CHAI: Social AI Platform- Chat
Chat with 25M+ community-built AI characters
Overview
CHAI is a mobile AI companion app for iOS and Android, published by Chai Research Corp., with a catalog of over 25 million user-generated and platform-provided AI characters spanning celebrities, fictional figures, and historical personalities. Users can chat with any character or create their own — keeping them private or sharing them publicly — using community creation tools open to all accounts. The app operates on a subscription model with a 24-hour free trial; free ad-supported access to messaging was reportedly removed around early 2026 per user reports.
At a glance
Scores
- Conversation
- 3/5
- Memory
- 2/5
- Privacy
- 2/5
- Security
- 2/5
Based on user reviews and published policies.
Pricing
- 24-hour free trial period with full premium access before payment required
Pricing page shows '$0 today, then $159.99/year'; converts to Annual Premium after 24 hours. Whether a standalone free tier with message limits exists post-trial is not confirmed from official sources.
- Unlock 25M Characters
- Access to Most Advanced Chat AI
- No Ads
- No Sponsored Content
- Priority response speed
Billed annually at $159.99/year ($13.33/month effective per pricing page).
- Unlock 25M Characters
- Access to Most Advanced Chat AI
- No Ads
- No Sponsored Content
- Priority response speed
Billed at $9.99/week (~$43.29/month annualized). Listed as '60% OFF' on pricing page relative to unstated comparison price.
What users say
Positives
- Massive catalog of 25M+ characters, mostly community-created and highly diverse
- Historically more permissive content policy than competing apps — mature fictional themes accessible
- Simple, fast interface for roleplay with an instruction button to guide bot responses mid-conversation
- Character creation open to all users, with an option to keep characters private or share publicly
Negatives
- Many users report that free message access was removed around February 2026, requiring a subscription to send any messages at all
- Bots frequently forget context within two to three exchanges — memory complaints are consistent even on paid tiers
- Users on lower tiers report highly aggressive ads appearing every 5–10 messages prior to the paywall change
- Some users report that conversation history was deleted without notice following recent updates (v2.178)
- Users report that content filtering has tightened significantly despite the app historically being marketed as uncensored
Users report that Chai's main draw is its massive catalog of community-built characters and a historically permissive content policy that attracted users fleeing stricter platforms. Many reviewers, particularly on Google Play in June 2026, report that free chat access was effectively removed around February 2026, leaving new accounts with zero messages available without a subscription. Memory is a persistent weak point — reviewers consistently note bots lose context within two to three exchanges, even on paid plans. Some users also report that conversation history was wiped in a recent update and that content filtering has been quietly tightened.
« The app description says unlimited and free, but it's not. I can't even send a single message anymore because it wants me to subscribe. »
« This app is horrendous. the bots forget the reply in two responses. Nobody should bother with this app. This app wants you to pay for 5 times better memory retention. 5 times 0 is still 0 do not waste your money. »
« This is not one of the AI chat apps that sends you selfies or videos, or voice calls, but it excels at what it does. My favorite feature is the instruction button that allows you to guide the AI's responses. »
Privacy & safety
- Trains on your chats
- Yes
- Opt-out available
- Unclear
- Discloses it's an AI
- Yes
- Data export
- Yes
- Account deletion
- Yes
- Age verification
- Self-declaration
Chai Research states in its privacy policy that conversations are used to improve AI models after removing personal identifiers (pseudonymization). Data export and account deletion are both supported. Usage data is shared with advertising partners, and the EULA grants Chai a perpetual commercial licence over user-generated content. GDPR rights — including access, export, erasure, and objection — are explicitly available for EU/UK users; a universal opt-out for users outside those regions is not clearly specified. Security relies on standard HTTPS; no details on server-side encryption at rest or independent security audits are disclosed. Data is retained for up to five years after account deletion per the privacy policy.
Our take
Users report that Chai was among the most permissive AI roleplay platforms through late 2025, but widespread complaints in early 2026 — covering removal of free message access, chat history deletions, and tightened content filters — triggered a wave of departures, reflected in 185 of 250 Google Play reviews being 1-star in June 2026.
Best for: Users report Chai suits fans of adult-adjacent roleplay who want to explore a large catalog of community-built characters and are willing to pay a subscription.
Avoid if: Users advise avoiding Chai if you need reliable long-term memory, free access, or affordable subscription pricing.
Sources
- CHAI on App Store2026-06-26
- CHAI on Google Play2026-06-26
- Chai Research — Official Site2026-06-26
- Chai Privacy Policy2026-06-26
- Chai App EULA2026-06-26
- Chai Safety Center2026-06-26
- Chai AI Pricing Page2026-06-26
Last updated 2026-06-26