Virtual Lovers and AI Best Friends: Exploring the Booming World of AI Companion Apps in 2025
Replika launched in 2017 and by 2025 has over 35 million users worldwide, including about 250,000 paying subscribers. Replika Pro costs about $5.83–$15.99 per month (varies by plan), roughly $70 per year, with a $299 lifetime option. Replika Pro unlocks a romantic partner mode with longer memory, more intimate roleplay, voice calls, and AR/VR features. Character.AI launched in late 2022; it drew 65 million visits in January 2023 and secured a $200+ million funding round that valued it at about $1 billion in 2023, with a Plus subscription around $9.99–$10 per month. Nomi markets itself as AI companions with memory,