Why people look for a Joi AI alternative
Joi scores 7.8, number 19 of the 31 apps we track. Its catalogue and age checks are strong. The reasons people look elsewhere come from its own pages:
- Hidden prices. Premium and Premium Plus prices appear only after you create an account.
- Pay-per-view extras. Photos cost up to 120 Neurons and videos up to 1,900, at about $2 per 100 Neurons.
- Paid romance on free accounts. Romantic messages cost Neurons without Premium.
- No voice in our data, and no live calls.
- The UK block. Joi is unavailable to UK users for now.
- Topic limits. Chat bans political and religious topics.
Our Joi AI review covers what it does well.
What to look for in an app like Joi
Look for the variety Joi offers without its fee structure:
- A published price. Every pick above shows its plans before you sign up.
- Media included in the plan. A monthly allowance of tokens or credits is easier to budget than per-item fees. Our tokens guide explains the systems.
- Voice, if you want it. See our voice call ranking.
- Availability where you live. UK readers should check our UK page.
Joi vs the alternatives: features
Which features each app lists in our data, checked in September 2026:
Joi compared with seven alternatives on features
| App |
Pictures |
Video |
Voice notes |
Live calls |
Build your own |
Group chat |
Memory |
| Joi |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Long-term |
| Secrets AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Lorebook + legacy |
| Candy AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Conversational |
| OurDream |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Long-term |
| Selira AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Long-term |
| TryNectar AI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Long-term |
| Dondi.ai |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Long-term |
| HeyGF |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Long-term |
Every alternative lists voice notes, which Joi does not. For head-to-head verdicts, read Candy AI vs Joi and Joi vs OurDream.
Prices compared
Joi's price reads "not published" in every comparison, because it is shown only after sign-up. These alternatives publish theirs:
Joi and four alternatives: price, free plan, renewal and refunds
| App |
Cheapest plan |
Month to month |
Free plan |
Renewal |
Refunds |
| Joi |
Not published |
Not published |
Basic free tier with 6 lifetime image generations; romantic or explicit messages, photos and videos cost Neurons |
Not stated |
Subscriptions generally non-refundable once active; accidental Neuron purchases refundable, in full if unspent |
| Secrets AI |
$9.17/mo |
$19.99/mo |
20 messages a day, basic memory, 500-character messages; no Moments, so no images, video or custom characters |
Not stated |
No refund for the current billing period; access runs to the end of it |
| Candy AI |
$3.99/mo |
$13.99/mo |
5 chat messages in total, 1 custom character and 1 generated image |
Not stated |
Only within 24 hours of payment, with 20 tokens or fewer used, card payments only |
| Selira AI |
$3.60/mo |
$7.99/mo |
Unlimited text chat, 2 custom companions, chat history kept 3 days, no monthly image or video credits |
Not stated |
Non-refundable except where law requires; technical problems reviewed within 14 days |
| Dondi.ai |
$5.99/mo |
$14.99/mo |
Free account to chat with 200+ characters; terms mention message caps but give no number |
Not stated |
Within 24 hours of payment, for subscriptions and unused tokens only |
Candy AI and Dondi.ai also have 24-hour refund windows, which are firmer than Joi's case-by-case list. Our Joi AI pricing page covers what is known about its plans and Neurons.
Which Joi alternative to pick
Pick by what bothers you about Joi:
- Not knowing the price. Secrets AI and Candy AI publish theirs, and Secrets AI adds calls.
- Paying per photo or video. OurDream and Candy AI include a monthly media allowance in the plan.
- Paying for romantic messages. Selira AI and HeyGF include romantic chat on their free plans.
- Too few free images. TryNectar AI gives 10 a day.
- Refund risk. Dondi.ai and Candy AI have 24-hour refund windows.
Before you switch, spend any Neurons and monthly benefits, cancel renewal on Premium and on each Bot Subscription, and only then delete the account, since deletion forfeits Neurons. Our Joi AI cancel steps show where each setting is.
Free alternatives to Joi
Joi's free tier charges for romantic messages. These free plans do not:
- Selira AI: Unlimited chat, 2 companions, 3 days of history.
- HeyGF: 30 messages a day, no photos or videos.
- Secrets AI: 20 messages a day, no images or calls.
See is Joi AI free? for its exact limits and the best free AI girlfriend apps for every free plan ranked.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Joi AI?
Secrets AI, which scores 8.5 to Joi's 7.8. It publishes its price, $9.17 a month on a yearly plan, and adds voice notes, live calls and group chats.
Is there an app like Joi with published prices?
All seven alternatives here publish their prices before sign-up. Candy AI costs $3.99 a month on a yearly plan and Selira AI $3.60.
Which Joi alternative works in the UK?
Joi is blocked in the UK for now. Our UK page lists the apps that serve UK users and how their age checks work.
Is there a site like Joi with a big character catalogue?
OurDream says it has over 11 million characters, and Candy AI has a large curated roster. Both publish their prices and include media allowances in their plans.
Are there free sites like Joi?
Selira AI offers unlimited free text chat, HeyGF 30 messages a day and Secrets AI 20 a day, with no per-message fee for romantic chat. Joi charges Neurons for romantic messages on free accounts.