Character.AI vs Nomi AI: which AI companion app is better?
Character.AI vs Nomi AI: Nomi AI wins, 8.2 to 7.5, as the better one-to-one companion, with persistent memory and the higher trust score of the pair; Character.AI is the stronger free app for fandom roleplay with many characters.
Fandom roleplay and free voice calls
Unlimited messages with ads and basic memory
Try Character.AI freeOur pick
Relationship chat with strong recall
One-to-one chat, 400-character messages
Try Nomi AI freeOur verdict
Moving from Character.AI to Nomi AI makes sense if you want a single companion that remembers you, not a feed of millions of characters. Nomi AI is built around that: persistent memory, up to 10 Nomis and 10 group chats on Standard, and live calls, for $8.33 a month yearly or $15.99 month to month on the App Store. Its chat has fewer filters than Character.AI's, but photos stay clothed by policy, so it is not an 18+ media app.
Character.AI keeps the edge on free use: unlimited messages, free two-way voice calls and group chats, where Nomi AI's free plan is one-to-one chat with 400-character messages. Both have official iPhone apps. Character.AI uses chats to train its models unless you opt out, and it keeps under-18s out of open-ended chat. Nomi AI strips personal identifiers before learning from chats. Our Nomi AI review covers its plans.
- You want free voice calls and unlimited free messages
- You want to roleplay with fan and anime characters
- You want scenes and a big shared character library
- You want one companion with persistent memory
- You want fewer chat filters than Character.AI
- You want the higher trust score of the two
Character.AI vs Nomi AI side by side
| Feature | Character.AI | Nomi AI |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.5/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Cheapest plan | $4.99/mo c.ai lite monthly plan ($2.49 a week also offered); c.ai+ is $9.99 a month or $94.99 a year |
$8.33/mo Standard yearly plan, $99.99 on the US App Store |
| Month to month | $4.99 | $15.99 |
| Free plan | Unlimited messaging with full ads, basic memory, 15 memory pins and a daily taste of premium chat styles | One-to-one chat with 400-character messages and fewer daily selfies; group chats, video, voice messages and calls are paid |
| Pictures | Yes | Yes |
| Video | No | Yes |
| Voice notes | Yes | Yes |
| Live voice calls | Yes | Yes |
| Group chats | Yes | Yes |
| A character builder | Yes | Yes |
| 18+ chat | No | Yes |
| Memory | Long-term | Persistent |
| Company | Character Technologies, Inc., United States (Menlo Park, California address) | Glimpse.ai, Inc., United States (Maryland) |
| Refunds | Payments are non-refundable except where required by law; app store purchases are refunded through Apple or Google | No refunds for buyer's remorse, lack of use or partial months |
| Monthly visits | 183M visits a month | 2.1M visits a month |
How they score
First bar Character.AI, second bar Nomi AI. How the scores work.
Price and free plans
Character.AI is cheaper: its lowest plan works out at $4.99 a month against $8.33 for Nomi AI. Character.AI costs $4.99 month to month. Nomi AI costs $15.99 month to month, so paying yearly saves 48%.
Character.AI free plan: Unlimited messaging with full ads, basic memory, 15 memory pins and a daily taste of premium chat styles. Nomi AI free plan: One-to-one chat with 400-character messages and fewer daily selfies; group chats, video, voice messages and calls are paid.
Features compared
Both apps offer pictures, voice notes, live voice calls, group chats and a character builder. Only Nomi AI offers video and 18+ chat.
Memory: Character.AI is listed as long-term, Nomi AI as persistent.
Who runs them, refunds and billing
Character.AI is run by Character Technologies, Inc., United States (Menlo Park, California address). Nomi AI is run by Glimpse.ai, Inc., United States (Maryland). Character.AI refunds: Payments are non-refundable except where required by law; app store purchases are refunded through Apple or Google. Nomi AI refunds: No refunds for buyer's remorse, lack of use or partial months.
Frequently asked questions
Is Character.AI better than Nomi AI?
Nomi AI scores higher in our ranking, 8.2 against 7.5 out of 10. It comes out ahead on conversation, memory, pictures and video.
Which is cheaper, Character.AI or Nomi AI?
Character.AI, from $4.99 a month against $8.33. Both prices are the cheapest plan each app advertises, usually billed yearly.
Do Character.AI and Nomi AI have voice calls?
Character.AI: yes, live voice calls. Nomi AI: yes, live voice calls.
Which has the better free plan?
Character.AI: Unlimited messaging with full ads, basic memory, 15 memory pins and a daily taste of premium chat styles. Nomi AI: One-to-one chat with 400-character messages and fewer daily selfies; group chats, video, voice messages and calls are paid.
Can Character.AI and Nomi AI send pictures and videos?
Character.AI: pictures yes, video no. Nomi AI: pictures yes, video yes.
More comparisons
Keep reading
- Character AI reviewUnlimited free chat and free voice calls, but no adult content.
- Nomi AI reviewDeep memory, live calls and group chats, lighter on pictures.
- Character AI alternativesApps like Character.AI that allow 18+ roleplay and custom characters.
- Nomi AI alternativesApps like Nomi with pictures, lower prices or bigger free plans.
- Compare appsEvery AI girlfriend app compared head to head.
- Best AI girlfriend appsThe full ranking of every AI girlfriend app we track.
