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
- Janitor AI is the closest free replacement for SpicyChat, with a huge user-made character library and a free built-in model.
- Character.AI and Replika are the safer, filtered picks for users who want roleplay or companionship without mature content.
- CrushOn AI and Candy AI are the budget and polished options for adults who want mature roleplay with media features.
- Nomi and Kindroid lead on memory, which matters most for long stories that stretch over weeks.
- HammerAI is the privacy pick, since it can run models locally on your own computer with no login.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Character.AI | Filtered, safe-for-work roleplay | See website | Yes |
 Janitor AI | Free community character library | See website | Yes |
 CrushOn AI | Lower-cost mature character chat | $5.99 per month | Yes |
 Candy AI | Polished companion with media | $3.99 per month | Yes |
 Kindroid | Long stories with memory and calls | $13.99 per month | Yes |
 Nomi | Relationship memory and group chat | Free | Yes |
 Replika | Everyday AI friendship and support | Free | Yes |
 HammerAI | Private, local, no-login roleplay | Free | Yes |
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Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Character.AI is the biggest name in AI roleplay, and the safest starting point if you do not need mature content. Users can chat with millions of characters made by the community, create their own, and use voice calls. The free tier carries ads, and a paid plan called c.ai+ removes ads and adds priority access, listed at 9.99 dollars per month in comparison guides.
The trade-off is filtering. Character.AI blocks mature content, and romantic storylines stay at a PG-13 level even for verified adult users. That makes it a poor replacement for anyone whose main reason for leaving SpicyChat is the tightening filters, but a strong pick for creative fiction, fandom roleplay, and story writing. Note that the Character.AI homepage returned no readable content in this review, so the details here rest on comparison guides and the service's long-standing public profile, and prices should be confirmed at checkout.
What we like- Largest character library
- Voice calls
- Free tier with ads
Watch out for- Mature content is blocked
- Romance stays at a PG-13 level even for verified adults
- Homepage could not be read in this review, so details rest on comparison evidence
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Janitor AI is the closest free match to SpicyChat. Its homepage is a feed of user-created characters, each with a token count showing how much background the character carries, and the platform is built around building, sharing, and exploring characters. Since 2025 it has offered a free built-in model, so the old requirement to bring your own API key is now optional. A paid plan called Janitor+ launched in June 2026 at 12.99 dollars per month in comparison guides, with a larger context window and a priority queue.
The strength here is volume and cost: thousands of characters across fandoms, original fiction, and everyday scenarios, with a usable free tier. The weakness is uneven quality, since anyone can publish a character, and some listings will be thin or poorly written. Mature content is allowed for adults with an opt-in, so age rules still apply. For a SpicyChat user who mainly wants variety without paying, Janitor AI is the first tool to try.
What we like- Huge user-made library
- Free built-in model
- Character creation and sharing
Watch out for- Quality varies widely across community characters
- Setup can feel less polished than a companion app
Starting price$5.99 per month
Free planYes
CrushOn AI is pitched in comparison guides as the budget option for mature character chat. It offers a large catalog of user-made characters and an entry price of 5.99 dollars per month, which undercuts SpicyChat's higher tiers. The product is closer to a character chat service than a full companion app, so it suits users who want roleplay variety without paying for media generation, voice calls, or relationship features they will not use.
The limits are polish and proof. The CrushOn AI homepage is blocked in this review setup, so the details here rest on comparison guides rather than a homepage read, and buyers should confirm current pricing and content rules before subscribing. It is also less polished than premium companion apps, with fewer media and memory features. For adults who want mature chat at the lowest monthly cost, it is still the value pick on this list.
What we like- Low entry price for mature chat
- Large character catalog
- Simpler than a full companion app
Watch out for- Less polished than premium companion apps
- Homepage is blocked in this review setup, so details rest on comparison evidence
Starting price$3.99 per month
Free planYes
Candy AI is the polished all-in-one companion on this list. Comparison guides describe it as a companion app with chat, image generation, voice, and video, plus group chats, and rate it as the best overall alternative for users who want a complete package rather than raw roleplay volume. The entry price is listed at 3.99 dollars per month on an annual plan in one comparison guide, with free messages to test the product.
The trade-off is flexibility. Candy AI is built around companions rather than an open character library, so users who want to import or build hundreds of niche characters may find it narrower than Janitor AI or SpicyChat. The Candy AI homepage is blocked in this review setup, so details here rest on comparison guides, and current pricing, free limits, and content rules should be confirmed before paying. Adults who want a polished companion with media features will get the most from it.
What we like- Polished onboarding and companion presentation
- Chat plus images, voice, and video
- Group chats
Watch out for- Less free roleplay flexibility than SpicyChat
- Homepage is blocked in this review setup, so details rest on comparison evidence
Starting price$13.99 per month
Free planYes
Kindroid is built around long-term, one-to-one stories. Comparison guides highlight its layered memory, which tracks a character's history across many sessions, and its voice calls, which let a story continue by phone as well as text. The web plan is listed at 13.99 dollars per month in one comparison guide, with a free tier for testing.
That memory focus is what sets Kindroid apart from catalog apps. Where a community character may forget last week's plot twist, Kindroid is designed to keep a story consistent over months. The caveat is evidence: the Kindroid homepage returned only a title and a short error-style line in this review, so pricing and feature details rest on comparison guides and should be confirmed at checkout. It costs more than CrushOn AI or Candy AI, but for adults who care most about a story that holds together, it is worth the premium.
What we like- Memory built for long stories
- Voice calls
- Web access from 13.99 dollars per month in comparison guides
Watch out for- Homepage extract was very thin in this review
- Higher entry price than budget options
#6
Nomi
Best for: Relationship memory and group chat
Visit nomi.ai
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Nomi is an AI companion with memory and a soul, in its own words. Its homepage stresses human-level memory across short, medium, and long terms, so a Nomi can remember preferences, habits, and earlier roleplay scenes. It also offers emotive voice chats, proactive messages after a user has been away, real-time selfies tied to the current scene, and group chats with several Nomis at once. Starting is free with no credit card required, and the service states that chats are anonymized and not shared with third parties.
Nomi's own homepage is open about unfiltered chats, so adults should read its content rules and age requirements before use. Paid pricing is not shown on the homepage; one comparison guide lists a paid plan at 15.99 dollars per month on an app store listing. For users who want a companion that feels like a continuing relationship rather than a new character each week, Nomi's memory and group chat features make it one of the strongest picks here.
What we like- Short, medium, and long term memory
- Selfies, voice chats, and group chats
- Free to start with no credit card
Watch out for- Paid plan details are not shown on the homepage
- Mature content rules should be confirmed before subscribing
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Replika calls itself the AI friend to do life with, and it is the longest-running companion on this list, first launched ten years ago and since rebuilt from the ground up. Its homepage highlights customization, so a Rep can look and sound like the person a user imagines, plus calls, selfies, and doodles on photos. It is available on iOS and Android, and its user stories focus on everyday support: someone to talk to after work, help with ideas, or company during a lonely period.
Replika is not a like-for-like SpicyChat replacement. Its romantic and mature features have been restricted over the years, so adults looking for unfiltered roleplay will be disappointed. It belongs on this list for a different reason: many SpicyChat users are really looking for company, and Replika is the most established, most mainstream option for that need. Paid pricing is not shown on the homepage, so confirm the current Pro rate in the app before subscribing.
What we like- Longest-running companion app, rebuilt from the ground up
- Customization, calls, and selfies
- IOS and Android apps
Watch out for- Not a mature roleplay replacement
- Romantic and mature features are restricted compared with SpicyChat
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
HammerAI is the privacy pick. Its homepage states it is 100 percent free to chat, both for local models run through the desktop app and for cloud-hosted models on its servers, and that users can write stories, generate images, join group chats, and build lorebooks and personas. The key difference is local control: with a local model, messages are stored on the user's own computer by default, and no login is required to start chatting. An iOS app is also now live.
That design suits users who do not want their conversations on a company's servers, and writers who want lorebooks to keep a fictional world consistent. The trade-offs are practical: local models need a capable computer, and the product is less polished than a hosted companion app with a large support team. For adults who value privacy and cost above polish, and who are comfortable with a desktop app, HammerAI is the strongest free option on this list.
What we like- 100 percent free to chat
- Runs models locally with no login
- Messages stored locally by default
- Group chat, images, and lorebooks
Watch out for- Local models need a capable computer
- Less polished than hosted companion apps
How we chose
We started from why people leave SpicyChat: tighter filters, higher prices, age checks, and the loss of its iOS app. Each tool here was checked against its vendor homepage where the review setup allowed it, and tools whose homepages were blocked or unreadable are flagged in their sections rather than presented as fully verified. We favored tools with a real free or trial path, a clear content policy for adults, and a distinct strength, whether that is library size, memory, polish, or privacy. Prices from comparison guides are flagged as such, since this category changes pricing often.
What to check before you pay
First, confirm the content rules for your country and your age. Mature content is adults only, and several platforms now require an ID or video check in some regions. Second, test the free tier with a real story, not a short greeting, since memory and filtering only show up after several sessions. Third, check what a paid plan actually adds: larger context, priority queue, media generation, and voice are often sold separately. Fourth, read the privacy terms, especially whether chats are used for training and whether you can delete your data. Finally, set a budget and a time limit. Companion apps are designed to keep you chatting, and a monthly cap plus a daily habit check will keep the hobby in proportion.
Frequently asked questions
Are these alternatives safe for adults?
They are designed for adults, but safety depends on how you use them. Never share personal details, financial information, or intimate images with a chatbot, and treat any platform that promises to skip age checks as a risk, not a benefit.
Which alternative is best if I only want free roleplay?
Janitor AI is the best free catalog option, with a large community library and a free built-in model. HammerAI is the best free privacy option, since it can run locally with no login. Both allow mature content for adults under their own rules.
Which alternative has the best memory for long stories?
Nomi and Kindroid lead here. Nomi uses short, medium, and long term memory plus group chats, while Kindroid is built around layered memory for one-to-one stories. Test both with the same story before paying.
Which alternative is best for safe-for-work roleplay?
Character.AI is the best pick for filtered, safe-for-work roleplay, with the largest character library and voice calls. Replika is the better pick if you want an everyday companion rather than a roleplay catalog.
Why did SpicyChat change?
Comparison guides report that filters tightened from mid-2024 onward, that app store and payment rules pushed the platform toward stricter moderation, and that paid tiers rose in September 2026. Age checks were also added in parts of Europe, Australia, and the United States.
Can I use these apps to replace real relationships?
An AI companion can be good company, but it is not a real relationship and it cannot replace human support. If you notice yourself withdrawing from friends, family, or real dating, or if chats are affecting your mood or sleep, talk to someone you trust or a professional.
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.