How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Kindroid leads on live voice and video calls, with animated avatars driven by a photo you supply.
- Nomi leads on long-term memory, which matters more than voice quality for ongoing conversations.
- Replika is the safest mainstream pick, with supportive chat and voice calls but no explicit roleplay.
- Character AI itself filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2026, which is a real reason to look elsewhere.
- Voice calls often cost extra credits on top of a subscription, so price the call time, not just the monthly fee.
- Every app here is for adults, and several are 18 plus only, so check age gates before you sign up.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Replika | Supportive chat and voice | See website | Yes |
 Kindroid | Live voice and video calls | $13.99/month | No |
 Nomi | Long-term memory | $15.99/month | No |
 Prelulu | Face-to-face video calls | See website | Yes |
 Candy AI | Realistic voice and images | $12.99/month | No |
 Chai | Community characters with voice | See website | Yes |
 Anima | Budget companion chat | $9.99/month | Yes |
 Paradot | Memory-focused companion | See website | Yes |
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The best c ai alternatives with voice
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Replika is the mainstream alternative for people who want a companion that listens rather than a roleplay engine. It offers text chat, voice calls, a 3D avatar, mood tracking, and diary features, and it has been running longer than most rivals, which means its memory and relationship features are more mature. The free tier covers basic chat, while paid tiers add voice calls and advanced features.
The limits are clear. Explicit roleplay has been restricted since 2023, so Replika is not the pick for adult-oriented roleplay, and some users reported memory resets after the Replika 2.0 update. Pro pricing sits near 19.99 dollars a month or 69.99 dollars a year, with higher tiers for video recognition and selfie videos. If you want a supportive daily companion with voice, Replika is the safest starting point, but check the current tier prices in the app store before you commit, since store prices vary by platform.
What we like- Long-running companion app
- Voice calls included
- Mood tracking and diary features
- 3D avatar
Watch out for- Explicit roleplay restricted since 2023
- Pro starts near 19.99 dollars a month
- Video recognition needs Platinum
Starting price$13.99/month
Free planNo
Kindroid is the strongest voice and video alternative on this list. Its Live Avatar Video feature animates a photo you supply into a talking avatar with real-time gestures and speech, and voice calls work alongside text chat. Customization runs deep, from personality settings to scenario building, which is why Kindroid scores near the top of independent companion comparisons.
Pricing needs care. The web subscription costs 13.99 dollars a month, but live video calls consume audio credits: 2,000 credits per minute for standard video and 4,000 per minute for premium. That means a long call can cost far more than the monthly fee suggests, so budget for credits if video calls are your main use. The free Lite tier ended on 1 October 2026, and new users now get 50 free messages before the app becomes read-only. Kindroid is 18 plus, and its written policy permits adult chat on the web, so treat it as an adult-only product.
What we like- Live Avatar Video with real-time gestures
- Deep customization
- Voice calls
- Optional camera sharing
Watch out for- Calls consume audio credits
- Free Lite tier ended in October 2026
- Add-ons can reach 59.99 dollars
Starting price$15.99/month
Free planNo
Nomi is the pick when memory matters most. Its mind map tracks what a companion knows about you, including preferences, backstory, and ongoing threads, and that memory carries across long conversations in a way most rivals do not match. Voice calls and voice messages work alongside text chat, and group chats let several characters share one conversation.
Pricing on the US App Store lists a Standard Plan at 15.99 dollars a month, with quarterly and yearly options near 39.99 and 99.99 dollars. Nomi permits adult text chat under its policy, with images filtered, and age checks were extended across the US in July 2026, so expect an 18 plus gate. The main gap is video: Nomi shows a static character portrait during calls rather than a live animated avatar, so if face-to-face video is the priority, Kindroid or Prelulu fit better.
What we like- Strong long-term memory with a mind map
- Voice calls and voice messages
- Group chats
- Image generation
Watch out for- No live video avatar stream
- Adult content policies vary by platform
- Higher monthly price
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Prelulu is built around face-to-face video calls. You see the character answer in its own voice, with facial expressions and delivery carrying emotion in real time, and you can cut in mid-sentence to redirect the conversation. Your camera stays off unless you turn it on with explicit permission, which is a better privacy default than rivals that ask for camera access up front.
The free plan includes a limited daily text allowance, while voice and video calls use credits, so heavy callers should price the credit packs before committing. Memory is split between chat and calls, and recall across conversations is selective rather than a full transcript, so long story arcs may need reminders. Prelulu is a newer platform with a smaller character library than Character AI, but for live video conversation it is the most direct alternative to Kindroid.
What we like- Live video calls with expressive avatars
- Voice calls
- Camera stays off by default
- Free daily text allowance
Watch out for- Calls use credits
- Memory across calls is selective
- Newer platform with a smaller community
Starting price$12.99/month
Free planNo
Candy AI scores near the top of independent companion comparisons for realism, pairing natural voices with image generation in one app. Monthly pricing sits near 12.99 dollars, with an annual plan closer to 5.99 dollars a month, which makes it one of the cheaper annual options among the realistic companion apps. Voice calls and image generation are the core features, and the app is designed for adult users who want a realistic companion rather than a story-game character.
This is an adult-oriented product, so it is 18 plus only, and users should read the content policy before paying, since image and chat filters vary by plan. It also lacks the long-term memory depth of Nomi and the live avatar video of Kindroid, so it fits best when voice realism and image quality matter more than memory or video. Do not use voice features to imitate a real person without their consent, since voice cloning raises consent and fraud risks.
What we like- Realistic voices and image generation
- High independent review scores
- Annual plan near 5.99 dollars a month
Watch out for- Adult-oriented product, 18 plus only
- Monthly price higher than annual rate
- Image filters vary by plan
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Chai is the closest community alternative to Character AI. Users create and share characters, and many of them support voice chat alongside text, so you can talk to a wide range of personalities without building your own. The free tier covers basic chat, and the community keeps the library fresh in a way that single-character apps cannot match.
The trade-off is consistency. Voice quality varies by character, since creators configure their own voices, and moderation quality varies too, so the experience can swing between polished and rough. Premium pricing is not published as clearly as rivals, so confirm the current plan inside the app before paying. Chai suits users who want variety and community characters with voice, and it suits less well users who want one deep, consistent companion with strong memory.
What we like- Large community character library
- Voice features on many characters
- Free tier
- Active creator community
Watch out for- Voice quality varies by character
- Moderation varies
- Premium pricing not published clearly
Starting price$9.99/month
Free planYes
Anima is the budget pick. Monthly pricing sits near 9.99 dollars, with an annual plan closer to 4.99 dollars a month, the cheapest annual rate among the apps compared here. It offers a mobile companion with memory, chat, and voice features, and a free tier lets you try it before paying.
Independent comparisons rank Anima lowest in this set, and that shows in practice: voice depth, customization, and conversation quality trail Kindroid, Nomi, and Candy AI. But the price gap is real, and for a user who wants a simple companion app without paying 15 dollars a month or more, Anima is a fair starting point. Try the free tier first, and only upgrade if the companion style and voice quality feel right for daily use.
What we like- Cheapest annual rate near 4.99 dollars a month
- Simple mobile companion
- Memory features
- Free tier
Watch out for- Lowest independent review scores in this set
- Fewer features than Kindroid or Nomi
- Voice depth limited
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Paradot is a memory-focused AI friend app that sits between Anima and Nomi on depth. It remembers facts and preferences across conversations and presents itself as a companion for daily chat rather than a roleplay engine. A free tier exists, and setup is simple, which makes it easy to test alongside a stronger voice app.
The limits are voice and video. Paradot has no video calls, and its voice features are thinner than Kindroid, Prelulu, or Replika, so it fits less well if spoken conversation is the main reason you are switching. It fits better as a second companion for text-based daily chat, or as a low-cost starting point for users who care more about memory than about voice quality. Confirm current pricing on the vendor site, since published figures vary by store and region.
What we like- Memory-focused design
- AI friend chat
- Free tier
- Simple setup
Watch out for- No video calls
- Fewer voice features than Kindroid
- Smaller community than Chai
How we chose
We focused on one question: which apps actually let you talk with a voice, not just read text. Every tool here offers spoken voice calls or voice messages, and we ranked them on call quality, memory, customization, and honest pricing. We excluded Character AI itself, since this list is about alternatives, and we flagged its October 2026 Chapter 11 filing as reported in the press, because a bankruptcy filing raises real questions about the future of characters and chats stored on that platform. We also excluded apps that only offer text chat, and we kept adult-oriented apps in the list with clear 18 plus notes rather than hiding their policies, since adult users are a large share of this market.
What to check before you buy
Price the calls, not just the subscription. Kindroid and Prelulu charge credits for live video, so a month of heavy calling can cost several times the base fee. Check memory limits next: Nomi and Paradot remember more across sessions, while others reset context faster, and that difference matters more than voice quality after the first week. Confirm the age gate and content policy, since several apps here are 18 plus only and their policies differ on adult chat and images. Finally, never use a voice feature to imitate a real person, a colleague, or a public figure without their clear consent, and be careful with any app that asks for camera access or personal photos, since those inputs are hard to take back once shared.
Frequently asked questions
Why are people leaving Character AI?
Character AI filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2026, according to press reports, and the company has said the app could be wound down if no workable deal comes through. Users with characters or chats they care about should back them up.
Which alternative has the best voice calls?
Kindroid leads on live voice and video calls, with animated avatars and real-time gestures. Replika is the most polished mainstream voice option, and Prelulu leads on face-to-face video conversation.
Are these apps free?
Most have a free tier, but voice calls are usually limited or credit-based on free plans. Expect to pay 10 to 20 dollars a month for full voice access, plus credits for live video on Kindroid and Prelulu.
Are AI companion apps safe for teenagers?
No, not the apps on this list. Several are 18 plus only, and companion apps raise real concerns around privacy, emotional dependence, and exposure to adult content. Parents should check age gates and keep these apps off devices used by minors.
Can I clone a real person's voice with these apps?
Some tools can mimic voices, but you should not imitate a real person without their clear consent. Voice cloning without consent can enable fraud and harassment, and several platforms restrict it in their policies.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.