Character.AI vs PolyBuzz: which AI companion app is better?
Character.AI vs PolyBuzz: Character.AI wins, 7.5 to 7.3, with free voice calls, group chats and a cheaper paid tier at $4.99 a month; PolyBuzz is looser on content in private chats and lets you start without an account.
Our pick
Fandom roleplay and free voice calls
Unlimited messages with ads and basic memory
Try Character.AI free
Free chat with a huge character library
Free chat with ads, no sign-up needed
Try PolyBuzz freeOur verdict
Both are huge free character libraries with iPhone and Android apps, and PolyBuzz even imports Character.AI cards. The difference is rules. Character.AI filters adult content on every tier. PolyBuzz's AI girlfriend page says private one-to-one chats are not filtered, while public characters are screened and moderated. PolyBuzz also lets you chat as a guest after entering a date of birth.
Character.AI has more features for free: two-way voice calls, group chats, scenes and personas, where PolyBuzz plays voiced replies but has no calls or group chats. Paid plans start lower on Character.AI, at $4.99 a month for c.ai lite, against $9.90 for Poly Standard. On both apps, better memory for long chats comes with a paid tier, and PolyBuzz's FAQ admits characters can forget. Neither refunds easily. See the PolyBuzz alternatives list.
- You want free voice calls and group chats
- You want a cheaper paid tier
- You want scenes and personas
- You want private chats without a filter
- You want to start as a guest
- You want to bring your Character.AI cards
Character.AI vs PolyBuzz side by side
| Feature | Character.AI | PolyBuzz |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.5/10 | 7.3/10 |
| 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 |
$9.90/mo Poly Standard monthly plan, US App Store; Premium $19.90 and Ultimate $29.90 a month |
| Month to month | $4.99 | $9.90 |
| Free plan | Unlimited messaging with full ads, basic memory, 15 memory pins and a daily taste of premium chat styles | Free chat with no sign-up and ads; unlimited voice playback, ad-free use and stronger memory models need a membership |
| Pictures | Yes | Yes |
| Video | No | No |
| Voice notes | Yes | Yes |
| Live voice calls | Yes | No |
| Group chats | Yes | No |
| A character builder | Yes | Yes |
| 18+ chat | No | Yes |
| Memory | Long-term | Long-term |
| Company | Character Technologies, Inc., United States (Menlo Park, California address) | Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC, United States (Wilmington, Delaware address) |
| Refunds | Payments are non-refundable except where required by law; app store purchases are refunded through Apple or Google | Not stated on its site; after cancelling, benefits run to the end of the paid period |
| Monthly visits | 183M visits a month | 79M visits a month |
How they score
First bar Character.AI, second bar PolyBuzz. How the scores work.
Price and free plans
Character.AI is cheaper: its lowest plan works out at $4.99 a month against $9.90 for PolyBuzz. Character.AI costs $4.99 month to month. PolyBuzz costs $9.90 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. PolyBuzz free plan: Free chat with no sign-up and ads; unlimited voice playback, ad-free use and stronger memory models need a membership.
Features compared
Both apps offer pictures, voice notes and a character builder. Only Character.AI offers live voice calls and group chats. Only PolyBuzz offers 18+ chat.
Memory: Character.AI is listed as long-term, PolyBuzz as long-term.
Who runs them, refunds and billing
Character.AI is run by Character Technologies, Inc., United States (Menlo Park, California address). PolyBuzz is run by Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC, United States (Wilmington, Delaware address). Character.AI refunds: Payments are non-refundable except where required by law; app store purchases are refunded through Apple or Google. PolyBuzz refunds: Not stated on its site; after cancelling, benefits run to the end of the paid period.
Frequently asked questions
Is Character.AI better than PolyBuzz?
Character.AI scores higher in our ranking, 7.5 against 7.3 out of 10. It comes out ahead on memory, voice.
Which is cheaper, Character.AI or PolyBuzz?
Character.AI, from $4.99 a month against $9.90. Both prices are the cheapest plan each app advertises, usually billed yearly.
Do Character.AI and PolyBuzz have voice calls?
Character.AI: yes, live voice calls. PolyBuzz: voice messages only.
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. PolyBuzz: Free chat with no sign-up and ads; unlimited voice playback, ad-free use and stronger memory models need a membership.
Can Character.AI and PolyBuzz send pictures and videos?
Character.AI: pictures yes, video no. PolyBuzz: pictures yes, video no.
More comparisons
Keep reading
- Character AI reviewUnlimited free chat and free voice calls, but no adult content.
- PolyBuzz review20 million characters and free chat, but memory and refunds lag.
- Character AI alternativesApps like Character.AI that allow 18+ roleplay and custom characters.
- PolyBuzz alternativesApps like PolyBuzz with better memory, calls and clear rules.
- Compare appsEvery AI girlfriend app compared head to head.
- Best AI girlfriend appsThe full ranking of every AI girlfriend app we track.
