Character.AI
4.4Millions of community characters with unlimited free text chat
The default starting point: unmatched variety and the most generous free tier in the category.
Home / Roleplay & story / Chai
Chai
Casual mobile character chat with a big bot library
Our verdict. Low-friction and cheap to try, but the free message cap makes Premium near-essential. Best for: Casual character chatting on mobile.
At a glance
Compiled from public sources — pending verification- Price
- Premium ~$13.99/mo or $134.99/yr; Ultra ~$29.99/mo. Free tier: ~70 messages per 2.5 hours.
- Free tier
- Yes — usable without paying
- Price band
- $10–20/mo
- Adult content
- Optional mature mode — the product has an optional mature mode we do not cover on this site
- Voice
- Voice notes / TTS
- Images & video
- None
- Memory
- Session-only context
- Custom characters
- Yes
- Runs locally
- No — cloud only
- Companion types
- Any character
- Visual style
- Mixed
- Platforms
- iOS · Android
- Traffic
- —
What it does well
- Huge bot library
- Very easy to start
- Cheaper annual plan
Where it falls short
- Tight free message cap
- Weak memory between sessions
Tags
Categories
Alternatives to Chai
Full comparisonSillyTavern
4.3The self-hosted frontend the power users all run
If you want total control and zero subscription, this is where the advanced users live.
Pi
4.0The most empathetic free AI, with unlimited voice
Completely free, genuinely warm, and no upsell wall. Not a roleplay product, but an excellent listener.
Before you buy. We publish prices from public pricing pages and label anything we have not personally checked. Prices on companion sites change often and regional pricing varies, so confirm the final amount at checkout. Affiliate disclosure.