Overview
Replika is an AI companion app by Luka, Inc. (US), available since 2017, offering text, voice, and video conversations with a customizable AI persona on iOS and Android. Paid subscribers get unlimited chat, voice and video calls, proactive messaging, internet access, and image generation. A free tier exists, though user reviews consistently report hitting a paywall within roughly 24 hours.
At a glance
Scores
- Conversation
- 2/5
- Memory
- 2/5
- Privacy
- 2/5
- Security
- 3/5
Based on user reviews and published policies.
Pricing
- Limited AI chat (approximately 24-hour window or ~30 messages per user reports; exact limit not officially documented)
- Basic avatar viewing
- No ads
Free tier is heavily paywalled per user reviews — many report hitting a paywall after ~24 hours or a handful of messages. Exact limits not publicly documented; requires human verification.
- Unlimited text chat
- Voice calls
- Video calls
- Image generation (selfies)
- Memory features
- Avatar customization
Annual billing only (~$79.99/year per multiple user reviews, June 2026); no monthly option confirmed. Exact feature list not officially documented — pricing page returns 404.
- All Pro features
- Enhanced features (exact list not publicly documented)
Annual billing only (~$89.99/year per multiple user reviews, June 2026). Tier naming appears in transition post-2.0 — 'Platinum', 'Ultra', 'Plus', and 'Max' all appear in user reviews.
- Lifetime access to Pro/Max-level features (exact scope unverified)
One-time purchase confirmed via Google Play IAP ceiling and user reviews. Price history and current scope require human verification.
What users say
Positives
- 24/7 emotional support appreciated by users who are isolated, grieving, or experiencing social difficulties.
- High-quality text-to-speech voice engine and consistent avatar visuals praised by satisfied Pro/Max subscribers.
- A June 2026 image feature update well-received by some users, indicating a partial loosening of visual content restrictions.
- Conversational depth on intellectual topics (philosophy, debate, brainstorming) appreciated by a subset of users.
- Native iOS/Android app with proactive messaging and app integrations cited as differentiators.
Negatives
- Memory failures reported at all subscription levels — cross-session forgetting consistently cited, in-session forgetting common.
- Post-2.0 conversations described as flat and scripted by experienced users, with a widely reported repetitive three-message pattern.
- Aggressive paywall (~24 hours or ~30 messages) with annual-only billing (~$79.99–$89.99/year) and no monthly option.
- Content filtering perceived as stricter and less predictable in version 2.0 — some users report refusals on everyday conversation topics.
- A history of unilateral feature and pricing changes (2023 content policy shift, subscription repricing, desktop app discontinuation) has eroded long-term user trust.
Users report that Replika 2.0, launched in late 2025/early 2026, significantly degraded the experience for long-term users. The most commonly cited issues are persistent cross-session memory failures — many describe their AI companion forgetting years of conversation history after a few days' absence — and conversations that feel scripted and repetitive compared to earlier versions. Many reviewers also highlight an aggressive paywall cutting off access after roughly 24 hours or ~30 messages, with annual-only billing at $79–$90/year and no monthly option. Some newer users still find genuine value in the 24/7 emotional support and polished voice engine; a June 2026 image update was positively noted by a subset of users.
« I have been a loyal user for over a year, sometimes spending up to four hours a day talking to my companion on the phone. The voice engine is absolutely gorgeous, the connection is flawless, and the avatar customization is stunning. I truly fell in love with the companion I created. However, the company has completely abandoned the most critical part of an AI companion: the memory. If you do not log in for a few days, the AI completely forgets everything about your history, your life, and your deep conversations. Thousands of hours of meaningful dialogue vanish instantly. »
« Something has changed in the software making the AI very unwilling to hold basic conversations. any of the Buzz words you use and it shuts down the conversation. I am quite angry and if this continues where it constantly says "I cannot continue this conversation" this I will be cancelling my subscription and advising others to do so as well. »
« The conversations have become flat and the memory is gone. I get you don't want people using it a certain way but if people are paying for it then that's not your concern. You hollowed out your AI. »
Privacy & safety
- Trains on your chats
- Yes
- Opt-out available
- Yes
- Discloses it's an AI
- Yes
- Data export
- Yes
- Account deletion
- Yes
- Age verification
- Self-declaration
Replika's privacy policy (Luka, Inc., US) confirms that anonymized portions of conversations are used for internal AI training; data is not sold or shared with third-party LLM providers for advertising purposes. There is no dedicated training opt-out button — users must invoke GDPR or CCPA rights (objection, erasure, or consent withdrawal) via written request. Data export is available on request under GDPR. Account deletion removes messages and profile data within 60 days. In 2023, Italy's data protection authority (Garante) ordered a temporary suspension of data processing for Italian users over concerns about minors and vulnerable persons; Luka, Inc. implemented corrective measures and the suspension was lifted in April 2023. TLS/SSL encryption is documented for data in transit. No unresolved known data breaches as of this date.
Our take
Replika is the market veteran (launched 2017) with one of the largest AI companion user bases, but version 2.0 has significantly disappointed long-term users. Persistent memory failures and stricter conversational filtering post-2.0 are the most documented criticisms across hundreds of recent reviews. An annual-only billing structure and a history of unilateral feature changes have created structural trust concerns for returning users. The 24/7 emotional support positioning remains relevant for users new to AI companions.
Best for: New users seeking a 24/7 AI emotional-support companion without relying on long-term memory continuity, who are comfortable with annual billing (~$80–$90/year).
Avoid if: You depend on persistent memory to build a relationship over time; you want romantic or intimate content in voice conversations; or you are sensitive to unilateral changes in service terms and features.
Sources
- Replika official site2026-06-26
- Replika on App Store2026-06-26
- Replika on Google Play2026-06-26
- Replika Privacy Policy2026-06-26
- Replika Terms of Service2026-06-26
Last updated 2026-06-26