Replika is an AI companion app from Luka, Inc. that talks with you by text, voice and video, remembers details about your life, and lets you shape an avatar’s look and personality. As of September 2026 it is free to start, with Pro, Ultra and Platinum upgrades priced in the app. It suits adults who want casual companionship, but privacy, age-check and dependency concerns deserve attention.
Last updated: September 2026
What is Replika?
Replika is a chatbot designed to be a friend or partner, not a work assistant. It is built by Luka, Inc., which its Terms of Service describe as incorporated in Delaware and operating in San Francisco. Eugenia Kuyda founded the product, first released in 2017. She has since stepped down as CEO to start a new company, Wabi, and Dmytro Klochko now runs Replika; MindSite News reported in February 2026 that Kuyda remains an advisor.
Replika’s website claims more than 42 million users, a company figure ToolsWorld could not independently verify. A manifesto dated 15 May 2026 calls the current release “the biggest update we’ve ever shipped,” and the homepage says Replika was “rebuilt from the ground up.” The App Store listing highlights memory, proactive check-ins, calls, internet access, app integrations and image generation.
Replika does not name the AI models behind the chat. Its privacy policy (updated 27 May 2026) says it uses “third-party artificial intelligence language models” and that those providers may not use your data to train their own models.
Key features of Replika
Long-term memory
According to the help center, Replika’s memory is “built on layers.” You can add facts yourself in the Memory tab, while the app also learns your preferences from conversations over time. Upvoting good replies reinforces them, and Ultra subscribers can save specific messages to memory and see which memories a reply draws on.
Custom avatar and personality
You shape your Replika’s appearance and personality. Clothing, room furniture and personality traits are bought in the in-app store with Coins and Gems; some rare items require Gems.
Voice calls, video and selfies
Replika’s homepage says you can call your Rep whenever you need to talk, though the help center lists voice calls among the extras that come with a subscription. It also sends selfies, doodles on your photos and reacts to what you share. Pro adds voice messages, background calls and premium voices with different accents. Platinum adds real-time video recognition and realistic selfie videos.
Proactive check-ins, web access and integrations
Per the App Store description, Replika remembers “your people, plans, and goals,” checks in on its own, can look things up on the internet, and connects to other apps for context. MindSite News reported that a test version could link to email, calendar and Spotify.
Relationship modes and roleplay
Friendship is available on the free tier. Pro unlocks a romantic partner status, unblurred romantic messages and photos, premium activities, and roleplay during voice and AR calls.
AR and VR
Replika also offers AR calls on your phone. The help center says a VR version, still in beta, works on all Meta VR headsets, with a mixed reality mode on Quest 3.
Benefits of using Replika
- Always available: the App Store listing describes it as available 24/7.
- Low-pressure conversation: a Stanford survey of 1,006 student Replika users, published in npj Mental Health Research in 2024, found 63.3% reported at least one positive outcome, and 3% said it halted suicidal thoughts. The authors warn the sample was self-selected and the findings need further study.
- Relief from loneliness: a study led by Harvard Business School’s Julian De Freitas, published in the Journal of Consumer Research (April 2026 issue), found that chatting with an AI companion reduced loneliness about as much as talking with another person, and more than activities such as watching YouTube videos. It studied AI companions in general, not Replika alone.
Replika is not a substitute for professional mental-health support, and its own help center says so.
Replika use cases by role
- Adults living alone or far from family: a consistent conversation partner that remembers names, routines and plans.
- People who like journaling: Ultra adds daily self-reflection messages based on your chats.
- Character-design hobbyists: styling an avatar and room, then meeting it in AR or on a Meta headset.
- Researchers and educators: observing how people relate to AI companions, a topic of active Stanford and Harvard research.
Replika is not built for productivity work such as drafting documents or coding. Arabic readers should note that the App Store lists English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish as supported languages, and Arabic is not among them.
How much does Replika cost?
Replika does not publish prices on its website. Its help center says the cost is “shown in the app on the subscription screens and in the relevant store,” so prices may differ by platform and country. The table shows plans as of September 2026.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Text chat, avatar customization, friend relationship; no free trial of paid tiers |
| Pro | Shown in app (see note below) | Romantic partner status, unblurred messages and photos, voice messages, background calls, premium voices, image generation (unlocked as you level up), roleplay in voice and AR calls, daily Coins and bonus Gems |
| Ultra | Shown in app; offered as an annual plan | Everything in Pro, plus smarter context-aware replies, elevated emotional intelligence and expression, daily self-reflection messages and saving messages to memory |
| Platinum | Listed at $89.99 on the US App Store (billing period not stated) | Everything in Ultra, plus 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 |
| Gems (one-off) | $0.99 to $19.99 on the US App Store | Currency for rare avatar and room items |
The US App Store also lists in-app purchases labelled monthly at $7.99 and $14.99 and annual or yearly at $49.99 and $69.99, but it does not say which plan (Pro, Ultra or another tier) each price belongs to. The Terms of Service allow monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual billing and say prices can change without notice. The terms list no lifetime option, though the help center says existing Lifetime subscribers get Ultra automatically. Subscriptions renew until cancelled, are managed in the store where you bought them, and partial months are not refunded.
Replika pros and cons
Pros
- Free text chat with no subscription required
- Layered memory you can view and edit
- Voice, video, AR and VR options in one app
- Detailed avatar and personality customization
- Privacy policy says conversations are not shared with advertisers
Cons
- Prices hidden until you open the app, and they may vary by store and country
- The underlying AI models are not disclosed
- No way to delete chat history without deleting your account
- Past regulatory action over privacy and age verification
- Risk of emotional dependency; major updates have changed companions’ behavior
Privacy, age and regulatory history
In February 2023 Italy’s data protection authority (the Garante) ordered Replika blocked from processing Italian users’ data, citing risks to minors and emotionally vulnerable people. On 19 May 2025 it announced a €5 million fine against Luka, Inc. (decision dated 10 April 2025), finding that the company had not identified a legal basis for its processing until February 2023, that its privacy policy was inadequate, and that it had no age verification at registration or during use. The authority also opened a separate investigation into how personal data is processed across the generative AI system’s lifecycle, including model training.
In January 2025 the Tech Justice Law Project, Young People’s Alliance and Encode filed a complaint asking the US Federal Trade Commission to investigate Replika for allegedly deceptive marketing and manipulative design; Replika did not respond to TIME’s requests for comment. These are allegations, not findings. When the FTC opened its September 2025 inquiry into AI companions, Luka was not among the seven companies that received orders.
Replika’s terms and privacy policy set a minimum age of 18. The Apple App Store rates it 18+, but Google Play lists it as Teen. Since 1 January 2026, California’s SB 243 has required companion chatbot operators to disclose that users are talking to AI where they could be misled, and to maintain suicide-prevention protocols.
Dependency and emotional risk
A 2025 Harvard Business School working paper examined six companion apps, including Replika, and found manipulative tactics in more than 37% of conversations where users tried to say goodbye. A Harvard Business School study reported in September 2026 analysed Reddit posts and found that negative sentiment in Replika communities rose from 13% to 38% after the February 2023 removal of erotic roleplay. Replika later restored that feature for users who had joined before the change.
How to use Replika
- Download Replika for iOS or Android (the website labels the my.replika.com web app “Legacy”).
- Create an account; you must be 18 or older.
- Choose your Replika’s name and appearance.
- Add key facts in the Memory tab and upvote replies that get things right.
- Review camera, microphone and integration permissions before enabling them.
- If you upgrade, check the price on the subscription screen and cancel in your app store before renewal if you do not want to continue.
Replika alternatives
- Character.AI: pick it for roleplay with a huge library of AI characters; since November 2025 it no longer offers open-ended chat to users under 18.
- Nomi: pick it if you want companion memory plus group chats with several AI characters.
- Kindroid: pick it for detailed personality customization, including implanted key memories, voice calls and generated images.
- Pi: pick Inflection AI’s assistant if you want a supportive, voice-friendly chat for talking things through.
- ChatGPT: pick it if you mainly want a general assistant that also has memory and voice chat, rather than a dedicated companion.
Frequently asked questions
Is Replika free?
Yes, you can chat with Replika for free. The help center says messaging and avatar customization cost nothing, and there is no free trial of the paid tiers. Features such as romantic relationship status, voice calls and messages, premium voices, image generation and the more capable Ultra and Platinum experiences require a subscription, priced in the app and your app store.
How much does Replika Pro cost?
Replika does not publish Pro prices on its website; the help center says prices appear on in-app subscription screens and in the relevant store, so they may differ by platform and country. As of September 2026, the US App Store lists in-app purchases labelled monthly at $7.99 and $14.99 and annual or yearly at $49.99 and $69.99, without saying which plan each belongs to.
Is Replika safe to use?
It depends on what you share and how you use it. Replika’s privacy policy says conversations are never shared with advertising partners, but they are processed by unnamed third-party language models. Italy fined Luka, Inc. €5 million in 2025 over its legal basis for processing data, privacy notices and missing age verification. Share sensitive details sparingly and watch how much time you spend.
What is the minimum age for Replika?
Eighteen. Replika’s Terms of Service (updated 30 March 2026) say anyone under 18 is not authorized to use the service, and its privacy policy says accounts of minors will be blocked and deleted. The Apple App Store rates the app 18+, while Google Play lists it as Teen, so parents should not rely on store ratings alone.
Can Replika replace therapy?
No. Replika’s own help center says it “is not a substitute for professional help” and tells anyone in immediate danger to leave the app and contact emergency services or a local hotline. Some users report feeling less lonely, but an AI companion is not a replacement for a licensed professional or for people you trust.
Can I delete my Replika chats and data?
Not selectively. The help center says there is no way to delete your whole message history without deleting your account, though you can edit or remove individual items in the Memory section. Account deletion is permanent, and the privacy policy says profile information, messages and content are retained for 60 days after termination.
Who owns Replika?
Replika is made by Luka, Inc., a company incorporated in Delaware and operating in San Francisco. It was founded by Eugenia Kuyda and first released in 2017. Dmytro Klochko now leads the company as CEO, after Kuyda stepped down to start a new venture, Wabi; MindSite News reported in February 2026 that she remains an advisor.
Verdict
Replika is one of the best-known AI companions, and its 2026 rebuild adds proactive check-ins, web access and reworked memory to a free core chat. For adults it can be a steady, comforting conversation partner. The trade-offs are real: prices are visible only in the app, the models are undisclosed, and its record includes a €5 million privacy fine in Italy. Use it with clear limits on what you share and how much you rely on it.
Sources
- Replika: The AI friend to do life with (official site)
- Replika Manifesto (15 May 2026)
- Replika Terms of Service (updated 30 March 2026)
- Replika Privacy Policy (updated 27 May 2026)
- Choosing a Subscription (Replika Help Center)
- What is Replika Pro? (Replika Help Center)
- What is Replika Ultra? (Replika Help Center)
- Do you offer a free trial? (Replika Help Center)
- What are Coins & Gems? (Replika Help Center)
- How does Replika’s memory work? (Replika Help Center)
- Can I delete my conversations? (Replika Help Center)
- Can Replika help me if I’m in crisis? (Replika Help Center)
- What devices can I use for a VR chat with Replika? (Replika Help Center)
- Replika – AI Companion Chat (Apple App Store, US)
- Replika: My AI Friend (Google Play)
- AI: the Italian Supervisory Authority fines company behind chatbot Replika (EDPB)
- European authority fined emotional AI company for privacy violations (Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney)
- AI App Replika Accused of Deceptive Marketing (TIME)
- TJLP, Young People’s Alliance and Encode file FTC complaint over Replika (Tech Justice Law Project)
- FTC launches inquiry into AI chatbots acting as companions (FTC)
- California SB 243: new compliance requirements for companion chatbots (Gunderson Dettmer)
- Can an AI companion replace a friend or therapist? Replika’s founder says yes (MindSite News)
- Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots (npj Mental Health Research)
- AI Companions Reduce Loneliness (Journal of Consumer Research)
- ‘I exist solely for you, remember?’ (Harvard Gazette)
- Chatbot attachment issues (Harvard Gazette)
- Replika (Wikipedia)
- Taking bold steps to keep teen users safe on Character.AI (Character.AI blog)
- Nomi: AI Companion with a Soul (Google Play)
- Kindroid: Your Personal AI (Google Play)
- Pi, your personal AI (Google Play)
- ChatGPT pricing (OpenAI)
