Why people look for an Anima alternative
Anima's free chat is easy to like. People who move on usually do so for one of these reasons, from its own policies and our data:
- Memory. Anima tends to forget details over longer chats; our data records its memory as conversational.
- No iPhone app. The App Store listing returned no results in the US or UK on 29 September 2026.
- Privacy. The policy says data trains its AI, and chats go to outside AI providers.
- Features. Our data records no calls, picture generation or group chats.
- Ads on the free plan.
It ranks 31 of the 31 apps we score. Our Anima AI review covers what it does well.
What to look for instead
If you liked Anima for friendly, low-pressure chat, look for three things:
- Memory that lasts. Secrets AI and Nomi AI have the two best memory scores we track.
- Real apps. Nomi AI, Kindroid and Replika all have iPhone and Android apps.
- A free plan you can live in. Selira AI has unlimited free text chat, and Kindroid unlimited messages on its Lite model.
If you used Anima for social practice, see AI companions for social anxiety and AI companions for loneliness, which rank apps for those uses.
Anima vs the alternatives: features compared
Anima and seven alternatives compared on features (September 2026)
| App |
Pictures |
Video |
Voice notes |
Live calls |
Build your own |
Group chat |
Memory |
| Anima |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Conversational |
| Secrets AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Lorebook + legacy |
| Nomi AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Persistent |
| Selira AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Long-term |
| Kindroid |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Long-term |
| TryNectar AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Long-term |
| GoLove AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Long-term |
| Replika |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Long-term |
The table uses our feature data. Anima's Pro paywall also lists voice messages and "pics", which our data has not confirmed. Every alternative here records long-term, persistent or Lorebook memory, against conversational memory for Anima.
Replika or Nomi: the two closest swaps
Most Anima users end up choosing between Replika and Nomi AI, since both are built around one companion who is a friend first. Replika is the better-known name, with a friend status on the free plan and romance, calls and selfies on paid plans. Nomi AI scores higher in our ranking (8.2 against 7.1) thanks to its persistent memory, and its free plan allows 50 messages a day.
Kindroid is the third option for people who want more than chat: you build friend, partner or mentor companions, and a subscription adds voice and video calls, selfies and group chats. On a yearly plan it costs more than either, at $11.67 a month on its website, and the app stores charge more again.
All three are on iPhone and Android. See the first two head to head in Nomi AI vs Replika, or read our Replika alternatives page if Replika is the next app you are weighing.
Free alternatives to Anima
- Selira AI: unlimited free text chat, 2 companions, history kept 3 days.
- Kindroid: unlimited messages on the Lite model, 2 companions, basic long-term memory.
- Nomi AI: 50 messages a day with persistent memory.
- Replika: free text chat with no stated cap, as a friend.
More are on the best free AI companion apps list, and is Anima AI free covers Anima's own free plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Anima AI?
Secrets AI scores highest at 8.5 out of 10 with the best memory we track. For a friend-first app like Anima, Nomi AI (8.2) is the strongest pick, with persistent memory and phone apps.
Which Anima alternative is free?
Selira AI has unlimited free text chat, Kindroid gives unlimited messages on its Lite model, Nomi AI allows 50 a day, and Replika has free chat with no stated cap.
Is Replika better than Anima?
In our ranking, yes: Replika scores 7.1 against 5.4 for Anima, with iPhone and Android apps, calls on paid plans and longer memory in our data.
Which Anima alternative has an iPhone app?
Nomi AI, Kindroid and Replika all have iPhone and Android apps. Anima's App Store listing returned no results in the US or UK on 29 September 2026.
Is there an Anima alternative that does not train on chats?
Kindroid's privacy policy says chats are encrypted at rest and in transit so staff cannot view them in normal operation, and it does not state that chats train its AI. Always read the current policy before you share personal details.
