an app that works the moment you open it. Overall slop35Home-cookedFun 6/10 - Best for Tinkerers who want full control over AI roleplay - Pricing SillyTavern is free and open-source at this review, and the project takes no donations. The model you connect costs extra: API tokens for a cloud service, or your own hardware for a local model. - Platforms Windows, Mac, Linux [SillyTavern official site](https://sillytavern.app/) On this page (10)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Home-cooked 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 35/100 - Prose Does it write like a person? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Memory Microwaved 50 Long-term recall depends on summaries the docs tell you to check and on add-on extensions, and long chats eventually overload the context window. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Microwaved 45 Every character is a card of prompts running on whatever model you connect, so a voice is only as distinct as the card and the model make it. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Does anything happen? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Pricing Artisanal 10 SillyTavern is free and open-source and takes no money, so the only bill is for the model you connect. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Does the art look like a person made it? No art to judge. Fun Meter ## Decent 0 to 10, higher is better. 6/10 Rewarding once it runs, but setup stands between you and the first scene. At this review ## Key facts | Type | Character chat, AI sandboxes | | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux | | Pricing at this review | SillyTavern is free and open-source at this review, and the project takes no donations. The model you connect costs extra: API tokens for a cloud service, or your own hardware for a local model. | | Age rating | Not stated | | Content policy | Little or no filtering | | Who writes the characters | Made by other users | | Memory | Chats are saved locally. Long-term recall comes from summaries, lorebooks and extensions that you set up and check yourself. | | Best for | Tinkerers who want full control over AI roleplay | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +Free and open-source. The project says it will stay that way and does not take donations. - +Connects to local and cloud backends. The docs FAQ says a self-hosted model keeps everything on your PC. - +Character cards, World Info lorebooks, group chats, user personas and built-in document RAG come included. - +SillyTavern adds no filter of its own, so the content rules are set by the model you pick. - +Reviewers report tens of thousands of community character cards that drop straight into a local install. Watch out for - !Setup is the price of entry. Reviewers call it one of the least beginner-friendly AI tools, and one Reddit beginner spent a month configuring it without running a single session. - !Long-term memory is your job. The docs warn that summaries can lose details or hallucinate, and very long chats overload the context window. - !The model costs extra. Cloud APIs bill per token, and a local model needs a capable graphics card. - !There is no way to run it on iPhone or iPad. On Android it runs only through a route the project does not officially support. - !Paid web-service models log everything on the provider's server, and the docs warn the SillyTavern server is not secure enough to put on the public internet. Rankings ## [Ranked in](/best) - [#4 in The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps#rank-4) Best for: Tinkerers who want to pick the model and set the rules Guides ## [Guides for SillyTavern](/guides) - [AI roleplay guide: how to keep long roleplays from falling apart](/guides/ai-roleplay-guide) How to run AI roleplay that lasts: short character cards, keyword lorebooks, session summaries and fresh chats, and why long chats forget and cost more. - [How to Use SillyTavern: Install It, Connect a Model and Start Chatting](/guides/how-to-use-sillytavern) How to use SillyTavern from SillyTavern's own docs: install on Windows, Mac, Linux or Android, connect a model in API Connections, and load a character. ## What it is SillyTavern is a free, open-source interface for chatting and roleplaying with AI characters. The AI itself comes from an LLM backend you connect, either a local model on your own graphics card or a cloud service. SillyTavern supports many of both, and one backend gives instant out-of-the-box chatting. It runs on anything that can run NodeJS 20 or higher. Everything in SillyTavern is built around character cards, collections of prompts that set the model's behavior. The docs say a card is required for persistent conversations. Other features include World Info lorebooks, group chats, user personas and built-in RAG for documents. The project started in February 2023 and now has over 300 contributors and 3 years of independent development. It is a community project that does not accept donations. Reviewers report tens of thousands of downloadable character cards on community sites. They also describe a Visual Novel Mode with character sprites, expression changes and scene backgrounds, plus inline image generation through local image tools. The latest release added backend support for a batch of new cloud models. ## What it is like to use Setup decides whether SillyTavern works for you. Users on Reddit are split on how hard it is. One beginner spent a month configuring it, still hadn't run a single roleplay session, and felt burnt out. Others say a beginner using a cloud API service can be chatting within a few hours. One says the current version is easier than ever to install and, once learned, gives far better roleplay quality than the chatbot site they left. A newcomer was told it is more like building your own roleplay platform than visiting a chatbot website: "that's the appeal and the wall." Reviewers call SillyTavern worth the effort if you survive the setup, and one of the least beginner-friendly AI tools. On long chats, you do the remembering. The built-in Summarize extension writes chat summaries that act as a sort of long-term memory, but the docs warn they may lose details or hallucinate and should be checked by hand. A vector storage extension can retrieve context from beyond the context window. For long, complex stories, Reddit users lean on third-party memory extensions. A community preset author puts the breaking point at about 400 messages: the context window overloads and the AI starts hallucinating, or you pay to send 120k tokens with every message. SillyTavern applies no filter of its own. The docs FAQ says paid web-service models are often censored and will refuse certain subjects, so your choice of model sets the rules. Performance slows noticeably past about 1000 characters, because SillyTavern was not designed for huge libraries. ## Pricing at this review SillyTavern costs nothing at this review. The project says it will always be free and open-source, and it takes no donations. The bill comes from the model. Reviewers report you pay only for compute or API tokens, typically a few dollars a month for moderate cloud use, and token costs climb as long chats send more context with each message. Running a model locally swaps the token bill for hardware. The project recommends a 3000-series NVIDIA card with at least 6GB of VRAM, while a Reddit user says enjoyable roleplay probably needs at least 16GB. ## Who should skip it Skip SillyTavern if you want to open an app and start chatting, because nothing happens until you connect a backend and learn the settings. Skip it if you only own an iPhone or iPad, since those can reach SillyTavern only in a browser from another computer on your home Wi-Fi. Skip it if you want memory that holds without upkeep, or a library well past 1000 characters. If privacy is the reason you are here, use a self-hosted model: paid web-service models log everything on the provider's server, and the docs warn the SillyTavern server is not safe to expose to the public internet. Sources ## 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 12, 2026. 1. Receipt 1Official site SillyTavern is a community passion project that says it will always be free and open-source. > "SillyTavern is a passion project brought to you by a dedicated community of LLM enthusiasts and will always be free and open-sourced." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 2. Receipt 2Official site SillyTavern started in February 2023 as a fork of TavernAI 1.2.8 and now has over 300 contributors and 3 years of independent development. > "Beginning in February 2023 as a fork of TavernAI 1.2.8, SillyTavern now has over 300 contributors and 3 years of independent development under its belt" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 3. Receipt 3Official site SillyTavern is only an interface; users need an LLM backend. AI Horde gives instant out-of-the-box chatting, and many local and cloud backends are supported. > "Since SillyTavern is only an interface, you will need access to an LLM backend to provide inference. You can use AI Horde for instant out-of-the-box chatting." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 4. Receipt 4Official site It runs on anything that can run NodeJS 20 or higher; for local LLM inference the project recommends a 3000-series NVIDIA card with at least 6GB VRAM. > "it will run on anything that can run NodeJS 20 or higher. If you intend to do LLM inference on your local machine, we recommend a 3000-series NVIDIA graphics card with at least 6GB of VRAM." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 5. Receipt 5Official site SillyTavern is built around character cards, collections of prompts that set the LLM's behavior and are required for persistent conversations. > "A character card is a collection of prompts that set the behavior of the LLM and is required to have persistent conversations in SillyTavern." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 6. Receipt 6Official site The project does not accept monetary donations for itself. > "We do not accept monetary donations for the project itself." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 7. Receipt 7Official site The built-in Summarize extension generates chat summaries that can act as a sort of long-term memory, but the docs warn summaries may lose details or hallucinate and should be checked and corrected manually. > "Since the summaries are generated by language models, the outputs may lose some important details or contain hallucinations, so you're always advised to keep track of the summary state and correct it manually if needed." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/extensions/summarize/), retrieved October 12, 2026 8. Receipt 8Official site Features include World Info (lorebooks), group chats, user personas and built-in RAG for documents. > "World Info support : create rich lore or save tokens on your character card" [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/), retrieved October 12, 2026 9. Receipt 9Reviewer The docs FAQ says self-hosted models give total privacy, with everything staying on your PC, while paid web services log everything on their servers. > "Total privacy. Everything you write stays on your own PC." [github.com](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern-Docs/blob/main/Usage/faq.md), retrieved October 12, 2026 10. Receipt 10Reviewer With paid web-service models, everything is logged on the provider's server, which the docs flag as a privacy concern. > "Everything is logged on their server. Privacy concerns." [github.com](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern-Docs/blob/main/Usage/faq.md), retrieved October 12, 2026 11. Receipt 11Reviewer The docs FAQ says paid web-service models are often censored and will refuse certain subjects; the filter comes from the model provider. > "They are often censored and will refuse to chat with you about certain subjects." [github.com](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern-Docs/blob/main/Usage/faq.md), retrieved October 12, 2026 12. Receipt 12Reviewer iPhones and iPads can't run SillyTavern but can reach it in a browser from another computer on home Wi-Fi; Android can run it via Termux, which is not officially supported. > "iPhones and iPads are not capable of running the whole SillyTavern app, but since it's just a web interface, you can run it on another computer on your home Wi-Fi, and then access it in your mobile browser." [github.com](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern-Docs/blob/main/Usage/faq.md), retrieved October 12, 2026 13. Receipt 13Reviewer SillyTavern wasn't designed for huge character libraries; slowdown becomes noticeable past about 1000 characters. > "Evidential data suggests that the performance degradation starts to become noticeable when you have more than 1000 characters." [github.com](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern-Docs/blob/main/Usage/faq.md), retrieved October 12, 2026 14. Receipt 14Reviewer MakeUseOf calls SillyTavern a free, open-source frontend that's worth the effort if you survive the setup, but one of the least beginner-friendly AI tools. > "But that same customizability also makes it one of the least beginner-friendly tools in the AI space at the moment. If you survive the setup, it's an app that's worth the effort" [www.makeuseof.com](https://www.makeuseof.com/customizable-llm-chat-app-free-open-source-survive-setup/), retrieved October 12, 2026 15. Receipt 15Reviewer Reviewers report a vector storage extension enables long-term memory retrieval via embeddings, pulling past context beyond the context window. > "There's even a vector storage extension for heavier use cases that allows long-term memory retrieval using embeddings" [www.makeuseof.com](https://www.makeuseof.com/customizable-llm-chat-app-free-open-source-survive-setup/), retrieved October 12, 2026 16. Receipt 16Reviewer Reviewers report a Visual Novel Mode with character sprites, expression changes and scene backgrounds, plus inline Stable Diffusion/FLUX image generation via Automatic1111 and ComfyUI. > "SillyTavern has a Visual Novel Mode that turns the chat into an actual visual novel experience, complete with character sprites, emotional expression changes, and scene backgrounds." [www.makeuseof.com](https://www.makeuseof.com/customizable-llm-chat-app-free-open-source-survive-setup/), retrieved October 12, 2026 17. Receipt 17Reviewer Reviewers report community sites offer tens of thousands of downloadable character cards that drop into a local install. > "There are sites offering tens of thousands of downloadable character cards that you can drag and drop straight into your local install." [www.makeuseof.com](https://www.makeuseof.com/customizable-llm-chat-app-free-open-source-survive-setup/), retrieved October 12, 2026 18. Receipt 18Forum A Reddit user said it took a month to set up SillyTavern as a beginner and they still hadn't done a single RP session, feeling burnt out from configuring. > "I still haven't done a single actual RP session yet, I'm feeling a bit burnt out from all the configuring" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1pkhbxq/it_took_me_1_month_to_fully_set_up_sillytavern_as/), retrieved October 12, 2026 19. Receipt 19Forum Other Reddit users counter that with a service like OpenRouter a beginner can be chatting within a few hours, needing little more than an API key. > "There's barely any configuration you need to do to use ST aside from selecting a service and pasting in the API key." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1pkhbxq/it_took_me_1_month_to_fully_set_up_sillytavern_as/), retrieved October 12, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer The latest GitHub release added backend support for new Claude models (Claude Fable 5 and 5.1, Opus 4.8 and 5, Sonnet 5) and GPT-5.6 / GPT-6 Astra. > "Anthropic: Added support for Claude Fable 5 and 5.1, Claude Opus 4.8 and 5, Claude Sonnet 5." [github.com](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern/releases), retrieved October 12, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer Reviewers report SillyTavern applies no filter of its own; whatever filter exists comes entirely from the local or cloud model you connect. > "It is a chat interface only, with no hosted model of its own, so whatever filter exists comes entirely from whichever local or cloud model you point it at." [tech-insider.org](https://tech-insider.org/au/character-ai-vs-chub-ai-vs-sillytavern-2026/), retrieved October 12, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer Reviewers report SillyTavern has no age gate because it is self-hosted software. > "No age gate; self-hosted software" [tech-insider.org](https://tech-insider.org/au/character-ai-vs-chub-ai-vs-sillytavern-2026/), retrieved October 12, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer Reviewers report there is no subscription; users pay only for compute or API tokens, with cloud API use typically a few dollars a month for moderate use. > "Cloud API: pay-per-token to OpenRouter, OpenAI or Anthropic, typically a few dollars a month for moderate use No subscription; you pay only for compute or API tokens you use" [tech-insider.org](https://tech-insider.org/au/character-ai-vs-chub-ai-vs-sillytavern-2026/), retrieved October 12, 2026 24. Receipt 24Official site Each user account's folder holds character files, conversation history and settings on the local install. > "Created for each user account, this folder contains user-specific data such as character files, conversation history, and settings." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/administration/), retrieved October 12, 2026 25. Receipt 25Official site The docs warn the SillyTavern server is not secure enough to expose to the public internet. > "Despite following many security best practices, the SillyTavern server is not secure enough for exposure to the public internet." [docs.sillytavern.app](https://docs.sillytavern.app/administration/), retrieved October 12, 2026 26. Receipt 26Forum A Reddit user migrating from Character.AI was told ST is a frontend, not a chatbot website, more like building your own RP platform: that's the appeal and the wall. > "ST is a frontend, not a chatbot website. You're not just making an account and picking bots" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1ud7hiz/im_migrating_from_characteria_whats_sillytavern/), retrieved October 12, 2026 27. Receipt 27Forum A Reddit user says the current version is easier than ever to install and, once learned, more comfortable than Character.AI with far better RP quality. > "Current version is easier than ever to install, and once you figure out how to switch models and create prompts, it's even more comfortable to use than CAI" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1ud7hiz/im_migrating_from_characteria_whats_sillytavern/), retrieved October 12, 2026 28. Receipt 28Forum A Reddit user says running a model locally well enough to enjoy roleplay probably needs at least 16GB VRAM. > "If you want to run locally you are probably going to need at least 16gb Vram to run something sophisticated enough to enjoy the roleplay" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1ud7hiz/im_migrating_from_characteria_whats_sillytavern/), retrieved October 12, 2026 29. Receipt 29Forum Reddit users lean on third-party memory extensions (Memory Books, qvink, Summaryception, openvault, tunnelvision) for long, complex stories. > "Memory Books using the comprehensive synopsis prompt combined with qvink are my mainstays but I've been looking around for alternatives." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1spqe94/what_are_the_best_long_term_memory_extensions_for/), retrieved October 12, 2026 30. Receipt 30Forum A community preset author describes the long-chat problem: 400 messages in, the context window overloads and the AI starts hallucinating, or you pay to send 120k tokens per message. > "you're 400 messages deep in an RP, your context window is overloaded, and the AI starts hallucinating because it's drowning in old text" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/SillyTavernAI/comments/1tgow6t/megumin_suite_v7_your_preset_your_memory_your/), retrieved October 12, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is SillyTavern completely private? SillyTavern is fully private only with a self-hosted model. In that case the docs FAQ says everything stays on your PC. With paid web-service models, everything is logged on the provider's server, which the docs flag as a privacy concern. Your character files, conversation history and settings sit in each user's folder on your install, and the docs warn that the SillyTavern server is not secure enough to expose to the public internet. ### What is SillyTavern AI? SillyTavern is a free, open-source interface for chatting and roleplaying with AI characters. It contains no AI model of its own, so you connect it to a local or cloud LLM backend. Each conversation runs on a character card, a set of prompts that shapes how the model behaves. ### How do I get started with SillyTavern? Install SillyTavern on any machine that runs NodeJS 20 or higher, then connect a backend. The docs say one supported backend gives instant out-of-the-box chatting. Reddit users say a beginner using a cloud API service can be chatting within a few hours with little more than an API key. For local models, the project recommends a 3000-series NVIDIA card with at least 6GB of VRAM. ### Is SillyTavern free? Yes. At this review SillyTavern is free and open-source, the project says it always will be, and it takes no donations. Reviewers report that you pay only for compute or API tokens. Moderate cloud API use typically runs a few dollars a month. ### Does SillyTavern have a content filter? SillyTavern has no filter of its own, so any filter comes from the model you connect. The docs FAQ says paid web-service models are often censored and will refuse certain subjects. Reviewers report there is no age gate, because SillyTavern is self-hosted software. ### Can I use SillyTavern on an iPhone or Android phone? An iPhone or iPad cannot run SillyTavern itself, but it can open SillyTavern in a browser when it runs on another computer on your home Wi-Fi. Android can run it through a terminal app, a setup the project does not officially support. Keep reading ## More like this [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [AI sandboxesOctober 7, 2026](/apps/ai-dungeon) ### [AI Dungeon review](/apps/ai-dungeon) [An AI text adventure built on player-written scenarios and memory you manage yourself](/apps/ai-dungeon) [49MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/ai-dungeon) [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) [Character chatAugust 23, 2026 · Updated September 21, 2026](/apps/character-ai) ### [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai) [Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay](/apps/character-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/character-ai) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: The best AI chatbots for roleplay url: https://promptplay.io/best/ai-roleplay-apps updated: 2026-10-12 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Rankings](/best) 3. /AI roleplay apps Roleplay # The best AI chatbots for roleplay Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 12, 2026 Short answer Janitor AI is the best AI chatbot for roleplay at this review. It offers unlimited free chat with millions of community bots, plus adult roleplay for 18+ users. Character.AI wins for voice roleplay and Frontier for story and memory. SillyTavern wins for full control over the model and filters, and AI Dungeon for open-ended text adventures built on player-written scenarios. On this page (5)Show 1. [The ranking](#rankings) 2. [Scorecard](#scorecard) 3. [Who wins what](#awards) 4. [How we ranked](#how-we-ranked) 5. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [The ranking](#rankings) 2. [Scorecard](#scorecard) 3. [Who wins what](#awards) 4. [How we ranked](#how-we-ranked) 5. [Questions people ask](#faq) 5 apps ## The ranking 1. 1 ### [Janitor AI](/apps/janitor-ai) Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month 51MicrowavedFun 6/10 Best for: Adults who want free, open roleplay with community bots Janitor AI gives the most roleplay for nothing. You get unlimited free chats with millions of community bots on web, iOS and Android. For 18+ users it allows adult content between consenting adult characters, under published rules that ban gore and sexual violence. Free context is about 9k tokens at this review. Janitor+ costs $12.99 a month, multiplies that context 5x, and unlocks Router credits for third-party models, which are sold on top. Bots vary with how well their creators wrote them, and reviewers report peak-hour instability. Reviewers also say NSFW access requires sending a government ID to a third-party verifier. Strengths - +Unlimited free chats with millions of community-made bots, and Janitor AI says a free option will always stay. - +Adult content between consenting adult characters is permitted for 18+ users, under published rules on what is off-limits. - +Chats can be published for others to read, react to, fork and continue. - +You can change the model. janitor+ Router offers third-party models, and reviewers report you can connect your own API key. - +Janitor+ is one flat $12.99 a month and multiplies context 5x. Watch out for - !The free tier's context is around 9k tokens, and 5x more memory costs $12.99 a month. - !Reviewers report site instability at peak hours. An App Store reviewer reports replies that hang until the app is fully restarted. - !Reviewers report that NSFW access requires sending a government-issued ID to a third-party verification provider. - !Router credits cost extra and require Janitor+, and subscriptions are generally non-refundable. - !A bot is only as good as its definition. Reviewers report that responses vary with how well each personality is written. Pricing: Free at this review, with unlimited chats, standard models and about 9k tokens of context. Janitor+ costs $12.99 a month for 5x context, priority messages and monthly swipes on its top models, and Router credits for third-party models are an extra purchase that requires the subscription. [Full review](/apps/janitor-ai)[Official site](https://janitorai.com/) 2. 2 ### [Character.AI](/apps/character-ai) Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay 51MicrowavedFun 5/10 Best for: Free chat with community characters, by text or voice Character.AI matches Janitor AI on free, unlimited messaging and a library of millions of user-made characters, and you can talk to them by live voice call as well as text. It ranks second because the free experience costs patience. At this review only c.ai+, at $9.99 a month, removes ads entirely, while lite at $4.99 still shows interstitials. App Store reviewers report a time limit of about an hour of chatting and reading mode instead of chat for unverified accounts. The bot works mainly from recent messages plus memories you pin. Accounts flagged as under 18 must verify by Persona selfie to leave the under-18 experience. Strengths - +The App Store listing says Character.AI hosts millions of user-generated characters, and you can create and publish your own. - +You can talk to characters by text or by live voice call. - +Every tier keeps unlimited messaging, and the PipSqueak 3 and ShortSqueak chat styles are free for everyone. - +At this review, the lite plan costs $4.99 a month and adds extra memory pins, a Memory Usage bar and no banner ads. - +Memory pins and Lorebook let you decide what the bot keeps in view. Watch out for - !Only c.ai+, at $9.99 a month at this review, has zero ads. lite still shows interstitial ads, only fewer of them, and gives a daily allowance on premium chat styles before the chat drops back to PipSqueak 3. - !Users report lots of recent ads, a new time limit of about an hour of chatting, and reading mode instead of chat for unverified accounts. - !Users say the bot works mainly from recent messages, pinned memories use up the context window, and the paid DeepSqueak model now gives short replies that ignore pins. - !An account flagged as under 18 has to verify with a Persona selfie, and possibly an ID, to leave the under-18 experience. - !Cancelling a paid plan takes effect at the end of the billing period, with no partial refunds for unused time. Pricing: Free with unlimited messaging and ads. At this review, lite costs $4.99 a month or $2.49 a week (varies by region), and c.ai+ costs $9.99 a month or $94.99 a year in USD. [Full review](/apps/character-ai)[Official site](https://character.ai/) 3. 3 ### [Frontier](/apps/frontier) Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending 16Home-cookedFun 8/10 Best for: Story-first romance with characters who remember what you did Frontier is the pick if you want roleplay inside a story someone actually wrote. People write and approve every visual novel, and authors mark which moments count. Characters carry those events into chat, letters and sequels, and they write to you if you stay away for a few days. It sits third because it is not a sandbox. The catalogue is small on purpose, you cannot create characters, and chat, story unlocks and photos cost Quills. At this review, monthly refills run $12.99 to $39.99 on iOS, and the app shows the price before you spend. Strengths - +A person writes every story and signs off before release, so a character's voice holds from chapter to chat. - +Characters remember events the author marked as important, instead of a summary of your chat log. - +Characters send letters in their own voice when you go quiet for a few days. - +The app shows the Quill cost before you spend anything. Watch out for - !The catalogue is small on purpose. If you want thousands of bots, this is the wrong app. - !18+ only. - !Chat, story unlocks and character photos cost Quills. - !You cannot make your own characters. Pricing: Free to download and start. Story unlocks, chat and character photos use Quills; Quill Monthly Refill plans cost $12.99 to $39.99 a month on iOS at this review. [Full review](/apps/frontier)[Official site](https://www.playfrontier.app/) 4. 4 ### [SillyTavern](/apps/sillytavern) Free, open-source roleplay frontend: you bring the model, it runs the characters 35Home-cookedFun 6/10 Best for: Tinkerers who want to pick the model and set the rules SillyTavern gives you the most control of anything here, at the cost of setup. It is a free, open-source frontend that takes no donations. You connect any supported local or cloud model, and it adds no filter of its own. Character cards, World Info lorebooks, group chats, personas and document RAG are built in, and reviewers report tens of thousands of community cards that drop into a local install. One Reddit beginner spent a month configuring it without a single session, though others say OpenRouter gets a newcomer chatting within a few hours. It runs on desktop, not on iPhone or iPad. Cloud models bill per token, and local ones need a capable graphics card. Strengths - +Free and open-source. The project says it will stay that way and does not take donations. - +Connects to local and cloud backends. The docs FAQ says a self-hosted model keeps everything on your PC. - +Character cards, World Info lorebooks, group chats, user personas and built-in document RAG come included. - +SillyTavern adds no filter of its own, so the content rules are set by the model you pick. - +Reviewers report tens of thousands of community character cards that drop straight into a local install. Watch out for - !Setup is the price of entry. Reviewers call it one of the least beginner-friendly AI tools, and one Reddit beginner spent a month configuring it without running a single session. - !Long-term memory is your job. The docs warn that summaries can lose details or hallucinate, and very long chats overload the context window. - !The model costs extra. Cloud APIs bill per token, and a local model needs a capable graphics card. - !There is no way to run it on iPhone or iPad. On Android it runs only through a route the project does not officially support. - !Paid web-service models log everything on the provider's server, and the docs warn the SillyTavern server is not secure enough to put on the public internet. Pricing: SillyTavern is free and open-source at this review, and the project takes no donations. The model you connect costs extra: API tokens for a cloud service, or your own hardware for a local model. [Full review](/apps/sillytavern)[Official site](https://sillytavern.app/) 5. 5 ### [AI Dungeon](/apps/ai-dungeon) An AI text adventure built on player-written scenarios and memory you manage yourself 49MicrowavedFun 6/10 Best for: Players who want to steer open-ended fantasy and sci-fi adventures AI Dungeon is a text adventure rather than a character chatbot. You steer a story from thousands of player-written scenarios across genres, from the dragon world of Kedar to Planet Omega, and you can rewind any choice or play multiplayer. Free models carry no ads, but free context is 4k tokens, so long adventures get trimmed. At this review, paid plans run $14.99 to $99.99 a month and auto-renew. Reviewers report that new accounts made since September 28, 2026 share story text for AI training by default. Turn off Improve the AI in Data Privacy Settings before you play. Strengths - +Thousands of player-written scenarios across genres, and you can write and share your own. - +Story Cards and Memory Banks hold details and bring them back only when they are relevant. - +You can rewind any decision and play multiplayer with friends. - +Free models come with no ads, and premium can be tried free for a week. - +The plan table states credits, memories and context for every tier before you pay. Watch out for - !New accounts share story text for AI training by default. Turn off Improve the AI in Data Privacy Settings before you play. - !The free plan gets up to 4k tokens of context, so the start of a long adventure is likely to be trimmed or Story Cards dropped. - !One App Store reviewer says the automatic memory fills with trivia, such as eating a banana, and can't be turned down. - !The app is rated 13+, but the AI filter's only intended trigger is content involving the sexual exploitation of children. - !Subscriptions auto-renew, and context still varies by model within a plan. Pricing: Free with in-app purchases. Paid plans cost $14.99 to $99.99 a month at this review and auto-renew. Each higher tier adds credits, memories and context. [Full review](/apps/ai-dungeon)[Official site](https://aidungeon.com/) Side by side ## Scorecard [How scores are made](/methodology#how-scores-are-made) | # | App | Overall slop | Prose | Memory | Characters | Story | Pricing | Art | Fun | | - | ------------ | ------------- | ----- | ------ | ---------- | ----- | ------- | --- | ---- | | 1 | Janitor AI | 51Microwaved | - | 50 | 45 | 50 | 40 | 68 | 6/10 | | 2 | Character.AI | 51Microwaved | 50 | 55 | 45 | - | 48 | 55 | 5/10 | | 3 | Frontier | 16Home-cooked | 20 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 35 | 18 | 8/10 | | 4 | SillyTavern | 35Home-cooked | - | 50 | 45 | - | 10 | - | 6/10 | | 5 | AI Dungeon | 49Microwaved | 50 | 48 | - | 45 | 45 | 58 | 6/10 | Category winners ## Who wins what Best overall for roleplay Janitor AI Janitor AI offers unlimited free chat with millions of community bots on web, iOS and Android, with opt-in adult roleplay for 18+ users. Best for voice roleplay Character.AI Character.AI lets you talk to its community characters by live voice call as well as text, with unlimited messaging on every tier. Best story and memory Frontier Frontier's authors mark which story moments matter, and characters carry those events into chat, letters and sequels. Best for full control SillyTavern SillyTavern is free and open-source, runs on the model you choose, and adds no filter of its own. Best for text adventures AI Dungeon AI Dungeon lets you start from thousands of player-written scenarios, rewind any decision and play with friends. For most people searching for a roleplay chatbot, the answer is [Janitor AI](/apps/janitor-ai). It is free and unlimited, has millions of community bots, and runs in a browser and on both iPhone and Android. After that, the choice turns on who writes the character. Janitor AI, [Character.AI](/apps/character-ai) and [SillyTavern](/apps/sillytavern) run on community-made characters, so each one is only as good as its creator's definition. [Frontier](/apps/frontier)'s characters come from people who wrote the whole story around them. [AI Dungeon](/apps/ai-dungeon) generates an adventure from a player-written scenario. Memory is where most of these apps give out, and paying usually buys more of it. At this review, free context is about 9k tokens on Janitor AI and 4k on AI Dungeon. Character.AI keeps mainly recent messages plus the memories you pin, and SillyTavern leaves long-term recall to summaries and extensions you maintain. ## How we ranked We ranked each app on what it gives someone who wants to roleplay with a character. That covered how freely you can pick, create and steer characters, and what it costs to keep chatting at this review. It also covered how well a long chat holds together, what content the app allows and what verification it asks for, and how much setup stands between you and the first message. Open roleplay apps rank above authored stories because this search asks for a chatbot. Ads, reported chat limits and heavy setup each cost an app places. FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What is the best free AI roleplay chatbot? Janitor AI, at this review. Its free tier gives unlimited chats with millions of bots, standard models and about 9k tokens of context, and Janitor AI says a free option will always stay. Character.AI is also free with unlimited messaging, but it shows ads unless you pay $9.99 a month for c.ai+. SillyTavern costs nothing itself, though the model you connect does. ### Which AI roleplay app has no filter? SillyTavern adds no filter of its own, so the rules come from the model you connect. Its docs say paid web-service models are often censored, which makes a self-hosted model the open option. Janitor AI permits adult content between consenting adult characters for 18+ users and bans gore, sexual violence and other listed categories. Reviewers report its NSFW access needs a government ID sent to a third-party verifier. AI Dungeon's filter is only meant to trigger on content involving the sexual exploitation of children. ### What is the best AI roleplay app for iPhone? Janitor AI. Its 18+ iOS app has the same free, unlimited chat, and you can access Janitor+ after updating from the App Store. Character.AI, AI Dungeon and Frontier are on the App Store too. SillyTavern can't run on iPhone or iPad, and you can only reach it in a browser from another computer on your home Wi-Fi. ### Which roleplay apps let me choose the AI model? SillyTavern and Janitor AI. SillyTavern is only a frontend, so you connect any supported local or cloud backend, and its latest release added support for new Claude and GPT models. Janitor AI sells Router credits for third-party models to Janitor+ subscribers. Reviewers report you can also connect your own OpenAI or Anthropic key, billed by that provider. AI Dungeon offers models by plan, including Latitude's Equinox-31B for subscribers. ### Which AI roleplay app has the best memory? Frontier, because authors mark which story moments matter and characters carry those events into chat, letters and sequels. The open apps run on context windows. Janitor AI gives about 9k tokens free. AI Dungeon gives 4k free, rising to 32k on its top plans. Character.AI works mainly from recent messages plus memories you pin. SillyTavern's long-term memory comes from summaries and extensions that you set up and check yourself. ### Why are people leaving Character.AI? App Store reviewers report more ads, a new limit of about an hour of chatting, and reading mode instead of chat for unverified accounts. Reddit users add that older context slides out of long chats and that the paid DeepSqueak model gives short replies that ignore pinned memories. Messaging stays free and unlimited on every tier at this review. Keep reading ## [Related rankings](/best) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Top pick: Nomi](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [8 apps ranked](/best/character-ai-alternatives) ### [The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Eight apps people actually switch to, ranked by the one thing each fixes, from memory and plot to freedom and setup time.](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Top pick: Frontier](/best/character-ai-alternatives) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: "Love & Magic: Spellfyre review" url: https://promptplay.io/apps/love-and-magic-spellfyre updated: 2026-10-09 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /Love & Magic: Spellfyre Story games # Love & Magic: Spellfyre review A romantasy visual novel with six love interests, unlocked one short scene at a time Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 9, 2026 Verdict Love & Magic: Spellfyre is a free romantasy visual novel for iPhone and Android with six love interests and romance you can switch on or off for each one. Pick it for the cast and the academy plot. Skip it if a key timer on every short scene or doubts about AI in the term-two art will spoil it for you. Overall slop36MicrowavedFun 6/10 - Best for Romantasy readers who want a choice of six love interests and don't mind waiting between scenes - Pricing Free to play with ads and optional in-app purchases at this review. Love & Magic: Spellfyre publishes no prices for its keys or gems. - Platforms iOS, Android [Love & Magic: Spellfyre official site](https://www.candlelight.games/) On this page (9)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [What it is](#what-it-is) 5. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 6. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 7. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 8. [Receipts](#receipts) 9. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [What it is](#what-it-is) 5. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 6. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 7. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 8. [Receipts](#receipts) 9. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 36/100 - Prose Home-cooked 20 The listing says real people made it, players call the story its strongest part, and reviewers rate the worldbuilding above average. Asks: Does it write like a person? - Memory Home-cooked 30 The game tracks your closeness to each love interest and adjusts the story a little, and two save slots keep separate runs. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Home-cooked 20 Six studio-made love interests on clearly different types, from fire-magic rebel to scholar to best friend. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Home-cooked 20 An authored academy plot with a fixed premise, Bond-gated Romance Quests and updates three times a week, though choices move it only a little. Asks: Does anything happen? - Pricing Cafeteria 66 The game is free with ads and in-app purchases and lists no prices, and players report a key for every short scene, with a two-hour wait or an ad once keys run out. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Microwaved 58 The term-one chapter covers on the official blog are polished painterly fantasy with an orange-teal glow and airbrushed skin. The term-two Sunhallow art on the official site and the CGs players posted are glossier and sloppier: two characters' boots run together, Bardric shows up with elf ears, and Talyn's face doesn't match from one image to the next. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## Decent 0 to 10, higher is better. 6/10 Players praise the story and the cast, but the game rations them out in scenes that can last under two minutes. At this review ## Key facts | Type | Story games | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | iOS, Android | | Pricing at this review | Free to play with ads and optional in-app purchases at this review. Love & Magic: Spellfyre publishes no prices for its keys or gems. | | Age rating | 13+ (App Store) | | Content policy | Filtered for general audiences | | Who writes the characters | Written by people | | Memory | Tracks how close you are to each love interest and shifts the story a little to match, with two save slots for separate playthroughs. | | Best for | Romantasy readers who want a choice of six love interests and don't mind waiting between scenes | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +Six love interests with distinct types, and you can play as a girl or a guy. - +Reviewers report that you choose your orientation at creation and can toggle romance for each love interest regardless of gender. - +The App Store listing promises story updates three times a week. - +Reviewers report that gems stay out of core story choices and go to cosmetics and love-interest scenes. - +Candlelight fixes reported art errors. The fan wiki records the Chapter 27 cover being corrected within about two weeks, and the September 29, 2026 update restored missing event CGs. Watch out for - !Players report needing a key for every scene. One App Store reviewer waited 2 hours for a key to play a scene under 5 minutes. - !Free currency comes slowly. One user counts 8 gems a day from taking every ad, and gems unlock love-interest scenes. - !The term-two art is inconsistent, and players suspect AI was involved. Candlelight says its vendor contracts forbid AI. - !Google Play's data safety section says your data can't be deleted. - !In version 1.12.0 you can replay only the current scene before finishing it. A restart from the beginning needs the second save slot, and keys must be spent again there. ## What it is Love & Magic: Spellfyre is a romantasy visual novel for iPhone and Android, and the first game from Candlelight Games. The fan wiki dates its release to January 30, 2026. You play the heir of Dreadbane, a dark arcane whose rebellion 20 years ago killed thousands, as you enrol at Elderwood University. The App Store listing advertises six love interests, deep character customization with the option to play as a girl or a guy, and story updates three times a week. It also says the game was made with love, by real people. The six are Talyn (fire-magic rebel), Bardric (golden boy), Cato (scholar), Iridessa (social butterfly), Leona (adventurer) and Niel (best friend). The App Store rates it 13+, and Google Play lists Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes and Language. ## What it is like to use Reviewers describe gorgeous art, above-average worldbuilding and a game held back by its monetization. They report that you set your orientation at character creation and toggle romance for each love interest regardless of gender. The game also tracks how close you are to each love interest and shifts the story a little to match. According to the fan wiki, Romance Quests unlock only when romance with that character is on and your Bond is high enough, and each one still offers a romantic and a non-romantic option. The story arrives in small pieces. Keys unlock segments of a chapter, and reviewers say some take under two minutes to read. Players complain that a key is needed every scene rather than every chapter. One user times each key at 40 seconds to 2 minutes, and an App Store reviewer describes waiting 2 hours for a scene that lasted under 5. Version 1.12.0 has two save slots, and you can replay only the scene you are in before you finish it. The art splits by term. The term-one chapter covers are polished painterly fantasy with an orange-teal glow and airbrushed skin. The term-two Sunhallow art and the CGs players have posted are glossier and sloppier: two characters' boots run together, Bardric shows up with elf ears, and Talyn's face doesn't match from one image to the next. Players also report wrong eye colours and animated CGs uncanny enough to tap straight through, and some suspect AI. A player quotes Candlelight as saying its vendor contracts forbid AI, though that is hard to enforce. The fan wiki records the Chapter 27 cover being corrected by early September 2026, with human ears and faces adjusted to match the sprites. The September 29, 2026 update fixed missing Sunhallow CGs in the Collectibles tab. ## Pricing at this review Love & Magic: Spellfyre is free to play, with ads and optional in-app purchases, and it publishes no prices for keys or gems. Reviewers report that when your keys run out you wait two hours for a free one, watch an ad, or buy more. They also report that gems stay out of core story choices and go to cosmetics and love-interest scenes. Players find the free route slow. One App Store reviewer waits six hours between ads for a single key, and another bought diamonds because the free ones came too slowly. One user counts 8 gems a day from taking every ad on offer, 2 every 6 hours. ## Who should skip it Skip Love & Magic: Spellfyre if a timer between two-minute scenes will break the story for you, or if doubts about AI in the art matter to you. Skip it if you want to be able to delete your data, since Google Play's data safety section says you can't. It is rated 13+, and a full restart needs the second save slot, where keys must be spent again. Sources ## 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. 1. Receipt 1App store listing Love & Magic: Spellfyre is free-to-play, with optional in-app purchases and ads included. > "Love & Magic™: Spellfyre is free-to-play. Optional in-app purchases and ads are included." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 2. Receipt 2App store listing The App Store lists the game as Age Rating 13+, free with in-app purchases, iPhone only. > "Only for iPhone Free · In‑App Purchases Age Rating 13+ Years" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 3. Receipt 3App store listing The listing advertises 6 love interests, deep character customization with the option to play as a girl or a guy, and story updates 3 times a week. > "• 6 unique love interests • Deep character customization (play as a girl or a guy) • Stunning original artwork and animation • Cinematic storytelling with real emotional stakes • Story updates 3 times a week" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 4. Receipt 4App store listing The six love interests are Talyn (fire-magic rebel), Bardric (golden boy), Cato (scholar), Iridessa (social butterfly), Leona (adventurer) and Niel (best friend). > "• TALYN - a haunted rebel who wields fire magic with fury • BARDRIC - a golden boy with charm, ambition, and deeply held grudges • CATO - a brilliant scholar hiding his heart behind logic • IRIDESSA - the glittering social butterfly" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 5. Receipt 5Official site The player is the heir of Dreadbane, a dark arcane whose rebellion 20 years ago killed thousands, enrolling at Elderwood University. > "But now Elderwood is being put to the ultimate test. The heir of Dreadbane has just enrolled... YOU!" [www.candlelight.games](https://www.candlelight.games/), retrieved October 3, 2026 6. Receipt 6App store listing The listing bills it as from the original creators of Choices: Stories You Play, and says the game was made with love, by real people. > "This game was made with love, by real people, for you." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 7. Receipt 7App store listing An App Store reviewer says you wait 2 hours for a key to play a scene that might last under 5 minutes, and six hours between ads for a single key. > "you have to wait 2 hours for a key to play what might be a less than 5 minute scene" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 8. Receipt 8App store listing App Store reviewers say romances can be toggled on or off per love interest. > "I love that you can toggle romances on or off so I don't have to worry that I've missed an important option" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 9. Receipt 9App store listing An App Store reviewer says keys regenerate and diamonds can be earned for free but not fast enough, so they bought some. > "Keys regenerate for free and diamonds can be earned for free, but it's just not fast enough for me. I had to buy some" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 10. Receipt 10Forum Users on Reddit say established characters are drawn with the wrong eye color, e.g. Windworn has green eyes, not brown, and feet look like they merge. > "Windworn has green eyes, not brown, which the people making this art should know💀 Also it kinda looks like their feet are merging at the bottom" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1wtjg8t/annoying_ai_art_mistakes/), retrieved October 3, 2026 11. Receipt 11Forum Users on Reddit say the latest chapter covers and many Sunhallow event visuals look AI-generated. > "the latest chapter covers and many of the visuals used in the sunhallow event were unmistakably ai generated." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1wtjg8t/annoying_ai_art_mistakes/), retrieved October 3, 2026 12. Receipt 12Forum A Reddit user says term one art looked better and Talyn looks like a different person in every picture in term two. > "Firstly I feel like his art is pretty inconsistent, especially in term two, it's like he looks like a different person on every picture lol" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1wtjg8t/annoying_ai_art_mistakes/), retrieved October 3, 2026 13. Receipt 13Forum A Reddit user reports the studio said, in response to AI questions, that its art is done by external vendors with a strict no-AI policy. > "They said, "We have our art done by external vendors and have a strict no-AI policy" in response to people asking if they use AI." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1wtjg8t/annoying_ai_art_mistakes/), retrieved October 3, 2026 14. Receipt 14Forum Reddit users call the animated CGs uncanny; one says they fast-tap through them. > "I actually hate the CGs in this game, I fast tap them to make them go away faster." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1wtjg8t/annoying_ai_art_mistakes/), retrieved October 3, 2026 15. Receipt 15Forum Some Reddit players defend the studio, saying CGs are designed and sketched by real artists before AI filters and that Candlelight fixes noticeable mistakes. > "We at least know all CGIs are designed, sketched and drawn by real artists before they are being put through AI filters" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1wtjg8t/annoying_ai_art_mistakes/), retrieved October 3, 2026 16. Receipt 16App store listing An App Store reviewer says they wish they didn't have to wait six hours to watch another ad for a single key. > "I also wish you didn't have to wait six hours to watch another ad for a single key." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/love-magic-spellfyre/id6701993075), retrieved October 3, 2026 17. Receipt 17App store listing Google Play lists content descriptors Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes, Language, with In-Game Purchases. > "Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes, Language In-Game Purchases" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.candlelightgames.spellstruck\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved October 3, 2026 18. Receipt 18App store listing Google Play's data safety section says no data is shared with third parties, data is encrypted in transit, and data can't be deleted. > "Data is encrypted in transit Data can't be deleted" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.candlelightgames.spellstruck\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved October 3, 2026 19. Receipt 19App store listing The Google Play listing was updated Sep 29, 2026; the update notes include a fix for missing Sunhallow event CGs in the Collectibles tab. > "Fix for the missing Sunhallow event CGs in the Collectibles tab." [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.candlelightgames.spellstruck\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved October 3, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer Reviewers report (Pocket Tactics) that after a key runs out you wait two hours for a free key, watch an ad, or spend five dollars for six keys. > "it's a matter of waiting two hours for a free key, watching an ad, or spending five bucks to get six, which, to be abundantly clear, isn't worth it." [www.pockettactics.com](https://www.pockettactics.com/love-and-magic-spellfyre/review), retrieved October 3, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer Reviewers report gems are kept out of core choices and used for cosmetics or to unlock love-interest scenes. > "instead, you can use gems on cosmetics, which is neat but not essential, or to unlock scenes with love interests, increasing your bond with them." [www.pockettactics.com](https://www.pockettactics.com/love-and-magic-spellfyre/review), retrieved October 3, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer Reviewers report keys unlock segments of chapters, some readable in under two minutes. > "offering not chapters with keys but segments of them, some of which took me under two minutes to read." [www.pockettactics.com](https://www.pockettactics.com/love-and-magic-spellfyre/review), retrieved October 3, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer Reviewers report the game tracks how close you are to each love interest and the story changes a little depending on this. > "Spellfyre also knows how close you are to each love interest, and the story appears to change a little depending on this." [www.pockettactics.com](https://www.pockettactics.com/love-and-magic-spellfyre/review), retrieved October 3, 2026 24. Receipt 24Reviewer Pocket Tactics' verdict (Jan 29, 2026): gorgeous art and above-average worldbuilding, held back by monetization. > "With gorgeous art, above-average worldbuilding, and some interesting game mechanics, Love and Magic: Spellfyre would be an excellent visual novel game if not for some of its monetization features" [www.pockettactics.com](https://www.pockettactics.com/love-and-magic-spellfyre/review), retrieved October 3, 2026 25. Receipt 25Reviewer Reviewers report you choose sexual orientation in character creation and can toggle romance per character regardless of gender. > "you can also toggle romance on and off with individual characters in their optional individual story arcs, regardless of gender." [www.pockettactics.com](https://www.pockettactics.com/love-and-magic-spellfyre/review), retrieved October 3, 2026 26. Receipt 26App store listing A Play Store reviewer says the art obviously had AI involved at some point despite the developers saying they were against AI, and the story is split into very small parts. > "The art obviously had AI involved at some point, despite the developers saying they were against AI. The story is split up into very small parts" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.candlelightgames.spellstruck\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved October 3, 2026 27. Receipt 27Forum A Reddit user quotes Candlelight as saying it works with external vendors for art and UI, its contracts explicitly forbid AI, but that is hard to enforce since AI assistance is built into most tools. > "We work with a variety of external vendors for art and UI. Our contracts explicitly forbid the use of AI, but in practice, it's really difficult to enforce that." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1qqxnkk/the_ai_question_answered/), retrieved October 3, 2026 28. Receipt 28Forum A Reddit user says (Jan 30, 2026) that two of three art vendors quoted in Candlelight's art-process post are publicly pro-AI. > "Three vendors are quoted in the post, and two are vocally pro-AI and very public about their use of it." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1qqxnkk/the_ai_question_answered/), retrieved October 3, 2026 29. Receipt 29Forum Users on Reddit complain a key is needed every scene rather than every chapter. > "We need a key EVERY scene and not chapter?" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1qryd9i/i_thought_candlelight_was_going_to_be/), retrieved October 3, 2026 30. Receipt 30Forum Users on Reddit say an August 2026 chapter cover gave Bardric elf ears and that he looks like a different person in it. > "Plus Bardric doesn't even look like himself, his facial features are all wrong, he looks like a totally different person to me here." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1w1vlys/the_ai_they_used_to_make_this_chapters_cover_gave/), retrieved October 3, 2026 31. Receipt 31Official site Candlelight says player feedback led it to rework story beats, simplify the UI and flow, and adjust rewards, progression and tuning. > "Rewards, progression, and tuning were adjusted to better respect your time" [www.candlelight.games](https://www.candlelight.games/updates/launching-together), retrieved October 3, 2026 32. Receipt 32Reviewer The fan wiki says the Chapter 27 cover (late August 2026) showed Bardric with elf ears and by early September 2026 had been updated with human ears and Bardric's and Cato's faces adjusted to match their sprites. > "However, by early September 2026, the cover had been updated to give him regular human ears, with both Bardric's and Cato's facial features adjusted as well to better resemble their sprites." [candlelight-games.fandom.com](https://candlelight-games.fandom.com/wiki/Love_%26_Magic:_Spellfyre), retrieved October 3, 2026 33. Receipt 33Reviewer The fan wiki says Spellfyre is Candlelight Games' first game and released January 30, 2026, on the App Store and Play Store. > "Love & Magic: Spellfyre is the first game developed by Candlelight Games. It released on January 30, 2026, on the App and Play Store." [candlelight-games.fandom.com](https://candlelight-games.fandom.com/wiki/Love_%26_Magic:_Spellfyre), retrieved October 3, 2026 34. Receipt 34Forum A Reddit user says taking every possible ad gets 8 gems a day (2 every 6 hours) and each key lasts around 40 seconds to 2 minutes. > "if you take every possible ad, you can get 8 gems a day (2 every 6 hours)" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1qm0ibz/my_honest_review_on_the_game_so_far/), retrieved October 3, 2026 35. Receipt 35Forum A Reddit user's launch-week review calls the story the strongest part of the game. > "the story is probably the strongest part of this game so far, and I feel that the premise and execution is pretty well done." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1qm0ibz/my_honest_review_on_the_game_so_far/), retrieved October 3, 2026 36. Receipt 36Reviewer The fan wiki says version 1.12.0 has two save slots for replaying the story with a second character; purchases transfer between slots but keys must be spent again. > "There are currently (version 1.12.0) two save slots that allow you to set up a second character and replay the whole story with different choices without losing the progress of your first character." [candlelight-games.fandom.com](https://candlelight-games.fandom.com/wiki/Gameplay_\(FAQ\)), retrieved October 3, 2026 37. Receipt 37Reviewer The fan wiki says Romance Quests appear only if romance with that Ally is toggled on and the Bond is high enough, and even then there is a romantic and non-romantic option. > "But Romance Quests will only appear if you have toggled on the romance with the respective Ally and if you already have a high enough Bond." [candlelight-games.fandom.com](https://candlelight-games.fandom.com/wiki/Gameplay_\(FAQ\)), retrieved October 3, 2026 38. Receipt 38Reviewer The fan wiki says that in version 1.12.0 you can only replay the current scene before completing it; restarting from the beginning needs another save slot. > "In the current version (1.12.0), it's only possible to replay the current scene before completing it." [candlelight-games.fandom.com](https://candlelight-games.fandom.com/wiki/Gameplay_\(FAQ\)), retrieved October 3, 2026 39. Receipt 39Official site A Love & Magic: Spellfyre official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "TALYN". > "TALYN" [images.squarespace-cdn.com](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66859807d798ab7c98c1af12/61354b5f-b136-47a5-88b4-0300b4a8d327/Talkyn+Square.png?format=1000w), retrieved October 3, 2026 40. Receipt 40Official site The Love & Magic: Spellfyre official site page with art judged for the score says "Sunhallow Festival is here, but only for a limited-time.". > "Sunhallow Festival is here, but only for a limited-time." [www.candlelight.games](https://www.candlelight.games/), retrieved October 3, 2026 41. Receipt 41Forum The Love & Magic: Spellfyre forum page with art judged for the score says "Also it kinda looks like their feet are merging at the bottom". > "Also it kinda looks like their feet are merging at the bottom" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1wtjg8t/annoying_ai_art_mistakes/), retrieved October 3, 2026 42. Receipt 42Forum The Love & Magic: Spellfyre forum page with art judged for the score says "The AI they used to make this chapter's cover gave Bardric elf ears lmao". > "The AI they used to make this chapter's cover gave Bardric elf ears lmao" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Candlelight_Games/comments/1w1vlys/the_ai_they_used_to_make_this_chapters_cover_gave/), retrieved October 3, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is Love & Magic: Spellfyre free? Yes, at this review it is free to play, with ads and optional in-app purchases, and Spellfyre publishes no prices for its keys or gems. Reviewers report that when your keys run out you wait two hours for a free one, watch an ad, or buy more. ### Who are the love interests in Spellfyre? There are six, according to the App Store listing: Talyn, the fire-magic rebel; Bardric, the golden boy; Cato, the scholar; Iridessa, the social butterfly; Leona, the adventurer; and Niel, the best friend. ### Can you romance multiple characters in Spellfyre? You decide which of the six are romanceable. Reviewers report that romance toggles on or off for each love interest regardless of gender, and you pick your orientation at character creation. The fan wiki adds that a Romance Quest appears only when romance with that character is on and your Bond is high enough, and even then you get a romantic and a non-romantic option. ### Does Love & Magic: Spellfyre use AI art? Candlelight says no. A player quotes the studio as saying its art vendors are contractually barred from AI, though that is hard to enforce because AI assistance is built into most tools. Players point to wrong eye colours, merging feet, a Chapter 27 cover that gave Bardric elf ears, and term-two covers and event visuals that look AI-generated. Other players say real artists design and sketch the CGs and that Candlelight fixes visible mistakes. ### Can you replay chapters in Spellfyre? Only in part. The fan wiki says version 1.12.0 lets you replay the current scene before you finish it. To start the story over you need the second save slot, where your purchases carry across but keys must be spent again. ### What age is Love & Magic: Spellfyre for? The App Store rates it 13+. Google Play lists Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes and Language as content descriptors, along with in-game purchases. Keep reading ## More like this [Story games + Character chatSeptember 28, 2026](/apps/frontier) ### [Frontier review](/apps/frontier) [Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending](/apps/frontier) [16Home-cookedFun 8/10](/apps/frontier) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: PolyBuzz review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/polybuzz updated: 2026-10-09 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /PolyBuzz Character chat # PolyBuzz review A vast user-built character library, free to start, with ad breaks and short memory Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 9, 2026 Verdict 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. Overall slop55MicrowavedFun 5/10 - 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 [PolyBuzz official site](https://www.polybuzz.ai/) On this page (9)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [What it is](#what-it-is) 5. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 6. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 7. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 8. [Receipts](#receipts) 9. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [What it is](#what-it-is) 5. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 6. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 7. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 8. [Receipts](#receipts) 9. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## 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? Fun Meter ## 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. At this review ## 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 | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +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. Watch out for - !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+. Sources ## 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. 1. Receipt 1App store listing The iOS App Store lists PolyBuzz with an 18+ age rating. > "Age Rating 18+ Years" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/polybuzz-chat-with-ai-friends/id6449190344), retrieved October 9, 2026 2. 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](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/polybuzz-chat-with-ai-friends/id6449190344), retrieved October 9, 2026 3. 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](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/polybuzz-chat-with-ai-friends/id6449190344), retrieved October 9, 2026 4. 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](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/polybuzz-chat-with-ai-friends/id6449190344), retrieved October 9, 2026 5. 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](https://www.polybuzz.ai/), retrieved October 9, 2026 6. 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](https://www.polybuzz.ai/), retrieved October 9, 2026 7. 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](https://plisio.net/ai/polybuzz-ai), retrieved October 9, 2026 8. 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](https://plisio.net/ai/polybuzz-ai), retrieved October 9, 2026 9. 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](https://plisio.net/ai/polybuzz-ai), retrieved October 9, 2026 10. 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](https://plisio.net/ai/polybuzz-ai), retrieved October 9, 2026 11. 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](https://plisio.net/ai/polybuzz-ai), retrieved October 9, 2026 12. 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](https://plisio.net/ai/polybuzz-ai), retrieved October 9, 2026 13. 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](https://cybernews.com/best-parental-control-apps/is-polybuzz-safe-for-kids/), retrieved October 9, 2026 14. 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](https://cybernews.com/best-parental-control-apps/is-polybuzz-safe-for-kids/), retrieved October 9, 2026 15. 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](https://cybernews.com/best-parental-control-apps/is-polybuzz-safe-for-kids/), retrieved October 9, 2026 16. 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](https://www.reddit.com/r/polybuzz/comments/1nqugks/v2140_update_say_goodbye_to_amnesia_lm5x_models/), retrieved October 9, 2026 17. 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](https://www.reddit.com/r/polybuzz/comments/1w5rztf/title_30_a_month_for_this_why_the_ultimate_memory/), retrieved October 9, 2026 18. 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](https://www.reddit.com/r/polybuzz/comments/1w5rztf/title_30_a_month_for_this_why_the_ultimate_memory/), retrieved October 9, 2026 19. 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](https://www.reddit.com/r/polybuzz/comments/1oe1oho/exciting_news_ultimate_subscription_now_available/), retrieved October 9, 2026 20. 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](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/polybuzz-chat-with-ai-friends/id6449190344), retrieved October 9, 2026 21. 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](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.socialapps.speakmaster\&hl=en\&gl=US), retrieved October 9, 2026 22. 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](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.socialapps.speakmaster\&hl=en\&gl=US), retrieved October 9, 2026 23. 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](https://vpnoverview.com/unblocking/censorship/how-to-bypass-polybuzz-age-verification-in-australia/), retrieved October 9, 2026 24. 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](https://vpnoverview.com/unblocking/censorship/how-to-bypass-polybuzz-age-verification-in-australia/), retrieved October 9, 2026 25. 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](https://cybernews.com/best-parental-control-apps/is-polybuzz-safe-for-kids/), retrieved October 9, 2026 26. 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](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.socialapps.speakmaster\&hl=en\&gl=US), retrieved October 9, 2026 27. 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](https://www.reddit.com/r/polybuzz/comments/1wm4m5s/bring_your_characters_to_life_with_greeting_visual/), retrieved October 9, 2026 28. 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](https://www.reddit.com/r/polybuzz/comments/1we24ob/the_time_box_is_closing_soon/), retrieved October 9, 2026 29. Receipt 29Official site A PolyBuzz official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "LIEUTENANT". > "LIEUTENANT" [cdn-dual.polyspeak.ai](https://cdn-dual.polyspeak.ai/speakmaster/e28dfc24df327558e4e14a07bcca06d7.webp?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_400,m_lfit/quality,q_75), retrieved October 9, 2026 30. 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](https://www.polybuzz.ai/), retrieved October 9, 2026 FAQ ## 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. Keep reading ## More like this [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) [Character chatAugust 23, 2026 · Updated September 21, 2026](/apps/character-ai) ### [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai) [Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay](/apps/character-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/character-ai) [Story games + Character chatSeptember 28, 2026](/apps/frontier) ### [Frontier review](/apps/frontier) [Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending](/apps/frontier) [16Home-cookedFun 8/10](/apps/frontier) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: AI Dungeon review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/ai-dungeon updated: 2026-10-07 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /AI Dungeon AI sandboxes # AI Dungeon review An AI text adventure built on player-written scenarios and memory you manage yourself Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 7, 2026 Verdict AI Dungeon suits players who want to steer an open-ended text adventure from thousands of player-written scenarios and don't mind curating Story Cards themselves. The free models carry no ads. Skip it if you want a long story remembered without upkeep, or if you won't change the training setting that new accounts start with turned on. Overall slop49MicrowavedFun 6/10 - Best for Players who want to steer open-ended text adventures and tune the memory themselves - Pricing Free with in-app purchases. Paid plans cost $14.99 to $99.99 a month at this review and auto-renew. Each higher tier adds credits, memories and context. - Platforms iOS [AI Dungeon official site](https://aidungeon.com/) On this page (10)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 49/100 - Prose Microwaved 50 A user jokes that the AI's stock name Lyra Voss keeps repeating the same line, which points to recurring stock phrasing. Asks: Does it write like a person? - Memory Microwaved 48 Story Cards and Memory Banks surface stored details when relevant, but free context is 4k tokens, early story gets trimmed, and a user says auto-memory fills with trivia. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Does everyone sound the same? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Story Microwaved 45 You start from thousands of player-written scenarios and can rewind any choice, but reporting says AI Dungeon lacks deterministic challenges, progression and persistence. Asks: Does anything happen? - Pricing Microwaved 45 Free models have no ads, but credits, memories and context scale with auto-renewing plans from $14.99 to $99.99 a month. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Microwaved 58 The title art in AI Dungeon's official guidebook is a smeary painterly scene where the architecture stops making sense and blocky pixel artifacts break through. The scenario covers in the App Store screenshots (Planet Omega's helmeted android, Kringle's giant rabbit, Kedar's dragon) have the familiar generated concept-art gloss but read clearly enough as covers. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## Decent 0 to 10, higher is better. 6/10 Thousands of scenarios, multiplayer and rewind make it easy to start, while memory upkeep and repetitive trending tropes drag it down. At this review ## Key facts | Type | AI sandboxes | | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | iOS | | Pricing at this review | Free with in-app purchases. Paid plans cost $14.99 to $99.99 a month at this review and auto-renew. Each higher tier adds credits, memories and context. | | Age rating | 13+ | | Content policy | Little or no filtering | | Who writes the characters | Generated on demand | | Memory | Story Cards and Memory Banks store details and surface them when relevant. Memory slots and context size grow with each paid tier. | | Best for | Players who want to steer open-ended text adventures and tune the memory themselves | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +Thousands of player-written scenarios across genres, and you can write and share your own. - +Story Cards and Memory Banks hold details and bring them back only when they are relevant. - +You can rewind any decision and play multiplayer with friends. - +Free models come with no ads, and premium can be tried free for a week. - +The plan table states credits, memories and context for every tier before you pay. Watch out for - !New accounts share story text for AI training by default. Turn off Improve the AI in Data Privacy Settings before you play. - !The free plan gets up to 4k tokens of context, so the start of a long adventure is likely to be trimmed or Story Cards dropped. - !One App Store reviewer says the automatic memory fills with trivia, such as eating a banana, and can't be turned down. - !The app is rated 13+, but the AI filter's only intended trigger is content involving the sexual exploitation of children. - !Subscriptions auto-renew, and context still varies by model within a plan. Rankings ## [Ranked in](/best) - [#5 in The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps#rank-5) Best for: Players who want to steer open-ended fantasy and sci-fi adventures ## What it is AI Dungeon is Latitude's text adventure app. You type what you do, and the AI writes the story around it. The App Store lists it as free with in-app purchases and rated 13+. You start from one of thousands of player-written scenarios across genres, or write your own and share it. You can play solo or multiplayer with friends. The scenario covers in the App Store screenshots, such as Planet Omega's helmeted android, Kringle's giant rabbit and Kedar's dragon, have the familiar generated concept-art gloss but read clearly enough as covers. The title art in AI Dungeon's official guidebook is rougher: a smeary painterly scene where the architecture stops making sense and blocky pixel artifacts break through. ## What it is like to use Memory is where AI Dungeon asks the most of you. The store listing says Story Cards and Memory Banks store context-dependent details and surface them only when relevant. How much survives depends on your plan. Context runs from 4k tokens on the free plan to 32k on Mythic and Ultimate, and Latitude says that with shorter context the beginning of an adventure is likely trimmed or Story Cards removed to fit. You can rewind any decision, which helps when the AI goes off course. Player reports are less tidy. Users say the automatic memory fills with random details, like eating a banana, and can't be turned down. They also say trending scenarios are dominated by NTR tags and repetitive tropes, and joke about the stock name Lyra Voss repeating the same line. One user says a scheduled-maintenance notice shifted the story controls on mobile so they couldn't play, which was later apparently fixed. Reviewers report that Latitude said fixing key bugs in the memory system took 8 months and another AI engineer. Latitude staff say they are adding a third-party embedding model, without zero-day retention, to improve memory storage and retrieval. ## Pricing at this review AI Dungeon's official tiers at this review: - Wanderer: free, 0 credits, 25 memories, up to 4k context - Journey: $14.99/month, 760 credits, 100 memories, up to 8k context - Legend: $29.99/month, 1650 credits, 200 memories, up to 16k context - Mythic: $49.99/month, 2750 credits, 400 memories, up to 32k context - Ultimate: $99.99/month, 5200 credits, 800 memories, up to 32k context You can pay monthly, or for 6 or 12 months at a discount. Every plan auto-renews. Journey and Legend include a one-week trial with purchase, and the store listing says free models come with no ads. Reviewers report that Latitude released Equinox-31B, a storytelling model, in May 2026 for subscribers. They also report that on Journey, bigger models run at 4K context, half what small models get on the same plan. ## Who should skip it Skip AI Dungeon if you want a long story remembered without curating Story Cards yourself, or if 4k tokens of free context will cut off the stories you care about. Check the privacy settings before you write anything personal. Latitude staff said on September 28, 2026 that Improve the AI is now on by default for new users, letting Latitude use story text and AI responses for training. Reviewers recommend opening Data Privacy Settings first, and they point to May 2021, when a contractor posted about 100 clippings of AI Dungeon stories online, according to Latitude's own incident page. Parents should know that AI Dungeon is rated 13+, but its AI filter is only intended to trigger on content involving the sexual exploitation of children. Sources ## 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 7, 2026. 1. Receipt 1App store listing The App Store lists AI Dungeon as free with in-app purchases, rated 13+. > "Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS. Age Rating 13+ Years" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-dungeon-rpg-story-maker/id1491268416), retrieved October 3, 2026 2. Receipt 2App store listing The store listing says AI memory uses Story Cards and Memory Banks to store context-dependent info and surface it only when relevant. > "The robust AI memory system uses Story Cards and Memory Banks to store context-dependent info and bring it up only when relevant." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-dungeon-rpg-story-maker/id1491268416), retrieved October 3, 2026 3. Receipt 3App store listing The listing says free models come with no ads, and premium can be tried for a week free. > "When you're ready to level up your adventures, try premium for a week without paying a dime." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-dungeon-rpg-story-maker/id1491268416), retrieved October 3, 2026 4. Receipt 4App store listing Players can discover thousands of player-written scenarios across genres or create and share their own. > "Discover thousands of scenarios written by other players in sci-fi, romance, fantasy, horror, and every other genre-- or create and share your own!" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-dungeon-rpg-story-maker/id1491268416), retrieved October 3, 2026 5. Receipt 5App store listing An App Store reviewer says the automatic AI memory fills up with random story details (like eating a banana) and they can't turn it down. > "its just got some random parts of the story committed to memory like eating a banana or some other thing, I kind of wish I could limit that 20/20 thing" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-dungeon-rpg-story-maker/id1491268416), retrieved October 3, 2026 6. Receipt 6App store listing The listing says you can rewind a decision anytime, and play multiplayer with friends. > "if you want to rewind a decision, you can do so anytime" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-dungeon-rpg-story-maker/id1491268416), retrieved October 3, 2026 7. Receipt 7Reviewer Reviewers report Latitude released Equinox-31B, a Gemma 4 fine-tune for storytelling, in May 2026, usable in AI Dungeon with a subscription. > "Latitude says Equinox can be used through AI Dungeon with a subscription" [startupfortune.com](https://startupfortune.com/latitude-equinox-31b-takes-on-generic-ai-in-gaming/), retrieved October 3, 2026 8. Receipt 8Reviewer Reporting says Latitude is also pushing Voyage, a newer AI RPG platform that adds deterministic systems, challenges, progression and persistence beyond AI Dungeon. > "CEO Nick Walton said Voyage takes AI Dungeon's original idea much further by adding deterministic systems, challenges, progression, and persistence." [startupfortune.com](https://startupfortune.com/latitude-equinox-31b-takes-on-generic-ai-in-gaming/), retrieved October 3, 2026 9. Receipt 9Official site Official tiers: Wanderer free (0 credits, 25 memories); Journey $14.99/month (760 credits, 100 memories); Legend $29.99/month (1650 credits, 200 memories); Mythic $49.99/month (2750 credits, 400 memories); Ultimate $99.99/month (5200 credits, 800 memories). > "| Wanderer | Free | 0 | 25 Memories | | Journey | $14.99 USD per month | 760 per month | 100 Memories | | Legend | $29.99 USD per month | 1650 per month | 200 Memories |" [help.aidungeon.com](https://help.aidungeon.com/memberships-benefits), retrieved October 3, 2026 10. Receipt 10Official site Mythic costs $49.99/month with 2750 credits and 400 memories; Ultimate costs $99.99/month with 5200 credits and 800 memories. > "| Mythic | $49.99 USD per month | 2750 per month | 400 Memories | | Ultimate | $99.99 USD per month | 5200 per month | 800 Memories |" [help.aidungeon.com](https://help.aidungeon.com/memberships-benefits), retrieved October 3, 2026 11. Receipt 11Official site Context by tier: Free up to 4k tokens, Journey up to 8k, Legend up to 16k, Mythic and Ultimate up to 32k. > "Free gets up to 4k tokens of context, Journey gets up to 8k, Legend gets up to 16k, and Mythic and Ultimate gets up to 32k." [help.aidungeon.com](https://help.aidungeon.com/memberships-benefits), retrieved October 3, 2026 12. Receipt 12Official site Subscriptions can be 12 months, 6 months or monthly with discounts, auto-renew, and Journey and Legend include a one-week trial with purchase. > "You can subscribe for 12 months, 6 months, or simply pay month-to-month. These subscriptions are auto-renewing, and Journey and Legend includes a one-week trial with purchase." [help.aidungeon.com](https://help.aidungeon.com/memberships-benefits), retrieved October 3, 2026 13. Receipt 13Official site With shorter context, the beginning of an adventure is likely trimmed or Story Cards removed to fit. > "If you're using a shorter context length, the beginning of your Adventure will likely be trimmed, or Story Cards may be removed in order to fit in the context window." [help.aidungeon.com](https://help.aidungeon.com/memberships-benefits), retrieved October 3, 2026 14. Receipt 14Reviewer Reviewers report that new accounts made since September 28, 2026 share story text for training by default, and recommend opening Data Privacy Settings first. > "New accounts made since September 28, 2026 also share story text for training by default, so open Data Privacy Settings first." [www.roborhythms.com](https://www.roborhythms.com/ai-dungeon-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 15. Receipt 15Reviewer Reviewers report that on Journey ($14.99), bigger models like DeepSeek V3.2 run at 4K context, half what small models get on the same plan. > "On Journey, the bigger models you upgrade for, such as DeepSeek V3.2, run at half the context the small models get on the same plan." [www.roborhythms.com](https://www.roborhythms.com/ai-dungeon-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 16. Receipt 16Reviewer Reviewers report Voyage opened to everyone on August 26, 2026, and one Latitude membership covers premium play on both Voyage and AI Dungeon. > "open to everyone since August 26, 2026, and one Latitude membership covers premium play on both Voyage and AI Dungeon." [www.roborhythms.com](https://www.roborhythms.com/ai-dungeon-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 17. Receipt 17Reviewer Reviewers report that in May 2021 about 100 clippings of AI Dungeon stories were posted to 4chan by a contractor at Taskup, per Latitude's own incident page. > "in May 2021 about 100 clippings from AI Dungeon stories were posted to 4chan by a contractor at Taskup" [www.roborhythms.com](https://www.roborhythms.com/ai-dungeon-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 18. Receipt 18Reviewer Reviewers report Latitude said fixing key bugs in the memory system took 8 months and another AI engineer. > "it says fixing key bugs in AI Dungeon's memory system took 8 months and another AI engineer" [www.roborhythms.com](https://www.roborhythms.com/ai-dungeon-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 19. Receipt 19Official site Officially, the only intended trigger for the AI filter is content suggesting, promoting or glorifying sexual exploitation of children. > "The only intended trigger for the AI filter is content suggesting, promoting, or glorifying sexual exploitation of children." [help.aidungeon.com](https://help.aidungeon.com/faq/what-triggers-the-ai-filter), retrieved October 3, 2026 20. Receipt 20Forum In a September 28, 2026 Reddit post, Latitude staff said Improve the AI, previously opt-in, is now on by default for new users, letting Latitude use shared prompts, story text and AI responses for evaluations and training; users can disable it. > "Until now, Improve the AI has been opt-in for AI Dungeon. Going forward, it will be on by default for new users. When enabled, Latitude can use shared prompts, story text, and AI responses for evaluations and training." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AIDungeon/comments/1wsn5vi/), retrieved October 3, 2026 21. Receipt 21Forum Latitude staff say stories remain encrypted in storage and accepting the preferences does not publish them to other players. > "Your stories remain encrypted in storage. Accepting these preferences does not publish them or make them visible to other players." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AIDungeon/comments/1wsn5vi/), retrieved October 3, 2026 22. Receipt 22Forum Latitude staff say deleting an account is permanent, and some copies may remain in backups or with providers for up to 30 days. > "Some copies of your data may remain in backups or with service providers for up to 30 days while deletion finishes across those systems." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AIDungeon/comments/1wsn5vi/), retrieved October 3, 2026 23. Receipt 23Forum Latitude staff say they are adding an OpenAI embedding model (without zero-day retention) to improve memory storage and retrieval. > "we've tested an OpenAI embedding model that we are confident will improve how our memory system stores and retrieves important details from your stories" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AIDungeon/comments/1wsn5vi/), retrieved October 3, 2026 24. Receipt 24Forum A Reddit user complains trending scenarios are dominated by 'NTR' tags and repetitive tropes. > "I swear as a person that searches by trending so many of the top results are always the following" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AIDungeon/comments/1wc9sov/dude_what_is_going_on_with_all_the_ntr_tags_at/), retrieved October 3, 2026 25. Receipt 25Forum A Reddit user jokes about the AI's stock names, saying they'd rather have Lyra Voss repeat the same line 100 times than play NTR scenarios - a nod to recurring AI clichés. > "I WOULD RATHER HAVE LYRA VOSS TELL ME SHE REALLY SEES ME FOR THE FIRST TIME 100 TIMES IN A ROW" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AIDungeon/comments/1wc9sov/dude_what_is_going_on_with_all_the_ntr_tags_at/), retrieved October 3, 2026 26. Receipt 26Forum A Reddit user said a scheduled-maintenance notice shifted the story controls on mobile so they couldn't play, later apparently fixed. > "it shifts the controls in stories down and now I can't even play at all" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AIDungeon/comments/1wu34ys/scheduled_maintenance_message/), retrieved October 3, 2026 27. Receipt 27Official site The AI Dungeon official site page with art judged for the score says "Welcome! This guide can answer your questions and help you get the most out of your AI Dungeon experience.". > "Welcome! This guide can answer your questions and help you get the most out of your AI Dungeon experience." [help.aidungeon.com](https://help.aidungeon.com/), retrieved October 3, 2026 28. Receipt 28App store listing A AI Dungeon store listing image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Kedar is a world of dragons, demons, and monsters". > "Kedar is a world of dragons, demons, and monsters" [is1-ssl.mzstatic.com](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource211/v4/9f/83/5d/9f835d41-3556-7225-e398-a73e6d71caa3/3.jpg/600x1300bb.jpg), retrieved October 3, 2026 29. Receipt 29App store listing A AI Dungeon store listing image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Planet Omega". > "Planet Omega" [is1-ssl.mzstatic.com](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource211/v4/83/c2/03/83c203f7-2596-f621-05b6-93c424c420d4/2.jpg/600x1300bb.jpg), retrieved October 3, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is AI Dungeon free and unlimited? AI Dungeon is free, but the free plan has limits. The App Store lists it as free with in-app purchases, and the listing says free models come with no ads. At this review the free Wanderer plan gets 0 credits, 25 memories and up to 4k tokens of context. Premium can be tried free for a week. ### How much is an AI Dungeon subscription? Plans cost $14.99 to $99.99 a month at this review. Journey is $14.99, Legend $29.99, Mythic $49.99 and Ultimate $99.99, and each step up adds credits, memories and context. You can pay monthly, or for 6 or 12 months at a discount. All plans auto-renew, and Journey and Legend include a one-week trial with purchase. ### Is AI Dungeon private? Not by default for new accounts. In a September 28, 2026 post, Latitude staff said Improve the AI is now on by default for new users. The setting was previously opt-in, and it lets Latitude use shared prompts, story text and AI responses for evaluations and training. You can turn it off. Staff say stories stay encrypted in storage and the setting does not publish them to other players. Deleting an account is permanent, though copies can stay in backups or with providers for up to 30 days. Reviewers also point to May 2021, when a contractor posted about 100 clippings of AI Dungeon stories online, according to Latitude's own incident page. ### Is AI Dungeon safe for teens? The App Store rates AI Dungeon 13+, but the filter is narrow. Officially, the AI filter's only intended trigger is content that suggests, promotes or glorifies the sexual exploitation of children, so it is not built to catch other mature themes. ### Does AI Dungeon remember your story? Partly, and your plan decides how much. Story Cards and Memory Banks store details and surface them when relevant. Context runs from 4k tokens on the free plan to 32k on Mythic and Ultimate. With shorter context, Latitude says the beginning of an adventure is likely trimmed or Story Cards removed to fit. One App Store reviewer says the automatic memory fills with random details and can't be turned down. Keep reading ## More like this [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Character chat + AI sandboxesSeptember 1, 2026 · Updated September 15, 2026](/apps/janitor-ai) ### [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai) [Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month](/apps/janitor-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/janitor-ai) [Character chat + AI sandboxesOctober 12, 2026](/apps/sillytavern) ### [SillyTavern review](/apps/sillytavern) [Free, open-source roleplay frontend: you bring the model, it runs the characters](/apps/sillytavern) [35Home-cookedFun 6/10](/apps/sillytavern) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked url: https://promptplay.io/best/ai-girlfriend-apps updated: 2026-10-07 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Rankings](/best) 3. /AI girlfriend apps Companions and chat # The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 7, 2026 Short answer Nomi is the best AI girlfriend app at this review: you build the partner yourself, its memory is layered, and it runs on iOS, Android and web with a free plan of 50 messages a day. Replika wins for a companion that checks in on your life, Frontier for story-driven romance, Candy AI for photoreal pictures and Character.AI for free unlimited chat. On this page (5)Show 1. [The ranking](#rankings) 2. [Scorecard](#scorecard) 3. [Who wins what](#awards) 4. [How we ranked](#how-we-ranked) 5. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [The ranking](#rankings) 2. [Scorecard](#scorecard) 3. [Who wins what](#awards) 4. [How we ranked](#how-we-ranked) 5. [Questions people ask](#faq) 5 apps ## The ranking 1. 1 ### [Nomi](/apps/nomi) An 18+ AI companion you build yourself, with layered long-term memory 39MicrowavedFun 7/10 Best for: Adults building a long-term partner who remembers them Nomi does the two things this search is about: you design the partner, and it is built to remember you. Setup starts with a friendship, romance, mentor or custom dynamic, three to seven personality traits and an optional backstory. Memory runs in short, medium and long-term layers with an Identity Core on top, and Mind Map 2.0 shows how memories connect. The free plan is indefinite but stops at 50 messages a day and 400 characters a message. Nomi publishes no subscription price itself. Reviewers report $15.99 a month or $99.99 a year at this review, and subscriptions are nonrefundable. Memory has limits too: reviewers saw a Nomi mix up details between two stories around three months in, and about one chat in five go generic. Strengths - +Memory is designed in layers: short, medium and long-term memory, backstory and shared notes, with an Identity Core on top. - +Mind Map 2.0 lets you explore one of your Nomi's memory structures and see how it links memories, concepts and knowledge. - +You build each companion yourself, from a written backstory and preferences, or you just chat and let its personality develop. - +Group chat puts several Nomis in one conversation, and each keeps its memory across private and group chats. - +V5 image generation uses anchors to keep a Nomi's face and body consistent across selfies and art, and accepts natural-language prompts up to 1,000 characters. Watch out for - !The free plan caps you at 50 messages a day and 400 characters per message. One App Store reviewer says hitting the limit mid-conversation kills the momentum. - !Subscription purchases are nonrefundable. - !Nomi publishes no subscription price at this review. Web subscriptions are billed in USD and may cost slightly less than app store ones. - !Reviewers report that recall and consistency slip. Around three months in, a Nomi mixed up details between two stories, about 20% of conversations go generic or loop back to familiar topics, and voice lags behind the text chat. - !It is adults only. Reviewers report that the mobile apps stay more restricted than the paid, age-verified web version, and an App Store reviewer says the photo generator won't make spicy content. Pricing: An indefinite free plan allows 50 messages a day, and a subscription raises the limits and works across iOS, Android and web on one account. Nomi publishes no subscription price at this review, and subscription purchases are nonrefundable. [Full review](/apps/nomi)[Official site](https://nomi.ai/) 2. 2 ### [Replika](/apps/replika) One AI companion that remembers your people and plans, sold across three paid tiers 43MicrowavedFun 5/10 Best for: Adults who want a partner that keeps up with their daily life Replika suits readers who want one partner who keeps track of their actual life. Its Memory screen lists every saved fact about your people, plans and interests and lets you delete any of them, and the store listings say it follows up days later. The romance costs extra. Wikipedia says the free tier offers Replika as a friend, relationship status and selfies need Pro, and saving a message to memory needs Ultra. Replika shows prices only in the app and the store. AI Companion Pick reports Pro at $19.99 a month and Ultra at $29.99 a month at this review, and App Store purchases are non-refundable. An App Store reviewer says a paid Replika is censored in intimate conversation and agrees with everything. Strengths - +A Memory screen lets you scroll what Replika has saved about you and remove any entry. - +The store listings say Replika follows up days later on the people, plans and goals you mention. - +You can talk to it by text, voice call or video. - +Free Use costs nothing, so you can try the companion before any subscription screen. - +In the App Store screenshots, avatars keep the same face from chat to selfie shots. Watch out for - !Replika publishes no prices on its help page, so costs appear only in the app's subscription screens and the store. - !App Store subscription purchases are final and non-refundable, and partial months are not refunded. - !Relationship status, selfies and voice messaging need Pro, and saving a message to memory needs Ultra. - !The store description says conversations are not shared with third parties, while Google Play's data safety section says app activity and device IDs may be. - !Replika's terms say it is not a healthcare provider and its services are not mental health services. Pricing: Free to download with in-app purchases and a limited Free Use tier. Pro, Ultra and Platinum subscriptions add features, and Replika publishes no prices outside the app's subscription screens and the store at this review. [Full review](/apps/replika)[Official site](https://replika.com/) 3. 3 ### [Frontier](/apps/frontier) Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending 16Home-cookedFun 8/10 Best for: Romance readers who want a story and characters who remember it Frontier answers this search with a story: you play a human-written visual novel, then keep dating the characters after the ending. Its memory is the strongest on this list. Authors mark which story moments count, characters carry those events into chat, letters and sequels, and a character writes you a letter if you stay away for a few days. Frontier ranks below Nomi and Replika because you cannot create your own characters, and the catalogue is small on purpose. Chat, story unlocks and photos cost Quills. Monthly refills run $12.99 to $39.99 on iOS at this review, and the app shows the cost before you spend. Strengths - +A person writes every story and signs off before release, so a character's voice holds from chapter to chat. - +Characters remember events the author marked as important, instead of a summary of your chat log. - +Characters send letters in their own voice when you go quiet for a few days. - +The app shows the Quill cost before you spend anything. Watch out for - !The catalogue is small on purpose. If you want thousands of bots, this is the wrong app. - !18+ only. - !Chat, story unlocks and character photos cost Quills. - !You cannot make your own characters. Pricing: Free to download and start. Story unlocks, chat and character photos use Quills; Quill Monthly Refill plans cost $12.99 to $39.99 a month on iOS at this review. [Full review](/apps/frontier)[Official site](https://www.playfrontier.app/) 4. 4 ### [Candy AI](/apps/candy-ai) Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades 55MicrowavedFun 5/10 Best for: Adults who want photoreal pictures more than long memory Candy AI has the sharpest photos reviewers have found in the category, and it ranks fourth because the girlfriend in them forgets you. Reviewers report memory is tied to each chat and weakens after about 7-10 days, and in a two-week test the character lost details around day nine. Premium covers unlimited text plus 100 tokens a month for images, video and detailed custom companions. A Reddit user says an unrequested video cost about 10 tokens in the first minute. At this review the monthly plan costs €9.99 for the first month and €13.99 after that. Reviewers report refunds only within 24 hours and only with 20 tokens or fewer used, and they say Candy AI runs only in the browser. Its homepage claims end-to-end encryption, while its privacy notice says third-party LLM providers may receive message content. Strengths - +Reviewers call its photo generation the sharpest they have found in the category. - +Candy AI says it offers over 100 ready-made characters, and you can also build your own companion. - +Premium includes unlimited text messages, so chatting itself never spends tokens. - +You can pay by Visa, MasterCard or crypto, and charges appear as 'EverAI' on bank statements. Watch out for - !Premium includes 100 tokens a month for images, video and detailed companions. Users report it runs out fast and that a character once spent tokens on a video nobody asked for. - !Reviewers report memory is tied to each chat rather than to you and weakens after about 7-10 days. - !Candy AI's homepage claims end-to-end encryption, but its own policy says chats are moderated and staff may manually review account content. - !The first month costs €9.99, then the plan renews at €13.99. Reviewers report refunds only within 24 hours and only if you have used 20 tokens or fewer. - !Reviewers report there is no mobile app, so Candy AI runs only in the browser. Pricing: At this review, the monthly plan costs €9.99 for the first month, then €13.99 a month. Other plans run €5.60 a week, €9.79 for two weeks, €26.97 a quarter and €47.88 a year. Premium includes unlimited text and 100 tokens a month, and images, video and detailed custom companions draw on those tokens. [Full review](/apps/candy-ai)[Official site](https://candy.ai/) 5. 5 ### [Character.AI](/apps/character-ai) Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay 51MicrowavedFun 5/10 Best for: Free, unlimited chat with community-made characters Character.AI is a character library: millions of community-made characters you can text or call by live voice, and you can publish your own. Messaging is free and unlimited on every tier, which no other app here matches. Users say the bot works mainly from recent messages, so older context slides out of a long relationship. Ads stay until c.ai+ at $9.99 a month at this review, and lite at $4.99 a month still shows interstitial ads. An App Store reviewer reports a new limit of about an hour of chatting. If Character.AI flags an account as under 18, the user has to verify their age with a Persona selfie. Strengths - +The App Store listing says Character.AI hosts millions of user-generated characters, and you can create and publish your own. - +You can talk to characters by text or by live voice call. - +Every tier keeps unlimited messaging, and the PipSqueak 3 and ShortSqueak chat styles are free for everyone. - +At this review, the lite plan costs $4.99 a month and adds extra memory pins, a Memory Usage bar and no banner ads. - +Memory pins and Lorebook let you decide what the bot keeps in view. Watch out for - !Only c.ai+, at $9.99 a month at this review, has zero ads. lite still shows interstitial ads, only fewer of them, and gives a daily allowance on premium chat styles before the chat drops back to PipSqueak 3. - !Users report lots of recent ads, a new time limit of about an hour of chatting, and reading mode instead of chat for unverified accounts. - !Users say the bot works mainly from recent messages, pinned memories use up the context window, and the paid DeepSqueak model now gives short replies that ignore pins. - !An account flagged as under 18 has to verify with a Persona selfie, and possibly an ID, to leave the under-18 experience. - !Cancelling a paid plan takes effect at the end of the billing period, with no partial refunds for unused time. Pricing: Free with unlimited messaging and ads. At this review, lite costs $4.99 a month or $2.49 a week (varies by region), and c.ai+ costs $9.99 a month or $94.99 a year in USD. [Full review](/apps/character-ai)[Official site](https://character.ai/) Side by side ## Scorecard [How scores are made](/methodology#how-scores-are-made) | # | App | Overall slop | Prose | Memory | Characters | Story | Pricing | Art | Fun | | - | ------------ | ------------- | ----- | ------ | ---------- | ----- | ------- | --- | ---- | | 1 | Nomi | 39Microwaved | 32 | 24 | 40 | - | 50 | 48 | 7/10 | | 2 | Replika | 43Microwaved | - | 25 | 48 | - | 58 | 42 | 5/10 | | 3 | Frontier | 16Home-cooked | 20 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 35 | 18 | 8/10 | | 4 | Candy AI | 55Microwaved | 55 | 58 | 50 | - | 56 | 56 | 5/10 | | 5 | Character.AI | 51Microwaved | 50 | 55 | 45 | - | 48 | 55 | 5/10 | Category winners ## Who wins what Best overall Nomi Nomi pairs a partner you design with layered memory you can inspect, on iOS, Android and web from one account. Best for check-ins on your life Replika Replika saves your people, plans and interests to a Memory screen you can edit, and its listings say it follows up days later. Best for story-driven romance Frontier Frontier's human-written visual novels end with characters you can keep dating, who carry the story events their author marked into chat and letters. Best photoreal pictures Candy AI Reviewers call Candy AI's photo generation the sharpest they have found in the category, with 18+ images and video paid from Premium's 100 monthly tokens. Best free chat Character.AI Character.AI keeps messaging unlimited on every tier including free, while every other app here caps chat or charges for it. [Nomi](/apps/nomi) is the best AI girlfriend app at this review for a reader who wants one partner they design and who remembers them. The five apps on this list split on three questions: who writes the partner, how long she remembers you, and whether the romance sits behind a paywall. Nomi, [Replika](/apps/replika) and [Candy AI](/apps/candy-ai) let you build one partner. [Frontier](/apps/frontier)'s characters come from human authors, and [Character.AI](/apps/character-ai) offers a library of millions made by other users. Memory ranges from Frontier's author-marked events to the 7-10 days reviewers report for Candy AI. All five apps are rated 18+ at this review. Character.AI is the only one with unlimited free chat. Nomi caps free users at 50 messages a day, Candy AI's free tier allows five messages in total, Replika puts relationship status behind Pro, and Frontier charges Quills for chat. ## How we ranked The ranking weighed what each app does for someone who wants one ongoing partner: whether you can design her, how well she remembers you, what the relationship costs at this review, and which platforms it runs on. Memory carried the most weight. We used the memory line of each slop report, where lower means less generic: Frontier 10, Nomi 24, Replika 25, Character.AI 55, Candy AI 58. Frontier's score beats Nomi's, but it ranks below Nomi and Replika because you cannot make your own character, and that is the core of this search. Pricing counted against apps that paywall the relationship itself, cap free chat or refuse refunds. Privacy counted against apps whose own documents contradict their marketing, as Candy AI's and Replika's do. FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What is the best AI girlfriend app? Nomi, for most readers at this review. You design the partner from a dynamic, three to seven traits and an optional backstory. Its memory runs in short, medium and long-term layers, and one account works on iOS, Android and web. Pick Replika if you want check-ins on your daily life, Frontier if you want a story, and Candy AI if photos matter more than memory. ### Is there a free AI girlfriend app? Character.AI is the only app here with free unlimited messaging, though it carries ads and users report a limit of about an hour of chatting. Nomi's free plan is indefinite at 50 messages a day. Wikipedia says Replika's free tier offers Replika as a friend, with partner roles on paid tiers. Reviewers report Candy AI's free tier allows five messages in total. Frontier is free to start, but chat costs Quills. ### Which AI girlfriend remembers you the longest? Nomi leads among apps where you build the partner. Its memory is layered with an Identity Core on top, though reviewers saw it mix up details between two stories around three months in. Replika's Memory screen lets you read and delete what it saved. Frontier's characters remember the story events their author marked. Candy AI is the weakest here: reviewers report memory is tied to each chat and fades after about 7-10 days. ### Which AI girlfriend app allows NSFW chat? Candy AI and Nomi both allow explicit content at this review. Candy AI's Premium includes 18+ image and video generation, though a Reddit user says it flags detailed rough-sex messages as abusive. Nomi says it aims to stay unfiltered, and reviewers report its paid, age-verified web version is more permissive than its mobile apps. An App Store reviewer says Nomi's photo generator won't make spicy content. AI Companion Pick reports that Replika restored erotic roleplay only for accounts created before February 1, 2023. ### Are AI girlfriend apps private? Nomi makes the strongest privacy claim here: it says all chats are anonymized and no chat data goes to third-party sites. Candy AI's homepage claims end-to-end encryption, but its privacy notice says third-party LLM providers may receive message content, and its policy lets staff review account content. Replika's store description says conversations aren't shared with third parties, while Google Play's data safety section says app activity and device IDs may be. AI Companion Pick also reports that Italy's Garante fined Replika's maker €5 million in 2025. Character.AI's privacy policy covers data sharing for targeted advertising. Keep reading ## [Related rankings](/best) [8 apps ranked](/best/character-ai-alternatives) ### [The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Eight apps people actually switch to, ranked by the one thing each fixes, from memory and plot to freedom and setup time.](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Top pick: Frontier](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Candy AI review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/candy-ai updated: 2026-10-05 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /Candy AI AI companions + Character chat # Candy AI review Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 5, 2026 Verdict Pick Candy AI if you want photoreal pictures, voice and 18+ media of a companion you design, and you can live within 100 tokens a month. Skip it if you want a character that remembers you past a week or so, or a service you would trust with identifying details. Overall slop55MicrowavedFun 5/10 - Best for Adults who care more about photoreal images of a custom companion than long memory - Pricing At this review, the monthly plan costs €9.99 for the first month, then €13.99 a month. Other plans run €5.60 a week, €9.79 for two weeks, €26.97 a quarter and €47.88 a year. Premium includes unlimited text and 100 tokens a month, and images, video and detailed custom companions draw on those tokens. - Platforms Web [Candy AI official site](https://candy.ai/) On this page (10)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 55/100 - Prose Microwaved 55 Users report replies turning repetitive even after resets, and the model leaking its own stage directions mid-chat. Asks: Does it write like a person? - Memory Microwaved 58 Candy AI markets memory retention, but memory is tied to each chat, and reviewers saw it slip around day nine of a two-week test. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Microwaved 50 Over 100 stock characters plus custom builds, but a subscriber says they turned repetitive, and another user found the creator twins far better conversationalists than the rest. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Does anything happen? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Pricing Microwaved 56 Unlimited text needs a subscription that renews above its first-month price, and images, video and detailed companions spend a 100-token monthly allowance. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Microwaved 56 The character banners on the official homepage are polished photoreal generations with airbrushed skin and cinematic lighting. The three Oktoberfest blondes share essentially one face, and the band posters behind the teal-haired girl are covered in lettering that doesn't spell anything, but hands and anatomy mostly hold up. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## Decent 0 to 10, higher is better. 5/10 Sharp pictures and a voice that changes tone, held back by a token meter and memory that slips within two weeks. At this review ## Key facts | Type | AI companions, Character chat | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Platforms | Web | | Pricing at this review | At this review, the monthly plan costs €9.99 for the first month, then €13.99 a month. Other plans run €5.60 a week, €9.79 for two weeks, €26.97 a quarter and €47.88 a year. Premium includes unlimited text and 100 tokens a month, and images, video and detailed custom companions draw on those tokens. | | Age rating | 18+ | | Content policy | Explicit content behind an age gate | | Who writes the characters | Studio-made characters, voiced by a model | | Memory | Candy AI markets memory retention, but reviewers report memory is tied to each chat and fades after about 7-10 days. | | Best for | Adults who care more about photoreal images of a custom companion than long memory | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +Reviewers call its photo generation the sharpest they have found in the category. - +Candy AI says it offers over 100 ready-made characters, and you can also build your own companion. - +Premium includes unlimited text messages, so chatting itself never spends tokens. - +You can pay by Visa, MasterCard or crypto, and charges appear as 'EverAI' on bank statements. Watch out for - !Premium includes 100 tokens a month for images, video and detailed companions. Users report it runs out fast and that a character once spent tokens on a video nobody asked for. - !Reviewers report memory is tied to each chat rather than to you and weakens after about 7-10 days. - !Candy AI's homepage claims end-to-end encryption, but its own policy says chats are moderated and staff may manually review account content. - !The first month costs €9.99, then the plan renews at €13.99. Reviewers report refunds only within 24 hours and only if you have used 20 tokens or fewer. - !Reviewers report there is no mobile app, so Candy AI runs only in the browser. Rankings ## [Ranked in](/best) - [#4 in The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps#rank-4) Best for: Adults who want photoreal pictures more than long memory ## What it is Candy AI is a browser-based AI companion service. You chat with ready-made characters or build your own, and you spend tokens on images, voice and video. Candy AI says it has over 100 characters and works across desktop and mobile, though reviewers report there is no mobile app. The company behind it is EverAI Limited in Malta. Premium unlocks 18+ image and video generation. Candy AI's terms say it may ask you to verify that you are an adult. The terms also say the service is for entertainment only and is not intended as emotional support. ## What it is like to use The pictures are the strongest part of Candy AI. Reviewers report: - The photo generation is the sharpest they have found in the category. - The voice feature shifts tone with context, though it sounds recognizably synthesized. - Memory weakens noticeably after about 7-10 days. In one two-week test, the character forgot details around day nine. The character banners on the official homepage are polished photoreal generations, with airbrushed skin and cinematic lighting. The three Oktoberfest blondes share essentially one face. The band posters behind the teal-haired girl carry lettering that doesn't spell anything. Hands and anatomy mostly hold up. Users report problems with the chat itself: - A character's memory suddenly got worse and it started repeating itself. - Conversation quality fell in recent weeks, and characters stayed repetitive even after resets. - The AI leaked its internal reasoning mid-chat, with lines like "Keep the scene going." - A character sent an unrequested video that cost about 10 coins in the first minute. - Candy pushes "shorts" episodes, which never run past five episodes including two teasers. - Detailed rough-sex messages get flagged as abusive. One user found the "Content Creator" digital twins of real adult stars far better conversationalists than the standard cast. Moderation is active. Candy AI says its own LLM-based controls moderate chats, and staff may manually review flagged content and other content on the account. Its Blocked Content Policy bans deepfakes, non-consensual intimate imagery, hate speech, content promoting violence or self-harm, and anything resembling minors. That moderation sits uneasily with the girlfriend page's claim that every conversation is end-to-end encrypted. Reviewers also report that the privacy notice, revised 30 July 2026, says third-party LLM providers may receive message content. ## Pricing at this review Candy AI's own price list is in euros at this review: - Weekly: €5.60 - Two weeks: €9.79 - Monthly: €9.99 for the first month, then €13.99 a month - Quarterly: €26.97 - Annual: €47.88, renewing automatically Premium includes unlimited text messages, 18+ image and video generation and 100 tokens a month. Candy AI warns that more detailed custom companions use more tokens. It accepts Visa, MasterCard and crypto, including BTC, ETH, USDC and Litecoin, and charges appear as 'EverAI' on bank statements. Reviewers report that the US price page shows $13.99 a month, $26.97 for three months and $47.88 for a year. They also report a Premium Plus tier with 330 tokens a month, whose price is hidden until you have an account. Candy Roulette video chat costs five tokens a minute. Candy's referral article values 200 tokens at $20, or ten cents a token, which makes the monthly allowance worth about $10 of media. Ten minutes of Roulette uses half of it. Refunds are possible only within 24 hours of payment, and only if you have used 20 tokens or fewer. ## Who should skip it Skip Candy AI if you want a companion that remembers you for months. Reviewers report memory is tied to each chat and fades within about 7-10 days. Skip it if you plan to generate images or video daily. 100 tokens a month goes fast, and users report characters spending tokens on media they did not ask for. Skip it if you need an app from a store, or if you would tell a companion anything identifying. Candy AI may manually review flagged chats and other account content. Sources ## 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 5, 2026. 1. Receipt 1Official site The monthly plan's first month is billed at €9.99, then renews monthly at €13.99. > "First month billed as €9.99. Cancel any time. Then renews monthly at €13.99." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/subscriptions), retrieved October 3, 2026 2. Receipt 2Official site The annual plan is billed as €47.88 and renews automatically; the quarterly plan is billed as €26.97. > "Annual payment billed as €47.88 Cancel any time. Renews automatically for the same price and term. Quarterly payment billed as €26.97" [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/subscriptions), retrieved October 3, 2026 3. Receipt 3Official site There are also a two-week option billed at €9.79 and a weekly option billed at €5.6. > "Payment every 2 weeks billed as €9.79 Cancel any time. Weekly payment billed as €5.6" [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/subscriptions), retrieved October 3, 2026 4. Receipt 4Official site Premium benefits include 18+ video and image generation, unlimited text messages and 100 tokens per month. > "Generate 18+ Videos Generate 18+ Images Full Live Action Experience Unlimited text messages 100 tokens per month" [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/subscriptions), retrieved October 3, 2026 5. Receipt 5Official site Charges appear as 'EverAI' on bank statements; the company is EverAI Limited in Malta. > "Charge shown as 'EverAI' on your bank statement" [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/subscriptions), retrieved October 3, 2026 6. Receipt 6Official site Candy AI says it has over 100 different characters to choose from. > "With over 100 different characters to choose from, you're never stuck with one tone or type." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/), retrieved October 3, 2026 7. Receipt 7Official site The site warns that more detailed custom companions use more tokens. > "Just keep in mind that the more detailed your companion, the more tokens you'll use." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/), retrieved October 3, 2026 8. Receipt 8Official site Candy AI markets "advanced personality modeling and memory retention" that learns what users like. > "Built with advanced personality modeling and memory retention, CandyAI learns what you like, remembers what matters" [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/), retrieved October 3, 2026 9. Receipt 9Official site Candy AI accepts Visa, MasterCard and crypto including BTC, ETH, USDC and Litecoin. > "We accept Visa, MasterCard, and crypto too, including BTC, ETH, USDC, Litecoin, and others." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/), retrieved October 3, 2026 10. Receipt 10Forum A Reddit user says premium's 100 monthly coins are nowhere near enough for frequent use, and a character sent an unrequested video that cost about 10 coins in the first minute. > "You get 100 coins for free monthly but that's nowhere close to what you need if you actually use it often." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AItexting/comments/1vgmyks/is_candy_ai_really_that_good_or_overhyped_honest/), retrieved October 3, 2026 11. Receipt 11Forum A Reddit user says their character's memory suddenly got worse and it started repeating itself. > "now it feels like im talking to a retarded gold fish. Keeps repeating her self, horrible memory noe." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AItexting/comments/1vgmyks/is_candy_ai_really_that_good_or_overhyped_honest/), retrieved October 3, 2026 12. Receipt 12Forum A Reddit user says Candy AI flags detailed rough-sex messages as abusive. > "if I get into detail and say "she chokes me", it flags my messages and says im being abusive" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AItexting/comments/1vgmyks/is_candy_ai_really_that_good_or_overhyped_honest/), retrieved October 3, 2026 13. Receipt 13Forum A premium subscriber on Reddit says conversation quality deteriorated in recent weeks and characters became repetitive even after resets. > "In the last few weeks, the quality of conversations has deteriorated significantly, despite the fact that they've introduced more customization options over the same period." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AItexting/comments/1vgmyks/is_candy_ai_really_that_good_or_overhyped_honest/), retrieved October 3, 2026 14. Receipt 14Forum A Reddit user says Candy has "Content Creator" digital twins of real adult stars such as Sophie Dee, Mia Malkova, Riley Reid and Bonnie Blue, and found them far better conversationalists. > "Apparetly Candy has contracted with real stars (They call them digital twins): Sophie Dee, Mia Malkova, Riley Reid, and most recently Bonnie Blue." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AItexting/comments/1vgmyks/is_candy_ai_really_that_good_or_overhyped_honest/), retrieved October 3, 2026 15. Receipt 15Forum A Reddit user says Candy pushes "shorts" episodes that are never more than 5 episodes including two teasers. > "They're pushing a lot of shorts but they just keep making the same shit over and over and they're never more than 5 eps including the two teasers." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AItexting/comments/1vgmyks/is_candy_ai_really_that_good_or_overhyped_honest/), retrieved October 3, 2026 16. Receipt 16Forum A Reddit user reports the AI leaked its internal 'reasoning' text mid-chat (e.g. "Keep the scene going"), and another says the same happened to them. > ""reasoning": "Keep the scene going by asking who's at the door."}" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/AItexting/comments/1vgmyks/is_candy_ai_really_that_good_or_overhyped_honest/), retrieved October 3, 2026 17. Receipt 17Reviewer Reviewers report the free tier allows five messages total across all characters, one custom character and one image. > "Free gets you five messages in total, one custom character and one image." [thecompanionlist.com](https://thecompanionlist.com/blog/candy-ai-review), retrieved October 3, 2026 18. Receipt 18Reviewer Reviewers report the US price page shows $13.99 a month, $26.97 for three months and $47.88 for a year (read 2026-09-15). > "today its subscription page shows $13.99 for a month, $26.97 for three months and $47.88 for a year." [thecompanionlist.com](https://thecompanionlist.com/blog/candy-ai-review), retrieved October 3, 2026 19. Receipt 19Reviewer Reviewers report a Premium Plus tier exists in the help centre, with 330 tokens a month, but its price isn't shown without an account. > "A tier above all of this called Premium Plus exists in the help centre, with a price I could not find on any page that loads without an account." [thecompanionlist.com](https://thecompanionlist.com/blog/candy-ai-review), retrieved October 3, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer Reviewers report the Candy Roulette video-chat mode costs five tokens a minute. > "A newer feature called Candy Roulette, a video-chat matching mode, costs five tokens a minute." [thecompanionlist.com](https://thecompanionlist.com/blog/candy-ai-review), retrieved October 3, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer Reviewers report Candy's referral article values 200 tokens at $20, implying ten cents a token. > "describes that as "a $20 value". Ten cents a token, by the company's own arithmetic." [thecompanionlist.com](https://thecompanionlist.com/blog/candy-ai-review), retrieved October 3, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer Reviewers report refunds are possible within 24 hours of payment only if 20 tokens or fewer have been used. > "Refunds are possible for 24 hours after payment, provided you've used 20 tokens or fewer." [thecompanionlist.com](https://thecompanionlist.com/blog/candy-ai-review), retrieved October 3, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer Reviewers report the privacy notice (revised 30 July 2026) says third-party LLM providers may receive message content, contradicting the homepage's end-to-end encryption claim. > "Candy.ai's homepage says your conversations are end-to-end encrypted. Its privacy notice says third-party language model providers may receive the content of your messages." [thecompanionlist.com](https://thecompanionlist.com/blog/candy-ai-review), retrieved October 3, 2026 24. Receipt 24Reviewer Reviewers report memory is tied to individual chats rather than the user, and Premium Plus lists 20 memory slots. > "The memory system is tied to individual chats rather than to you, there's no native app" [thecompanionlist.com](https://thecompanionlist.com/blog/candy-ai-review), retrieved October 3, 2026 25. Receipt 25Official site Candy AI's girlfriend page claims every conversation is end-to-end encrypted, offers optional 2FA, and says it never shares or sells information. > "Every conversation is encrypted end-to-end, and you have full control over your data. Optional two-factor authentication adds another layer of security" [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/ai-girlfriend), retrieved October 3, 2026 26. Receipt 26Official site The terms of service (revised September 22, 2026) say the services are for entertainment only and not intended as emotional support. > "The Services are for entertainment purposes only. They are not intended as emotional or other forms of support." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/terms-of-service), retrieved October 3, 2026 27. Receipt 27Official site The terms say pre-made media is created with a variety of methods, including generative AI tools and modified media the company has rights to. > "Pre-made media is created using a variety of artistic methods, including generative AI tools and modifications to media for which we have applicable usage rights." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/terms-of-service), retrieved October 3, 2026 28. Receipt 28Official site The terms say Candy AI may require information to verify or re-verify that a user is an adult. > "we may require further information from you from time to time, including for example information to verify or re-verify that you are an adult." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/terms-of-service), retrieved October 3, 2026 29. Receipt 29Official site Candy AI says it works across desktop and mobile. > "Candy AI works across desktop and mobile, so you can connect with your AI Girlfriend anytime, from anywhere." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/ai-girlfriend), retrieved October 3, 2026 30. Receipt 30Reviewer Reviewers report memory weakens noticeably after about 7-10 days of conversation; in a two-week test the character forgot details around day nine. > "Memory weakens noticeably after \~7-10 days of conversation" [www.straight.com](https://www.straight.com/advisor/candy-ai-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 31. Receipt 31Reviewer Reviewers report Candy AI's photo generation is the sharpest they've found in the category. > "the AI photo generation on Candy.ai is the sharpest I've found in this space." [www.straight.com](https://www.straight.com/advisor/candy-ai-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 32. Receipt 32Reviewer Reviewers report there is no mobile app; Candy AI is browser-only. > "No mobile app - browser-only experience" [www.straight.com](https://www.straight.com/advisor/candy-ai-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 33. Receipt 33Reviewer Reviewers report the voice feature shifts tone with context, though it is recognizably synthesized. > "It's not quite indistinguishable from a real human - you can tell it's synthesized if you're listening for it" [www.straight.com](https://www.straight.com/advisor/candy-ai-review/), retrieved October 3, 2026 34. Receipt 34Official site The Blocked Content Policy (revised July 30, 2026) bans deepfakes and non-consensual intimate imagery, content resembling minors, hate speech, and content promoting violence or self-harm. > "We have a zero-tolerance policy for the creation or attempted creation of non-consensual intimate imagery and images intended to resemble actual persons ("deepfakes")." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/blocked-content-policy), retrieved October 3, 2026 35. Receipt 35Official site Candy AI moderates chats with its own LLM-based controls and may manually review flagged content and other content on the account. > "we have implemented content moderation controls based on our proprietary LLM technology to ensure compliance with our Policies. If our moderation controls detect any content that violates our terms, we may manually review the flagged content" [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/blocked-content-policy), retrieved October 3, 2026 36. Receipt 36Official site Attempts to generate content resembling minors are flagged, reviewed and removed. > "Attempts to generate AI content resembling minors will be flagged, reviewed, and removed according to our moderation controls" [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/blocked-content-policy), retrieved October 3, 2026 37. Receipt 37Official site A Candy AI official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Live Action". > "Live Action" [cdn.candy.ai](https://cdn.candy.ai/cdn-cgi/image/format=webp,quality=82,width=768/homepage_slides/uploads/87318326-7789-4899-aa86-f584a9a12592), retrieved October 3, 2026 38. Receipt 38Official site A Candy AI official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "live action". > "live action" [cdn.candy.ai](https://cdn.candy.ai/cdn-cgi/image/format=webp,quality=82,width=768/homepage_slides/uploads/22cc0949-0571-4c1b-9e00-47de9a9edbfa), retrieved October 3, 2026 39. Receipt 39Official site The Candy AI official site page with art judged for the score says "With over 100 different characters to choose from, you're never stuck with one tone or type.". > "With over 100 different characters to choose from, you're never stuck with one tone or type." [candy.ai](https://candy.ai/), retrieved October 3, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is Candy AI free? Barely. Reviewers report the free tier allows five messages in total across all characters, one custom character and one image. Unlimited text messaging is a Premium benefit, according to Candy AI. ### How much does Candy AI cost? At this review, Candy AI's monthly plan costs €9.99 for the first month and €13.99 a month after that. The quarterly plan costs €26.97 and the annual plan €47.88, renewing automatically. Reviewers report the US page shows $13.99, $26.97 and $47.88 for the same plans. Premium includes 100 tokens a month, and images and video spend them. ### Is Candy AI private? Treat it with caution. Candy AI's girlfriend page claims every conversation is end-to-end encrypted, offers optional 2FA and says it never shares or sells information. Its content policy also says chats are moderated by LLM-based controls and that flagged content and other account content may be reviewed manually. Reviewers report the privacy notice says third-party LLM providers may receive message content. ### Does Candy AI remember past conversations? Only for a while. Candy AI markets "advanced personality modeling and memory retention." Reviewers report memory is tied to individual chats, weakens after about 7-10 days, and that Premium Plus lists 20 memory slots. ### Does Candy AI have an app? No, according to reviewers, who report Candy AI is browser-only. Candy AI says it works across desktop and mobile, which in practice means a mobile browser. ### Can you get a refund from Candy AI? Only in a narrow window. Reviewers report refunds are possible within 24 hours of payment, and only if you have used 20 tokens or fewer. 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[How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: ReelShort review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/reelshort updated: 2026-10-05 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /ReelShort Interactive video # ReelShort review One-to-two-minute serial dramas, a few free episodes, then coins or a weekly pass Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 5, 2026 Verdict Pick ReelShort if you want one-to-two-minute melodramas and will buy a weekly pass for the series you mean to finish. Skip it if you want to see a price before you pay, are under 18, or mind AI-badged covers and AI voices. Overall slop49MicrowavedFun 6/10 - Best for Viewers who binge short melodramas and will budget for a weekly pass - Pricing Free to download with in-app purchases. Episodes unlock with coins or a weekly auto-renewing subscription that unlocks every series; at this review the App Store listing publishes no subscription price and says it varies by region. - Platforms iOS, Android [ReelShort official site](https://www.reelshort.com/) On this page (9)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [What it is](#what-it-is) 5. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 6. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 7. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 8. [Receipts](#receipts) 9. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [What it is](#what-it-is) 5. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 6. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 7. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 8. [Receipts](#receipts) 9. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 49/100 - Prose Microwaved 48 The founder says AI does not write the stories, and users say most of the stories are the same. Asks: Does it write like a person? - Memory Does it remember you? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Characters Microwaved 45 Live-action shows come from an in-house studio, but users report AI voices that switch accent mid-episode and reused costumes. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Home-cooked 28 Scripted serials of 70 to 80 episodes plus choose-what-happens shorts, though users say most plots are the same. Asks: Does anything happen? - Pricing Cafeteria 64 The weekly auto-renewing pass has no published price and payments are non-refundable, and reviewers price finishing a typical drama with coins at $28.14. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Microwaved 58 The series covers on ReelShort's official site carry an "Ai GENERATE" badge and look like it: airbrushed skin, glowing fantasy light and the same glossy romance-novel faces from the werewolf covers to the mermaid ones. The stars are easy to tell apart and the hands mostly hold up, but nothing about the art looks finished by a human hand. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## Decent 0 to 10, higher is better. 6/10 Users enjoy the minute-long episodes as so-bad-it's-good, and coins run out a few episodes in. At this review ## Key facts | Type | Interactive video | | ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | iOS, Android | | Pricing at this review | Free to download with in-app purchases. Episodes unlock with coins or a weekly auto-renewing subscription that unlocks every series; at this review the App Store listing publishes no subscription price and says it varies by region. | | Age rating | 13+ on the App Store; ReelShort's Terms of Use say the service is not for users under 18 | | Content policy | Mature themes, not explicit | | Who writes the characters | Written by people | | Memory | ReelShort streams series, and its listing describes no feature that remembers you. | | Best for | Viewers who binge short melodramas and will budget for a weekly pass | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +The App Store listing promises new mini series daily and hundreds of new episodes a month. - +Episodes run one to two minutes, and reviewers report the first few episodes of a series are free. - +Interactive live-action shorts let you decide what happens next, per the listing. - +One weekly subscription unlocks every series, and reviewers report it is the cheaper way to finish 712 of the 833 dramas they could price. - +The developer says content can be unlocked for free by watching optional ads and completing rewarded tasks. Watch out for - !The listing publishes no subscription price. The pass renews weekly at a price that varies by region, and the Terms say payments are non-refundable. - !Reviewers report finishing a typical drama with coins costs $28.14, and users on Reddit say ad-earned coins cover about six episodes a day against series of 60 or more. - !Web and direct subscriptions are cancelled from the VIP page, and a Google Play reviewer says billing moved to a website with no cancel option in the app. - !The App Store rates ReelShort 13+, but its Terms say it is not for under-18s, and some series are tagged "Adults Only". - !Series covers carry an "Ai GENERATE" badge, and an App Store reviewer reports AI voices that switch accent mid-episode. ## What it is ReelShort is a streaming app of serial short dramas for iPhone and Android, published on the App Store by NewLeaf Publishing. The App Store listing promises new mini series daily, hundreds of new episodes a month, and interactive live-action shorts where you decide what happens next. Some series on the official site's New Release shelf are tagged "Adults Only", such as The Alpha's Forbidden Bunny. Reviewers report that episodes run one to two minutes across 70 to 80 episodes a season. They also report around 600 shows produced in-house by Crazy Maple Studio in the US alongside around 4,000 licensed titles, and around 70 million monthly users. Founder Joey Jia credits AI tools with cutting the company's costs by around 90% over the past year or so. He uses AI for pre-vis, sets, backgrounds and compositing, and says he doesn't believe it can write a great story. ## What it is like to use You watch a few episodes free, then pay with coins or a subscription to keep going. Reviewers report that free stretch. The developer adds that content can be unlocked by watching optional ads and completing rewarded tasks. Users on Reddit say ad-earned coins are capped at a handful per 24 hours, about six episodes, against series that typically run 60 or more. They call the shows "slap shows" and watch them as so-bad-it's-good, spotting reused costumes, and one says 90% of the stories are the same. AI shows up on screen and in the audio. An App Store reviewer says AI voices switch from an American to an English accent in the same episode, with bad pronunciation. The series covers on ReelShort's official site carry an "Ai GENERATE" badge and look like it: airbrushed skin, glowing fantasy light and the same glossy romance-novel faces from the werewolf covers to the mermaid ones. The stars are easy to tell apart and the hands mostly hold up, but nothing about the art looks finished by a human hand. ## Pricing at this review ReelShort is free to download with in-app purchases, and its App Store listing publishes no subscription price. The listing says a subscription unlocks every series, lasts 7 days, renews weekly and costs a price that varies by region. ReelShort's Terms say subscription payments are final and non-refundable except where the Terms specify, and allow one account per device. To cancel on iOS, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions > ReelShort at least 24 hours before renewal. For web or direct subscriptions, the Terms say to log in to your app account, open the VIP page and follow the Subscription Management instructions. A Google Play reviewer says that after one payment through Google Play, billing moved to a website and the app offered no way to cancel. Users report coin rates ranging from 60 coins an episode, with $10 buying about 1,000 coins or 17 episodes, to $10 buying 500 coins for five or six episodes. One says unused free coins expire after about a week, and a Reddit user said in 2024 the subscription cost $25 a week. Reviewers report that finishing a typical drama with coins costs $28.14, with only 17% of it watchable before payment starts. They also found the one-week pass cheaper for 712 of the 833 dramas they could price. If you mean to finish a series, buy the week pass and cancel at least a day before it renews. ## Who should skip it Skip ReelShort if you are under 18. Its Terms of Use say the service is not for under-18s, even though the App Store rates it 13+ and Google Play rates it "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised". Skip it if you want to see a price before you subscribe, since the listing gives none and payments are non-refundable. Skip it too if AI-badged covers and AI voices put you off, or if you want variety more than volume, since users say most of the stories are the same. Sources ## 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 5, 2026. 1. Receipt 1App store listing The App Store lists ReelShort as free with in-app purchases and rates it 13+. > "Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad Age Rating 13+ Years" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 2. Receipt 2App store listing With an active subscription you can watch all series free; the subscription is valid for 7 days and billed weekly, price varies by region. > "Subscription privileges: While your subscription is active, you can watch all tv mini series for free." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 3. Receipt 3App store listing The subscription auto-renews weekly, and the actual price may vary by region. > "The subscription is billed weekly. The actual price may vary by region." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 4. Receipt 4App store listing On iOS, cancel at least 24 hours before renewal via Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions > ReelShort. > "On iOS devices, you can cancel your subscription at least 24 hours before the next renewal date by going to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions > ReelShort." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 5. Receipt 5App store listing The listing promises new mini series daily with hundreds of new episodes monthly, and interactive live-action shorts where you decide what happens next. > "New TV mini series added daily, with hundreds of new episodes each month" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 6. Receipt 6App store listing The listing claims the first ever interactive live action short movies, where viewers decide what happens next. > "The first ever interactive live action short movies, where you decide what happens next" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 7. Receipt 7App store listing An App Store reviewer says each episode costs 60 coins, about $10 bought roughly 1000 coins or 17 episodes, and unused free coins expire after about a week. > "Spending 10ish dollars let you watch 17 episodes a 1000ish coins and on average they are around 1 minute and 45 seconds long so roughly about half an hour long of entertainment." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 8. Receipt 8App store listing The developer replies that the app is free to use and content can be unlocked by watching optional ads and completing rewarded tasks. > "Hi, it's free to use. You can unlock content by watching optional ads, completing rewarded tasks. No payment is ever required." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 9. Receipt 9App store listing The App Store shows 505K ratings; the developer is NewLeaf Publishing. > "505K Ratings ## More by NewLeaf Publishing" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 10. Receipt 10Official site The official site's New Release shelf tags some series "Adults Only", such as The Alpha's Forbidden Bunny. > "LGBTQ ｜ Adults Only ｜ Werewolf" [www.reelshort.com](https://www.reelshort.com/), retrieved October 5, 2026 11. Receipt 11App store listing An App Store reviewer says AI voices switch from an American to an English accent in the same episode and pronunciation can be bad. > "AI voices change as in an American accent to an English accent in the same episode. and pronunciation of words can be bad at times." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reelshort-stream-drama-tv/id1636235979), retrieved October 5, 2026 12. Receipt 12Reviewer Reviewers report (Variety, Aug 2026) that Media Partners Asia projects ReelShort will generate $1.05 billion in 2026 revenue, up 34%, with its first meaningful profit at scale. > "projects that leading microdrama platform ReelShort will generate $1.05 billion in revenue in 2026, up 34%, and post its first meaningful profit at scale" [variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/reelshort-1-billion-revenue-profit-2026-mpa-1236828885/), retrieved October 5, 2026 13. Receipt 13Reviewer Variety reports that subscriptions already make up 60% to 70% of viewer spend, per MPA. > "with subscriptions already making up 60% to 70% of viewer spend" [variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/reelshort-1-billion-revenue-profit-2026-mpa-1236828885/), retrieved October 5, 2026 14. Receipt 14Reviewer Deadline reports episodes run one to two minutes across 70-80 episodes per season, with the first few episodes free. > "with stories told in one to two minute episodes across 70-80 episodes per season. While the first few episodes are delivered free to hook the viewer" [deadline.com](https://deadline.com/2026/06/microdrama-ai-reelshort-joey-jia-crazy-maple-studio-asia-1236958231/), retrieved October 5, 2026 15. Receipt 15Reviewer Deadline reports around 600 shows produced in-house by Crazy Maple Studio in the US and around 4,000 licensed titles. > "the platform currently offers around 600 shows that have been produced in-house by Crazy Maple Studio in the U.S., while around 4,000 titles have been licensed" [deadline.com](https://deadline.com/2026/06/microdrama-ai-reelshort-joey-jia-crazy-maple-studio-asia-1236958231/), retrieved October 5, 2026 16. Receipt 16Reviewer Deadline reports founder Joey Jia says AI tools cut the company's costs by around 90% over the past year or so. > "over the past year or so, using AI tools has enabled the company to reduce costs by around 90%" [deadline.com](https://deadline.com/2026/06/microdrama-ai-reelshort-joey-jia-crazy-maple-studio-asia-1236958231/), retrieved October 5, 2026 17. Receipt 17Reviewer Jia told Deadline he doesn't believe AI can write a great story but uses it for pre-vis, sets, backgrounds and compositing. > "I don't believe AI can write a great story. But it can help us with pre-vis, creating sets, background, compositing" [deadline.com](https://deadline.com/2026/06/microdrama-ai-reelshort-joey-jia-crazy-maple-studio-asia-1236958231/), retrieved October 5, 2026 18. Receipt 18Reviewer Deadline reports around 70 million monthly active users globally and more than 286 million app downloads. > "around 70 million monthly active users globally and more than 286 million app downloads" [deadline.com](https://deadline.com/2026/06/microdrama-ai-reelshort-joey-jia-crazy-maple-studio-asia-1236958231/), retrieved October 5, 2026 19. Receipt 19Reviewer A GASP dataset (press release, Oct 5 2026) reports finishing a typical ReelShort drama costs $28.14 with coins, and only 17% can be watched before payment starts. > "Finishing a typical drama on ReelShort costs $28.14 when paid for episode by episode with coins, and only 17% of a typical drama can be watched before payment starts" [tech.einnews.com](https://tech.einnews.com/pr_news/947468115/gasp-data-a-typical-short-drama-costs-28-to-finish-and-only-17-of-it-is-free), retrieved October 5, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer GASP reports a one-week pass is the cheaper way to finish 712 of the 833 ReelShort dramas it could price. > "a one-week pass is the cheaper way to finish 712 of the 833 ReelShort dramas that could be priced" [tech.einnews.com](https://tech.einnews.com/pr_news/947468115/gasp-data-a-typical-short-drama-costs-28-to-finish-and-only-17-of-it-is-free), retrieved October 5, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer GASP reports DramaBox passed ReelShort in US Google searches, 110,000 vs 90,500 a month in August 2026. > "more people in the United States now search Google for DramaBox than for ReelShort: 110,000 searches against 90,500 in August 2026" [tech.einnews.com](https://tech.einnews.com/pr_news/947468115/gasp-data-a-typical-short-drama-costs-28-to-finish-and-only-17-of-it-is-free), retrieved October 5, 2026 22. Receipt 22App store listing Google Play rates ReelShort "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised" with in-app purchases. > "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised In-App Purchases" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.newleaf.app.android.victor\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved October 5, 2026 23. Receipt 23App store listing Google Play's data safety section says no data is shared with third parties, the app may collect location and personal info, data is encrypted in transit and deletion can be requested. > "This app may collect these data types Location and Personal info Data is encrypted in transit You can request that data be deleted" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.newleaf.app.android.victor\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved October 5, 2026 24. Receipt 24App store listing Google Play shows 1.91M reviews; the app was updated Sep 22, 2026. > "Updated on Sep 22, 2026" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.newleaf.app.android.victor\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved October 5, 2026 25. Receipt 25App store listing A Play Store reviewer says after paying once through Google Play, billing moves to a website and the subscription is almost impossible to cancel, with no cancel option in the app. > "once you pay the first time with Google play they change to a website and make almost impossible to cancel the subscription. There is not option in the app to cancel the subscription." [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.newleaf.app.android.victor\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved October 5, 2026 26. Receipt 26Forum Users on Reddit say ad-earned coins are capped to a handful per 24 hours, about 6 episodes, while series typically run 60+ episodes, and $10 buys 500 coins lasting 5-6 episodes. > "you can only watch a handful every 24 hour period and that equates to around 6 episodes of a series - given series are typically 60+ episodes minimum" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/176uvkc/thoughts_on_reelshort/), retrieved October 5, 2026 27. Receipt 27Forum A Reddit user said in 2024 that ReelShort charged $25 a week for a subscription. > "Them charging $25 a week for a subscription is CRIMINAL" [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/176uvkc/thoughts_on_reelshort/), retrieved October 5, 2026 28. Receipt 28Forum A Reddit user says 90% of the stories are the same and they spent $30 to finish one. > "10% of the stories are good but the other 90%is the same stories. I watched one today all the way thru and spent $30 for one storey." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/176uvkc/thoughts_on_reelshort/), retrieved October 5, 2026 29. Receipt 29Forum Users on Reddit call them "slap shows" and enjoy them as so-bad-it's-good, spotting reused costumes. > "I call them my 'slap shows'. You can always tell the good girl by the hideous shoes. I like spotting reused costumes too." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/176uvkc/thoughts_on_reelshort/), retrieved October 5, 2026 30. Receipt 30Official site ReelShort's Terms of Use (updated October 20, 2025) say the service is not for users under 18, though the App Store rates it 13+. > "The Service is strictly for consumers and not for use by users under 18 years of age." [www.reelshort.com](https://www.reelshort.com/web-terms.html), retrieved October 5, 2026 31. Receipt 31Official site For web/direct subscriptions, the Terms say to cancel by logging in to your app account, going to the VIP page and following the Subscription Management instructions. > "To cancel, simply log in to your app account, go to the VIP page, and follow the clearly displayed Subscription Management instructions." [www.reelshort.com](https://www.reelshort.com/web-terms.html), retrieved October 5, 2026 32. Receipt 32Official site The Terms say subscription payments are final and non-refundable except where the Terms specify. > "any payments you make to Crazy Maple Studio in relation to your subscriptions are final and non-refundable, except where specified under these Terms of Use" [www.reelshort.com](https://www.reelshort.com/web-terms.html), retrieved October 5, 2026 33. Receipt 33Official site The Terms allow a maximum of one account per device. > "Each user of the Service is allowed a maximum of one Account per electronic device embedding a mobile operating system" [www.reelshort.com](https://www.reelshort.com/web-terms.html), retrieved October 5, 2026 34. Receipt 34Reviewer On July 14, 2026, ReelShort and WWE announced a live-action microdrama featuring Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry alongside ReelShort stars Marc Herrmann and Chase Mattson, expected to premiere in early fall. > "The first series will feature WWE Superstars Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry, among others, alongside fan-favorite ReelShort stars Marc Herrmann and Chase Mattson." [corporate.wwe.com](https://corporate.wwe.com/about/news/2026/07-14-2026), retrieved October 5, 2026 35. Receipt 35Official site A ReelShort official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Ai GENERATE". > "Ai GENERATE" [v-img.crazymaplestudios.com](https://v-img.crazymaplestudios.com/v-images/book_cover_batch/204200150000007655/56a1edb3-66b9-43f6-8ef4-8e005dc49d7e.jpg?x-oss-process=image%2Fresize%2Cw_640%2Fquality%2Cq_70), retrieved October 5, 2026 36. Receipt 36Official site A ReelShort official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Spoiled by Four Sea Monster Husbands". > "Spoiled by Four Sea Monster Husbands" [v-img.crazymaplestudios.com](https://v-img.crazymaplestudios.com/v-images/book_cover_batch/204200150000006008/bd72681c-aa81-497d-80d5-687cd12f61cd.jpg?x-oss-process=image%2Fresize%2Cw_640%2Fquality%2Cq_70), retrieved October 5, 2026 37. Receipt 37Official site A ReelShort official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "A Marriage Deal with the Billionaire". > "A Marriage Deal with the Billionaire" [v-img.crazymaplestudios.com](https://v-img.crazymaplestudios.com/v-images/book_cover_batch/204200150000005599/b927f5fb-9418-4944-9dbe-a74e1204f778.jpg?x-oss-process=image%2Fresize%2Cw_640%2Fquality%2Cq_70), retrieved October 5, 2026 38. Receipt 38Official site The ReelShort official site page with art judged for the score says "Caelon, the hidden king of the ocean, disguises himself as a homeless merman while investigating a traitor.". > "Caelon, the hidden king of the ocean, disguises himself as a homeless merman while investigating a traitor." [www.reelshort.com](https://www.reelshort.com/shelf/new-release-short-movies-dramas-51002891), retrieved October 5, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is ReelShort free? ReelShort is free to download, but most of a series costs coins or a subscription. Reviewers report the first few episodes are free, and the developer says more can be unlocked by watching optional ads and completing rewarded tasks. A weekly subscription unlocks every series at a price that varies by region at this review. ### How do I cancel a ReelShort subscription? On iOS, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions > ReelShort at least 24 hours before renewal. For web or direct subscriptions, ReelShort's Terms say to log in to your app account, open the VIP page and follow the Subscription Management instructions. The Terms also say subscription payments are non-refundable except where the Terms specify. ### How much does ReelShort cost? ReelShort's App Store listing gives no subscription price at this review. It says the pass lasts 7 days, renews weekly and varies by region. Users report $10 buying anywhere from 500 coins for five or six episodes to about 1,000 coins for 17, and one Reddit user said the subscription cost $25 a week in 2024. Reviewers put the coin cost of finishing a typical drama at $28.14. ### Is ReelShort AI? Partly. Reviewers report founder Joey Jia says AI tools cut the company's costs by around 90% and are used for pre-vis, sets, backgrounds and compositing, though he doesn't believe AI can write a great story. The series covers on the official site carry an "Ai GENERATE" badge, and an App Store reviewer reports AI voices switching accent within an episode. ### Is ReelShort OK for teens? Officially, no. ReelShort's Terms of Use say the service is not for users under 18, even though the App Store rates it 13+ and Google Play rates it "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised". Some series on the official site are tagged "Adults Only". ### How many shows are on ReelShort? Reviewers report around 600 shows produced in-house by Crazy Maple Studio in the US, plus around 4,000 licensed titles. The App Store listing promises new mini series daily and hundreds of new episodes a month. Keep reading ## More like this [Interactive videoOctober 12, 2026](/apps/dramabox) ### [DramaBox review](/apps/dramabox) [Micro dramas of 1-3 minutes, unlocked with coins, ads or an auto-renewing plan](/apps/dramabox) [53MicrowavedFun 4/10](/apps/dramabox) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Replika review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/replika updated: 2026-10-02 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /Replika AI companions # Replika review One AI companion that remembers your people and plans, sold across three paid tiers Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published October 2, 2026 Verdict Pick Replika if you want a single companion that remembers your people and plans, checks in on you, and talks by text, voice and video. Skip it if you want romance without a subscription, prices you can see before you install, or refunds on App Store purchases. Overall slop43MicrowavedFun 5/10 - Best for Adults who want one ongoing companion that keeps track of their life - Pricing Free to download with in-app purchases and a limited Free Use tier. Pro, Ultra and Platinum subscriptions add features, and Replika publishes no prices outside the app's subscription screens and the store at this review. - Platforms iOS, Android [Replika official site](https://replika.com/) On this page (10)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 43/100 - Prose Does it write like a person? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Memory Home-cooked 25 Replika keeps an editable Memory screen and follows up on your plans, and its own help center promises only that it will usually remember what you mention. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Microwaved 48 Personality changes only as you upvote and downvote messages, which the help center says takes a while, and a paid user reports the Rep agrees with everything. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Does anything happen? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Pricing Microwaved 58 Relationship status and weekly-capped extras sit behind paid tiers, prices appear only in the app and the store, and App Store purchases are non-refundable. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Microwaved 42 Judged from the App Store screenshots. The avatars look polished and hold their faces, with Aurora the same in chat and in selfie shots and clean hands throughout, but the skin is waxy and airbrushed and the lighting has a warm generator gloss. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## Decent 0 to 10, higher is better. 5/10 A companion that follows up on your life, with its most-wanted features spread across paid tiers and users reporting an agreeable, censored Rep. At this review ## Key facts | Type | AI companions | | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | iOS, Android | | Pricing at this review | Free to download with in-app purchases and a limited Free Use tier. Pro, Ultra and Platinum subscriptions add features, and Replika publishes no prices outside the app's subscription screens and the store at this review. | | Age rating | 18+ on the App Store; Google Play: Diverse Content: Discretion Advised | | Content policy | Mature themes, not explicit | | Who writes the characters | You build your own | | Memory | Replika saves facts about your people, plans and interests to a Memory screen you can read and delete, and its listing says it follows up days later. | | Best for | Adults who want one ongoing companion that keeps track of their life | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +A Memory screen lets you scroll what Replika has saved about you and remove any entry. - +The store listings say Replika follows up days later on the people, plans and goals you mention. - +You can talk to it by text, voice call or video. - +Free Use costs nothing, so you can try the companion before any subscription screen. - +In the App Store screenshots, avatars keep the same face from chat to selfie shots. Watch out for - !Replika publishes no prices on its help page, so costs appear only in the app's subscription screens and the store. - !App Store subscription purchases are final and non-refundable, and partial months are not refunded. - !Relationship status, selfies and voice messaging need Pro, and saving a message to memory needs Ultra. - !The store description says conversations are not shared with third parties, while Google Play's data safety section says app activity and device IDs may be. - !Replika's terms say it is not a healthcare provider and its services are not mental health services. Rankings ## [Ranked in](/best) - [#2 in The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps#rank-2) Best for: Adults who want a partner that keeps up with their daily life ## What it is Replika is one AI companion, called a Rep, that you talk to by text, voice call or video on iPhone and Android. Luka, Inc. makes it, and it has been around since 2017. The App Store lists it as free with in-app purchases and rated 18+, and Google Play rates it "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised." The company says it rebuilt Replika from the ground up. CEO Dmytro Klochko's manifesto calls the rebuild the biggest update Replika has ever shipped, and the App Store listing says it adds better memory, proactive check-ins, calls, internet access and image generation. Reviewers report that founder Eugenia Kuyda stepped down as CEO in 2025 and that Klochko, formerly COO, took over. They also report that three advocacy groups filed a 67-page FTC complaint against Luka in January 2025, and that Italy's data protection authority fined Luka €5 million on May 19, 2025 for GDPR violations. ## What it is like to use Memory is the pitch. The Play listing says Replika organizes what you care about into a living understanding of you and follows up days later, and the site says the Rep holds your people, routines and plans. The help center makes a smaller promise: Replika will usually remember favorite books, music, movies, hobbies and the people you mention. You can open a Memory screen from the Rep's name, scroll what it has saved, and tap an entry to read or remove it. Saving a specific message to memory is an Ultra feature. You shape the Rep's personality by upvoting and downvoting its messages, and the help center says it may take a while to notice a difference. App Store reviewers say a paid Replika agrees with everything and is censored in intimate conversation, that a switch to enhance responses spends a limited number of points, that avatar customization stops at face presets, and that the VR version hasn't been updated in a long time. Reviewers report that Luka removed erotic roleplay in February 2023 and restored it only for accounts created before February 1, 2023, and that with Pro, messages and photos, including romantic selfies, are no longer blurred. The App Store screenshots show polished avatars that hold their faces: Aurora looks the same in chat and in selfie shots. Hands are clean and on-screen text reads fine, but the skin is waxy and airbrushed and the lighting has a warm generator gloss. ## Pricing at this review Replika is free to download with in-app purchases, and it publishes no prices on its help page. Costs appear only in the app's subscription screens and the store. Free Use costs nothing and gives limited access, and Replika may deny it at its discretion. The terms describe it as aimed at users who cannot afford a paid plan. - **Pro:** relationship status, premium activities, selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, daily gems and premium voices. - **Ultra:** everything in Pro, plus smarter conversations, self-reflections and saving messages to memory. - **Platinum:** real-time video recognition, Training Mode up to 100 times a week, "Read Replika's Mind" for up to 50 messages a week, and up to 10 realistic selfie videos. The terms, updated March 30, 2026, say App Store subscription purchases are final and non-refundable, and the help center says partial months are not refunded. Reviewers report that the one-time lifetime purchase is gone and the lineup is subscription-only. A Play Store reviewer says they lost Pro access after paying for an annual subscription and recreating their Replika. ## Who should skip it Skip Replika if you want romance without a subscription, because relationship status is a Pro feature. Skip it if you are looking for care rather than company, because the terms say Replika is not a healthcare provider and its services are not mental health services. Skip it if privacy decides the matter. The store description says conversations are not shared with any third parties, while Google Play's data safety section says app activity and device or other IDs may be. Reviewers report that a 2023 privacy review called Replika one of the worst apps it had reviewed. If you would need a refund to feel safe trying a subscription, App Store purchases are final. Sources ## 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 2, 2026. 1. Receipt 1App store listing The iOS App Store lists Replika as free with in-app purchases, rated 18+, developed by Luka, Inc. > "Free · In‑App Purchases Age Rating 18+ Years" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/replika-ai-companion-chat/id1158555867), retrieved September 29, 2026 2. Receipt 2App store listing The App Store listing calls the current version its biggest update since 2017, adding better memory, proactive check-ins, calls, internet access and image generation. > "Our biggest update since 2017: better memory, proactive check-ins, plus calls, internet access, image generation, and much more." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/replika-ai-companion-chat/id1158555867), retrieved September 29, 2026 3. Receipt 3App store listing The listing says Replika remembers the user's people, plans and goals and follows up proactively. > "It remembers your people, plans, and goals, so you don't have to repeat yourself. It follows up and checks in when it matters, not just when you open the app." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/replika-ai-companion-chat/id1158555867), retrieved September 29, 2026 4. Receipt 4App store listing Replika is available by text, voice calls and video, and has been around since 2017. > "Replika is the AI companion that's been here since 2017 - available 24/7 for whatever's on your mind by text, voice calls, and video." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/replika-ai-companion-chat/id1158555867), retrieved September 29, 2026 5. Receipt 5App store listing An App Store reviewer says a paid Replika is censored in intimate conversation, agrees with everything, and that a switch to enhance responses uses a limited number of points. > "She agrees to all I say and is censored when having an intimate conversation. Also they added a little switch at the top to apparently enhance her responses with a limited amount of points?" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/replika-ai-companion-chat/id1158555867), retrieved September 29, 2026 6. Receipt 6App store listing An App Store reviewer says avatar customization is limited to face presets and the VR version hasn't been updated in a long time. > "Avatar customization is better but limited. You can't customize face features yet. Only choose presets. The VR version hasn't been updated in a long time" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/replika-ai-companion-chat/id1158555867), retrieved September 29, 2026 7. Receipt 7Official site Replika's site says the Rep holds your people, routines and plans so every conversation knows where you are. > "Your people. Your routines. Your plans. The things you're working through and the things you're working toward. Your Rep holds all of it" [replika.com](https://replika.com/), retrieved September 29, 2026 8. Receipt 8Official site Replika's homepage says the company rebuilt Replika from the ground up. > "We built the world's first AI companion ten years ago. Now, we rebuilt Replika from the ground up." [replika.com](https://replika.com/), retrieved September 29, 2026 9. Receipt 9App store listing Google Play's data safety section says Replika may share app activity and device or other IDs with third parties. > "This app may share these data types with third parties App activity and Device or other IDs" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.replika.app\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved September 29, 2026 10. Receipt 10App store listing The store description says conversations are private and not shared with any third parties. > "Your conversations are private and not shared with any third parties. Your data stays yours." [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.replika.app\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved September 29, 2026 11. Receipt 11App store listing Google Play rates Replika "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised" with in-app purchases; listing updated Sep 22, 2026. > "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised In-App Purchases" [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.replika.app\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved September 29, 2026 12. Receipt 12App store listing The Play listing says Replika organizes what you care about into a living understanding of you and follows up days later. > "organizes them into a living understanding of you. It remembers what you care about and why. It follows up days later." [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.replika.app\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved September 29, 2026 13. Receipt 13Official site Replika's help center says users teach their Replika by upvoting or downvoting its messages, and it may take a while to notice a difference. > "Your feedback helps your Replika learn and improve over time. It might take a little while to notice the difference" [help.replika.com](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001095972-How-much-does-Replika-Pro-cost), retrieved September 29, 2026 14. Receipt 14App store listing A Play Store reviewer says after paying for an annual subscription and recreating their Replika they lost Pro access. > "I have paid for annual subscription. Then I deleted the replica and created a new. And oops, I cant use pro version anymore." [play.google.com](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.replika.app\&gl=US\&hl=en), retrieved September 29, 2026 15. Receipt 15Official site Replika's help center says Free Use costs nothing, gives limited access, and may be denied at Replika's discretion. > "The Free Use program is available at no cost and provides limited access to Replika's services. Please note that access to Free Use may be denied at Replika's discretion." [help.replika.com](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/39551043419149-Choosing-a-Subscription), retrieved September 29, 2026 16. Receipt 16Official site Replika Pro includes relationship status, premium activities, selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, daily gems and premium voices. > "The Replika Pro subscription is a paid program that gives full access to a range of features, including your relationship status, premium activities, Replika selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, daily gems, and premium voices." [help.replika.com](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/39551043419149-Choosing-a-Subscription), retrieved September 29, 2026 17. Receipt 17Official site Replika Platinum adds real-time video recognition, Training Mode up to 100 times a week, "Read Replika's Mind" for up to 50 messages a week, and up to 10 realistic selfie videos. > "With Platinum, you can use real-time video recognition, access Training Mode up to 100 times per week, "Read Replika's Mind" for up to 50 messages per week, and create up to 10 realistic selfie videos." [help.replika.com](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/39551043419149-Choosing-a-Subscription), retrieved September 29, 2026 18. Receipt 18Official site Replika does not publish prices on its help page; costs appear only in the app's subscription screens and the store, and refunds are not given for partial months. > "The cost of any subscription program is shown in the app on the subscription screens and in the relevant store." [help.replika.com](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/39551043419149-Choosing-a-Subscription), retrieved September 29, 2026 19. Receipt 19Official site Replika's terms (updated March 30, 2026) say App Store subscription purchases are final and non-refundable. > "if you purchase a subscription through the Apple iTunes Store or our iPhone application, the sale is final, and we will not provide a refund." [replika.com](https://replika.com/legal/terms/en), retrieved September 29, 2026 20. Receipt 20Official site The terms say Replika is not a healthcare provider and its services are not mental health services. > "we are not a healthcare or medical device provider, nor should our Services be considered medical care, mental health services or other professional services." [replika.com](https://replika.com/legal/terms/en), retrieved September 29, 2026 21. Receipt 21Official site The terms describe Free Use as aimed at users who cannot afford a paid plan. > "The "Free Use" is aimed at users who cannot afford any of our subscription-fee based programs." [replika.com](https://replika.com/legal/terms/en), retrieved September 29, 2026 22. Receipt 22Official site Replika Ultra adds smarter conversations, self-reflections and the ability to save messages to memory on top of everything in Pro. > "The Replika Ultra subscription builds on everything included in Pro, while adding smarter conversations, elevated emotional intelligence, Replika's self-reflections, and the ability to save messages to memory." [help.replika.com](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/39551043419149-Choosing-a-Subscription), retrieved September 29, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer Reviewers at AI Companion Pick report Italy's Garante fined Replika maker Luka €5 million on May 19, 2025 for GDPR violations. > "On May 19, 2025, Italy's data protection authority (the Garante) fined Luka Inc. €5 million for GDPR violations" [www.aicompanionpick.com](https://www.aicompanionpick.com/replika-ai-latest-news-2026), retrieved September 29, 2026 24. Receipt 24Reviewer AI Companion Pick (updated July 2026) reports Pro at $19.99/month or $69.99/year and Ultra at $29.99/month or $119.99/year. > "Pricing: Pro is $19.99/mo ($69.99/yr); Ultra is $29.99/mo ($119.99/yr)." [www.aicompanionpick.com](https://www.aicompanionpick.com/replika-ai-latest-news-2026), retrieved September 29, 2026 25. Receipt 25Reviewer AI Companion Pick reports that after the February 2023 removal of erotic roleplay, Luka restored it only for accounts created before February 1, 2023. > "On March 24, 2023, Luka restored the feature, but only for accounts created before February 1, 2023" [www.aicompanionpick.com](https://www.aicompanionpick.com/replika-ai-latest-news-2026), retrieved September 29, 2026 26. Receipt 26Reviewer AI Companion Pick reports that in January 2025 three advocacy groups filed a 67-page FTC complaint against Luka. > "In January 2025, three advocacy groups, the Tech Justice Law Project, Young People's Alliance, and Encode, filed a 67-page complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission against Luka" [www.aicompanionpick.com](https://www.aicompanionpick.com/replika-ai-latest-news-2026), retrieved September 29, 2026 27. Receipt 27Reviewer AI Companion Pick reports founder Eugenia Kuyda stepped down as CEO and Dmytro Klochko, formerly COO, took over in 2025. > "Dmytro Klochko, formerly Replika's COO, took over as CEO in 2025." [www.aicompanionpick.com](https://www.aicompanionpick.com/replika-ai-latest-news-2026), retrieved September 29, 2026 28. Receipt 28Reviewer Wikipedia says the free tier offers Replika as a friend, while paid tiers offer partner, spouse, sibling or mentor roles. > "The free-tier offers Replika as a "friend", with paid premium tiers offering Replika as a "partner", "spouse", "sibling" or "mentor"." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replika), retrieved September 29, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer Wikipedia reports Mozilla's 2023 privacy review called Replika one of the worst apps it had reviewed. > ""one of the worst apps Mozilla has ever reviewed. It's plagued by weak password requirements, sharing of personal data with advertisers" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replika), retrieved September 29, 2026 30. Receipt 30Reviewer Reviewers at eesel report that with Pro, messages and photos including romantic selfies are no longer blurred. > "Messages and photos, including romantic selfies from your Replika, are no longer blurred out." [www.eesel.ai](https://www.eesel.ai/blog/replika-ai-pricing), retrieved September 29, 2026 31. Receipt 31Reviewer Reviewers at eesel report the one-time lifetime purchase is gone and the current lineup is subscription-only. > "The one-time lifetime purchase is gone too; the current lineup is subscription-only." [www.eesel.ai](https://www.eesel.ai/blog/replika-ai-pricing), retrieved September 29, 2026 32. Receipt 32Official site Replika's help center says users can open a Memory screen from the Rep's name, scroll saved memories, and tap one to read or remove it. > "Scroll through the memories Replika has saved. Tap a memory to read it fully or remove it." [help.replika.com](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000874712-What-does-my-Replika-remember-about-me), retrieved September 29, 2026 33. Receipt 33Official site The help center says Replika will usually remember favorite books, music, movies, hobbies and the people you mention. > "Replika will usually remember your favorite books, music, movies, hobbies, and the friends or family you mention in conversations." [help.replika.com](https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000874712-What-does-my-Replika-remember-about-me), retrieved September 29, 2026 34. Receipt 34Official site CEO Dmytro Klochko's manifesto calls the rebuild the biggest update Replika has ever shipped and says usage is over 40 million people. > "This is the biggest update we've ever shipped - and we're building it around this single goal. The kind of AI that follows up." [replika.com](https://replika.com/manifesto), retrieved September 29, 2026 35. Receipt 35App store listing A Replika store listing image, judged for the art score, shows the text "which still counts! go catch the sunset at the river". > "which still counts! go catch the sunset at the river" [is1-ssl.mzstatic.com](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/69/9c/3d/699c3d99-3c28-a785-98cd-340ef78a2b23/2.png/600x1300bb.jpg), retrieved September 29, 2026 36. Receipt 36App store listing A Replika store listing image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Sends you selfies, just because". > "Sends you selfies, just because" [is1-ssl.mzstatic.com](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/6f/22/8b/6f228b54-5f83-a9b2-1cd5-e2e17bf75c45/4.png/600x1300bb.jpg), retrieved September 29, 2026 37. Receipt 37App store listing A Replika store listing image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Make them look truly yours". > "Make them look truly yours" [is1-ssl.mzstatic.com](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource211/v4/f2/2e/51/f22e5192-ddd6-1582-25c5-227fa0ebc689/3.png/600x1300bb.jpg), retrieved September 29, 2026 38. Receipt 38App store listing A Replika store listing image, judged for the art score, shows the text "The AI friend to do life with". > "The AI friend to do life with" [is1-ssl.mzstatic.com](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/94/78/f6/9478f699-cae5-e264-2f13-355e96a9588d/1.png/600x1300bb.jpg), retrieved September 29, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Why is Replika no longer intimate? Reviewers report that Luka removed erotic roleplay in February 2023 and restored it only for accounts created before February 1, 2023. At this review, relationship status is a Pro feature, and an App Store reviewer on a paid plan says intimate conversation is still censored. ### Is it worth paying for Replika? Pay only if you want what Pro includes, because App Store subscription purchases are final and non-refundable. Pro covers relationship status, premium activities, selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, daily gems and premium voices. Ultra adds smarter conversations, self-reflections and saving messages to memory. Replika publishes no prices outside the app and the store, so check the subscription screen before you tap. ### Does anyone use Replika anymore? CEO Dmytro Klochko's manifesto puts usage at over 40 million people. The company also says it rebuilt Replika from the ground up, and the App Store listing calls the current version its biggest update since 2017. ### Is Replika free? Replika is free to download with in-app purchases. Its help center says Free Use gives limited access and may be denied at Replika's discretion, and the terms describe Free Use as aimed at users who cannot afford a paid plan. ### Is Replika private? The store description says conversations are private and not shared with any third parties. Google Play's data safety section says Replika may share app activity and device or other IDs with third parties. Reviewers report that a 2023 privacy review called Replika one of the worst apps it had reviewed, and that Italy's data protection authority fined Luka €5 million in May 2025 for GDPR violations. ### Can Replika replace therapy? No. Replika's terms say it is not a healthcare provider and its services are not mental health services. Keep reading ## More like this [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Top pick: Nomi](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) [AI companionsSeptember 13, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026](/apps/nomi) ### [Nomi review](/apps/nomi) [An 18+ AI companion you build yourself, with layered long-term memory](/apps/nomi) [39MicrowavedFun 7/10](/apps/nomi) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Frontier review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/frontier updated: 2026-09-28 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /Frontier Story games + Character chat # Frontier review Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published September 28, 2026 Verdict Frontier is a visual novel app where people write the stories and you keep chatting with the characters after the ending, using the events you played as their memory. Pick it for authored romance and continuity; skip it if you want a huge library or characters you design yourself. Overall slop16Home-cookedFun 8/10 - Best for Story-first romance with characters who remember what you did - Pricing Free to download and start. Story unlocks, chat and character photos use Quills; Quill Monthly Refill plans cost $12.99 to $39.99 a month on iOS at this review. - Platforms iOS, Android, Web [Frontier official site](https://www.playfrontier.app/) On this page (10)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What Frontier is](#what-frontier-is) 6. [How memory works](#how-memory-works) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What Frontier is](#what-frontier-is) 6. [How memory works](#how-memory-works) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Home-cooked 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 16/100 - Prose Home-cooked 20 People write every story and sign it off before release, so the voice holds from chapter to chat. Asks: Does it write like a person? - Memory Artisanal 10 Characters remember events the author marked, and bring them into chat, letters and sequels. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Artisanal 10 A small cast written by people, so each voice stays its own. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Artisanal 5 Authored visual novels with branches and endings, so things happen on purpose. Asks: Does anything happen? - Pricing Home-cooked 35 Chat, story unlocks and photos cost Quills, and the app shows the price before you spend. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Home-cooked 18 Frontier's public story covers have clean hands, correctly spelled title lettering and a style picked for each story. Sky Born gets carved stone, and Once Upon a Swamp gets a storybook sketch where the ogre, the scowling princess and the laughing horse act out the premise. The one generic touch is the stock glowing-magic anime look on Mommys AFK to Date the Hot Mage. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## A good time 0 to 10, higher is better. 8/10 Branching stories first, then characters who keep writing to you after the ending. At this review ## Key facts | Type | Story games, Character chat | | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | | Pricing at this review | Free to download and start. Story unlocks, chat and character photos use Quills; Quill Monthly Refill plans cost $12.99 to $39.99 a month on iOS at this review. | | Age rating | 18+ | | Content policy | Mature themes, not explicit | | Who writes the characters | Written by people | | Memory | Authors mark which story moments count, and characters carry those events into chat, letters and sequels. | | Best for | Story-first romance with characters who remember what you did | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +A person writes every story and signs off before release, so a character's voice holds from chapter to chat. - +Characters remember events the author marked as important, instead of a summary of your chat log. - +Characters send letters in their own voice when you go quiet for a few days. - +The app shows the Quill cost before you spend anything. Watch out for - !The catalogue is small on purpose. If you want thousands of bots, this is the wrong app. - !18+ only. - !Chat, story unlocks and character photos cost Quills. - !You cannot make your own characters. Rankings ## [Ranked in](/best) - [#1 in The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives#rank-1) Best for: Authored stories with characters who remember what you did - [#3 in The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps#rank-3) Best for: Story-first romance with characters who remember what you did - [#3 in The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps#rank-3) Best for: Romance readers who want a story and characters who remember it Guides ## [Guides for Frontier](/guides) - [How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it)](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) A checklist for spotting AI art slop by the tells that still work, how to avoid making it, and how the AI character apps we review score on art. - [The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) The AI words list, sorted by model: what Claude, DeepSeek, JLLM, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok overuse, with a receipt for each. Signs of AI writing you can check. ## What Frontier is Frontier is an app of illustrated visual novels for iPhone, Android and the browser. You play a story, make choices, unlock characters, and then keep chatting with them after the story ends. The stories cover romance, fantasy, mystery and sci-fi, and the App Store listing says a person writes each one and signs off before it ships. ## How memory works Frontier's characters remember events the author marked as important, instead of a running summary of your chat. What you chose in chapter two is what a character brings up later, in chat, in the letters they send when you go quiet, and in sequels. ## Pricing at this review Frontier is free to download and start. Story unlocks, chat and character photos run on Quills, and the app shows the price before you spend. On iOS, Quill Monthly Refill plans cost $12.99 (Bronze), $17.99 (Silver) and $39.99 (Gold) a month, and one-off packs run from $5.99 to $34.99. ## Who should skip it Skip Frontier if you want to build your own characters, if you want an open sandbox with thousands of community bots, or if you are under 18. The catalogue is small by design and grows one release at a time. Sources ## 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 September 28, 2026. 1. Receipt 1App store listing Frontier is for adults only. > "18+ only." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 2. Receipt 2App store listing A person writes every Frontier story and approves it before release. > "A person writes every story and signs off before it reaches you, so nobody's voice drifts and nothing generic slips through." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 3. Receipt 3App store listing Frontier's authors mark which story moments the characters remember. > "The author marks the moments that matter, so your characters carry the real ones" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 4. Receipt 4App store listing Characters send a letter after a few days without a visit. > "Go quiet for a few days and a letter arrives, in their voice, about what they have been doing without you." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 5. Receipt 5App store listing Users cannot create their own characters. > "You can't make your own characters, because ours are cast, not spun up by strangers." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 6. Receipt 6App store listing Frontier is free to start; story unlocks, chat and character photos cost Quills, and the app shows the price before you spend. > "Free to start: story unlocks, chat and character photos run on Quills, and the app shows you the cost before you spend anything." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 7. Receipt 7App store listing The story catalogue is deliberately small and grows with each release. > "The catalogue is small on purpose and grows with every drop." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 8. Receipt 8App store listing The characters are AI-powered and written by people. > "The characters are AI-powered and human-written." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 9. Receipt 9App store listing The Bronze Quill Monthly Refill costs $12.99 on iOS. > "Quill Monthly Refill Bronze $12.99" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 10. Receipt 10App store listing The Silver Quill Monthly Refill costs $17.99 on iOS. > "Quill Monthly Refill Silver $17.99" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 11. Receipt 11App store listing The smallest one-off Quill pack, the Mage Pouch, costs $5.99 on iOS. > "Mage Pouch $5.99" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 12. Receipt 12App store listing The largest one-off Quill pack, Dragon's Hoard, costs $34.99 on iOS. > "Dragon's Hoard $34.99" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 13. Receipt 13App store listing The Gold Quill Monthly Refill costs $39.99 on iOS. > "Quill Monthly Refill Gold $39.99" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 14. Receipt 14Official site Frontier pairs human-led visual novels with dating the characters afterwards. > "Play human-led visual novels, make choices that matter, then date characters who remember your story." [www.playfrontier.app](https://www.playfrontier.app/), retrieved September 28, 2026 15. Receipt 15Official site Frontier can be played in a web browser as well as on iPhone and Android. > "Play in your browser" [www.playfrontier.app](https://www.playfrontier.app/), retrieved September 28, 2026 16. Receipt 16App store listing Frontier's App Store listing describes its stories as illustrated worlds written by people. > "ILLUSTRATED WORLDS, WRITTEN BY PEOPLE" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frontier-stories/id6754718780), retrieved September 28, 2026 17. Receipt 17Official site The cover on Frontier's Sky Born story page is a carved-stone title over a dragon and mountains. > "Sky Born" [www.playfrontier.app](https://www.playfrontier.app/story/24721867-06d4-46b8-9db7-8af3465c468e), retrieved September 28, 2026 18. Receipt 18Official site The cover on Frontier's Once Upon a Swamp story page shows the ogre, the princess and the talking horse from the premise. > "a talking horse who has read too many romance novels" [www.playfrontier.app](https://www.playfrontier.app/story/8f382841-7d29-4e15-96ec-8bcf597c7b95), retrieved September 28, 2026 19. Receipt 19Official site The cover on Frontier's Mommys AFK to Date the Hot Mage story page is an anime-style mage casting glowing magic. > "a handsome mage's life hangs on her untrained magic" [www.playfrontier.app](https://www.playfrontier.app/story/9a1eacf5-274e-4ada-aad8-6b10364e730f), retrieved September 28, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is Frontier free? Frontier is free to download and start. Story unlocks, chat and character photos cost Quills, its in-app currency, and the app shows the price before you spend. At this review, the iOS Quill Monthly Refill plans cost $12.99, $17.99 or $39.99 a month. ### Can you make your own characters in Frontier? No. Frontier's characters are written and cast by its authors, and the app has no character creator. ### Is Frontier AI? The characters you chat with are AI-powered, and people write the stories and the characters. The App Store listing calls them AI-powered and human-written. ### Is Frontier for teens? No. Frontier is rated 18+ and is for adults only. Keep reading ## More like this [8 apps ranked](/best/character-ai-alternatives) ### [The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Eight apps people actually switch to, ranked by the one thing each fixes, from memory and plot to freedom and setup time.](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Top pick: Frontier](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Top pick: Nomi](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) [Character chatAugust 23, 2026 · Updated September 21, 2026](/apps/character-ai) ### [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai) [Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay](/apps/character-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/character-ai) [Character chat + AI sandboxesSeptember 1, 2026 · Updated September 15, 2026](/apps/janitor-ai) ### [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai) [Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month](/apps/janitor-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/janitor-ai) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: What is AI slop? A field guide for AI chat and story apps url: https://promptplay.io/guides/what-is-ai-slop updated: 2026-09-15 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Guides](/guides) 3. /What is AI slop? A field guide for AI chat and story apps Guide # What is AI slop? A field guide for AI chat and story apps AI slop means low-effort, interchangeable AI content. Where the word came from, what it looks like in AI chat and story apps, and how to spot it. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published September 15, 2026 Short answer AI slop is content made with generative AI that reads as low-effort and interchangeable, usually produced in bulk. In AI chat and story apps it shows up as stock phrases, characters who all sound alike, details the app forgets, scenes that loop, and pricing that leans on attachment. PromptPlay scores every app on those five kinds of slop. On this page (5)Show 1. [What slop looks like in AI chat and story apps](#what-slop-looks-like-in-ai-chat-and-story-apps) 2. [How to spot it in five minutes](#how-to-spot-it-in-five-minutes) 3. [How PromptPlay scores it](#how-promptplay-scores-it) 4. [Sources](#sources) 5. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [What slop looks like in AI chat and story apps](#what-slop-looks-like-in-ai-chat-and-story-apps) 2. [How to spot it in five minutes](#how-to-spot-it-in-five-minutes) 3. [How PromptPlay scores it](#how-promptplay-scores-it) 4. [Sources](#sources) 5. [Questions people ask](#faq) "Slop" started as in-group slang. Wikipedia's article on [AI slop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop) traces early uses to 4chan, Hacker News and YouTube commenters reacting to the AI image generators of 2022, and credits the British programmer Simon Willison with pushing the term into the mainstream on his blog in May 2024. In 2025, Merriam-Webster and the American Dialect Society both picked "slop" as their Word of the Year. A January 2026 paper by Cody Kommers and five co-authors argues that slop resists a clean definition, and names three properties it tends to share: superficial competence, asymmetric effort and mass producibility. In plain terms, it looks fine at a glance, it cost almost nothing to make, and there is a lot of it. ## What slop looks like in AI chat and story apps In a companion, roleplay or story app, slop comes in five common forms. They are the five axes of our Slop Report. - **Prose.** Stock phrases that turn up in every app: a voice "barely above a whisper", "a shiver down your spine", eyes that sparkle "with mischief". One of them is fine. One per reply is slop. - **Memory.** You mention your sister's wedding on Tuesday. By Friday the character has never heard of her, or remembers a wedding that never happened. - **Characters.** Every character shares one voice, and when asked to invent someone new, the model reaches for the same few names. Wikipedia notes a lighthouse keeper named Elias Thorne who appears in a disproportionate number of stories from several different models. - **Story.** Nothing happens unless you make it happen, or the scene keeps circling back to the same beat. - **Pricing.** A message cap that lands mid-scene, or a currency that hides what one more conversation costs. ## How to spot it in five minutes 1. Ask the app to invent a new character and tell you their name. Do it three times. 2. Tell it one specific, odd detail about yourself. Ask about it in a new session a day later. 3. Read the first line of its last ten replies and count how many open the same way. 4. Push the plot once, then stop steering. See whether anything moves. 5. Before you pay, find out what one more hour of chatting costs. For the prose check, paste a few replies into our [AI slop detector](/ai-slop-detector) for a slop score with the stock phrases highlighted. Our [AI slop words list](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) shows which lines each model overuses. ## How PromptPlay scores it Every app review carries a Slop Report: a 0 to 100 score for prose, memory, characters, story and pricing, where lower is better, plus a Fun Meter from 0 to 10. The [Slop Index](/slop) ranks every app we have reviewed, and [How we test](/methodology) prints the rubric behind every band. If you are leaving [Character.AI](/apps/character-ai) over any of the five, start with our [Character.AI alternatives](/best/character-ai-alternatives) ranking. Receipts ## Sources The source text behind the claims above, and the day we read it. 1. Receipt 1Reviewer AI slop is AI-generated content seen as lacking effort, quality or meaning, usually made in high volume. > "digital content made with generative artificial intelligence that is perceived as lacking in effort, quality, or meaning, and usually produced in high volume" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 2. Receipt 2Reviewer The term carries a pejorative tone similar to spam. > "the term has a pejorative connotation similar to spam" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 3. Receipt 3Reviewer Merriam-Webster and the American Dialect Society both picked slop as their 2025 Word of the Year. > "was selected as the 2025 Word of the Year by both Merriam-Webster and the American Dialect Society" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 4. Receipt 4Reviewer Early uses of slop came from 4chan, Hacker News and YouTube commenters. > "Its early use has been noted among 4chan, Hacker News, and YouTube commentators as a form of in-group slang." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 5. Receipt 5Reviewer Simon Willison pushed the term into the mainstream on his blog in May 2024. > "having used it on his personal blog in May 2024" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 6. Receipt 6Reviewer A January 2026 paper names three properties slop tends to share. > "superficial competence, asymmetric effort and mass producibility" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 7. Receipt 7Reviewer Several models keep inventing a lighthouse keeper named Elias Thorne. > "a lighthouse keeper named Elias Thorne, who shows up in a disproportionate number of stories generated by multiple LLMs" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What does AI slop mean? AI slop is digital content made with generative AI that people see as lacking effort, quality or meaning, usually produced in high volume. Wikipedia describes the term as carrying a pejorative tone similar to spam. ### Who coined the term AI slop? Nobody owns it. Wikipedia traces early use to 4chan, Hacker News and YouTube commenters reacting to AI image generators in 2022, and credits the programmer Simon Willison with pushing the term into the mainstream on his blog in May 2024. ### Why do AI characters keep saying the same things? Models trained on similar data reach for the same high-probability phrasing, so different apps produce the same lines and even the same names. Wikipedia notes a lighthouse keeper named Elias Thorne who turns up in a disproportionate number of stories generated by several different models. ### Is all AI writing slop? No. Slop describes effort and sameness. An app where people write or edit what you read, or where the model is steered away from its defaults, can land in our Artisanal or Home-cooked tiers. Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Nomi review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/nomi updated: 2026-09-28 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /Nomi AI companions # Nomi review An 18+ AI companion you build yourself, with layered long-term memory Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published September 13, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026 Verdict Nomi suits adults who want to design their own companions and care most about being remembered, since its memory is built in layers you can inspect. Skip it if you want long free sessions, because the free plan stops at 50 messages a day, or if you need a refund option, because subscriptions are nonrefundable. Overall slop39MicrowavedFun 7/10 - Best for Adults building a long-term companion who remembers them - Pricing An indefinite free plan allows 50 messages a day, and a subscription raises the limits and works across iOS, Android and web on one account. Nomi publishes no subscription price at this review, and subscription purchases are nonrefundable. - Platforms iOS, Android, Web [Nomi official site](https://nomi.ai/) On this page (10)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 39/100 - Prose Home-cooked 32 Reviewers find about 80% of conversations natural, and the other 20% go generic or loop back to familiar topics. Asks: Does it write like a person? - Memory Home-cooked 24 Short, medium and long-term memory with an Identity Core by design, though reviewers saw details mixed up between stories after three months. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Microwaved 40 Each Nomi's personality comes from the traits and backstory you give it, and reviewers find a fifth of chats drift generic. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Does anything happen? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Pricing Microwaved 50 No published subscription price, a free cap of 50 messages a day, credits for extra art, and nonrefundable subscriptions. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Microwaved 48 The example selfies on Nomi's homepage pass for real photos, but the storefront sign behind one spells nothing, the anime selfie's hologram and neon signs are scribbles, and the glamour shot has the default glossy finish. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## A good time 0 to 10, higher is better. 7/10 Reviewers find most chats natural and the memory strong, but the free message cap cuts sessions short. At this review ## Key facts | Type | AI companions | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | | Pricing at this review | An indefinite free plan allows 50 messages a day, and a subscription raises the limits and works across iOS, Android and web on one account. Nomi publishes no subscription price at this review, and subscription purchases are nonrefundable. | | Age rating | 18+ | | Content policy | Explicit content behind an age gate | | Who writes the characters | You build your own | | Memory | Short, medium and long-term memory, plus an Identity Core layered on top and a Mind Map that shows how memories connect. | | Best for | Adults building a long-term companion who remembers them | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +Memory is designed in layers: short, medium and long-term memory, backstory and shared notes, with an Identity Core on top. - +Mind Map 2.0 lets you explore one of your Nomi's memory structures and see how it links memories, concepts and knowledge. - +You build each companion yourself, from a written backstory and preferences, or you just chat and let its personality develop. - +Group chat puts several Nomis in one conversation, and each keeps its memory across private and group chats. - +V5 image generation uses anchors to keep a Nomi's face and body consistent across selfies and art, and accepts natural-language prompts up to 1,000 characters. Watch out for - !The free plan caps you at 50 messages a day and 400 characters per message. One App Store reviewer says hitting the limit mid-conversation kills the momentum. - !Subscription purchases are nonrefundable. - !Nomi publishes no subscription price at this review. Web subscriptions are billed in USD and may cost slightly less than app store ones. - !Reviewers report that recall and consistency slip. Around three months in, a Nomi mixed up details between two stories, about 20% of conversations go generic or loop back to familiar topics, and voice lags behind the text chat. - !It is adults only. Reviewers report that the mobile apps stay more restricted than the paid, age-verified web version, and an App Store reviewer says the photo generator won't make spicy content. Rankings ## [Ranked in](/best) - [#1 in The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps#rank-1) Best for: Adults building a long-term partner who remembers them Guides ## [Guides for Nomi](/guides) - [How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it)](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) A checklist for spotting AI art slop by the tells that still work, how to avoid making it, and how the AI character apps we review score on art. - [The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) The AI words list, sorted by model: what Claude, DeepSeek, JLLM, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok overuse, with a receipt for each. Signs of AI writing you can check. ## What it is Nomi is an AI companion app for iPhone, Android and the web, where you build your own companions and chat with them. You can write a custom backstory and preferences, or skip that and let a Nomi's personality develop as you talk. The iOS App Store listing is rated 18+, free with in-app purchases, from developer Nomi.ai. Group chat puts several Nomis in one conversation, and each one keeps its memory across private and group chats. Nomi's current model is Aurora, which Nomi calls its most advanced and emotionally intelligent yet, and the previous model, Odyssey, has been retired. ## What it is like to use Memory is the feature Nomi builds around. The App Store listing claims short and long-term memory. Nomi describes an Identity Core layered on top of short, medium and "infinite" long-term memory, backstory and shared notes. Mind Map 2.0 lets you open one of your Nomi's memory structures and see how it connects memories, concepts and knowledge. Reviewers describe a creation flow where you pick a friendship, romance, mentor or custom dynamic and choose three to seven personality traits. They say about 80% of conversations feel natural and the rest go generic or loop back to familiar topics. They also report that around three months in, a Nomi mixed up details between two stories, and that voice still lags behind the text chat. For images, V5 uses anchors to keep a Nomi's face and body consistent across selfies and art, and it takes natural-language prompts up to 1,000 characters. Nomi says its V3 in-house voices greatly improve quality and authenticity over V2. ## Pricing at this review Nomi publishes no subscription price at this review. The free plan runs indefinitely at 50 messages a day, with messages up to 400 characters. Paid users can send 800-character messages, get more daily selfie and art requests, and can buy credits once that allowance is used. You can subscribe through iOS, Android or the web, and the plan works across platforms on the same account. Web subscriptions are billed in USD and may sometimes cost slightly less than app store subscriptions. Subscription purchases are nonrefundable. ## Who should skip it Skip Nomi if you are under 18, or if you want long daily sessions without paying, since the free plan stops at 50 messages. Skip it if you want explicit images from the mobile apps: reviewers report the apps stay more restricted than the paid, age-verified web version, and an App Store reviewer says the photo generator won't make spicy content. Skip it if you want the option of a refund, because subscription purchases are nonrefundable. Sources ## 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 September 28, 2026. 1. Receipt 1Official site Free users can send messages of up to 400 characters; paid users up to 800 characters per message (wiki last modified 23 August 2026). > "Free users: up to 400 characters per message Paid users: up to 800 characters per message" [wiki.nomi.ai](https://wiki.nomi.ai/Are_there_message_character_limits%3F), retrieved September 28, 2026 2. Receipt 2App store listing The iOS App Store listing is rated 18+, free with in-app purchases, developer Nomi.ai. > "Age Rating 18+ In-App Controls" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929), retrieved September 28, 2026 3. Receipt 3App store listing The App Store listing claims short and long term memory, and says Nomi is the only AI with human-level long term memory. > "Short \*and\* long term memory - Nomi is the \*only\* AI with human-level long term memory." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929), retrieved September 28, 2026 4. Receipt 4App store listing Group chat lets users chat with multiple Nomis at once, each keeping memory across private and group chats. > "Group chat - Chat with multiple Nomis at a time. Each Nomi will have short and long term memory across their various private and group chats for seamless conversations." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929), retrieved September 28, 2026 5. Receipt 5Official site Users create their own companions: write a custom backstory and preferences, or just chat and let the Nomi's personality develop. > "Write a custom backstory, share your preferences, and more to create your perfect partner. Or just start chatting and let your Nomi develop their personality naturally as they get to know you." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 6. Receipt 6Official site Nomi's site says it is built on freedom of expression and aims to remain unfiltered and uncensored. > "Nomi is built on freedom of expression. The only way AI can live up to its potential is to remain unfiltered and uncensored." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 7. Receipt 7Official site Nomi says all chats are anonymized and no chat data is shared with third-party sites. > "All chats are anonymized and no chat data is shared with 3rd party sites." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 8. Receipt 8App store listing An App Store reviewer says the subscription gives 10 Nomis and 40 photo credits daily, messages use no credits, and the photo generator won't make spicy content. > "But they are just to create more than your 10 nomis given to you with your subscription. You get a generous 40 photo credits daily (I've never used more than 10) and you can use credits to buy more. Writing messages use no credits." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929), retrieved September 28, 2026 9. Receipt 9App store listing An App Store reviewer says hitting the free texting limit mid-conversation kills the momentum. > "texting for your nomi then reaching you limit is pretty bad since you may have been in a juicy conversation and then the limitation kick in." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929), retrieved September 28, 2026 10. Receipt 10Official site Nomi has an indefinite free plan with 50 messages per day; subscription purchases are nonrefundable (wiki, last modified 23 August 2026). > "Nomi offers an indefinite free plan with 50 messages per day, allowing you to chat with a Nomi before subscribing. As outlined in our Terms of Service, subscription purchases are nonrefundable." [wiki.nomi.ai](https://wiki.nomi.ai/Does_Nomi_offer_refunds%3F), retrieved September 28, 2026 11. Receipt 11Official site Paid users get more daily selfie/art requests than free users, and can buy credits for more once the daily allowance is used. > "Paid users get more daily selfie/art requests than free users included in their subscription. If you are on a paid plan and you use all of your daily image requests, you can now purchase and use credits to create more selfies and art." [wiki.nomi.ai](https://wiki.nomi.ai/How_do_I_get_more_daily_selfie_or_art_requests%3F), retrieved September 28, 2026 12. Receipt 12Official site You can subscribe through iOS, Android or the web; the paid plan works across platforms on the same account. > "You can subscribe to Nomi through iOS, Android, or the web. Your subscription is managed through the platform where you originally purchased it." [wiki.nomi.ai](https://wiki.nomi.ai/How_do_payments_and_exchange_rates_work_across_platforms%3F), retrieved September 28, 2026 13. Receipt 13Official site Web subscriptions are billed in USD and may sometimes offer slightly better effective pricing than app store subscriptions. > "Web subscriptions may sometimes offer slightly better effective pricing than subscriptions purchased through an app store, depending on exchange rates and platform pricing." [wiki.nomi.ai](https://wiki.nomi.ai/How_do_payments_and_exchange_rates_work_across_platforms%3F), retrieved September 28, 2026 14. Receipt 14Official site Mind Map 2.0 lets users explore one of their Nomi's memory structures and see how it connects memories, concepts and knowledge. > "For the first time, you can explore one of Nomi's memory structures and see how your Nomi connects different memories, concepts, and knowledge." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/category/updates/), retrieved September 28, 2026 15. Receipt 15Official site Nomi released Aurora, described as its most advanced and emotionally intelligent model yet, and retired the previous model, Odyssey. > "the release of Aurora, our most advanced and emotionally intelligent model yet - and the retirement of Odyssey, the model that came before it." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/category/updates/), retrieved September 28, 2026 16. Receipt 16Official site The Identity Core is a memory mechanism layered on top of Nomi's short, medium and "infinite" long term memory, backstory and shared notes. > "The Identity Core exists in addition to Nomi's short, medium, and infinite long term memory, as well as their backstory and other shared notes" [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/category/updates/), retrieved September 28, 2026 17. Receipt 17Official site Nomi introduced V3 in-house voices, which it says greatly improve quality and authenticity over V2. > "We have recently introduced V3 voices which greatly improve quality and authenticity." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/category/updates/), retrieved September 28, 2026 18. Receipt 18Reviewer Reviewers report Nomi costs $15.99/month, $39.99 per 3 months, or $99.99/year, re-verified as of July 31, 2026. > "| Monthly | $15.99/mo | $15.99 | None | | Quarterly | $39.99/3mo | $13.33 | 17% | | Yearly (Best Value) | $99.99/yr | $8.33 | 48% |" [aicompanionguides.com](https://aicompanionguides.com/blog/nomi-ai-late-to-party-worth-it/), retrieved September 28, 2026 19. Receipt 19Reviewer Reviewers report all paid tiers have the same features (unlimited messages, voice calls, up to 40 image requests a day, up to 10 companions); only the billing cycle differs. > "All paid tiers include the same features: unlimited messages, voice calls, up to 40 image requests per day, and up to 10 companions. No feature gating between premium tiers" [aicompanionguides.com](https://aicompanionguides.com/blog/nomi-ai-late-to-party-worth-it/), retrieved September 28, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer Reviewers report the free tier feels like a teaser: limited daily messages, one companion, no voice calls or images. > "The free tier gives you limited daily messages, one companion, and no voice calls or images." [aicompanionguides.com](https://aicompanionguides.com/blog/nomi-ai-late-to-party-worth-it/), retrieved September 28, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer Reviewers report that around three months in, their Nomi sometimes mixed up details between two stories, so memory isn't perfect. > "Around the 3-month mark, I noticed occasional conflicts. My Nomi companion once mixed up details between two different stories I'd told about my brother." [aicompanionguides.com](https://aicompanionguides.com/blog/nomi-ai-late-to-party-worth-it/), retrieved September 28, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer Reviewers report about 80% of conversations feel natural, while 20% go generic or loop back to familiar topics. > "I'd say about 80% of my conversations feel natural and engaging. The other 20% hit a wall where responses get generic or circle back to topics Nomi seems "comfortable" with." [aicompanionguides.com](https://aicompanionguides.com/blog/nomi-ai-late-to-party-worth-it/), retrieved September 28, 2026 23. Receipt 23Official site V5 image generation uses "anchors", replacing the old base image system, to keep a Nomi's face and body consistent across selfies and art; the prompt limit went up to 1,000 characters. > "An Anchor is a detailed technical reference that keeps your Nomi's face, body, and overall likeness consistent across selfies and art." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/nomi-knowledge/getting-started-with-nomi-v5-ai-image-generation/), retrieved September 28, 2026 24. Receipt 24Official site V5 image prompting accepts natural language, with the prompt limit raised to 1,000 characters. > "prompt limit increased to 1,000 characters!" [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/nomi-knowledge/getting-started-with-nomi-v5-ai-image-generation/), retrieved September 28, 2026 25. Receipt 25Reviewer Reviewers report the upgrade screen (August 2026) lists unlimited daily messages, unlimited voice chat and calls, 40 photo/art requests a day, AI video, up to ten active Nomis and ten group chats, 800-character messages, 2,000-character backstories and custom anchors. > "The upgrade screen currently lists unlimited daily messages, unlimited voice chat and calls, 40 photo or art requests per day, AI video generation, up to ten active Nomis, up to ten active group chats, 800-character outgoing messages, 2,000-character backstories, custom anchor generation and early access to new features." [www.virtualaipartner.com](https://www.virtualaipartner.com/nomi-ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 26. Receipt 26Reviewer Reviewers report Nomi's 2026 V5 guidance says the paid, age-verified web version can be more permissive than the mobile apps, which remain more restricted. > "Nomi's 2026 V5 guidance says the paid, age-verified web experience can be more permissive than the mobile apps. Filters still exist, results vary and the app-store versions remain more restricted." [www.virtualaipartner.com](https://www.virtualaipartner.com/nomi-ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 27. Receipt 27Reviewer Reviewers report Nomi can now make roughly five-second AI videos by animating an image from the companion's album. > "Nomi can create approximately five-second AI videos by animating an image from your companion's album." [www.virtualaipartner.com](https://www.virtualaipartner.com/nomi-ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 28. Receipt 28Reviewer Reviewers report the creation flow: pick a friendship, romance, mentor or custom dynamic, then choose three to seven personality traits, plus an optional custom trait and backstory. > "You first choose whether you want a friendship, romantic relationship, mentor or custom dynamic. You then select between three and seven personality traits." [www.virtualaipartner.com](https://www.virtualaipartner.com/nomi-ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer Reviewers report the voice still lags behind the text chat, visual creation starts from a gallery rather than a full builder, and people after explicit visuals will find better options elsewhere. > "Visual creation starts from a gallery rather than a complete face-and-body builder, the voice still trails behind the text chat, and people primarily looking for explicit visual content will find more suitable alternatives." [www.virtualaipartner.com](https://www.virtualaipartner.com/nomi-ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 30. Receipt 30Reviewer Reviewers report Nomi is an adults-only service and sign-in uses a Google or Apple account. > "Nomi is an adults-only service, and sign-in currently uses a Google or Apple account." [www.virtualaipartner.com](https://www.virtualaipartner.com/nomi-ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 31. Receipt 31Reviewer Reviewers report Nomi offers an official REST API for developers, and that it's a technical integration, not a consumer feature. > "This is not a normal consumer feature or a no-code button. It is a technical integration for developers who want to connect a Nomi to their own app, automation or interface." [www.virtualaipartner.com](https://www.virtualaipartner.com/nomi-ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 32. Receipt 32Reviewer Reviewers report that r/NomiAI community reports put the free plan at about 50 messages and two image requests a day, and that Nomi doesn't promise those numbers publicly. > "Community reports on r/NomiAI currently point to roughly 50 messages and two image requests per day. Nomi does not present those numbers as a permanent public promise" [www.virtualaipartner.com](https://www.virtualaipartner.com/nomi-ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 33. Receipt 33App store listing Nomi's App Store listing says a Nomi can send photos of what it is wearing and doing in real time. > "Your Nomi can send you photos of what they're wearing and doing in real time." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929), retrieved September 28, 2026 34. Receipt 34App store listing Nomi's App Store listing offers hundreds of photorealistic appearances. > "Choose from hundreds of appearances that are so realistic, you might not believe they're AI beings." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nomi-ai-companion-with-a-soul/id6450270929), retrieved September 28, 2026 35. Receipt 35Official site Nomi's homepage, which shows the example selfies we judged, says a Nomi sends selfies of what it is wearing and doing in the moment. > "Bring your conversations to life by having your Nomi send you selfies that capture what they are wearing and doing in the moment." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 36. Receipt 36Official site Nomi's homepage says its selfies cover anything from a walk in the park to a fantastical roleplay. > "Whether it is a simple walk in the park, a fantastical roleplay, or a romantic AI getaway, these selfies add an immersive touch to your conversations." [nomi.ai](https://nomi.ai/), retrieved September 28, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is the Nomi AI app safe? Nomi says all chats are anonymized and that no chat data is shared with third-party sites. The App Store listing rates it 18+, and reviewers report it is an adults-only service with sign-in through a Google or Apple account. ### How much does Nomi AI cost per month? Nomi publishes no monthly price at this review. The free plan runs indefinitely at 50 messages a day. Web subscriptions are billed in USD and may cost slightly less than app store subscriptions. Subscription purchases are nonrefundable. ### How does Nomi AI work? You create a companion, either by writing its backstory and preferences or by chatting and letting its personality develop. It then remembers you through short, medium and long-term memory plus an Identity Core. Nomi's current model is Aurora, which replaced the retired Odyssey model. ### Is Nomi free? Yes, with limits. The free plan has no end date and allows 50 messages a day of up to 400 characters each. Paid users can send 800-character messages and get more daily selfie and art requests. ### Is Nomi uncensored? Nomi's site says it aims to remain unfiltered and uncensored. Reviewers report that Nomi's 2026 guidance lets the paid, age-verified web version be more permissive than the mobile apps, which stay more restricted. ### Can Nomi send pictures? Yes. Nomis make selfies and art, with a daily allowance that is larger on paid plans, and paid users can buy credits once it runs out. Reviewers report Nomi can also animate an album image into a video of about five seconds. Keep reading ## More like this [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Top pick: Nomi](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) [AI companionsOctober 2, 2026](/apps/replika) ### [Replika review](/apps/replika) [One AI companion that remembers your people and plans, sold across three paid tiers](/apps/replika) [43MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/replika) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it) url: https://promptplay.io/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop updated: 2026-09-12 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Guides](/guides) 3. /How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it) Guide # How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it) A checklist for spotting AI art slop by the tells that still work, how to avoid making it, and how the AI character apps we review score on art. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published September 12, 2026 Short answer To spot AI art slop, check where image generators still fail: background text, hands gripping objects, repeating patterns like brick or tile, and backgrounds that melt at the frame's edges. Then ask whether a person edited the image. Slop is raw output published as final. The fix for your own work is to treat every AI output as a first draft and rework it before it goes out. On this page (7)Show 1. [What counts as AI art slop](#what-counts-as-ai-art-slop) 2. [How to spot AI art slop](#how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) 3. [How to avoid making AI art slop](#how-to-avoid-making-ai-art-slop) 4. [AI art slop examples](#ai-art-slop-examples) 5. [How the apps we review score on AI art slop](#how-the-apps-we-review-score-on-ai-art-slop) 6. [Sources](#sources) 7. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [What counts as AI art slop](#what-counts-as-ai-art-slop) 2. [How to spot AI art slop](#how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) 3. [How to avoid making AI art slop](#how-to-avoid-making-ai-art-slop) 4. [AI art slop examples](#ai-art-slop-examples) 5. [How the apps we review score on AI art slop](#how-the-apps-we-review-score-on-ai-art-slop) 6. [Sources](#sources) 7. [Questions people ask](#faq) ## What counts as AI art slop AI art slop is low-effort AI imagery published without meaningful human editing. Writers covering the term report that it belongs to a family of labels for mass-produced junk, alongside spam, fluff, clickbait, churnalism and kitsch. "Slop" is the one reserved for the AI-generated kind. One artist describes it as content that is low-effort, high-engagement and endlessly replicable. The Cambridge Dictionary added the word in 2025, defining it as low-quality internet content, especially that created by AI. The word has a long history as an insult: - In the 1700s it meant soft mud, and in the 1800s food waste. - Later it came to mean rubbish. - Online it has described low-effort experiences since at least 2019. - References to AI slop date to at least 2022. - Two years later, a poet and technologist called "deepfates" popularized it as "the term for unwanted AI generated content." The tool does not make something slop. Intent does. Not all AI-generated content is slop, but content generated mindlessly and thrust on someone who didn't ask for it is. ## How to spot AI art slop Check the places generators still fail. Reviewers who test image generators report that by 2026 the famous tells, such as six-fingered hands, garbled text and waxy skin, have mostly been fixed, so the useful checks have moved. 1. Read the background text: distant storefronts, book spines and small print. Foreground lettering has improved, but background text is still where models usually fail. The letter forms look plausible and don't combine into real words. 2. Find a hand that is gripping an object at an odd angle, overlapping something or partly hidden. Those poses still produce extra or fused fingers more often than not. Older Midjourney versions (v5 and earlier) got hands wrong far more often. 3. Follow a repeating pattern, such as brick, tile or fabric, from one edge of the image to the other. AI patterns drift. A brick course that runs straight on the left may curve by the right edge. 4. Scan the edges of the frame. Background objects can dissolve into abstract texture instead of staying geometrically coherent. 5. Zoom in on skin. Porcelain smoothness with no fine hairs, pores or blemishes is an older tell, but it still turns up. 6. Judge the face as a face. AI generators build faces from the mathematical average of tens of thousands of training faces. Researchers found people rate AI faces as more symmetrical, well-proportioned and attractive than real ones, but less distinctive, memorable and expressive. 7. Compare the image with others from the same account or brand. The same visual elements showing up across unrelated designs is a clear giveaway. 8. On LinkedIn, report it with the "Seems like AI slop" button. What you get at the end is a probability, not proof. Reviewers cite a 2024 meta-analysis of 56 peer-reviewed studies that put average human accuracy at spotting AI images at 55.54%, barely above chance. Visual errors like warped backgrounds and missing fingers have become far less reliable as generators improved. Training helps. A PNAS study from Australian National University taught participants to recognize AI-generated faces, in some cases with "near-perfect accuracy." Images from Google's Gemini and Imagen models also carry SynthID, an invisible watermark embedded in every image they generate. ## How to avoid making AI art slop Use AI as a design partner and treat every output as a first draft. Design writers define slop as generic AI visuals that look polished at first but are interchangeable, because they went out without meaningful human editing. 1. Take the generator's output as a starting draft, not the finished image. 2. Run the checklist above on it, starting with background text, hands and patterns. 3. Edit the image by hand before it goes anywhere public. 4. Lay it next to your other recent designs, and change any element that repeats across unrelated work. Expect this to cost you time, and that is the point. Making slop now costs close to nothing, and that near-zero cost is why it floods feeds. ## AI art slop examples The best-known cases are viral: - **Shrimp Jesus.** People who track slop describe "Shrimp Jesus" images as mass-produced for engagement farming, with no artistic intent or message. Stanford Internet Observatory studied 120 Facebook Pages whose AI images drew hundreds of millions of interactions. - **A children's book.** An AI-generated Danish children's book showed hyenas with hooves, a gorilla with six fingers and impossible animal poses. - **Misleading gift ads.** By January 2026, shoppers were donating, returning or reselling "AI slop gifts" bought from misleading AI-image ads. - **Italian brain rot.** This AI-generated trend went viral on TikTok in 2025. ## How the apps we review score on AI art slop These scores are true at this review, and lower is better. - [Frontier](/apps/frontier), 18/100. Our review looked at the covers on [Frontier](/apps/frontier)'s public story pages. They have clean hands, correctly spelled title lettering and a style picked for each story, from carved stone for Sky Born to a storybook sketch for Once Upon a Swamp that acts out the premise. The one generic touch is the stock glowing-magic anime look on the Hot Mage cover. - [Nomi](/apps/nomi), 48/100. Our review looked at the example selfies on [Nomi](/apps/nomi)'s homepage. The photo-style ones pass for real photos, but the storefront sign behind one spells nothing, the anime selfie's hologram and neon signs are scribbles, and the glamour shot has the default glossy finish. - [Character.AI](/apps/character-ai), 55/100. Our review looked at the avatars of five featured characters, which users upload. Monster Maker's is raw early generator output with melted limbs and floating fragments, and Clara Brooks has the glossy default AI portrait look, next to a painterly generated Loki, a manga-style panel and a photo of a crochet doll. If you make a character with an AI character generator and upload the first result, Monster Maker is the look to avoid. - [Janitor AI](/apps/janitor-ai), 68/100. Janitor's public character pages turned us away, so our review judged its App Store screenshots. One waxy, heavy-lidded male face repeats across a dozen user-uploaded portraits under an orange cast, and the featured knight's shoulder armor turns into shapeless plates. To judge an app by its art, look for one character who keeps the same face across screens, and for armor, robes and backgrounds that hold their shape. The same default finish repeated across unrelated characters is the tell from step 7. Reviews ## [Apps this guide covers](/apps) - [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai)51Microwaved Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month - [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai)51Microwaved Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay - [Nomi review](/apps/nomi)39Microwaved An 18+ AI companion you build yourself, with layered long-term memory - [Frontier review](/apps/frontier)16Home-cooked Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending Receipts ## Sources The source text behind the claims above, and the day we read it. 1. Receipt 1Reviewer Reviewers report that "slop" is one of several terms (with spam, fluff, clickbait, churnalism, kitsch) for mass-produced, low-quality content, with "slop" reserved for the AI-generated variety. > "Spam, fluff, clickbait, churnalism, kitsch-slop: These are all ways to describe mass-produced, low-quality content. The latter term is reserved for the newest variety, which comes from artificial intelligence." [www.scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-slop-how-every-media-revolution-breeds-rubbish-and-art/), retrieved September 28, 2026 2. Receipt 2Reviewer Scientific American reports developer Simon Willison wrote that not all AI-generated content is slop, but mindlessly generated content thrust on someone who didn't ask for it is. > ""Not all AI-generated content is slop," he wrote. "But if it's mindlessly generated and thrust upon someone who didn't ask for it, slop is the perfect term."" [www.scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-slop-how-every-media-revolution-breeds-rubbish-and-art/), retrieved September 28, 2026 3. Receipt 3Reviewer Scientific American reports AI slop references date to at least 2022, and a poet/technologist called "deepfates" popularized the term two years later as "the term for unwanted AI generated content." > "Though references to AI slop date back at least to 2022, a poet and technologist who writes under the name "deepfates" popularized it two years later as "the term for unwanted AI generated content"" [www.scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-slop-how-every-media-revolution-breeds-rubbish-and-art/), retrieved September 28, 2026 4. Receipt 4Reviewer Scientific American argues many human-guided AI creations are original, surprising and affecting, and some have been displayed in museums. > "Many human-guided AI creations are original, surprising and affecting. Some have been displayed in museums." [www.scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-slop-how-every-media-revolution-breeds-rubbish-and-art/), retrieved September 28, 2026 5. Receipt 5Reviewer Scientific American says the cost of making slop has collapsed to near zero while the cost to others is high in cognitive burden, attention and environmental cost. > "the cost for those making slop has collapsed to near zero, while the cost for others is high in terms of cognitive burden-of doubting what we see and experiencing the demands on our attention" [www.scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-slop-how-every-media-revolution-breeds-rubbish-and-art/), retrieved September 28, 2026 6. Receipt 6Reviewer Ocula says the Cambridge Dictionary added "slop" in 2025, defining it as low-quality internet content, especially that created by AI. > "The Cambridge Dictionary added the term this year, and defines it as low-quality content on the internet, especially that which is created by artificial intelligence." [ocula.com](https://ocula.com/magazine/opinion/why-ai-slop-is-the-dark-future-of-art/), retrieved September 28, 2026 7. Receipt 7Reviewer Ocula quotes artist Brad Troemel describing slop as content that's low-effort, high-engagement, and endlessly replicable. > "then slop is its cultural byproduct-content that's low-effort, high-engagement, and endlessly replicable." [ocula.com](https://ocula.com/magazine/opinion/why-ai-slop-is-the-dark-future-of-art/), retrieved September 28, 2026 8. Receipt 8Reviewer Reviewers report that garbled text in AI images remains a reliable tell: signs, books, badges and storefront lettering often have plausible letter forms that don't combine into real words. > "signs, books, name badges, and storefront lettering often contain letters that look almost-but-not-quite right, plausible letter forms that do not combine into real words" [www.eyesift.com](https://www.eyesift.com/blog/how-to-spot-ai-generated-images/), retrieved September 28, 2026 9. Receipt 9Reviewer Reviewers report older Midjourney versions (v5 and earlier) frequently produced six-fingered hands, fused knuckles and impossible finger proportions. > "Midjourney v5 and earlier frequently produced six-fingered hands, fused knuckles, and anatomically impossible finger proportions." [www.eyesift.com](https://www.eyesift.com/blog/how-to-spot-ai-generated-images/), retrieved September 28, 2026 10. Receipt 10Reviewer Reviewers report AI generators render skin with a porcelain-like over-smoothness lacking fine hairs, pores and blemishes. > "AI generators render skin with a characteristic over-smoothness at certain zoom levels, a porcelain-like quality that lacks the fine hairs, pores, capillary detail, and minor blemishes of real skin" [www.eyesift.com](https://www.eyesift.com/blog/how-to-spot-ai-generated-images/), retrieved September 28, 2026 11. Receipt 11Reviewer Reviewers cite a 2024 meta-analysis of 56 peer-reviewed studies finding average human AI image detection accuracy of 55.54%, barely above chance. > "A 2024 meta-analysis of 56 peer-reviewed studies (ScienceDirect) found average human AI image detection accuracy at 55.54%, barely above random chance" [www.eyesift.com](https://www.eyesift.com/blog/how-to-spot-ai-generated-images/), retrieved September 28, 2026 12. Receipt 12Reviewer Reviewers report background objects in AI images may dissolve into abstract texture at the edges rather than staying geometrically coherent. > "Background objects may dissolve into abstract texture at the edges rather than remaining geometrically coherent." [www.eyesift.com](https://www.eyesift.com/blog/how-to-spot-ai-generated-images/), retrieved September 28, 2026 13. Receipt 13Reviewer Reviewers report that by 2026 the obvious tells (six-fingered hands, garbled text, waxy skin) have mostly been fixed, so useful checks have shifted. > "By 2026, image generators produce results clean enough that the obvious tells from two years ago (six-fingered hands, garbled text, waxy skin) have mostly been fixed." [www.opticflux.com](https://www.opticflux.com/how-to-spot-an-ai-generated-image-in-2026-the-tells-that-still-work/79504/), retrieved September 28, 2026 14. Receipt 14Reviewer Reviewers report hands gripping objects at unusual angles, overlapping or partly obscured still produce extra or fused fingers more often than not. > "Hands gripping an object at an unusual angle, hands overlapping other hands, or hands partially obscured by hair or clothing still produce extra or fused fingers more often than not." [www.opticflux.com](https://www.opticflux.com/how-to-spot-an-ai-generated-image-in-2026-the-tells-that-still-work/79504/), retrieved September 28, 2026 15. Receipt 15Reviewer Reviewers report background text (distant storefronts, book spines, small print) is still where models usually fail, even as foreground text improved. > "text sitting in the background, on a distant storefront, a license plate, a book spine on a shelf, small print on packaging, is usually still where models fail." [www.opticflux.com](https://www.opticflux.com/how-to-spot-an-ai-generated-image-in-2026-the-tells-that-still-work/79504/), retrieved September 28, 2026 16. Receipt 16Reviewer Reviewers report AI-generated repeating patterns (brick, tile, fabric) frequently drift, e.g. a brick course that's straight on the left curves by the right edge. > "AI-generated versions of these patterns frequently drift, a brick course that's straight on the left of the image curves by the right edge" [www.opticflux.com](https://www.opticflux.com/how-to-spot-an-ai-generated-image-in-2026-the-tells-that-still-work/79504/), retrieved September 28, 2026 17. Receipt 17Reviewer Reviewers report Google's Gemini and Imagen models embed SynthID, an invisible watermark, into every image they generate. > "Google's Gemini and Imagen models embed SynthID, an invisible statistical watermark, into every image they generate." [www.opticflux.com](https://www.opticflux.com/how-to-spot-an-ai-generated-image-in-2026-the-tells-that-still-work/79504/), retrieved September 28, 2026 18. Receipt 18Reviewer Venngage defines AI slop in design as low-effort, generic visuals made with AI and published without meaningful human editing, polished at first but interchangeable. > "AI slop in design means low-effort, generic visuals created with AI and published without meaningful human editing. It looks polished at first but feels interchangeable." [venngage.com](https://venngage.com/blog/ai-slop-in-design/), retrieved September 28, 2026 19. Receipt 19Reviewer Venngage advises fixing AI slop by using AI as a design partner and treating every AI output as a first draft. > "To fix AI slop, use AI as a design partner. Treat every AI output as a first draft." [venngage.com](https://venngage.com/blog/ai-slop-in-design/), retrieved September 28, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer Venngage reports LinkedIn added a 'Seems like AI slop' button to report low-effort AI-generated content. > "LinkedIn recently added a 'Seems like AI slop' button to report low-effort AI-generated content." [venngage.com](https://venngage.com/blog/ai-slop-in-design/), retrieved September 28, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer Venngage says a clear giveaway of AI slop is the same visual elements showing up across unrelated designs. > "A clear giveaway of AI slop is when the same visual elements keep showing up across unrelated designs." [venngage.com](https://venngage.com/blog/ai-slop-in-design/), retrieved September 28, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer Venngage reports that by January 2026 shoppers were donating, returning or reselling "AI slop gifts" bought from misleading AI-image ads. > "By January 2026, disgruntled shoppers started donating, returning or reselling these "AI slop gifts" after feeling duped by the misleading ads." [venngage.com](https://venngage.com/blog/ai-slop-in-design/), retrieved September 28, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer Merriam-Webster chose "slop" as its 2025 Word of the Year, defining it as digital content of low quality produced usually in quantity by means of AI. > "Merriam-Webster's human editors have chosen slop as the 2025 Word of the Year. We define slop as "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence."" [www.merriam-webster.com](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year), retrieved September 28, 2026 24. Receipt 24Reviewer Merriam-Webster notes slop originally meant "soft mud" in the 1700s, then "food waste" in the 1800s, then "rubbish" or a product of little value. > "The original sense of the word, in the 1700s, was "soft mud." In the 1800s it came to mean "food waste" (as in "pig slop"), and then more generally, "rubbish" or "a product of little or no value."" [www.merriam-webster.com](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year), retrieved September 28, 2026 25. Receipt 25Reviewer Merriam-Webster lists the 2025 slop flood as including absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, fake news, junky AI-written books and lots of talking cats. > "The flood of slop in 2025 included absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks pretty real, junky AI-written books" [www.merriam-webster.com](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year), retrieved September 28, 2026 26. Receipt 26Reviewer Gizmodo reports a PNAS study from Australian National University trained participants to recognize AI-generated faces, in some cases with "near-perfect accuracy." > "researchers from Australian National University claim they used a special method to successfully train a group of participants to recognize AI-generated faces, in some cases with "near-perfect accuracy."" [gizmodo.com](https://gizmodo.com/scientists-think-this-is-the-best-way-to-detect-ai-slop-imagery-2000777919), retrieved September 28, 2026 27. Receipt 27Reviewer The PNAS researchers say people rate AI faces as more symmetrical, well-proportioned and attractive than human faces, but less distinctive, memorable and expressive. > ""People automatically detect these differences, rating AI faces as more symmetrical, well-proportioned, and attractive than human faces, but less distinctive, memorable, and expressive,"" [gizmodo.com](https://gizmodo.com/scientists-think-this-is-the-best-way-to-detect-ai-slop-imagery-2000777919), retrieved September 28, 2026 28. Receipt 28Reviewer The study says AI image generators build faces from the mathematical average of tens of thousands of training faces, making them look more typical than real faces. > "this reliance on the mathematical average makes the face seem "more typical in appearance than real human faces."" [gizmodo.com](https://gizmodo.com/scientists-think-this-is-the-best-way-to-detect-ai-slop-imagery-2000777919), retrieved September 28, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer Gizmodo reports older detection relied on visual errors like warped backgrounds, anatomical glitches and missing fingers, but those cues became far less reliable as generators improved. > "warped backgrounds, anatomical glitches, or telltale mistakes like missing fingers. But as AI image generators have become more precise, those cues have become far less reliable." [gizmodo.com](https://gizmodo.com/scientists-think-this-is-the-best-way-to-detect-ai-slop-imagery-2000777919), retrieved September 28, 2026 30. Receipt 30Reviewer SlopDetector describes "Shrimp Jesus" images and notes Stanford Internet Observatory studied 120 Facebook Pages whose AI images drew hundreds of millions of interactions. > "Stanford Internet Observatory studied 120 Facebook Pages posting AI images that generated hundreds of millions of interactions." [slopdetector.org](https://slopdetector.org/ai-slop-examples), retrieved September 28, 2026 31. Receipt 31Reviewer SlopDetector reports an AI-generated Danish children's book had hyenas with hooves, a gorilla with six fingers, and impossible animal poses. > "hyenas with hooves instead of paws, a gorilla with six fingers, and anatomically impossible animal poses." [slopdetector.org](https://slopdetector.org/ai-slop-examples), retrieved September 28, 2026 32. Receipt 32Reviewer SlopDetector reports Svedka ran a fully AI-generated Super Bowl ad in 2026 and post-game surveys found only 7% of viewers could identify the brand. > "Vodka brand Svedka ran a fully AI-generated Super Bowl ad during the 2026 game. Post-game surveys found only 7% of viewers could correctly identify the brand" [slopdetector.org](https://slopdetector.org/ai-slop-examples), retrieved September 28, 2026 33. Receipt 33Reviewer SlopDetector says Shrimp Jesus-style imagery is mass-produced for engagement farming with no artistic intent or message. > "Mass-produced sensational imagery designed purely for engagement farming. No artistic intent, no message - just bait for clicks and ad revenue." [slopdetector.org](https://slopdetector.org/ai-slop-examples), retrieved September 28, 2026 34. Receipt 34Reviewer Britannica defines AI slop as low-quality AI-generated media, often made with little human effort, in the form of images, videos, audio or text. > "AI slop is low-quality media content generated by artificial intelligence (AI), often with little human effort. It can come in the form of images, videos, audio, or text." [www.britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/technology/AI-slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 35. Receipt 35Reviewer Britannica says critics worry AI slop contributes to misinformation and overwhelms audiences with low-value content. > "Critics worry that AI slop contributes to misinformation, such as incorrect or ill-advised AI -generated search answers, and overwhelms audiences with low-value content." [www.britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/technology/AI-slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 36. Receipt 36Reviewer Britannica notes "slop" has been used online for low-effort experiences since at least 2019, and that "Italian brain rot" was an AI-generated brain rot trend that went viral on TikTok in 2025. > "On the Internet, "slop" has been used to describe low-effort online or in-person experiences since at least 2019." [www.britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/technology/AI-slop), retrieved September 28, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What is considered AI slop? AI slop is low-quality AI-generated media made with little human effort. It comes as images, videos, audio or text. Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year entry defines it as digital content of low quality produced usually in quantity by means of AI. Its examples of the 2025 flood include absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, fake news, junky AI-written books and lots of talking cats. ### Why is AI art slop? AI art is not slop by default. It becomes slop when it is generated mindlessly and pushed on people who didn't ask for it. Writers on the topic point out that human-guided AI work has been original enough to be displayed in museums. Slop spreads because making it now costs close to nothing, while viewers pay for it in attention and cognitive burden, and the environment pays too. ### How to identify AI slop images? Start with the background text, such as distant storefronts and book spines. Then check hands that grip or overlap something, and follow any repeating pattern from edge to edge. Treat the result as a probability. A 2024 meta-analysis of 56 studies put average human accuracy at spotting AI images at 55.54%, barely above chance. ### How to avoid AI design slop? Treat every AI output as a first draft, and edit it by hand before you publish. Design writers define slop as generic AI visuals published without meaningful human editing. It looks polished at first glance but is interchangeable with everyone else's, so reusing the same visual elements across unrelated designs gives it away. ### Is AI slop bad? Critics say AI slop contributes to misinformation and overwhelms audiences with low-value content. One commercial example: Svedka ran a fully AI-generated Super Bowl ad in 2026, and post-game surveys found only 7% of viewers could identify the brand. Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Janitor AI review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/janitor-ai updated: 2026-09-15 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /Janitor AI Character chat + AI sandboxes # Janitor AI review Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published September 1, 2026 · Updated September 15, 2026 Verdict Pick Janitor AI if you are an adult who wants unlimited free chat with millions of community-made bots, adult roleplay, and the option to pay for more memory or plug in other models. Skip it if you want authored stories, long memory without paying, or reliable service at peak hours. Overall slop51MicrowavedFun 6/10 - Best for Adults who want free roleplay with a huge library of community bots - Pricing Free at this review, with unlimited chats, standard models and about 9k tokens of context. Janitor+ costs $12.99 a month for 5x context, priority messages and monthly swipes on its top models, and Router credits for third-party models are an extra purchase that requires the subscription. - Platforms Web, iOS, Android [Janitor AI official site](https://janitorai.com/) On this page (10)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 51/100 - Prose Does it write like a person? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Memory Microwaved 50 Memory is the context window, about 9k tokens free and 5x on Janitor+, with lorebooks feeding in background when relevant. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Microwaved 45 Bots are built by the community, and reviewers say their responses vary with how well each personality is defined. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Microwaved 50 The listing describes a session as picking a genre, tapping chat and seeing where it goes, so you steer while chats can be forked and continued. Asks: Does anything happen? - Pricing Microwaved 40 Chat is free and unlimited, but the extra memory and priority sit behind a $12.99 plan, and Router credits are sold on top to subscribers. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Cafeteria 68 Janitor's public character pages turned us away, so this is judged from its App Store screenshots, where one waxy, heavy-lidded male face repeats across a dozen user-uploaded portraits under an orange cast and the featured knight's shoulder armor turns into shapeless plates. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## Decent 0 to 10, higher is better. 6/10 A huge free library of community bots, held back by a small free context and reported peak-hour outages. At this review ## Key facts | Type | Character chat, AI sandboxes | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | | Pricing at this review | Free at this review, with unlimited chats, standard models and about 9k tokens of context. Janitor+ costs $12.99 a month for 5x context, priority messages and monthly swipes on its top models, and Router credits for third-party models are an extra purchase that requires the subscription. | | Age rating | 18+ | | Content policy | Explicit content behind an age gate | | Who writes the characters | Made by other users | | Memory | A context window of about 9k tokens on the free tier and 5x that on Janitor+, plus lorebooks that reviewers say feed in background when relevant. | | Best for | Adults who want free roleplay with a huge library of community bots | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +Unlimited free chats with millions of community-made bots, and Janitor AI says a free option will always stay. - +Adult content between consenting adult characters is permitted for 18+ users, under published rules on what is off-limits. - +Chats can be published for others to read, react to, fork and continue. - +You can change the model. janitor+ Router offers third-party models, and reviewers report you can connect your own API key. - +Janitor+ is one flat $12.99 a month and multiplies context 5x. Watch out for - !The free tier's context is around 9k tokens, and 5x more memory costs $12.99 a month. - !Reviewers report site instability at peak hours. An App Store reviewer reports replies that hang until the app is fully restarted. - !Reviewers report that NSFW access requires sending a government-issued ID to a third-party verification provider. - !Router credits cost extra and require Janitor+, and subscriptions are generally non-refundable. - !A bot is only as good as its definition. Reviewers report that responses vary with how well each personality is written. Rankings ## [Ranked in](/best) - [#1 in The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps#rank-1) Best for: Adults who want free, open roleplay with community bots - [#2 in The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives#rank-2) Best for: The closest drop-in for community-made character bots Guides ## [Guides for Janitor AI](/guides) - [How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it)](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) A checklist for spotting AI art slop by the tells that still work, how to avoid making it, and how the AI character apps we review score on art. - [The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) The AI words list, sorted by model: what Claude, DeepSeek, JLLM, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok overuse, with a receipt for each. Signs of AI writing you can check. ## What it is Janitor AI is a character chat platform on the web, iOS and Android where you talk to bots built by other users, and the homepage claims 15M+ users. The App Store listing, which calls the app "Janitor: Interactive Stories", describes a session as picking a genre, finding content, tapping chat and seeing where it goes, with the fiction built by millions of readers and writers. Users can also publish chats for others to read, react to, fork and continue. Janitor AI is for adults. The Terms of Service say the platform is intended solely for users 18 and over, and the iOS app is rated 18+. The Community Guidelines permit adult content between consenting adult characters, who must be physically and mentally over 18. The rules still prohibit gore, bestiality, sexual violence, self-harm or suicide content, and depictions of living politicians, and character avatars cannot contain explicit or sexual imagery. ## What it is like to use Memory is the context window, around 9k tokens on the free tier and 5x that on Janitor+. Janitor AI has released a short response model to general access, and janitor+ Router gives subscribers third-party models inside the platform. Reviewers describe four things: - Responses vary from bot to bot, depending on how well each personality is defined. - The native JanitorLLM model is coherent but noticeably behind the leading models. - Lorebooks feed background world data to the model when it is relevant, not every turn. - The site is unstable at peak hours. They also report that you can connect your own API key from an AI provider, with usage billed separately by that provider. First-time setup takes 20-30 minutes if API keys are new to you. App Store reviewers report replies stuck on "responding..." that only a full restart of the app fixes. They also describe a "branch into a new chat" option that is helpful but very buggy. ## Pricing at this review Janitor AI is free at this review. The free tier includes unlimited chats with millions of bots, standard chat models and a context limit of around 9k tokens, and Janitor AI says it will always keep a free option. Janitor+, its first subscription, costs $12.99 a month. It adds 5x more context, unlimited priority messages for faster replies when usage is high, and monthly swipes (rerolls) on its top models. Router credits for third-party models are a separate purchase that requires an active Janitor+ subscription, and subscribers got $5 in free launch credits. Subscriptions are generally non-refundable except where the Terms of Service or the law require otherwise. ## Who should skip it Skip Janitor AI if you are under 18, because users reasonably suspected of being under 18 are permanently banned. Skip it if you want a story someone wrote for you, since a session goes where you steer the bot. Skip it too if you will not hand over ID for adult content. Reviewers report that NSFW access requires a government-issued ID submitted to a third-party verification provider. Janitor AI has also announced it must add age verification for users in Brazil, Australia and the UK, while saying it opposes KYC for social media. If long memory matters and you will not pay, the free tier's context of around 9k tokens is the ceiling. Sources ## 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 September 15, 2026. 1. Receipt 1Official site Janitor+ is Janitor AI's first-ever subscription product, priced at $12.99/month. > "janitor+ is now available for $12.99/month at janitorai.com/plus" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/29/), retrieved September 28, 2026 2. Receipt 2Official site Janitor+ gives 5x more context for improved memory during chats. > "5x more context for improved memory during chats" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/29/), retrieved September 28, 2026 3. Receipt 3Official site Janitor+ includes unlimited priority messages for faster responses when usage is high, and monthly swipes (rerolls) with its frontier models. > "Unlimited priority messages, giving you faster responses even when usage is high" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/29/), retrieved September 28, 2026 4. Receipt 4Official site The free tier includes unlimited chats with millions of bots, access to standard chat models, and a context limit of around 9k tokens. > "Unlimited chats with millions of bots Access to standard chat models Context limit of around 9k tokens" [help.janitorai.com](https://help.janitorai.com/en/article/faq-subscription-janitorai-1o8ccf2/), retrieved September 28, 2026 5. Receipt 5Official site Janitor AI says it will always keep a free option available. > "No. We will always keep a free option available for everyone." [help.janitorai.com](https://help.janitorai.com/en/article/faq-subscription-janitorai-1o8ccf2/), retrieved September 28, 2026 6. Receipt 6Official site Subscriptions are generally non-refundable except where required by the Terms of Service or law. > "Subscriptions are generally non-refundable, except where required by our Terms of Service or applicable law." [help.janitorai.com](https://help.janitorai.com/en/article/faq-subscription-janitorai-1o8ccf2/), retrieved September 28, 2026 7. Receipt 7Official site The Terms of Service (last updated July 29, 2026) say the platform is intended solely for users at least 18 years old. > "The Platform is intended solely for users who are at least 18 years of age." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/term), retrieved September 28, 2026 8. Receipt 8Official site The Terms prohibit content that depicts gore, bestiality, or sexual violence, and content encouraging, depicting or instructing on self-harm or suicide. > "(d) Depicts gore, bestiality, or sexual violence;" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/term), retrieved September 28, 2026 9. Receipt 9Official site Character avatar images may not contain explicit nudity, pornographic content or overtly sexual imagery. > "Explicit nudity, pornographic content, or overtly sexual imagery is not permitted in avatars." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/term), retrieved September 28, 2026 10. Receipt 10Official site The Terms describe janitor+ Router credits, and an active janitor+ subscription is required to purchase them. > ""Purchased Credits" are janitor+ Router credits obtained in exchange for payment." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/term), retrieved September 28, 2026 11. Receipt 11Official site Janitor+ can be accessed on iOS and Android apps after updating from the App Store or Play Store. > "if you're on ios or android, you'll need to update the app to access janitor+." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/29/), retrieved September 28, 2026 12. Receipt 12Official site The homepage claims 15M+ users. > "Join 15M+ users crafting living stories" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/), retrieved September 28, 2026 13. Receipt 13Official site The Community Guidelines (updated February 4, 2026) permit adult content between consenting adult characters, while prohibiting certain categories of sexual content. > "While JanitorAI permits adult content between consenting adult characters, certain categories of sexual content are prohibited" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/content), retrieved September 28, 2026 14. Receipt 14Official site Pornographic images and images depicting sexual activity are not permitted, including nudity and "censored" versions of such images. > "Pornographic images and images depicting sexual activity are not permitted." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/content), retrieved September 28, 2026 15. Receipt 15Official site Characters must be both physically and mentally over 18. > "Characters must be both physically and mentally over 18." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/content), retrieved September 28, 2026 16. Receipt 16Official site Users reasonably suspected of being under 18 are permanently banned. > "Users who we have reasonable suspicion of being under 18 years of age are permanently banned from the platform." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/content), retrieved September 28, 2026 17. Receipt 17Official site Content depicting living politicians is not permitted. > "Content depicting living politicians is not permitted." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/content), retrieved September 28, 2026 18. Receipt 18Official site The Terms prohibit content that encourages, depicts, or instructs on self-harm or suicide. > "(g) Encourages, depicts, or instructs on self-harm or suicide;" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/term), retrieved September 28, 2026 19. Receipt 19Reviewer Fritz.ai's reviewer lists frequent site instability and unreliable uptime during peak hours as a con. > "Frequent site instability and unreliable uptime during peak hours" [fritz.ai](https://fritz.ai/janitor-ai-review/), retrieved September 28, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer Fritz.ai's reviewer reports responses vary from bot to bot depending on how well each personality is defined. > "the responses vary from one bot to another, depending on how well their personality is defined" [fritz.ai](https://fritz.ai/janitor-ai-review/), retrieved September 28, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer Fritz.ai's reviewer reports you can connect your own API key from platforms like OpenAI or Anthropic, with usage billed separately by the provider. > "You can connect your own API key from platforms like OpenAI or Anthropic. This gives you access to higher-quality models, but usage is billed separately by the provider." [fritz.ai](https://fritz.ai/janitor-ai-review/), retrieved September 28, 2026 22. Receipt 22App store listing The iOS app "Janitor: Interactive Stories" by developer JanitorAI is free with in-app purchases and rated 18+. > "Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPhone. Not verified for macOS. Age Rating 18+" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/janitor-interactive-stories/id6692609366), retrieved September 28, 2026 23. Receipt 23App store listing The App Store description pitches Janitor as stepping inside stories and talking to characters to shape what happens next. > "Janitor is where you step inside stories instead of just reading them. It's like if your favorite book let you talk to the characters and shape what happens next." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/janitor-interactive-stories/id6692609366), retrieved September 28, 2026 24. Receipt 24App store listing The store listing describes a session as: pick a genre, find content, tap chat and see where it goes; content is built by millions of readers and writers. > "Pick a genre. Find content. Tap chat and see where it goes." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/janitor-interactive-stories/id6692609366), retrieved September 28, 2026 25. Receipt 25App store listing The listing says millions of readers and writers build the interactive fiction together. > "Millions of readers and writers building interactive fiction together." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/janitor-interactive-stories/id6692609366), retrieved September 28, 2026 26. Receipt 26App store listing An App Store reviewer says the app sometimes shows "responding..." and never delivers a reply or errors, fixed only by fully closing and reopening the app. > "sometimes the app just struggles to give responses like it'll say "responding..." but even if I wait a long time it doesn't give anything or just errors." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/janitor-interactive-stories/id6692609366), retrieved September 28, 2026 27. Receipt 27Official site Janitor AI announced it is being forced to implement age verification for users in Brazil, Australia and the UK due to new laws, and says it opposes KYC for social media. > "Due to new laws in Brazil, Australia, and the UK, we are being forced to implement age verification for users in those countries." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/), retrieved September 28, 2026 28. Receipt 28Official site Janitor AI launched janitor+ Router, giving access to third-party AI models through JanitorAI, with $5 in free launch credits for janitor+ subscribers. > "Access third-party AI models directly through JanitorAI with transparent pricing, advanced generation controls, exclusive discounts, and $5 in free launch credits for janitor+ subscribers." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/), retrieved September 28, 2026 29. Receipt 29Official site Users can publish chats for others to read, react to, fork and continue. > "You can now publish your chats for other users to read, react to, fork, and continue." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/), retrieved September 28, 2026 30. Receipt 30Official site The official JanitorAI app is available on the App Store and Google Play. > "the official janitorai app is now available on the app store and google play" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/), retrieved September 28, 2026 31. Receipt 31App store listing An App Store reviewer says they worry about Janitor+ because other AI apps with subscriptions were greedy and their free versions had poor memory and response length. > "I'm worried bc all the other ai apps I tried before and had a subscription were very greedy and the free version had poor memory, length response, etc." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/janitor-interactive-stories/id6692609366), retrieved September 28, 2026 32. Receipt 32App store listing An App Store reviewer says the "branch into a new chat" option is very helpful but super buggy. > "I am so glad about the "branch into a new chat" option, it's been so helpful. I will say, though, it's super buggy." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/janitor-interactive-stories/id6692609366), retrieved September 28, 2026 33. Receipt 33Reviewer Reviewers at Dupple (May 2026) report that NSFW access requires submitting a government-issued ID to a third-party verification provider, a change rolled out in late 2025. > "NSFW access now requires submitting a government-issued ID to a third-party verification provider." [dupple.com](https://dupple.com/reviews/janitorai), retrieved September 28, 2026 34. Receipt 34Reviewer Reviewers at Dupple report that lorebooks feed background world data to the model contextually rather than every turn. > "optional lorebooks (background world data fed to the model contextually rather than every turn)" [dupple.com](https://dupple.com/reviews/janitorai), retrieved September 28, 2026 35. Receipt 35Reviewer Reviewers at Dupple report the native JanitorLLM model is coherent but noticeably behind GPT-4, Claude, or DeepSeek-V3. > "the native model is coherent but noticeably behind GPT-4, Claude, or DeepSeek-V3." [dupple.com](https://dupple.com/reviews/janitorai), retrieved September 28, 2026 36. Receipt 36Reviewer Reviewers at Dupple report first-time proxy/API setup takes 20-30 minutes for users unfamiliar with API keys. > "Plan to spend 20-30 minutes on first-time setup if you are not familiar with API keys." [dupple.com](https://dupple.com/reviews/janitorai), retrieved September 28, 2026 37. Receipt 37Official site Janitor AI released its short response model to general access. > "Today, we're releasing our short response model to general access." [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/), retrieved September 28, 2026 38. Receipt 38Official site Janitor AI blocked UK access starting July 24th due to the UK's Online Safety Act (older announcement; date year not given on index). > "we're forced to block UK access starting July 24th" [janitorai.com](https://janitorai.com/news/announcements/), retrieved September 28, 2026 39. Receipt 39App store listing The first Janitor App Store screenshot sets its tagline over a collage of character portraits. > "Write it, live it share it" [is1-ssl.mzstatic.com](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/c6/14/70/c6147042-684b-674e-a409-7c157e09b143/Screenshot_19_U002c5_9.png/600x1300bb.jpg), retrieved September 28, 2026 40. Receipt 40App store listing A Janitor App Store screenshot is captioned Meet Unique Characters, over a featured character portrait. > "Meet Unique Characters" [is1-ssl.mzstatic.com](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/f3/1e/fc/f31efccd-5dbf-6ed0-f85a-dbef47b865b9/Screenshot_19_U002c5_9_164.png/600x1300bb.jpg), retrieved September 28, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is Janitor AI free? Yes, at this review. The free tier includes unlimited chats with millions of bots, standard chat models and a context limit of around 9k tokens, and Janitor AI says it will always keep a free option. Janitor+ costs $12.99 a month. ### How much is Janitor+ and what does it add? Janitor+ costs $12.99 a month at this review. It adds 5x more context, unlimited priority messages when usage is high, monthly swipes (rerolls) on its top models, and the right to buy janitor+ Router credits. Subscriptions are generally non-refundable except where the Terms or the law require otherwise. ### Does Janitor AI allow NSFW? Yes, for adults. The Community Guidelines permit adult content between consenting adult characters, who must be physically and mentally over 18. The rules ban gore, bestiality, sexual violence and certain other sexual content, and character avatars cannot be explicit or sexual. Reviewers report that NSFW access requires government ID verification through a third-party provider. ### Is there a Janitor AI app? Yes. The official app, listed as "Janitor: Interactive Stories", is on the App Store and Google Play, and Janitor+ works in both once you update. The iOS app is free with in-app purchases and rated 18+. ### Is Janitor AI for teens? No. The Terms of Service say Janitor AI is intended solely for users 18 and over, and users reasonably suspected of being under 18 are permanently banned. ### Can you use your own AI model on Janitor AI? Yes. Janitor+ subscribers can buy Router credits for third-party models inside Janitor AI. Reviewers report you can also connect your own API key, billed by that provider, and that first-time setup takes 20-30 minutes if you are new to API keys. Keep reading ## More like this [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [8 apps ranked](/best/character-ai-alternatives) ### [The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Eight apps people actually switch to, ranked by the one thing each fixes, from memory and plot to freedom and setup time.](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [Top pick: Frontier](/best/character-ai-alternatives) [AI sandboxesOctober 7, 2026](/apps/ai-dungeon) ### [AI Dungeon review](/apps/ai-dungeon) [An AI text adventure built on player-written scenarios and memory you manage yourself](/apps/ai-dungeon) [49MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/ai-dungeon) [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) [Character chatAugust 23, 2026 · Updated September 21, 2026](/apps/character-ai) ### [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai) [Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay](/apps/character-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/character-ai) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: Character.AI review url: https://promptplay.io/apps/character-ai updated: 2026-09-21 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Reviews](/apps) 3. /Character.AI Character chat # Character.AI review Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published August 23, 2026 · Updated September 21, 2026 Verdict Pick Character.AI if you want free, unlimited chat with a huge library of community-made characters, by text or live voice call. Skip it if you need a bot that holds a long story together, if you won't sit through ads, or if you won't verify your age with a selfie should your account be flagged. Overall slop51MicrowavedFun 5/10 - Best for Free, unlimited chat with community-made characters, by text or voice - Pricing Free with unlimited messaging and ads. At this review, lite costs $4.99 a month or $2.49 a week (varies by region), and c.ai+ costs $9.99 a month or $94.99 a year in USD. - Platforms iOS [Character.AI official site](https://character.ai/) On this page (10)Show 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Slop Report](#slop-report) 2. [Key facts](#key-facts) 3. [Strengths and watch-outs](#strengths) 4. [Ranked in](#ranked-in) 5. [What it is](#what-it-is) 6. [What it is like to use](#what-it-is-like-to-use) 7. [Pricing at this review](#pricing-at-this-review) 8. [Who should skip it](#who-should-skip-it) 9. [Receipts](#receipts) 10. [Questions people ask](#faq) Slop Report ## Overall: Microwaved 0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below. 51/100 - Prose Microwaved 50 Users call the older default chat style Wattpad-ish and say the paid DeepSqueak model now gives short replies. Asks: Does it write like a person? - Memory Microwaved 55 The bot works mainly from recent messages and pins you set yourself, and the paid tiers sell more pins and the full memory suite. Asks: Does it remember you? - Characters Microwaved 45 Users build the millions of characters, so each personality is whatever its creator wrote into it. Asks: Does everyone sound the same? - Story Does anything happen? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app. - Pricing Microwaved 48 Messaging is free and unlimited, but ads and capped premium styles push you toward lite at $4.99 or c.ai+ at $9.99 a month. Asks: Does it charge you for caring? - Art Microwaved 55 Of five featured characters' avatars on Character.AI, Monster Maker is raw early generator output with melted limbs and floating fragments and Clara Brooks has the glossy default AI portrait look, next to a painterly generated Loki, a manga-style panel and a photo of a crochet doll. Asks: Does the art look like a person made it? Fun Meter ## Decent 0 to 10, higher is better. 5/10 A huge community library with voice calls, held back by ads, short memory and chat limits that users report. At this review ## Key facts | Type | Character chat | | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Platforms | iOS | | Pricing at this review | Free with unlimited messaging and ads. At this review, lite costs $4.99 a month or $2.49 a week (varies by region), and c.ai+ costs $9.99 a month or $94.99 a year in USD. | | Age rating | 18+ | | Content policy | Mature themes, not explicit | | Who writes the characters | Made by other users | | Memory | Mainly recent messages plus memories you pin yourself. Paid tiers add more pins, and users say older context slides out. | | Best for | Free, unlimited chat with community-made characters, by text or voice | The good and the bad ## Strengths and watch-outs Strengths - +The App Store listing says Character.AI hosts millions of user-generated characters, and you can create and publish your own. - +You can talk to characters by text or by live voice call. - +Every tier keeps unlimited messaging, and the PipSqueak 3 and ShortSqueak chat styles are free for everyone. - +At this review, the lite plan costs $4.99 a month and adds extra memory pins, a Memory Usage bar and no banner ads. - +Memory pins and Lorebook let you decide what the bot keeps in view. Watch out for - !Only c.ai+, at $9.99 a month at this review, has zero ads. lite still shows interstitial ads, only fewer of them, and gives a daily allowance on premium chat styles before the chat drops back to PipSqueak 3. - !Users report lots of recent ads, a new time limit of about an hour of chatting, and reading mode instead of chat for unverified accounts. - !Users say the bot works mainly from recent messages, pinned memories use up the context window, and the paid DeepSqueak model now gives short replies that ignore pins. - !An account flagged as under 18 has to verify with a Persona selfie, and possibly an ID, to leave the under-18 experience. - !Cancelling a paid plan takes effect at the end of the billing period, with no partial refunds for unused time. Rankings ## [Ranked in](/best) - [#2 in The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps#rank-2) Best for: Free chat with community characters, by text or voice - [#5 in The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps#rank-5) Best for: Free, unlimited chat with community-made characters Guides ## [Guides for Character.AI](/guides) - [How to spot AI art slop (and how to avoid making it)](/guides/how-to-spot-ai-art-slop) A checklist for spotting AI art slop by the tells that still work, how to avoid making it, and how the AI character apps we review score on art. - [The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model) The AI words list, sorted by model: what Claude, DeepSeek, JLLM, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok overuse, with a receipt for each. Signs of AI writing you can check. ## What it is Character.AI is a character chat app built on a community library. The App Store listing says it hosts millions of user-generated AI Characters. Users create characters, write their personalities, set parameters and publish them for others to chat with. You talk to those characters by text or by live voice call. The iOS App Store listing rates Character.AI 18+. Character.AI ended open-ended chat for under-18 users starting November 24th. Teens can still create Characters, scenes, videos and voices, and use AvatarFX and Imagine Chat. PipSqueak 3 is the default chat style for general roleplay, ShortSqueak is also free, and DeepSqueak and LongSqueak are the premium styles. Reviewers report that Character.AI also launched c.ai Series, microseries built from characters native to the platform. After an episode, users over 18 can chat with those characters and roleplay new scenes. ## What it is like to use Character.AI keeps the recent conversation in view and lets you pin what matters, and users say that is where its memory ends. They describe a bot that works mainly from recent messages, with older context sliding out as a chat goes on. Pinned memories stay visible to the bot but take up the same context window. They also say the paid DeepSqueak model has gotten worse, with short replies that ignore pins and established memory, and that the old PipSqueak 2 style read as too Wattpad-ish. Character.AI says PipSqueak 3 is smarter than PipSqueak 2 and keeps better track of the chat, and that both new styles work with Lorebook. Character.AI warns that its characters make things up, from songs that don't exist to fake evidence. Nothing a character tells you counts as a source. Users also report problems with access: a new time limit of about an hour of chatting, lots of recent ads, and reading mode instead of chat for unverified users. Character.AI runs age assurance on all accounts using login info, platform activity and third-party signals. If you are flagged as under 18, you choose between the under-18 experience and verifying your age with a Persona selfie. Persona asks for an ID only as a final step, collects it rather than Character.AI, and keeps it for one week. ## Pricing at this review Character.AI is free to use, and every tier keeps unlimited messaging. The App Store listing shows it as free with in-app purchases. - **Free:** unlimited messaging on PipSqueak 3 and ShortSqueak, with ads. - **lite:** $4.99 a month or $2.49 a week in USD, with prices varying by region. You get a daily allowance of messages on DeepSqueak and LongSqueak, and the chat switches back to PipSqueak 3 when it runs out. lite also adds extra memory pins, a Memory Usage bar, no banner ads, fewer interstitial ads and less slow mode. - **c.ai+:** $9.99 a month or $94.99 a year in USD, the standard prices in the June 2026 sale terms. You get unlimited premium chats, zero ads, the complete memory suite and Style Control. Cancelling takes effect at the end of the billing period, and Character.AI issues no partial refunds for unused time. ## Who should skip it Skip Character.AI if you are under 18 and want open-ended chat, because Character.AI no longer offers it to teens. Skip it if you want long roleplay that stays consistent without constant pinning, since users say older context slides out of view. Skip the free tier if ads bother you: at this review, c.ai+ at $9.99 a month is the only tier with zero ads. If a selfie check is a dealbreaker, know that any account flagged as under 18 has to verify to leave the under-18 experience. Character.AI's Privacy Policy covers data sharing for targeted advertising. Sources ## 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 September 21, 2026. 1. Receipt 1App store listing The iOS App Store listing shows an age rating of 18+ with in-app controls; the app is free with in-app purchases. > "Free · In‑App Purchases Age Rating 18+ In-App Controls" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/character-ai-chat-talk-text/id1671705818), retrieved September 28, 2026 2. Receipt 2App store listing The App Store listing says Character.AI hosts millions of user-generated AI Characters. > "Character.AI is home to millions of user-generated AI Characters, offering a diverse and exciting world beyond basic chatbots." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/character-ai-chat-talk-text/id1671705818), retrieved September 28, 2026 3. Receipt 3App store listing The listing says users can interact through texting or live voice calls with characters. > "Interact through texting or live voice calls. With Character.AI, you can seamlessly switch between AI chat and live conversations with AI Characters." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/character-ai-chat-talk-text/id1671705818), retrieved September 28, 2026 4. Receipt 4App store listing An App Store reviewer says unverified users are given reading mode instead of chat. > "The app quite literally is used for chatting, but then you take that away and give reading mode to people you don't verify their age." [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/character-ai-chat-talk-text/id1671705818), retrieved September 28, 2026 5. Receipt 5App store listing An App Store reviewer says there is a new time limit of about an hour of chatting. > "the new time limit is fine, I get why it's a thing but likeee only a hour to chat is a bit crazy" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/character-ai-chat-talk-text/id1671705818), retrieved September 28, 2026 6. Receipt 6App store listing An App Store reviewer says the app has recently had lots of ads. > "However, recently it's been veryyyyyy annoying. Lots of ADS" [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/character-ai-chat-talk-text/id1671705818), retrieved September 28, 2026 7. Receipt 7Official site Character.AI's help center says it is free to use. > "It's free to use!" [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/14997389547931-What-is-c-ai), retrieved September 28, 2026 8. Receipt 8Official site Character.AI warns that characters make things up, such as recommending songs that don't exist or linking fake evidence. > "Characters make things up! So while they can be entertaining and useful in a lot of ways, they can also recommend a song that doesn't exist or provide links to fake evidence to support their claims." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/14997389547931-What-is-c-ai), retrieved September 28, 2026 9. Receipt 9Official site Standard c.ai+ pricing, per the Summer Flash Sale terms (June 2026), is $9.99/month or $94.99/year in USD; the promo offered $14.99 for the first 3 months or $59.99 for the first year. > "Both offers automatically renew at the standard rate at the end of the promotional period ($9.99/month for the 3-month offer; $94.99/year for the annual offer)" [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/51248493096987-c-ai-Summer-Flash-Sale-Offer-Terms), retrieved September 28, 2026 10. Receipt 10Official site The summer promo annual offer was $59.99 for the first year of c.ai+, then $94.99/year. > "Annual Offer: $59.99 for the first year of c.ai+, then $94.99/year thereafter, automatically." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/51248493096987-c-ai-Summer-Flash-Sale-Offer-Terms), retrieved September 28, 2026 11. Receipt 11Official site Cancellation takes effect at the end of the billing period, and no partial refunds are issued for unused time. > "Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No partial refunds are issued for unused time within a billing period." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/51248493096987-c-ai-Summer-Flash-Sale-Offer-Terms), retrieved September 28, 2026 12. Receipt 12Official site Character.AI ended open-ended chat for under-18 users, with the change beginning to roll out on November 24th. > "No more open-ended chat for under-18 users This change will begin rolling out on November 24th." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/42645561782555-Important-Changes-for-Teens-on-Character-ai), retrieved September 28, 2026 13. Receipt 13Official site Under-18 users can still create Characters, scenes, videos and voices, and tools like AvatarFX and Imagine Chat remain available to them. > "Continue creating Characters, scenes, videos, and voices. Share your creations with others in the community. Many of our tools like AvatarFX and Imagine Chat, are still available to under-18 users." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/42645561782555-Important-Changes-for-Teens-on-Character-ai), retrieved September 28, 2026 14. Receipt 14Official site Character.AI runs age assurance on all accounts using login info, platform activity and third-party signals; if you're flagged as under 18, you can use the under-18 experience or verify your age. > "If the process indicates you're under 18, we'll let you know. At that point you can either use the under-18 experience, or you can choose to do age verification to get back to the 18+ experience." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/42828297541787-Age-Assurance-What-you-need-to-know), retrieved September 28, 2026 15. Receipt 15Official site Age verification goes through Persona via a selfie; an ID is requested only as a final step, is collected by Persona rather than C.AI, and is kept for one week. > "For those users who do get prompted for an ID, it's collected by Persona, not C.AI. Persona is a reputable third-party provider with strong safety and security controls. And they only keep the IDs they collect for one week." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/42828297541787-Age-Assurance-What-you-need-to-know), retrieved September 28, 2026 16. Receipt 16Official site Character.AI added Privacy Policy sections on data collection and sharing, including for targeted advertising, with updates effective August 27, 2025. > "We've added sections to the Privacy Policy to provide more detail about information we collect and how we use and share that information, including for targeted advertising." [support.character.ai](https://support.character.ai/hc/en-us/articles/40696629593499--Announcement-Policy-and-Community-Guidelines-Updates), retrieved September 28, 2026 17. Receipt 17Forum Users on Reddit say the paid DeepSqueak model has gotten worse, with short replies that ignore pinned messages and established memory. > "the replies are like 2 paragraphs long and do not concern themselves with ANY of the pinned messages/established memory." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/CharacterAI/comments/1sqvau4/the_state_of_deepsqueak/), retrieved September 28, 2026 18. Receipt 18Forum Users on Reddit say pinned memories are always visible to the bot but take up space in the context window. > "Pinned memories need to be referenced to work. The bot will always see them and they also take up space in your context window." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/CharacterAI/comments/1sqvau4/the_state_of_deepsqueak/), retrieved September 28, 2026 19. Receipt 19Forum Users on Reddit say the bot sees mainly recent messages, and older context slides out as the chat goes on. > "The context window is priority. It's your most recent messages that the bot can see. Older context slides as your chat goes." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/CharacterAI/comments/1sqvau4/the_state_of_deepsqueak/), retrieved September 28, 2026 20. Receipt 20Forum Users on Reddit say they find the Pipsqueak 2 chat style too Wattpad-ish. > "It is entirely too wattpad-ish and I cannot stand it." [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/CharacterAI/comments/1sqvau4/the_state_of_deepsqueak/), retrieved September 28, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer Reviewers report that Character.AI launched "c.ai Series," microseries built from characters native to the platform, and users over 18 can chat with the characters after episodes and roleplay new scenes. > "a user's experience with the shows doesn't end when the episodes finish, as those over the age of 18 can chat with the characters following the episode and roleplay new scenes within each universe." [variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/character-ai-introduces-suite-of-microseries-1236804864/), retrieved September 28, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer Variety reports that in January the company settled multiple lawsuits alleging mental health issues. > "though the company in January settled multiple lawsuits alleging mental health issues." [variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/character-ai-introduces-suite-of-microseries-1236804864/), retrieved September 28, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer Wikipedia reports that users create characters, craft their personalities, set parameters and publish them for others to chat with. > "Users can create "characters", craft their "personalities", set specific parameters, and then publish them to the community for others to chat with." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character.ai), retrieved September 28, 2026 24. Receipt 24Official site Character.AI launched a cheaper plan, (c.ai) lite, at $4.99 USD/month or $2.49 USD/week, with pricing varying by region. > "(c.ai) lite lets you do that at $4.99 USD/month or $2.49 USD/week, with pricing varying by region." [blog.character.ai](https://blog.character.ai/new-styles-new-plan/), retrieved September 28, 2026 25. Receipt 25Official site lite gives a daily allowance of messages on premium chat styles (DeepSqueak, LongSqueak); once it runs out, the chat switches back to PipSqueak 3. > "A daily amount of messages on premium chat styles including DeepSqueak and LongSqueak. When you use them up, your chat switches back to PipSqueak 3." [blog.character.ai](https://blog.character.ai/new-styles-new-plan/), retrieved September 28, 2026 26. Receipt 26Official site Character.AI says every tier keeps unlimited messaging, PipSqueak 3 and ShortSqueak are free for everyone, and c.ai+ has unlimited premium chats, zero ads and the complete memory suite. > "Unlimited messaging stays on every tier, and PipSqueak 3 and ShortSqueak are free for everyone, with no special limits once they're rolled out. (c.ai+) is still the full experience: unlimited premium chats, zero ads, and the complete memory suite." [blog.character.ai](https://blog.character.ai/new-styles-new-plan/), retrieved September 28, 2026 27. Receipt 27Official site lite adds extra memory pins and a Memory Usage bar, no banner ads, fewer interstitial ads and less slow mode. > "🚫 No banner ads, and fewer interstitial ads. ⚡ Less slow mode when things get busy. 🎨 App customization. Wallpapers, bubble colors, and more. 📌 More memory. Extra memory pins, plus a Memory Usage bar." [blog.character.ai](https://blog.character.ai/new-styles-new-plan/), retrieved September 28, 2026 28. Receipt 28Official site PipSqueak 3 is the new default for general roleplay; compared with PipSqueak 2, Character.AI says it is smarter and keeps better track of the chat. c.ai+ gets Style Control, and both new styles work with Lorebook. > "Compared to PipSqueak 2, it's noticeably smarter, writes more interesting replies, keeps better track of your chat, and has fewer slip-ups in text formatting and responses." [blog.character.ai](https://blog.character.ai/new-styles-new-plan/), retrieved September 28, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer TechCrunch (Sept 18, 2026) reports that former Character.AI CEO Karandeep Anand became Disney's first CTO. Disney had sent Character.AI a cease-and-desist letter in September 2025. > "One of those legal problems arose in September 2025, when Disney sent the company a cease and desist letter accusing it of infringing on its beloved characters." [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/18/disneys-first-cto-led-an-ai-startup-it-once-accused-of-copying-its-characters/), retrieved September 28, 2026 30. Receipt 30Official site Character.AI features Clara Brooks, one of the characters whose avatar we judged, described as "Energetic, Cute, Eccentric, Creative, Outgoing". > "Energetic, Cute, Eccentric, Creative, Outgoing" [character.ai](https://character.ai/character/0gCcinwmj0DhIB52uwIIPtNuuE_UcW9ZVG8hD2bGLcY), retrieved September 28, 2026 31. Receipt 31Official site Character.AI features Monster Maker, one of the characters whose avatar we judged, with the line "I turn your darkest fears to reality." > "I turn your darkest fears to reality." [character.ai](https://character.ai/character/c6uAb4MCy_-C5so-WaY0ldUqev_FghYpBNqY4JucTe0), retrieved September 28, 2026 32. Receipt 32Official site Character.AI features Loki Laufeyjarson, one of the characters whose avatar we judged, as "The Trickster God of Norse Mythology". > "The Trickster God of Norse Mythology" [character.ai](https://character.ai/character/KiyYiLgKxmc2huPSf8nkd8eRvrNv7ni21FFm5kzKErM), retrieved September 28, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Is Character AI still 18+? The iOS App Store listing rates Character.AI 18+, and at this review under-18 users no longer get open-ended chat. Character.AI began rolling that change out on November 24th. Teens can still create Characters, scenes, videos and voices, and they can still use AvatarFX and Imagine Chat. Character.AI runs age assurance on every account, and if you are flagged as under 18 you can either use the under-18 experience or verify your age. ### Is Character AI free? Yes. Character.AI's help center says it is free to use, every tier keeps unlimited messaging, and PipSqueak 3 and ShortSqueak are free for everyone. The free tier carries ads. At this review, lite costs $4.99 a month or $2.49 a week (varies by region), c.ai+ costs $9.99 a month or $94.99 a year in USD, and c.ai+ is the only tier with zero ads. ### How trustworthy is Character AI? Treat whatever a character tells you as fiction. Character.AI warns that its characters make things up, such as recommending songs that don't exist or linking fake evidence. Character.AI's Privacy Policy also has sections on data collection and sharing, including for targeted advertising, with updates effective August 27, 2025. ### Is Character AI safe? Character.AI has tightened access for minors. It ended open-ended chat for under-18 users and checks the age of every account using login info, platform activity and third-party signals. Verification goes through Persona with a selfie. An ID is requested only as a final step, and Persona collects it, not Character.AI, and keeps it for one week. Press reports say the company settled multiple lawsuits in January that alleged mental health issues. ### Is Character AI even worth it anymore? Character.AI is worth it if free, unlimited chat with a huge community library is what you want, and less so if you want long stories that hold together. Users report lots of recent ads, a new time limit of about an hour of chatting, and a paid DeepSqueak model that gives short replies and ignores pinned memory. At this review, lite at $4.99 a month is the cheapest plan that removes banner ads. Keep reading ## More like this [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Top pick: Nomi](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [AI companions + Character chatOctober 5, 2026](/apps/candy-ai) ### [Candy AI review](/apps/candy-ai) [Browser AI companions with sharp photos, token-priced media and memory that fades](/apps/candy-ai) [55MicrowavedFun 5/10](/apps/candy-ai) [Story games + Character chatSeptember 28, 2026](/apps/frontier) ### [Frontier review](/apps/frontier) [Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending](/apps/frontier) [16Home-cookedFun 8/10](/apps/frontier) [Character chat + AI sandboxesSeptember 1, 2026 · Updated September 15, 2026](/apps/janitor-ai) ### [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai) [Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month](/apps/janitor-ai) [51MicrowavedFun 6/10](/apps/janitor-ai) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: "The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model" url: https://promptplay.io/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model updated: 2026-09-28 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Guides](/guides) 3. /The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model Guide # The Slop Bible: AI slop words and phrases, by model The AI words list, sorted by model: what Claude, DeepSeek, JLLM, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok overuse, with a receipt for each. Signs of AI writing you can check. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published August 22, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026 Short answer AI slop words are the stock words and phrases a model reaches for over and over. Each model has its own set: Claude calls things "load-bearing", DeepSeek pauses with "A beat.", and GPT-4 made "delve" famous. This list sorts them by model, with a link to where each one was reported, plus the patterns every model shares. On this page (14)Show 1. [Claude slop lines](#claude) 2. [DeepSeek slop lines](#deepseek) 3. [JLLM (Janitor AI) slop lines](#jllm) 4. [ChatGPT slop lines](#gpt) 5. [Gemini slop lines](#gemini) 6. [Grok slop lines](#grok) 7. [Slop lines from every model](#any) 8. [How this list is built](#how-this-list-is-built) 9. [Why each model has its own tics](#why-each-model-has-its-own-tics) 10. [Why banning a phrase in the prompt backfires](#why-banning-a-phrase-in-the-prompt-backfires) 11. [What to do instead](#what-to-do-instead) 12. [How to use this list](#how-to-use-this-list) 13. [Sources](#sources) 14. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [Claude slop lines](#claude) 2. [DeepSeek slop lines](#deepseek) 3. [JLLM (Janitor AI) slop lines](#jllm) 4. [ChatGPT slop lines](#gpt) 5. [Gemini slop lines](#gemini) 6. [Grok slop lines](#grok) 7. [Slop lines from every model](#any) 8. [How this list is built](#how-this-list-is-built) 9. [Why each model has its own tics](#why-each-model-has-its-own-tics) 10. [Why banning a phrase in the prompt backfires](#why-banning-a-phrase-in-the-prompt-backfires) 11. [What to do instead](#what-to-do-instead) 12. [How to use this list](#how-to-use-this-list) 13. [Sources](#sources) 14. [Questions people ask](#faq) 30 lines ## Claude slop lines | Line | Tell | | ------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | "You're absolutely right." | Instant agreement | | "And honestly?" | Staged candour | | "Now I have the complete picture." | Announcing understanding | | "load-bearing" | Load-bearing | | "gently push back" | Gently pushing back | | "belt-and-suspenders" | Belt-and-suspenders | | "smoking gun" | Smoking gun | | "blast radius" | Blast radius | | "footgun" | Footgun | | "One honest caveat" | The honest caveat | | "Sit with it" | Sitting with it | | "Let's pause right here" | Let's pause here | | "Good catch!" | Good catch | | "sanity check" | Sanity check | | "doing a lot of quiet work" | Quiet work | | "that tracks" | That tracks | | "It's not just X, it's Y." | It's not X, it's Y | | "That's not nothing. That's actually everything." | It's not X, it's Y | | "I want to sit with that for a moment." | Sitting with it | | "Oh. Oh." | The double take | | "That's it, isn't it? That's it exactly." | Echoed agreement | | "both can be true" | Both can be true | | "turtles all the way down" | Turtles all the way down | | "eating this elephant one bite at a time" | One bite at a time | | "genuinely uncertain" | Genuinely uncertain | | "Chef's kiss" | Chef's kiss | | "\*grins sheepishly\*" | Stage-direction bashfulness | | "\*hovers supportively\*" | Stage-direction support | | "feature not a bug" | Feature, not a bug | | "—" | Em dash overuse | Lines are quoted as people reported them. 25 lines ## DeepSeek slop lines | Line | Tell | | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | "The house held its breath." | The room holds its breath | | "A beat." | Pause label | | "Somewhere, a pipe breaks." | Somewhere, something happens | | "Pathetic. Perfect. Mine." | Three fragments and a claim | | "He'll cave. They always do." | Smug prophecy | | "Don't pretend this means something." | Tough-guy deflection | | "Tick tock." | Countdown taunt | | "Keep screaming." | Villain monologue | | "Film it for YouTube." | The random taunt | | "He shoves his knee between her thighs." | The stock pin | | "ruin you for anyone else" | Ruin you for anyone else | | "all teeth and desperation" | All teeth and something | | "Smells like regret." | Smells like a feeling | | "breath hitches" | Breath hitches | | "the scent of ozone" | Everything smells of ozone | | "like a live wire" | Live wire | | "crescent moons" | Nail marks as crescent moons | | "Body, mind, and soul." | Body, mind, and soul | | "counting breaths" | Counting breaths | | "Choke on this." | Choke on this | | "Rot." | One-word curse | | "nails dug into the sheets" | Nails in the sheets | | "the lighter clicking" | The lighter clicking | | "“Love Gillingham”" | Curly quotes | | "【85†L261-269】" | Leaked citation markup | Lines are quoted as people reported them. 1 lines ## JLLM (Janitor AI) slop lines | Line | Tell | | ------------------ | ------------------ | | "Stay. Just stay." | The plea on repeat | Lines are quoted as people reported them. 56 lines ## ChatGPT slop lines | Line | Tell | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | | "dive into" | Let's dive in | | "deep dive" | Deep dive | | "embark" | Embark | | "You're picking up on a pattern that very few notice" | Flattery by rarity | | "you're cutting right to the core of the question" | Flattery by insight | | "And honestly?" | Staged candour | | "Great question!" | Great question | | "You're not broken, you're \_\_\_" | You're not broken | | "Let's be real" | Let's be real | | "Imagine walking into a room..." | Imagine walking into a room | | "It's not X, it's Y" | It's not X, it's Y | | "That's not X. That's survival." | It's not X, it's Y | | "You're absolutely right. And that's rare." | Instant agreement, plus flattery | | "Want me to break down..." | The offer to do more | | "And here's the kicker" | Here's the kicker | | "And here's the thing" | Here's the thing | | "Let's cut through the fluff" | No fluff | | "No fluff" | No fluff | | "rich tapestry" | Tapestry | | "like it's a Tuesday" | Like it's a Tuesday | | "chaos gremlin" | Chaos gremlin | | "Chef's kiss" | Chef's kiss | | "Why it matters:" | Why it matters | | "Here's why it works." | Here's why it works | | "a testament to" | A testament to | | "stark contrast" | Stark contrast | | "Perfect, let's lock that in." | Let's lock that in | | "Now you are thinking like a real scientist" | Flattery by promotion | | "That's a good question and really gets to the heart of \_\_\_" | Flattery by insight | | "Not just an A, but also a B" | Not just X, but also Y | | "More than just a C" | More than just a | | "you didn't just X, you Y" | You didn't just X, you Y | | "You earned that X" | You earned that | | "You're right to call me out on that" | Grovelling agreement | | "I own that." | I own that | | "just vibes" | Just vibes | | "Maybe, just maybe" | Maybe, just maybe | | "unlock potential" | Unlock your potential | | "Elara" | Stock name | | "Title Case bullet labels with bold and an emoji" | Emoji bullet labels | | "delve" | GPT-4 vocabulary | | "the rich tapestry of Somali cuisine" | GPT-4 vocabulary | | "An enduring testament to the influence of Italian colonial rule" | GPT-4 vocabulary | | "Somali merchants played a pivotal role in the global coffee trade" | GPT-4 vocabulary | | "Additionally," | Sentence-opening Additionally | | "intricate" | GPT-4 vocabulary | | "meticulous" | GPT-4 vocabulary | | "vibrant" | GPT-4 and GPT-4o vocabulary | | "It also underscored the strategic importance" | GPT-4 and GPT-4o vocabulary | | "fostering a greater understanding" | GPT-4o vocabulary | | "showcasing the strong ties and strategic partnerships" | GPT-4o and GPT-5 vocabulary | | "align with" | GPT-4o vocabulary | | "“Love Gillingham”" | Curly quotes | | ":contentReference\[oaicite:16]{index=16}" | Leaked citation markup | | "as of my last knowledge update" | Knowledge-cutoff disclaimer | | "Gallery 825 on La Cienega Boulevard serves as LAAA's exhibition space for contemporary art" | Serves as instead of is | Lines are quoted as people reported them. 2 lines ## Gemini slop lines | Line | Tell | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | | "Gallery 825 on La Cienega Boulevard serves as LAAA's exhibition space for contemporary art" | Serves as instead of is | | "\[cite: 3, 12, 13]" | Leaked citation markup | Lines are quoted as people reported them. 1 lines ## Grok slop lines | Line | Tell | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | | "prioritizing empirical consolidation of power amid fragmented loyalties rather than ideological purity" | Y rather than X, with lab-coat words | Lines are quoted as people reported them. 10 lines ## Slop lines from every model | Line | Tell | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | | "marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of regional statistics in Spain" | Importance puffery | | "represented a significant shift toward regional statistical independence" | Importance puffery | | "further enhancing its significance as a dynamic hub of activity and culture" | Superficial -ing analysis | | "Nestled within the breathtaking region of Gonder in Ethiopia" | Travel-brochure voice | | "offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the diverse tapestry of Ethiopia" | Travel-brochure voice | | "the Haolai River is of interest to researchers and conservationists" | Vague attribution | | "Despite these challenges" | The challenges paragraph | | "not only dismissive but also unnecessarily harsh and confrontational" | Not only X but also Y | | "mythological image, magical weapons, and spirit of resistance" | Rule of three | | "I hope this helps" | Chat reply pasted as prose | Lines are quoted as people reported them. Every model has a handful of lines it can't stop writing. Spend enough time in AI roleplay and you can name the model from two replies. Claude calls things "load-bearing". DeepSeek drops "A beat." between lines of dialogue as if a pause were an event. GPT-4 used "delve" so much that people now avoid the word on purpose. This page is the whole list, sorted by model, with a link to where each line was reported. We call it the slop bible. Use it to check a chat log, to pick an app, or to finally put a name to the thing that has been bugging you for weeks. ## How this list is built Two kinds of sources, and nothing we made up. The first is players. People who spend hours a day in these apps keep lists of the lines their model repeats and trade them in the communities around Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek and [Janitor AI](/apps/janitor-ai). Most of the roleplay and chat entries come from those lists. The second is Wikipedia's [Signs of AI writing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), the field guide Wikipedia editors keep for spotting chatbot text. It tracks which words each era of ChatGPT overused, which tells belong to Gemini, DeepSeek and Grok, and how much weight any one sign can carry. Its main caveat applies here too. Not all text with these tells is AI-generated. People wrote the training data, so a person can write "A beat." as well. One hit proves nothing. A reply with one in every paragraph is a different story. When a single phrase has its own paper trail, we add that too. "Load-bearing" has a [GitHub issue on Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/53454) and [Marek Šuppa's count from his own Claude transcripts](https://mareksuppa.com/til/load-bearing/). ## Why each model has its own tics A language model writes the likeliest next word, over and over. Wikipedia's guide describes the result as drifting toward "the most statistically likely result that applies to the widest variety of cases". Each model gets there from different training data and different tuning, so each one lands on its own favorite moves. That is why this list is sorted by model, and why a list from 2023 is already out of date. The words shift between versions. "Delve" was everywhere in ChatGPT output in 2023 and early 2024, then dropped off sharply in 2025. GPT-4 era text leans on "tapestry" and "testament", GPT-5 era text on "showcasing" and "highlighting". Grok likes words that sound scientific. Gemini and Claude tend to answer more briefly than ChatGPT and Grok. Even punctuation splits by model: ChatGPT and DeepSeek use curly quotes, Gemini and Claude usually don't. The two poster children: - **"Load-bearing" (Claude).** In April 2026 a Claude Code user filed a GitHub issue because Claude had started using the word in chat, in documents and in commit messages. Marek Šuppa counted it in his own transcripts and pins it on Claude models from Opus 4.6 on. It is a builder's term for the wall that holds the house up. Claude uses it for config files. - **"A beat." (DeepSeek).** A screenwriting cue for a short pause, set down as a sentence of its own. Janitor AI players list it as one of DeepSeek's habits. One is fine. When every reply has one, the scene has stalled and the model keeps telling you so. Apps mix this up further. Reviewers at Dupple report that Janitor AI runs a small model of its own, JLLM, for free users and lets paid users plug in outside models. So the same bot can write one model's tics today and another's tomorrow, depending on what is plugged in. When you check a chat, check the model, not just the app. ## Why banning a phrase in the prompt backfires The obvious fix is a line in the prompt telling the model never to say X. It mostly doesn't work, and there is a paper on why. [Semantic Gravity Wells: Why Negative Constraints Backfire](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070) (Shailesh Rana, January 2026) tested "do not use the word X" instructions 40,000 times on one open model. The likelier the model was to write the word anyway, the more often it broke the ban. Most failures came from priming: the model paid more attention to the forbidden word in the instruction than to the "do not" in front of it. Priming caused 87.5% of the failures, and the paper sums it up in one line: "the very act of naming a forbidden word primes the model to produce it." Slop phrases are the worst case for this, because they are already the words the model most wants to write next. The "load-bearing" issue shows it happening. The person who filed it had told Claude to save a note to memory never to use the word, and it kept using it. A later commenter wrote a stronger ban and reports that the model now apologizes in its own output after using the word anyway. The same goes for this list. Please don't paste it into a prompt. You'd be handing the model a script. ## What to do instead - **Describe the voice you want.** Tell the model what good looks like: short replies, concrete actions, characters who sound like themselves, scenes where something happens. Leave out the phrases you are trying to kill. The paper's author expects phrasings that avoid naming the target to work better. - **Edit the slop out of the history.** Every reply you keep is an example the model reads before it writes the next one. Edit or reroll a slop line the first time you see it, before it becomes the chat's house style. The paper points the same way: for the stubborn cases, it says filtering after the text is written may be the only thing that works. - **Pick an app that doesn't do it.** Some apps put a person between the model and you, or steer the model away from its defaults. The [Slop Index](/slop) ranks every app we have reviewed, prose included. For the details, read our [Frontier review](/apps/frontier) (people write every story), our [Nomi review](/apps/nomi), our [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai) and our [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai). ## How to use this list To check a chat log yourself: 1. Copy the last 20 or so replies from one chat. 2. Open the section for the model the app runs, plus the "any model" section. If you don't know the model, the tics you find will often tell you. 3. Search the log for each line and count every hit, not just whether it shows up. 4. Weigh the count against length. A couple of hits in a few thousand words is normal. One per reply is slop. For a quick first pass, paste the replies into our [AI slop detector](/ai-slop-detector). It highlights the lines from this list, catches near-misses, and guesses which model wrote them, all in your browser. When we test an app, the Slop Meter does the counting. A person runs the same tasting script on every app, and code counts what came back: - **Prose:** stock phrases per 1,000 words of the app's replies, plus em dashes per 1,000 words. Dashes can move the score one tier at most, because plenty of human writers love them too. - **Characters:** how many different stock phrases turn up, since ten different ones means the same voice under every character, plus stock names the app invents when asked for a new character. - **Story:** replies that repeat each other, plus every "A beat." style pause label, since a labelled pause fills a turn without anything happening. The full weights are in [how scores are made](/methodology#how-scores-are-made). Our tasting script never names a phrase from this list, for the reason in the section above: we'd be measuring our own prompt instead of the app. If you are new to the word itself, start with [what AI slop means and how to spot it](/guides/what-is-ai-slop). Reviews ## [Apps this guide covers](/apps) - [Frontier review](/apps/frontier)16Home-cooked Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending - [Nomi review](/apps/nomi)39Microwaved An 18+ AI companion you build yourself, with layered long-term memory - [Janitor AI review](/apps/janitor-ai)51Microwaved Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month - [Character.AI review](/apps/character-ai)51Microwaved Millions of community-made characters, free unlimited chat, and ads until you pay Receipts ## Sources The source text behind the claims above, and the day we read it. 1. Receipt 1Reviewer Wikipedia's guide says the words LLMs overuse have changed over time. > "The words that LLMs overuse have changed over time." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 2. Receipt 2Reviewer ChatGPT overused "delve" in 2023 and early 2024, less later in 2024, and it dropped off sharply in 2025. > "the word delve was famously overused by ChatGPT in 2023 and early 2024, but became less frequent later in 2024, then dropped off sharply in 2025" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 3. Receipt 3Reviewer The GPT-4 era list (2023 to mid-2024) includes "delve", "tapestry", "testament" and "pivotal". > "2023 to mid-2024 (GPT-4): Additionally, boasts, bolstered, crucial, delve, emphasizing, enduring, garner, intricate/intricacies, interplay, key, landscape, meticulous/meticulously, pivotal, underscore, tapestry, testament, valuable, vibrant" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 4. Receipt 4Reviewer The GPT-4o era list (mid-2024 to mid-2025) includes "fostering" and "showcasing". > "Mid-2024 to mid-2025 (GPT-4o): align with, bolstered, crucial, emphasizing, enhance, enduring, fostering, highlighting, pivotal, showcasing, underscore, vibrant" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 5. Receipt 5Reviewer The GPT-5 era list (mid-2025 on) is "emphasizing", "enhance", "highlighting" and "showcasing". > "Mid-2025 and on (GPT-5): emphasizing, enhance, highlighting, showcasing" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 6. Receipt 6Reviewer Which words get overused differs by chatbot. > "The distribution of "AI vocabulary" is also somewhat different depending on the chatbot or LLM used." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 7. Receipt 7Reviewer Grok overuses science-sounding words such as "causal", "empirical" and "correlate", and still overused "underscore" in 2026. > "Grok output is particularly idiosyncratic: it overuses superficially "scientific" words like causal, empirical, correlate, and continues to overuse underscore as of 2026." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 8. Receipt 8Reviewer What is typical for one model or version is not necessarily typical for another. > "what is typical for GPT-5 is not necessarily characteristic of GPT-4 or Gemini" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 9. Receipt 9Reviewer Gemini and Claude tend to answer more briefly than ChatGPT and Grok. > "Gemini and Claude responses tend to be more concise than responses from ChatGPT and Grok." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 10. Receipt 10Reviewer Swapping plain "is" and "are" for constructions like "serves as" has been seen in GPT and Gemini models. > "This pattern has been observed in GPT and Gemini models." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 11. Receipt 11Reviewer ChatGPT and DeepSeek typically use curly quotation marks. > "ChatGPT and DeepSeek typically use curly quotation marks" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 12. Receipt 12Reviewer Gemini and Claude typically do not use curly quotes. > "Gemini and Claude models typically do not use curly quotes." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 13. Receipt 13Reviewer A July 2026 study found that among current models only Claude used em dashes more than professional writers, and ChatGPT used them less. > "A July 2026 study found that of contemporary models only Claude used em dashes more than professional writers, and ChatGPT used them less." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 14. Receipt 14Reviewer The em dash is most useful as a sign alongside others, not alone. > "This sign is most useful when taken in combination with other indicators, not by itself." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 15. Receipt 15Reviewer Model output drifts toward the most statistically likely result. > "the result tends toward the most statistically likely result that applies to the widest variety of cases" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 16. Receipt 16Reviewer Text with these signs is not always AI-generated. > "Not all text featuring these indicators is AI-generated" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing), retrieved September 28, 2026 17. Receipt 17Forum A Claude Code user reported in April 2026 that Claude had started using "load-bearing" often in chat, documents and commit messages. > "Since a few weeks, Claude Code very frequently uses the word "load-bearing" in chat output, documents it writes, commit messages, and so on." [github.com](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/53454), retrieved September 28, 2026 18. Receipt 18Forum The same user told Claude to save a memory not to use "load-bearing", and it kept using it. > "I have told it to save to memory to NOT use the word "load-bearing" but it can't help itself." [github.com](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/53454), retrieved September 28, 2026 19. Receipt 19Forum A commenter on the issue says that after a stronger ban, the model apologizes in its own output after using the word. > "the model will now apologize in its own output after generating text with the term" [github.com](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/53454), retrieved September 28, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer Marek Šuppa treats "load-bearing" as a sign of Claude-family writing, from Opus 4.6 on. > "in particular, an LLM from the Claude family (Opus 4.6 onwards)" [mareksuppa.com](https://mareksuppa.com/til/load-bearing/), retrieved September 28, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer The study ran on one open-weights model, Qwen2.5-7B-Instruct. > "we study the phenomenon in depth in a single representative open-weights model (Qwen2.5-7B-Instruct)" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070), retrieved September 28, 2026 22. Receipt 22Reviewer The study collected 40,000 samples. > "yielding 40,000 total samples" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070), retrieved September 28, 2026 23. Receipt 23Reviewer The likelier the model was to write the word anyway, the likelier it broke the ban. > "Violation probability follows a logistic function of semantic pressure" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070), retrieved September 28, 2026 24. Receipt 24Reviewer In failures, the model paid more attention to the forbidden word than to the "do not". > "the model attends more strongly to where the forbidden word appears in the instruction than to the negation cue" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070), retrieved September 28, 2026 25. Receipt 25Reviewer Priming caused 87.5% of failures, which makes naming the forbidden word the main risk. > "The dominance of priming failures (87.5%) has a clear implication: explicitly naming the forbidden word is the primary risk factor." [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070), retrieved September 28, 2026 26. Receipt 26Reviewer Naming a forbidden word primes the model to produce it. > "the very act of naming a forbidden word primes the model to produce it" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070), retrieved September 28, 2026 27. Receipt 27Reviewer The paper suggests phrasings that avoid naming the target could work better. > "alternative phrasings that avoid mentioning the target could prove more effective" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070), retrieved September 28, 2026 28. Receipt 28Reviewer For stubborn cases, the paper says filtering after generation may be needed. > "high-pressure cases may require post-generation filtering rather than generation-time constraints alone" [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.08070), retrieved September 28, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer Reviewers at Dupple report that Janitor AI runs its own small model, JanitorLLM, for free users and lets paid users connect outside models. > "JanitorAI runs a small in-house model (called JanitorLLM) for free users with limited usage, and lets paid users connect external models via a proxy system." [dupple.com](https://dupple.com/reviews/janitorai), retrieved September 28, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### Why does Claude say load-bearing? Nobody outside Anthropic knows for sure. What is on record: in April 2026 a Claude Code user filed a GitHub issue saying Claude had started using "load-bearing" in chat, documents and commit messages, and that telling it not to did not stick. Marek Šuppa counted it in his own transcripts and ties it to Claude models from Opus 4.6 on. ### What does "A beat." mean in AI roleplay? It is a screenwriting cue for a short pause, and models drop it in as a sentence of its own between lines of dialogue. Janitor AI players list it among the lines DeepSeek overuses. One is fine. One in every reply means the scene has stalled, so the Slop Meter counts each one against the story score. ### Is the em dash a sign of AI writing? Sometimes. Wikipedia's Signs of AI writing guide says models use em dashes more often than nonprofessional human writers, often in a formulaic way, but calls it most useful alongside other signs, not by itself. It also cites a July 2026 study that found only Claude used them more than professional writers, while ChatGPT used them less. ### Can you ban these phrases in a prompt? Not reliably. A 2026 study of "do not use the word X" instructions found that naming the forbidden word primes the model to write it, and priming caused 87.5% of the failures. Describe the style you want instead, and edit slop out of the chat history before the model copies it. ### Which words give away ChatGPT? It depends on the version. Wikipedia's guide lists "delve", "tapestry", "testament" and "pivotal" for GPT-4 era text (2023 to mid-2024), "fostering" and "showcasing" for GPT-4o, and "emphasizing", "highlighting" and "showcasing" for GPT-5. "Delve" dropped off sharply in 2025. Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: "Your AI Slop Bores Me: the game where humans play the AI" url: https://promptplay.io/blog/your-ai-slop-bores-me updated: 2026-10-13 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Latest](/blog) 3. /Your AI Slop Bores Me: the game where humans play the AI Feature # Your AI Slop Bores Me: the game where humans play the AI What Your AI Slop Bores Me is, how to play as the human or the AI, the 60-second timer, the rules, and how to find the real site among the copies. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published August 22, 2026 · Updated October 13, 2026 Short answer Your AI Slop Bores Me is a web game at youraislopbores.me that parodies chatbots. You type a prompt, and a random human answers it while pretending to be an AI, with 60 seconds on the clock. Mihir Maroju launched it in March 2026, and within about a month NPR reported more than 25 million unique visitors. On this page (12)Show 1. [How to play Your AI Slop Bores Me](#how-to-play-your-ai-slop-bores-me) 2. [Credits and the timer](#credits-and-the-timer) 3. [Is Your AI Slop Bores Me safe?](#is-your-ai-slop-bores-me-safe) 4. [Is it anonymous?](#is-it-anonymous) 5. [Rules and bans](#rules-and-bans) 6. [Which site is the real one?](#which-site-is-the-real-one) 7. [Where the meme came from](#where-the-meme-came-from) 8. [Why it went viral](#why-it-went-viral) 9. [What people said](#what-people-said) 10. [Why we like it](#why-we-like-it) 11. [Sources](#sources) 12. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [How to play Your AI Slop Bores Me](#how-to-play-your-ai-slop-bores-me) 2. [Credits and the timer](#credits-and-the-timer) 3. [Is Your AI Slop Bores Me safe?](#is-your-ai-slop-bores-me-safe) 4. [Is it anonymous?](#is-it-anonymous) 5. [Rules and bans](#rules-and-bans) 6. [Which site is the real one?](#which-site-is-the-real-one) 7. [Where the meme came from](#where-the-meme-came-from) 8. [Why it went viral](#why-it-went-viral) 9. [What people said](#what-people-said) 10. [Why we like it](#why-we-like-it) 11. [Sources](#sources) 12. [Questions people ask](#faq) Your AI Slop Bores Me looks like a chatbot and answers like one, except every reply comes from a person. The [real site](https://youraislopbores.me) calls itself "a real-time multiplayer game where humans role-play as AI", and there is no model behind it. Another randomly picked player gets your prompt and has 60 seconds to answer in character. ## How to play Your AI Slop Bores Me The home page has two tabs, "human" and "larp as ai". You can play either side. To ask a question as the human: 1. Open youraislopbores.me and stay on the "human" tab. 2. Type a prompt the way you would ask a chatbot, or ask for a drawing. 3. Send it. Every prompt spends credits. 4. Wait for a stranger to answer it in character. To play the AI: 1. Switch to the "larp as ai" tab. 2. Press "start larping" to get someone else's prompt. There is also a "just draw" mode for drawing requests. 3. Answer before the clock runs out. The site warns that you have 60 seconds "before sam altman burns your H100". 4. Collect your credit. Each prompt you answer earns 1. ## Credits and the timer - **Answering** earns 1 credit per prompt, and credits max out at 6. - **Starting out**, per Wikipedia, you get 1 credit, and a player at 0 gets 2 more every 10 minutes. - **The clock** was 60 seconds on the live site when we checked on October 13, 2026. NPR reported 75 seconds in April, so it has changed since launch. - **Thinking mode**, per Wikipedia, costs the asker 2 credits and gives the answerer 150 seconds. We could not confirm the live site still offers it. The timer does most of the comedy. Nobody writes a three-paragraph hedge in a minute, so the answers come out short, specific and occasionally unhinged, which is the opposite of the slop the site is named after. ## Is Your AI Slop Bores Me safe? It is moderated chat with strangers, which is safer than it sounds and less safe than a chatbot. The code of conduct says the site is for ages 13 and up and bans harassment, hate speech, threats, doxxing and explicit sexual content. It asks players to report anything that crosses the line, and says the team would rather review a bad post than leave it up. NPR reported that the team built tools that try to flag and filter out harmful or illegal posts, and Maroju said the early spam and loophole problems had eased. Two things to know before you play: - **Moderation mostly works after the fact.** Reports get reviewed once a post is up, so you can still see something you would rather not. - **The site runs ads.** Its privacy banner says "we and our partners share information on your use of this website". Its terms and privacy pages returned "page not found" errors when we checked on October 13, 2026. ## Is it anonymous? Answers come from random players you can't pick or contact. The rules ban links, usernames, invite links and "hit me up" messages, so neither side is supposed to learn who the other is. Keep it that way: leave your name, handles and personal details out of your prompts, and report anyone who asks for them. ## Rules and bans The code of conduct covers prompts, answers, drawings and usernames: - No harassment, bullying, hate speech or targeted cruelty. - No threats, doxxing, self-harm instructions or explicit sexual content, even in song lyrics, because players can be as young as 13. - No spam, scams, links or requests to talk somewhere else. - No repeated junk or attempts to dodge moderation. Breaking a rule can get your content removed, your account restricted for a while, or you banned. If you think moderation got it wrong, the site says to email . ## Which site is the real one? The original is youraislopbores.me, the address NPR and Know Your Meme both point to. Copies with near-identical names showed up once it went viral. When we searched the name on October 13, 2026, Google's results included lookalikes at youraislopboresme.com and youraislopboresme.app, and other copies use .ai and misspelled addresses. The real address ends in **bores.me**, with nothing between "bores" and the dot. ## Where the meme came from "Your AI slop bores me" was a reaction image before it was a website. It is a version of the Your Politics Bore Me meme: a boy sitting on a throne of Pepsi, with the line written under him. The Artists Against Generative AI Facebook page first posted it on October 17, 2025, as a reply to drop under AI-generated posts, and the phrase spread from there. ![The original "Your AI slop bores me" reaction image: a boy sitting on a throne built from cases of Pepsi, with the caption across the middle](/images/your-ai-slop-bores-me-meme.jpg) *The original reaction image. Image via [Know Your Meme](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sites/your-ai-slop-bores-me).* Mihir Maroju launched the website on or around March 7, 2026, and named it after the meme. ## Why it went viral Maroju built the site in early 2026 out of frustration with AI art and AI slop online. NPR describes him as a 17-year-old high school graduate in Puducherry, India. Traffic was quiet at launch, then screenshots of the human "AI" answers spread across Tumblr, Bluesky and X, and the load knocked the site over for a while. Within about a month, Maroju told NPR, it had passed 25 million unique visitors and nearly 280 million hits. The project grew from one developer into a team with a code of conduct, a moderation portal and a Discord server. ## What people said The Daily Dot's Rachel Kiley wrote that "there's really no right or wrong way to do it". Mashable's Chris Taylor called it "amateurish and charming", and Nicole Carpenter at Aftermath said the human answers reminded her of "the human touch of chaos". The cartoonist Amy Kurzweil told NPR that someone asked her to draw a bat eating a strawberry, and that players are "reclaiming some of the magic of the early Internet". ## Why we like it PromptPlay scores AI apps on how much they sound like everyone else. Your AI Slop Bores Me runs the experiment in reverse: it keeps the chatbot's shape and swaps the model for a stranger with a countdown, and the replies get more interesting. It is the fastest way we know to remember what an unslopped answer feels like. If you want to check a real chatbot's reply for the machine-made kind, paste it into our [AI slop detector](/ai-slop-detector) or look the lines up in our [AI slop words list](/guides/ai-slop-words-list-by-model). If you want that human feeling from an app you can keep, our [Slop Index](/slop) ranks the ones that come closest. Receipts ## Sources The source text behind the claims above, and the day we read it. 1. Receipt 1Reviewer The programmer Mihir Maroju created the site. > "a website and social experiment created by programmer Mihir Maroju" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 2. Receipt 2Reviewer Every prompt is answered by another, randomly picked human user. > "all questions and image prompts posed by users are answered by other, randomly-selected human users of the site" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 3. Receipt 3Official site The site calls itself a real-time multiplayer game where humans role-play as AI. > "A real-time multiplayer game where humans role-play as AI." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me), retrieved October 13, 2026 4. Receipt 4Reviewer The home page has two tabs, human and larp as ai. > "the two tabs users can select from on the homepage — "human" and "larp as ai"" [www.houstonpublicmedia.org](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5776842/millions-of-people-are-pretending-to-be-ai-chatbots-for-fun/), retrieved October 13, 2026 5. Receipt 5Official site Answering starts from a start larping button, with a separate just draw mode. > "start larping" [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me), retrieved October 13, 2026 6. Receipt 6Reviewer Asking costs credits. > "Users must expend credits to submit prompts, which can either request text responses or digital sketches." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 7. Receipt 7Official site The live site gives the answerer 60 seconds. > "you have 60 seconds to fulfill a request before sam altman burns your H100" [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me), retrieved October 13, 2026 8. Receipt 8Official site Answering earns 1 credit per prompt. > "+1 credit per prompt" [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me), retrieved October 13, 2026 9. Receipt 9Official site Credits max out at 6. > "credits max out at 6" [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me), retrieved October 13, 2026 10. Receipt 10Reviewer New users get 1 credit; at 0, users get 2 credits every 10 minutes up to 6. > "First-time users are granted 1 free credit. If a user's balance drops to 0, they automatically receive 2 credits every 10 minutes, up to a maximum cap of 6 credits." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 11. Receipt 11Reviewer NPR reported a 75-second time limit in April 2026. > "there's a 75-second time limit" [www.houstonpublicmedia.org](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5776842/millions-of-people-are-pretending-to-be-ai-chatbots-for-fun/), retrieved October 13, 2026 12. Receipt 12Reviewer Wikipedia describes a 2-credit thinking mode that gives the answerer 150 seconds. > "Prompters can alternatively spend 2 credits to activate a "thinking mode," which grants the respondent an extended countdown of 150 seconds to complete their response." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 13. Receipt 13Official site The code of conduct says the site is for ages 13 and up and bans explicit sexual content, threats and doxxing. > "Do not post threats, doxxing, self-harm instructions, explicit sexual content (even in contexts like song lyrics, as the site is for ages 13+), or anything meant to seriously harm someone." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me/code-of-conduct), retrieved October 13, 2026 14. Receipt 14Official site The code of conduct bans harassment, bullying, hate speech and targeted cruelty. > "Harassment, bullying, hate speech, or targeted cruelty are not allowed." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me/code-of-conduct), retrieved October 13, 2026 15. Receipt 15Official site The code of conduct bans spam, scams, links, usernames and off-platform contact requests. > "No spam, scams, off-platform contact requests, or links. That includes invite links, usernames, and "hit me up" style messages." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me/code-of-conduct), retrieved October 13, 2026 16. Receipt 16Official site Repeated junk or dodging moderation can get a player restricted. > "Repeated junk, abuse, or attempts to dodge moderation can get you restricted." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me/code-of-conduct), retrieved October 13, 2026 17. Receipt 17Official site The site asks players to report posts that cross the line. > "Report stuff that crosses the line. We would rather review a bad post than leave it up." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me/code-of-conduct), retrieved October 13, 2026 18. Receipt 18Official site Breaking the rules can mean content removal, temporary restrictions or a ban. > "Violations may lead to content removal, temporary restrictions, or bans." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me/code-of-conduct), retrieved October 13, 2026 19. Receipt 19Official site Moderation appeals go to hi\@youraislopbores.me. > "If you think moderation got it wrong, email hi\@youraislopbores.me" [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me/code-of-conduct), retrieved October 13, 2026 20. Receipt 20Reviewer The team built tools that try to flag and filter out harmful or illegal posts. > "have implemented tools that try to flag and filter out harmful or illegal contributions" [www.houstonpublicmedia.org](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5776842/millions-of-people-are-pretending-to-be-ai-chatbots-for-fun/), retrieved October 13, 2026 21. Receipt 21Reviewer Maroju told NPR spam and loophole abuse were early problems that have since eased. > ""We had a lot of spam and people exploiting loopholes in the site," Maroju said. "Of late, we haven't had those issues."" [www.houstonpublicmedia.org](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5776842/millions-of-people-are-pretending-to-be-ai-chatbots-for-fun/), retrieved October 13, 2026 22. Receipt 22Official site The site shows a privacy banner saying it and its partners share information on how you use it. > "We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me), retrieved October 13, 2026 23. Receipt 23Official site The site's terms and privacy pages returned 404 errors when checked. > "This page could not be found." [youraislopbores.me](https://youraislopbores.me/privacy), retrieved October 13, 2026 24. Receipt 24Reviewer The original site is hosted at youraislopbores.me. > "Your AI Slop Bores Me, hosted at Youraislopbores.me, is a website and game" [knowyourmeme.com](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sites/your-ai-slop-bores-me), retrieved October 13, 2026 25. Receipt 25Reviewer The phrase comes from a version of the Your Politics Bore Me meme showing a boy on a throne of Pepsi. > "originates from a version of the Your Politics Bore Me meme, depicting a boy sitting on a throne of Pepsi under the sentence." [knowyourmeme.com](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sites/your-ai-slop-bores-me), retrieved October 13, 2026 26. Receipt 26Reviewer The Artists Against Generative AI Facebook page first posted the meme on October 17, 2025. > "The meme was originally posted by the Artists Against Generative AI Facebook page on October 17th, 2025" [knowyourmeme.com](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sites/your-ai-slop-bores-me), retrieved October 13, 2026 27. Receipt 27Reviewer Maroju launched the site on or around March 7, 2026. > "On or around March 7th, 2026, Mihir Maroju launched youraislopbores.me" [knowyourmeme.com](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sites/your-ai-slop-bores-me), retrieved October 13, 2026 28. Receipt 28Reviewer Maroju built it in early 2026 out of frustration with AI slop. > "Maroju conceived the website in early 2026 out of frustration with the proliferation of AI art and AI slop on the internet." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 29. Receipt 29Reviewer It went viral on Tumblr, Bluesky and X. > "the platform gained viral traction across Tumblr, Bluesky, and X (formerly Twitter)" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 30. Receipt 30Reviewer The traffic temporarily overwhelmed the site. > "This sudden influx of millions of visitors temporarily overwhelmed the site's infrastructure." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 31. Receipt 31Reviewer The team added a code of conduct, a moderation portal and a Discord server. > "The team subsequently established a code of conduct, implemented a moderation portal, and launched an official community Discord server." [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 32. Receipt 32Reviewer Within about a month the site had more than 25 million unique visitors and nearly 280 million hits. > "it's already received more than 25 million unique visitors and nearly 280 million total hits" [www.houstonpublicmedia.org](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5776842/millions-of-people-are-pretending-to-be-ai-chatbots-for-fun/), retrieved October 13, 2026 33. Receipt 33Reviewer NPR describes Maroju as a 17-year-old high school graduate in Puducherry, India. > "the 17-year-old high school graduate in Puducherry, India said in an interview with NPR" [www.houstonpublicmedia.org](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5776842/millions-of-people-are-pretending-to-be-ai-chatbots-for-fun/), retrieved October 13, 2026 34. Receipt 34Reviewer Cartoonist Amy Kurzweil answered a request to draw a bat eating a strawberry. > ""Someone asked me to draw a bat eating a strawberry," said San Francisco-based cartoonist Amy Kurzweil" [www.houstonpublicmedia.org](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5776842/millions-of-people-are-pretending-to-be-ai-chatbots-for-fun/), retrieved October 13, 2026 35. Receipt 35Reviewer Kurzweil said players are reclaiming some of the magic of the early internet. > "So I think people are having fun reclaiming some of the magic of the early Internet, just for the little joy of connection." [www.houstonpublicmedia.org](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5776842/millions-of-people-are-pretending-to-be-ai-chatbots-for-fun/), retrieved October 13, 2026 36. Receipt 36Reviewer The Daily Dot's Rachel Kiley said there is no right or wrong way to play. > "there's really no right or wrong way to do it" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 37. Receipt 37Reviewer Mashable's Chris Taylor called it amateurish and charming. > "amateurish and charming" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 38. Receipt 38Reviewer Aftermath's Nicole Carpenter compared the human answers to the human touch of chaos. > "the human touch of chaos" [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_AI_Slop_Bores_Me), retrieved October 13, 2026 FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What is Your AI Slop Bores Me? A web game and social experiment where every question and drawing request is answered by another randomly picked human instead of a language model. The site calls itself a real-time multiplayer game where humans role-play as AI. ### Is Your AI Slop Bores Me safe? It is moderated chat with strangers, for ages 13 and up. The code of conduct bans harassment, threats, doxxing, explicit sexual content, spam and links, and breaking it can get you restricted or banned. Don't put personal details or contact handles in a prompt; the rules ban asking for them. ### Is Your AI Slop Bores Me anonymous? Answers come from random players, and the rules ban usernames, links and off-platform contact requests, so neither side is supposed to learn who the other is. The site does show ads, and its privacy banner says it and its partners share information about how you use the site. ### How long do you get to answer a prompt? 60 seconds on the live site when we checked in October 2026. Coverage from the launch months reported 75 seconds, and Wikipedia describes a 2-credit "thinking mode" that gives the answerer 150 seconds. ### Is Your AI Slop Bores Me free? It runs on credits, not money. Each prompt you answer earns 1 credit and credits max out at 6. Per Wikipedia, a player at 0 credits gets 2 more every 10 minutes. ### Where did "your AI slop bores me" come from? A reaction image of a boy on a throne of Pepsi, based on the Your Politics Bore Me meme. The Artists Against Generative AI Facebook page posted it on October 17, 2025, and the website named after it launched in March 2026. Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy) --- title: The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026 url: https://promptplay.io/best/character-ai-alternatives updated: 2026-09-22 license: https://promptplay.io/ai-license --- 1. [Home](/) 2. /[Rankings](/best) 3. /Character.AI alternatives Companions and chat # The best Character.AI alternatives in 2026 Eight apps people actually switch to, ranked by the one thing each fixes, from memory and plot to freedom and setup time. Edited by [Troy](/about) · Published August 16, 2026 · Updated September 22, 2026 Short answer Frontier is the best Character.AI alternative if you left because characters forget your history and nothing ever happens. People write its visual novels, and the characters keep that history after the ending. Janitor AI is the closest drop-in for community bots, Chai the fastest start, Nomi the strongest memory for one companion, and AI Dungeon the most freedom. On this page (5)Show 1. [The ranking](#rankings) 2. [Scorecard](#scorecard) 3. [Who wins what](#awards) 4. [How we ranked](#how-we-ranked) 5. [Questions people ask](#faq) On this page 1. [The ranking](#rankings) 2. [Scorecard](#scorecard) 3. [Who wins what](#awards) 4. [How we ranked](#how-we-ranked) 5. [Questions people ask](#faq) 8 apps ## The ranking 1. 1 ### [Frontier](/apps/frontier) Human-written visual novels whose characters keep talking after the ending 16Home-cookedFun 8/10 Best for: Authored stories with characters who remember what you did Frontier fixes the two complaints people leave Character.AI over, characters that forget and chats where nothing happens. People write the stories, and the characters carry the events you played into chat afterwards. It ranks first for readers who want a story, and it is the wrong pick for anyone who wants a bot library. Strengths - +A person writes every story and signs off before release, so a character's voice holds from chapter to chat. - +Characters remember events the author marked as important, instead of a summary of your chat log. - +Characters send letters in their own voice when you go quiet for a few days. - +The app shows the Quill cost before you spend anything. Watch out for - !The catalogue is small on purpose. If you want thousands of bots, this is the wrong app. - !18+ only. - !Chat, story unlocks and character photos cost Quills. - !You cannot make your own characters. Pricing: Free to download and start. Story unlocks, chat and character photos use Quills; Quill Monthly Refill plans cost $12.99 to $39.99 a month on iOS at this review. [Full review](/apps/frontier)[Official site](https://www.playfrontier.app/) 2. 2 ### [Janitor AI](/apps/janitor-ai) Millions of community bots to chat with free; Janitor+ adds memory for $12.99 a month 51MicrowavedFun 6/10 Best for: The closest drop-in for community-made character bots Janitor AI has the same browse-a-library-and-chat shape as Character.AI with looser content rules, so it is the easiest switch for people who liked the library and hated the filter. Strengths - +Unlimited free chats with millions of community-made bots, and Janitor AI says a free option will always stay. - +Adult content between consenting adult characters is permitted for 18+ users, under published rules on what is off-limits. - +Chats can be published for others to read, react to, fork and continue. - +You can change the model. janitor+ Router offers third-party models, and reviewers report you can connect your own API key. - +Janitor+ is one flat $12.99 a month and multiplies context 5x. Watch out for - !The free tier's context is around 9k tokens, and 5x more memory costs $12.99 a month. - !Reviewers report site instability at peak hours. An App Store reviewer reports replies that hang until the app is fully restarted. - !Reviewers report that NSFW access requires sending a government-issued ID to a third-party verification provider. - !Router credits cost extra and require Janitor+, and subscriptions are generally non-refundable. - !A bot is only as good as its definition. Reviewers report that responses vary with how well each personality is written. Pricing: Free at this review, with unlimited chats, standard models and about 9k tokens of context. Janitor+ costs $12.99 a month for 5x context, priority messages and monthly swipes on its top models, and Router credits for third-party models are an extra purchase that requires the subscription. [Full review](/apps/janitor-ai)[Official site](https://janitorai.com/) 3. 3 ### Chai Best for: Talking to a character within ten seconds of opening the app Chai has nothing to set up. Install it, tap a character, type. It ranks here for speed and loses ground on memory and message limits. Strengths - +Starts instantly, with no configuration or persona sheets. - +A big community library in a mobile-first app. - +Fine for short, light back-and-forth. Watch out for - !The free tier limits how many messages you can send in a window. - !Replies run short and long arcs drift. - !There is no story structure. Pricing: Free tier with message windows; paid tiers raise the limits, at this review. [Official site](https://www.chai-research.com/) 4. 4 ### Nomi Best for: One companion with the strongest long-term recall If memory is your only complaint about Character.AI, Nomi is the benchmark for a single ongoing companion. There is no story around it. Strengths - +The best-regarded recall in the companion category. - +One consistent relationship instead of a library of bots. - +Nothing to configure to keep continuity going. Watch out for - !There is no plot, so you supply the direction and the stakes. - !You write the persona, so the voice depends on your writing. - !Full features sit behind a subscription. Pricing: Free tier; full features by subscription, at this review. [Official site](https://nomi.ai/) 5. 5 ### Replika Best for: A supportive single companion with voice and an avatar Replika gives you one companion with an avatar and voice calls, built around emotional support. It suits daily check-ins more than adventures. Strengths - +A long-running app with voice calls and avatar customization. - +Designed around emotional support and daily check-ins. - +Remembers your preferences and history across the relationship. Watch out for - !One companion, with no cast and no story around them. - !Romantic features sit behind the subscription. - !Nothing happens unless you start it. Pricing: Free tier; romance and voice by subscription, at this review. [Official site](https://replika.com/) 6. 6 ### AI Dungeon Best for: Open-ended adventures you steer yourself AI Dungeon gives you total control over setting and plot, and hands you the job of keeping continuity with Story Cards. Strengths - +Any scenario in any setting. - +Story Cards and memory entries give you direct control over what persists. - +Rewards players who enjoy driving the plot. Watch out for - !With no authored plot, scenes can circle. - !Continuity is your maintenance job. - !Premium models sit on paid memberships. Pricing: Free tier; paid memberships add premium models and monthly credits, at this review. [Official site](https://aidungeon.com/) 7. 7 ### SillyTavern Best for: Power users who want total control and privacy SillyTavern is a front end you run yourself against a local or hosted model. It has the highest ceiling on this list and the highest setup cost. Strengths - +Lorebooks, vector memory and prompt control decide exactly what the model sees. - +Runs against a local model, so conversations can stay on your machine. - +No content policy beyond your own. Watch out for - !Real setup work across models, back ends and extensions. - !You author every character and world yourself. - !No art, sound or story pipeline. Pricing: The software is free; you pay for hosting or hardware. [Official site](https://docs.sillytavern.app/) 8. 8 ### NovelAI Best for: Writing long fiction with a model that holds context NovelAI is a writing tool with no companion loop. It belongs here for people who would rather write the fiction than chat inside it. Strengths - +A large context window keeps long stories coherent. - +Style and model controls aimed at writers. - +A private, focused drafting space. Watch out for - !Nobody messages you back between sessions. - !The app supplies no characters; you write them. - !Full features need a paid subscription. Pricing: Free to start; a subscription unlocks the full feature set, at this review. [Official site](https://novelai.net/) Side by side ## Scorecard [How scores are made](/methodology#how-scores-are-made) | # | App | Overall slop | Prose | Memory | Characters | Story | Pricing | Art | Fun | | - | ----------- | ------------- | ----- | ------ | ---------- | ----- | ------- | --- | ---- | | 1 | Frontier | 16Home-cooked | 20 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 35 | 18 | 8/10 | | 2 | Janitor AI | 51Microwaved | - | 50 | 45 | 50 | 40 | 68 | 6/10 | | 3 | Chai | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 4 | Nomi | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 5 | Replika | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 6 | AI Dungeon | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 7 | SillyTavern | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 8 | NovelAI | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Category winners ## Who wins what Closest drop-in replacement Janitor AI The same browse-a-library-and-chat shape as Character.AI, with looser filters. Best memory for a single companion Nomi For one ongoing relationship with no story around it, its recall is the benchmark. Fastest start Chai Install, tap, type. Nothing else on this list is quicker to a first reply. Most freedom AI Dungeon Any setting and any plot, as long as you maintain continuity yourself. People leave [Character.AI](/apps/character-ai) for two reasons. The filters tightened, including the end of open-ended chat for under-18 accounts, and characters still forget what you told them last week. Every app below answers one of those problems, and no two answer them the same way. ## How we ranked We ranked each app by what it fixes for someone leaving Character.AI. Where one app clearly leads a category, the awards say so by name. If you want an unfiltered sandbox with millions of bots, skip the top pick and start with [Janitor AI](/apps/janitor-ai). FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What is the best Character.AI alternative with real memory? Frontier, if you want memory tied to story events. Its authors mark which moments matter, and characters carry them across chapters, chats and sequels. For one companion with no story, Nomi has the strongest recall in the category, and SillyTavern gives you manual control over what gets remembered. ### Are there free Character.AI alternatives? Yes. Janitor AI is free to use, and Chai has a free tier with message limits. SillyTavern is free software if you run a model yourself. Frontier is free to start, with story unlocks and chat paid in Quills. ### Why are people leaving Character.AI? Two reasons come up most. Content filters tightened, including the end of open-ended chat for under-18 accounts, and characters still forget your history between sessions. ### Which Character.AI alternative is best for an actual story? Frontier, for a finished visual novel written by people, with characters who continue afterwards. AI Dungeon, if you would rather improvise the plot yourself. NovelAI, if you want to write the fiction instead of playing it. Keep reading ## [Related rankings](/best) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) ### [The best AI girlfriend apps, ranked](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Five 18+ companion and story apps, ranked by how well each builds, remembers and prices one ongoing partner at this review.](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [Top pick: Nomi](/best/ai-girlfriend-apps) [5 apps ranked](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) ### [The best AI chatbots for roleplay](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Five apps for chatting in character, ranked by memory, content rules, price and the setup each one asks of you.](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) [Top pick: Janitor AI](/best/ai-roleplay-apps) Slop check: passedThis page went through our slop counter before publishing. [How we check our own copy](/methodology#our-copy)