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
- Character.AI and Replika suit users who want filtered, general-audience companion chat.
- Janitor AI, SpicyChat, Candy AI, and CrushOn AI allow adult content for adults, with different paid and age checks.
- SillyTavern suits technical users who want local control and to choose their own model.
- Nomi suits long-term companion continuity, while NovelAI suits story and worldbuilding.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Janitor AI | Large community character library | $12.99 per month | Yes |
 Character.AI | Filtered character chat for general audiences | $9.99 per month | Yes |
 SillyTavern | Self-hosted character chat front end | See website | Yes |
 SpicyChat | Scenario-driven character stories | $5 per month | Yes |
 Candy AI | Companion chat with images and voice | $13.99 per month | Yes |
 Nomi | Long-term companion continuity | See website | Yes |
 Replika | Emotional companion chat | $19.99 per month | Yes |
 NovelAI | Long-form story and worldbuilding | $10 per month | Free trial |
 CrushOn AI | Mobile-friendly character chat | See website | Yes |
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The best chub ai alternatives
Starting price$12.99 per month
Free planYes
For teams that need a large character library, this is a practical place to start. Janitor AI is known for a large library of community-made characters and a free model for basic chats. It suits users who want variety and control, while paid plans and API keys access stronger models.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Large community character library, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for Janitor AI, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Large user-made character library
- Free model for basic chats
- Bring-your-own-key options
Watch out for- Chat quality varies by model
- Community content varies in quality
Starting price$9.99 per month
Free planYes
If your main problem is filtered general-audience chat, this option deserves a close look. Character.AI offers character chat with moderation and a large library, aimed at general audiences. It suits users who want a safer, filtered experience, while users seeking adult content will need a different platform.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Filtered character chat for general audiences, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for Character.AI, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Large character library
- Moderated chats
- Mobile apps
Watch out for- Adult content is not allowed
- Filters can limit roleplay
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
This option suits groups that want a self-hosted chat front end without a long setup. SillyTavern is free front-end software that connects to a language model you choose. It suits technical users who want full control and character card imports, while setup and model costs are your responsibility.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Self-hosted character chat front end, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for SillyTavern, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Free open-source software
- Imports character cards
- Full local control
Watch out for- You pay for the model provider
- Setup needs technical skill
Starting price$5 per month
Free planYes
When scenario-driven stories matters more than extra features, this tool fits well. SpicyChat focuses on scenario-driven character stories with a detailed builder. It allows adult content for adults in regions where it is permitted, while free users face queues and context limits.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Scenario-driven character stories, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for SpicyChat, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Large character library
- Detailed character builder
- Scenario-focused chats
Watch out for- Free tier has queues and limits
- Adult content rules vary by region
#5
Candy AI
Best for: Companion chat with images and voice
Visit candy.ai
Starting price$13.99 per month
Free planYes
A good pick for people who put companion chat with media first is this platform. Candy AI is a companion app with character creation, image, and voice features on paid plans. It allows adult content for adults on paid plans, while free use is limited to a small number of messages.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Companion chat with images and voice, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for Candy AI, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Companion creation tools
- Image and voice features on paid plans
- Mobile access
Watch out for- Free messages are very limited
- Adult features are paid and age-gated
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Consider this tool when long-term companion memory is the deciding factor. Nomi focuses on long-term companion chats with memory that carries across sessions. It suits users who want one ongoing companion rather than many short chats, with adult content rules set by the platform for adults.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Long-term companion continuity, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for Nomi, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Persistent memory for long chats
- Emotional continuity
- Mobile apps
Watch out for- Appearance controls are thinner
- Paid tiers for best memory
Starting price$19.99 per month
Free planYes
This platform works best where emotional companion chat is the daily work. Replika is a companion app focused on ongoing conversation and emotional support-style chats. It does not allow adult content in the same way as adult-focused platforms, so check current policy before you choose it for roleplay.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Emotional companion chat, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for Replika, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Companion-focused design
- Mobile apps
- Memory and relationship features
Watch out for- Best features are paid
- Adult content is limited by current policy
Starting price$10 per month
Free planFree trial
For a setup built around long-form story writing, this is a strong candidate. NovelAI is built for long-form fiction and worldbuilding, with story tools and lore features. It suits writers who want to build worlds and stories, while character chat is less central than on chat-first apps.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Long-form story and worldbuilding, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for NovelAI, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Story writing tools
- Lore and worldbuilding features
- Image generation
Watch out for- Chat features are secondary to writing
- Higher tiers for larger context
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
If you value mobile character chat above all else, start your shortlist here. CrushOn AI offers mobile-friendly character chat with a wide character range. It allows adult content for adults on paid plans, while free use is limited by credits.
In daily use, the deciding factors are usually Mobile-friendly character chat, how the tool handles your existing stack, and whether the plan limits match your volume. Check the pricing page, the documentation for CrushOn AI, and recent public reviews before you buy, and use a trial with a real project rather than a demo dataset. Pricing and plan limits are worth checking on the vendor pricing page before you commit, because tiers and add-ons change over time. If the tool fits your main workflow and its limits are acceptable, it is worth a shortlist spot. If not, move to the next option in this guide.
What we like- Mobile-friendly chat
- Character imports
- Variety of characters
Watch out for- Free credits are limited
- Adult content is paid and age-gated
How we chose
We compared pricing pages, product documentation, and public reviews on G2, Capterra, and Reddit, then checked features, integrations, and fit for different company sizes. We did not count marketing claims as facts, and we left a price as See website when the vendor page did not publish a clear starting price.
That method favors tools with clear documentation and a plan that matches the job. A large platform can still be the wrong pick for a small team, and a small tool can still be the right pick for a focused job, so size fit mattered as much as feature count.
Check content policy first
Content policy is the fastest filter. Character.AI and Replika are filtered and general-audience focused. Janitor AI, SpicyChat, Candy AI, and CrushOn AI allow adult content for adults, subject to age checks and regional rules. Pick a platform whose policy matches how you plan to chat, so filters do not surprise you later.
Compare memory, models, and character libraries
Memory and context affect whether a character stays consistent over long chats. Model choice affects reply quality. Character libraries affect variety. Test the same kind of chat on two platforms before you pay, and check whether chats can be exported or backed up.
Watch credit and subscription costs
Some platforms use flat subscriptions, while others use credits or API costs. Credits can make the real monthly cost higher than the headline price, especially for image or voice features. Set a monthly limit, and start with a free tier or a short plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chub AI?
Chub AI is an AI character-chat platform with community character cards, lorebooks for worldbuilding, and chat features. Users create or browse characters and chat with them in roleplay and story scenarios.
Which alternative is best for free use?
Janitor AI offers a free model for basic chats, while Character.AI offers free messaging with ads. SillyTavern software is free, but you still pay the model provider you connect.
Which platforms allow adult content?
Janitor AI, SpicyChat, Candy AI, and CrushOn AI allow adult content for adults, subject to platform and regional rules. Character.AI and Replika are filtered and do not allow adult content in the same way.
Do I need technical skill for SillyTavern?
Yes, more than for hosted apps. SillyTavern needs you to install software, connect a model provider, and manage settings. Hosted apps handle that setup for you, at the cost of less control.
Can I keep my chats if a character is removed?
On hosted apps, chats live on company servers, so removal or policy changes can affect access. SillyTavern and NovelAI offer more local or export options, so check backup options before you invest in long chats.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://janitorai.com/pricing
- https://character.ai/pricing
- https://sillytavern.app/
- https://spicychat.ai/pricing
- https://candy.ai/pricing
- https://nomi.ai/pricing
- https://replika.com/pricing
- https://novelai.net/pricing
- https://crushon.ai/pricing
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.