Character.AI is a consumer app for chatting and role-playing with AI characters that users create, and for making stories and videos with them. It's built for adult entertainment and creative play; since late 2025, under-18 users can no longer use open-ended chat.
Character.AI at a glance
Made by | Character Technologies, Inc. |
|---|---|
Price | Free with ads; c.ai+ $94.99/year |
Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
Age | Open-ended chat is 18+ |
Key features
Chat with user-created AI characters.
Chat styles including PipSqueak 3 (default) and premium DeepSqueak and LongSqueak.
Memory pins and a Lorebook for character continuity.
Stories, videos and streams with characters.
Pricing
Plan | Price |
|---|---|
Free | $0, with ads |
lite | $4.99/month or $2.49/week |
c.ai+ (yearly) | $94.99/year |
What to know
Under-18 users lost open-ended chat on November 25, 2025, and age assurance is enforced.
lite includes only a daily allowance of premium chat styles; c.ai+ removes ads and slow mode.
Prices vary by region.
Our take
Character.AI is entertainment first, and it does that well, with deep character customization. It's not a productivity tool; for work, use a general assistant.
Alternatives
Facts checked against Character.AI's official subscribe page and blog on November 13, 2026. The monthly c.ai+ price wasn't listed; check the app.
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