What Ani is
xAI added "Companions" to the Grok app on July 14, 2025. TechCrunch reported that Elon Musk announced them as available in the Grok app "for 'Super Grok' subscribers who pay $30 per month" (TechCrunch). NBC News described the first two as "a flirty Japanese anime character named Ani" and a red panda named Bad Rudi (NBC News), and a male companion, Valentine, was announced days later (NBC News).
Ani is an animated 3D character you talk to by voice or text, and Wikipedia's Grok article notes that the feature includes an NSFW mode (Wikipedia). By early 2026 the roster had grown to five companions: Good Rudi, Bad Rudi, Ani, Mika and Valentine.
That makes Ani closer to an AI girlfriend app than to a chatbot, but with a small cast of ready-made characters and a home inside a general assistant app rather than one built for companionship.
Is the Grok AI girlfriend free?
The reports disagreed from the start. TechCrunch said companions were for SuperGrok subscribers at $30 a month, while NBC News said the two animated companions were "available to anyone, including Grok users without a paid subscription," provided they opted in through the app's settings (NBC News).
The Grok App Store listing today shows these subscriptions: SuperGrok Lite $10.00, SuperGrok $30.00, SuperGrok Plus $100.00 and SuperGrok Heavy $300.00 (App Store). The listing's description no longer mentions Companions, which fits the reports in the next section. Compare that with dedicated apps: the median cheapest plan across the 31 AI girlfriend apps we track is $7.75 a month, and several have free plans.
Can you get Grok's AI girlfriend on Android or PC?
No. xAI's FAQ answers the question directly: "Companions are available on the iOS app only, and there are no plans to bring them to the web or Android" (xAI). The Grok app on Google Play, with more than 100 million downloads and a Teen rating, is the assistant without companions (Google Play).
Guides that promise Ani on Android usually lead to an APK or an unofficial copy. Do not install those; our page on AI girlfriend APKs explains the risks. On Android, the closest official match is an app with anime characters and voice calls, such as Nomi AI from Google Play or Secrets AI in Chrome; see the best AI girlfriend for Android.
Where Ani went in September 2026
Crypto and AI news sites reported at the end of August 2026 that xAI would remove Companions from the Grok app after September 1, and that the 3D companions, Ani included, would move to a standalone app called Animates (Lookonchain, AI Haven). xAI has not published a page confirming this, and its FAQ still describes Companions as part of the iPhone app, so treat the move as reported rather than confirmed.
Animates itself is live on the App Store, sold by Animation Inc and rated 18+. Its listing announces that "Valentine joins Animates," the same name as one of Grok's companions, and it runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple Silicon Macs. Subscriptions are Whisper at $7.99, Heartbeat at $19.99 and Presence at $39.99 a month, or $63.99, $159.99 and $319.99 a year (App Store). The listing does not name Ani, so check inside the app before paying.
Grok's companions vs a dedicated AI girlfriend app
Grok companions compared with AI girlfriend apps
| What matters |
Grok companions (as launched) |
Dedicated AI girlfriend apps |
| Devices |
iPhone only |
Any browser; some have iPhone and Android apps |
| Price |
SuperGrok at $30 a month at launch |
Median cheapest plan $7.75 a month |
| Characters |
A few ready-made companions |
Large rosters, and build your own on most apps |
| Pictures and video of her |
Not advertised |
Generated on request on most apps |
| Live voice |
Yes |
Live calls on 15 apps we track |
| App age rating |
Grok is 16+ in the App Store, Teen on Google Play |
Web apps gate 18+ content; store apps rated 18+ |
Ani's strength was the animated character that reacts as you talk. Dedicated apps win on choice, devices and memory. For anime-style companions specifically, see our anime AI girlfriend ranking, and for talking out loud, AI girlfriends with voice calls.
Which alternative to pick
- Best overall: Secrets AI, with anime characters, calls and 18+ chat on any device. See the Secrets AI review.
- On Android with a store app: Nomi AI.
- Budget phone calls: FantasyGF at $5.83 a month on its yearly plan.
- Video calls: TryNectar AI.
- Grok's writing without the Grok app: LusyChat, which offers Grok as a chat model.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Grok AI girlfriend free?
Reports differed at launch: TechCrunch said companions were for SuperGrok subscribers at $30 a month, while NBC News said the two animated companions were open to free users who opted in through settings. Reports in September 2026 say companions have moved to a separate app, Animates, which has its own subscriptions from $7.99 a month.
Is Grok's AI girlfriend on Android?
No. xAI's FAQ says companions are available on the iOS app only, with no plans for the web or Android. On Android, Nomi AI from Google Play or Secrets AI in Chrome are the closest official alternatives.
How do I get Ani on Grok?
At launch, you opened the Grok app on an iPhone and turned on Companions in its settings. Reports say xAI removed companions from Grok after September 1, 2026 and moved them to a separate App Store app called Animates, so check there if Ani is missing.
What is Animates?
Animates is an App Store app from Animation Inc, rated 18+, offering voice and text companions on iPhone, iPad and Apple Silicon Macs, with plans from $7.99 a month. Reports say Grok's companions moved there in September 2026; xAI has not confirmed it on its own site.
What age rating does Grok have?
The Grok app is rated 16+ on the App Store and Teen on Google Play. Dedicated AI girlfriend web apps restrict 18+ content to adults, and store companion apps such as Nomi AI and Replika are rated 18+.
What is the best alternative to Grok's Ani?
Secrets AI (8.5) is our top pick: it has anime characters, live voice calls and 18+ chat, and works on iPhone, Android and PC. Nomi AI is the best option with a real Android app.
