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

Our verdict

If you are weighing these two, the deciding question is usually Character.AI's content filter. Character.AI treats pornographic or obscene content as a breach of its terms, filters it, and warns that pushing for the filter to be removed can get an account banned. Secrets AI allows 18+ chat, pictures and video for adults, and its Lorebook stores cast, world and relationship entries you can read and correct, which suits one long storyline. The trade is the free plan: 20 messages a day and no images or calls until you pay.

Character.AI is still the better deal for free use. Messaging is unlimited on every tier, two-way voice calls cost nothing, and its iPhone and Android apps are official store apps, while Secrets AI runs only in the browser. c.ai lite costs $4.99 a month for fewer ads and better memory. Secrets AI Premium is $9.17 a month on the yearly plan, with 8,000 Moments a month and calls at 50 Moments a minute. Our Character.AI alternatives list covers other 18+ options.

Character.AI vs Secrets AI side by side

How they score

• Conversation7.68.6
• Memory8.59.4
• Pictures and video6.98.8
• Voice8.58.5
• Value6.67.4
• Trust6.47.6

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

Price and free plans

Character.AI is cheaper: its lowest plan works out at $4.99 a month against $9.17 for Secrets AI. Character.AI costs $4.99 month to month. Secrets AI costs $19.99 month to month, so paying yearly saves 54%.

Character.AI free plan: Unlimited messaging with full ads, basic memory, 15 memory pins and a daily taste of premium chat styles. Secrets AI free plan: 20 messages a day, basic memory, 500-character messages; no Moments, so no images, video or custom characters.

Features compared

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

Memory: Character.AI is listed as long-term, Secrets AI as lorebook + legacy.

Who runs them, refunds and billing

Character.AI is run by Character Technologies, Inc., United States (Menlo Park, California address). Secrets AI is run by Secret Labs Inc., United States (Dover, Delaware address). Character.AI refunds: Payments are non-refundable except where required by law; app store purchases are refunded through Apple or Google. Secrets AI refunds: No refund for the current billing period; access runs to the end of it.