How we rank AI companion apps

Every app gets up to six sub-scores from 0 to 10. The overall score is a weighted average of the sub-scores the app has:

• Conversation — 25%: How natural, coherent and in-character the replies are over a long chat.
• Memory — 15%: Whether it remembers names, facts and earlier conversations across days.
• Customization — 15%: How far you can shape personality, look, voice and scenario.
• Media — 15%: Quality and limits of voice messages, calls and image generation.
• Value for money — 20%: What the free tier allows and what paid plans really cost, including tokens/credits.
• Privacy & safety — 10%: Data retention and deletion, training on chats, billing discretion, who runs it.

Two kinds of reviews

Tested — we used the app with a real account (at least the free tier) and scored all six criteria ourselves. Rated from public information — we have not tested it yet; the scores are computed by a fixed formula from facts on the app's own pricing page, privacy policy, terms and store listings, each linked on the app page with the date we checked it. Such pages carry a clear label, have no Conversation score (chat quality can't be judged without using the app) and are not marked up as reviews for search engines.

The formula for public-information ratings (0–100 per criterion, shown as 0–10):

• Value: free plan +40; cheapest monthly plan ≤ $5 +60, ≤ $10 +50, ≤ $15 +40, ≤ $20 +25, ≤ $30 +15, more +5; extra tokens/credits −10.
• Memory: long-term memory advertised 80, not stated 30, explicitly none 10.
• Customization: create your own characters +70, group chats +30.
• Media: voice messages +30, voice calls +30, image generation +40.
• Privacy & safety: account/data deletion +30, says it doesn't sell or share data for ads +25, chats not used for AI training +25 (opt-out +15), retention period stated +10, operator address published +10.

Anything the app doesn't state earns nothing. These numbers say what an app offers on paper, not how well it works — that is what a hands-on test adds.

Independence

We earn commissions from some apps (see the affiliate disclosure). Commissions never change a score or the order of a ranking. If we ever sell a placement, it is shown separately and labelled “Sponsored” — never inside a ranked list.

Facts and freshness

Prices and features come with a source link and the date we checked them. We re-check every app regularly; an app not verified for 90 days shows a “being re-checked” badge. Spotted something outdated? Write to [email protected].

What we never list

Apps that allow or market content involving minors, apps built around deepfakes of real people, and apps that promote non-consensual or illegal content. We don't publish ratings, user counts or testimonials we didn't verify.

Use it responsibly

AI companions are entertainment and practice, not a substitute for human relationships or professional support.