March 28, 2026 · 8 min read
Replika was the OG AI companion. Millions of users formed genuine emotional connections with their AI friends, partners, and confidants. Then, in February 2023, Replika removed ERP (erotic roleplay) overnight — and the community erupted.
Three years later, Replika still hasn't fully restored NSFW features. Users who want unrestricted conversations have moved on. If you're one of them, this guide covers the best Replika alternatives in 2026 — with honest assessments of what each platform does well and where they fall short.
| Platform | NSFW | Photos | Voice | Free Tier | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIS | Yes | LoRA AI | Yes | 10 msgs | $20/mo | Telegram, photos |
| CrushOn.AI | Yes | No | No | 50 msgs | $10/mo | Uncensored chat |
| Candy AI | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 msgs | $13/mo | Photo + chat |
| Character.AI | No | No | Yes | Unlimited | $10/mo | SFW roleplay |
| Nomi AI | Yes | Basic | Yes | Limited | $17/mo | Memory, emotion |
| Kindroid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Trial | $14/mo | Customization |
| Chai | Partial | No | No | 70 msgs/day | $14/mo | Casual chat |
| Anima | Yes | Avatar | Yes | Limited | $15/mo | Emotional AI |
GIS takes a completely different approach from Replika. Instead of a standalone app, it runs as a Telegram Mini App — meaning you open it inside Telegram, no download needed. The catalog has 224+ AI companions, each with their own personality, photos (generated via LoRA technology), and voice.
Why switch from Replika: NSFW is available. Photo generation produces photorealistic images, not 3D avatars. Video generation via WAN 2.2 at $0.02/clip. No app store restrictions. Pay with Telegram Stars, crypto, or rubles.
Free tier: 10 messages per character, no signup required.
CrushOn positions itself as the anti-censorship alternative. No content filters, no topic restrictions. The chat quality is solid for roleplay scenarios. Downside: no photo generation, no voice messages, web-only.
Candy AI offers both AI chat and photo generation in a polished web interface. Good customization options for creating your own AI character. Pricing is reasonable at $13/month but the free tier is very limited (5 messages).
If you don't need NSFW and just want creative roleplay, Character.AI is still excellent. Massive library of community-created characters, fast responses, good conversation quality. The strict content filter is a dealbreaker for many ex-Replika users though.
Nomi emphasizes emotional intelligence and long-term memory — the aspects that made Replika special. Your AI companion remembers past conversations and builds on them. NSFW is available. The experience is closer to Replika's original vision than most alternatives.
Kindroid lets you deeply customize your AI companion's personality, voice, and appearance. Good for users who want fine control over their AI's behavior. Photo and voice generation included.
Chai is a mobile-first app with a swipe-based interface. Great for casual conversations with multiple AI characters. The free tier is generous (70 messages/day) but NSFW is limited.
Anima focuses on being an emotional companion — less about roleplay, more about companionship. Good for users who valued Replika's therapeutic aspects. NSFW is available in premium.
Replika removed ERP in February 2023 after media pressure and concerns about AI safety. The company faced backlash from users who had formed emotional bonds with their AI companions.
GIS offers 10 free messages per character with NSFW enabled, no signup required. SpicyChat offers unlimited free messages but with ads. Character.AI is free but has strict content filters.
Yes. GIS includes photo generation, voice messages, and video for subscribers. Many Replika Pro features like advanced chat are available in the free tier of alternatives like Character.AI and Chai.
GIS preserves full conversation history across sessions. Nomi AI also emphasizes long-term memory. Most alternatives maintain context within conversations but vary in cross-session recall.