Character.AI vs Janitor AI: which AI companion app is better?

Our verdict

Readers comparing these two usually care about one thing: the filter. Character.AI treats adult content as a breach of its terms, filters it, and keeps under-18s out of open-ended chat. Janitor AI allows romantic and adult bots tagged Limitless, though its phone apps start with adult content off until you enable it on the website. Both give free users unlimited chat and have iPhone and Android apps.

Character.AI gives more beyond text. It has free two-way voice calls, group chats, scenes, image tools and Story Memory with pinned facts, and c.ai lite costs $4.99 a month. Janitor AI is text only, with about 9k tokens of free context, so long chats lose detail; Janitor+ at $12.99 a month raises that fivefold. Janitor AI lets you plug in your own model or API key. See our Character.AI alternatives.

Character.AI vs Janitor AI side by side

How they score

• Conversation7.67.7
• Memory8.54.8
• Pictures and video6.95.3
• Voice8.54.8
• Value6.66.6
• Trust6.46.4

First bar Character.AI, second bar Janitor AI. How the scores work.

Price and free plans

Character.AI is cheaper: its lowest plan works out at $4.99 a month against $12.99 for Janitor AI. Character.AI costs $4.99 month to month. Janitor AI costs $12.99 month to month.

Character.AI free plan: Unlimited messaging with full ads, basic memory, 15 memory pins and a daily taste of premium chat styles. Janitor AI free plan: Unlimited chats with millions of bots on standard models, with about 9k tokens of context.

Features compared

Both apps offer a character builder. Only Character.AI offers pictures, voice notes, live voice calls and group chats. Only Janitor AI offers 18+ chat.

Memory: Character.AI is listed as long-term, Janitor AI as conversational.

Who runs them, refunds and billing

Character.AI is run by Character Technologies, Inc., United States (Menlo Park, California address). Janitor AI is run by Janitorai Inc., United States (Claymont, Delaware address). Character.AI refunds: Payments are non-refundable except where required by law; app store purchases are refunded through Apple or Google. Janitor AI refunds: Generally non-refundable, except where its terms or the law require.