AI companion pricing ranges from $4.95/mo for Spicychat AI to $19.99/mo for OurDream AI, with an industry average around $12.15/mo. Every app we review offers a free tier, but what you get for free varies wildly — from generous daily message limits to bare-bones demos that push you toward a paid plan within minutes. This guide breaks down exactly what you will pay across all 12 platforms.
We have tested every app’s free tier and paid plans during our reviews for CompanionGeek. Below you will find a complete price comparison, an honest look at what “free” really means, and practical tips to get the most value for your money.
How Much Do AI Companion Apps Cost?
Here is a complete pricing breakdown of all 12 apps we review, sorted from cheapest to most expensive:
| App | Monthly Price | Free Tier | Discrete Billing | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spicychat AI | $4.95/mo | Yes | No | 3.5/5 |
| Secrets AI | $5.99/mo | Yes | No | 3.8/5 |
| PolyBuzz | $9.90/mo | Yes | Yes | 3.6/5 |
| Dream Companion | $11.99/mo | Yes | No | 3.7/5 |
| Soulkyn | $11.99/mo | Yes | No | 3.6/5 |
| GirlfriendGPT | $12.00/mo | Yes | No | 3.9/5 |
| Candy AI | $12.99/mo | Yes | No | 3.9/5 |
| Lovescape | $12.99/mo | Yes | No | 3.8/5 |
| JuicyChat AI | $12.99/mo | Yes | Yes | 3.8/5 |
| FantasyGF | $12.99/mo | Yes | No | 3.6/5 |
| Kindroid | $13.99/mo | Yes | Yes | 3.6/5 |
| OurDream AI | $19.99/mo | Yes | Yes | 4.3/5 |
The average monthly cost across all 12 apps is approximately $12.15. Five apps cluster at the $12-$13 range, making that the most common price point. The outliers are Spicychat AI at the low end and OurDream AI at the high end.
What Do You Actually Get for Free?
Every app offers a free tier, but “free” means very different things depending on the platform. Here is what to expect:
Generous free tiers (usable long-term):
- Spicychat AI — Access to 300,000+ community-created characters with a daily message limit. You can hold real conversations and explore the character library without paying. The free tier is one of the most functional in the industry.
- GirlfriendGPT — Browse and chat with community characters. Limited messages per day, but enough to get a genuine feel for the platform’s roleplay strengths.
Moderate free tiers (good for testing):
- OurDream AI — Free users can create a character and send a limited number of messages. You will hit the paywall fairly quickly during extended sessions, but it is enough to evaluate conversation quality and customization options.
- Secrets AI — Free voice and text messages with daily limits. The free tier lets you experience the app’s standout voice quality before committing.
- PolyBuzz — Limited daily messages with access to voice features. Good for sampling the encrypted chat experience.
Restrictive free tiers (demos only):
- Candy AI, Lovescape, FantasyGF — Very limited message counts that serve more as product demos than usable free experiences. You will need to upgrade quickly to have a meaningful interaction.
The takeaway: if you want to use an AI companion without paying, Spicychat AI offers the most functional free tier by far. If you are willing to pay, the free tiers on most other apps are still useful for deciding whether the app is right for you before subscribing.
How Do Token Systems Work vs. Unlimited Plans?
AI companion apps use two main pricing models, and understanding the difference will save you money.
Unlimited message plans:
Some apps charge a flat monthly fee and give you unlimited (or very generous) messaging. This is the simpler model — you know exactly what you will pay each month.
Token-based systems:
Other apps use tokens or credits as currency. You buy a pack of tokens, and each action costs a certain number:
- Sending a text message — 1-5 tokens depending on the platform
- Generating an image — 10-50 tokens (images are expensive)
- Voice messages — 5-15 tokens per message
- Video generation — 50-200+ tokens (the most expensive feature)
- NSFW content — Often costs more tokens than SFW interactions
The problem with token systems is unpredictability. A casual user might spend $5 in tokens per month. A heavy user generating images and videos could burn through $30-$50 in tokens easily, even on a platform with a $12.99 “base” subscription.
Our recommendation: If you are a frequent user, look for apps with unlimited or high-cap message plans. If you use AI companions casually (a few times per week), a token system might actually save you money since you only pay for what you use.
What Does “Premium” Actually Unlock?
Upgrading from free to paid typically unlocks some combination of these features:
More messages. The most common upgrade. Free tiers limit you to 10-50 messages per day. Paid plans often raise this to hundreds or unlimited.
Image generation. Most apps reserve AI-generated images for paid users. Quality and style vary significantly — Lovescape and Candy AI produce the most realistic images, while JuicyChat AI specializes in anime art.
NSFW content. Nearly all apps gate adult content behind a paywall. Some require the highest tier (not just the basic paid plan) to unlock full NSFW features.
Voice chat. Voice interactions are premium on most platforms. Secrets AI offers the most natural-sounding voice at just $5.99/mo, making it the most affordable entry point for voice-focused users.
Video generation. The newest and most expensive feature. Only a few apps offer it (OurDream AI is the leader here), and it typically requires a premium or top-tier plan.
Faster responses. Some apps throttle response speed for free users. Paying removes the artificial delay.
Character customization. Deeper personality editing, appearance controls, and memory features are often locked behind paid plans.
Is the Most Expensive App Worth It?
OurDream AI costs $19.99/mo — $7 more than the average and nearly four times the price of Spicychat AI. What justifies the premium?
OurDream AI earns its 4.3/5 rating (the highest in our lineup) by offering the most complete feature set: video generation, deep character customization, lifelike conversations, discrete billing, and consistent cross-feature quality. It is the only app that genuinely excels in every category we test.
That said, $19.99/mo is a real commitment. Here is when OurDream AI is worth the price:
- You want video generation (few competitors offer this)
- You value conversation depth and character consistency
- You need discrete billing
- You plan to use the app regularly (daily or near-daily)
And here is when a cheaper alternative makes more sense:
- You mainly want text chat — Spicychat AI at $4.95/mo or Secrets AI at $5.99/mo deliver strong conversations at a fraction of the price
- You are on a tight budget — PolyBuzz at $9.90/mo offers encrypted chat and voice for under $10
- You want anime-style companions — JuicyChat AI at $12.99/mo specializes in this and costs $7 less
For our full analysis, check the best AI companion apps ranking.
Which Apps Offer Discrete Billing?
Four out of twelve apps offer discrete billing, meaning the charge on your bank statement will not reveal the app name:
| App | Monthly Price | Statement Descriptor |
|---|---|---|
| OurDream AI | $19.99/mo | Neutral business entity |
| JuicyChat AI | $12.99/mo | Generic payment descriptor |
| Kindroid | $13.99/mo | Neutral billing name |
| PolyBuzz | $9.90/mo | Discrete payment processing |
If discrete billing matters to you, PolyBuzz offers the best value at $9.90/mo. OurDream AI is the premium option with the most features. The remaining eight apps may show recognizable names or descriptors on your statements.
How Can You Avoid Overspending?
AI companion costs can creep up, especially on token-based platforms. Here are concrete strategies to keep spending in check:
Set a monthly budget before you start. Decide what you are comfortable spending — $5, $15, $25 — and treat it as a hard cap. Most app stores let you set spending limits.
Start with the free tier. Test 2-3 apps for free before committing money. Our AI companion matching quiz can narrow down your best options so you are not paying for trials on apps that will not fit.
Watch token drain from images and video. Text messaging is relatively cheap on every platform. Image generation costs 5-10x more per interaction, and video generation costs even more. If you find yourself generating lots of images, make sure that aligns with your budget.
Consider annual plans. Several apps offer discounts for annual subscriptions — typically 20-40% off the monthly rate. Only do this after you have used the app for at least a month and know you will stick with it.
Avoid stacking subscriptions. It is tempting to maintain accounts on multiple apps. If you find yourself paying for two or three platforms, pick the one you use most and cancel the others.
Check for price changes. AI companion pricing shifts frequently as apps add features or adjust their models. We update our pricing data regularly, but always confirm the current price on the app’s website before subscribing.
What Is the Best Value for Your Money?
Value depends on what you want from an AI companion. Here are our picks by use case:
Best overall value: Secrets AI at $5.99/mo. Strong voice quality, emotional depth, and a price point that is hard to beat. It lacks the visual features of pricier apps but delivers where it counts for conversation-focused users.
Best budget option: Spicychat AI at $4.95/mo. The largest character library (300,000+), solid chat quality, and the lowest price in the industry. Ideal if you prioritize variety and text-based interactions.
Best mid-range: PolyBuzz at $9.90/mo. Encrypted chat, good voice quality, and discrete billing for under $10. A strong balance of privacy, features, and price.
Best premium: OurDream AI at $19.99/mo. If you want the most complete experience and budget is not the primary concern, this is the app that scores highest across all our testing criteria.
For a personalized recommendation based on your budget and priorities, try our AI companion matching quiz. And for the full rankings, see the best free AI companions page if budget is your main concern, or the complete best AI companion apps list for all price points.
Key Takeaways
- Pricing ranges from $4.95/mo (Spicychat AI) to $19.99/mo (OurDream AI), with most apps landing between $11-$13/mo.
- Every app offers a free tier, but only Spicychat AI and GirlfriendGPT provide free experiences that are usable long-term. Most free tiers are best for testing before you buy.
- Token systems can get expensive fast. Image and video generation burn through tokens much faster than text chat. Set a budget and track it.
- Only four apps offer discrete billing: OurDream AI, JuicyChat AI, Kindroid, and PolyBuzz. If this matters to you, PolyBuzz is the most affordable at $9.90/mo.
- The best value depends on your priorities. Secrets AI ($5.99/mo) wins for voice-focused users, Spicychat AI ($4.95/mo) for budget seekers, and OurDream AI ($19.99/mo) for the complete package.
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