Replika
The original AI companion app — repositioned around wellness since 2023, and currently under real regulatory scrutiny over data practices and age verification.
What is Replika?
Replika, built by San Francisco-based Luka, Inc., launched in 2017 as one of the earliest AI companion apps, well before "AI chatbot" was a mainstream category at all. It grew a large, dedicated user base around the idea of a persistent AI friend that remembers you and adapts over time, and for years it marketed itself heavily around romantic and intimate roleplay features. In 2023, facing backlash over content involving minors elsewhere in the industry and mounting safety concerns, Luka removed romantic and erotic roleplay features for most users and repositioned the product around wellness and emotional support instead — a change that caused real anger among long-time subscribers who felt they'd been sold something the company then took away.
That history is directly relevant to where Replika stands in 2026. Italy's data protection authority fined Luka €5 million in 2025 for GDPR violations, citing no valid legal basis for parts of its data processing and no effective age verification. In January 2025, advocacy groups filed a complaint asking the US FTC to investigate Luka over allegedly deceptive marketing and manipulative upsell design targeting people experiencing loneliness or mental health difficulties. California's SB 243, a new law specifically regulating AI companion apps, took effect January 1, 2026. As of this writing, Replika still has no fully effective age verification system, which remains an open concern for a product built around ongoing emotional relationships.
Regulatory details are drawn from public reporting (the European Data Protection Board, and US press coverage of the FTC complaint) as of mid-2026. This is an active, evolving legal situation — check current news before drawing conclusions about its resolution.
Key features
Persistent memory
Remembers details across conversations, with a dashboard letting you view what's been stored.
Voice calls
Spoken conversation with emotional tonal shifts based on the content being discussed.
Customizable 3D avatar
A visual companion with adjustable appearance whose expressions shift with the conversation.
Augmented reality mode
Overlay your companion into a real-world scene through your phone's camera.
Mood diary
Tracks emotional check-ins over time as part of the app's wellness-focused positioning.
Memory dashboard
Lets you review and manage what the app has stored about you, added after past privacy criticism.
Pricing
Free
- Unlimited text conversation with one companion
- Basic customization
- Limited voice calling
Pro
- Expanded customization & roleplay scenarios
- Augmented reality mode
- Priority voice call access
Ultra
- Smarter conversations & memory features
- Everything included in Pro
- Highest tier of the standard lineup
A higher Platinum tier also exists. Replika doesn't publish exact prices on its own site — they appear inside the app and can vary by region and promotion. Figures shown are widely-reported standard rates as of July 2026.
Available models
Replika does not offer a choice of underlying model or expose which specific model version is active at a given time.
Integrations & platforms
Pros, cons & best for
Pros
- One of the most feature-rich companion apps (AR, avatars, voice, mood tracking)
- Generous free tier with unlimited text messaging
- Added a memory dashboard in response to earlier privacy criticism
Cons
- No fully effective age verification, an ongoing regulatory concern
- Fined €5M by Italian regulators over data practices in 2025
- Facing an FTC complaint alleging manipulative marketing and upsell design
Best for
- Adults specifically interested in an ongoing AI companion experience
- Not a fit for factual research, work tasks, or productivity
- Worth weighing its current regulatory situation before subscribing
Take a look inside
Alternatives
If you want a general-purpose assistant rather than a companion app:
Our verdict
Replika remains the most feature-complete AI companion app on the market, and its pivot toward wellness in 2023 was, on balance, a responsible response to real safety concerns — even if it cost the company goodwill with users who'd been marketed something different. What's harder to look past in 2026 is the regulatory picture: a €5 million GDPR fine, an active FTC complaint over its marketing and design practices, and the continued absence of effective age verification for a product built around ongoing emotional relationships. It's a capable app for adults who understand what they're signing up for, but it's not one we can recommend without flagging that scrutiny clearly.
FAQ
Does Replika still offer romantic or intimate features?
Not for new users. Since 2023, Luka has restricted romantic and erotic roleplay content for most accounts, repositioning Replika around wellness and emotional support instead.
Is Replika's age verification effective?
As of 2026, no — regulators have specifically cited the lack of effective age verification as a concern, and it remains an open issue for the platform.
What was the Italian GDPR fine about?
In 2025, Italy's data protection authority fined Luka, Inc. €5 million, citing an invalid legal basis for parts of its data processing and inadequate age verification.
What does the FTC complaint against Replika allege?
A complaint filed by advocacy groups in January 2025 alleges deceptive marketing, unsubstantiated health claims, fabricated testimonials, and manipulative upsell design targeting people experiencing loneliness or mental health difficulties. Luka has not confirmed or denied the specific allegations.
Is Replika free to use?
Yes, the free tier allows unlimited text conversation with one companion. Paid tiers (Pro and Ultra) add voice, AR, and expanded customization.
Is Replika good for factual questions or work tasks?
No. It's built for ongoing companion-style conversation, not research, writing, or professional work — a general-purpose assistant is a better fit for those needs.