The best AI companion apps, graded

Updated September 5, 2026, 8 picks, graded on six criteria

Pick an AI companion for what you actually want to do with it. The platforms that render the most convincing images are not the ones that hold the best conversation, and the ones with the best memory are not the cheapest. So this guide leads with picks by job, then shows the full leaderboard underneath so you can see where every platform lands.

All eleven are graded on the same rubric: conversation 28%, memory 20%, images 16%, customisation 14%, value 12%, voice 10%. That weighting is deliberate. A companion that forgets you between sessions is not a companion, whatever it looks like.

The picks

B

1. Kupid

Best conversation
7.5/10, from $18/mo, text, voice, images

Reads context and mood with unusual precision. Character roster stops at twenty-eight. Choose it for the dialogue. Cast runs young. Budget accordingly.

Wins: Chat output holds up well. Talk flows naturally; kink lands without awkwardness. Loses: Pricing sits above the middle. No older archetypes; mean age hovers 18–28.

Full review or Visit site
B+

2. Krush

Best memory, best for a companion that feels continuous
7.7/10, from $14.99/mo, text, voice, images

It recalls specifics from old chats and circles back. That spark keeps the thing feeling present. Top of the pack for memory. Glitches happen. The good stuff costs.

Wins: Deep customization. Several connection modes. Loses: Glitches and thin nuance now and then. Paywall blocks the premium tier.

Full review or Visit site
B+

3. OurDream

Best images and video
7.9/10, from $19.99/mo, text, voice, images, video, anime

Images and video look real. The chat holds up too. Top of the pile for visual realism. The rest works well enough that the higher price stops feeling like a problem.

Wins: Renders images and video fast, and they look good. Characters actually look like real people. Loses: The NSFW angle won't suit all users. Premium tier sits in the middle of the pricing pack.

Full review or Visit site
B

4. Nomi

Best for a long-term relationship
7.5/10, from $15.99/mo, text, voice, images

Companions that remember. Selfies that show up when you ask. Built for something lasting—friend, partner, whatever you need. Images crawl in. Bugs surface.

Wins: Handles chat, voice, selfies, the full stack. Write your character a real history. Loses: Images take their time loading. Glitches happen.

Full review or Visit site
B

5. Muah

Most ways to connect, including phone calls
7.4/10, from $9.99/mo, text, voice, calls, images

Get going fast. Text, voice memos, photo swaps, actual phone calls. More connection methods than rivals, calls included. US numbers only. Top plans cost.

Wins: Handles NSFW and SFW both. Design options run deep. Loses: Calls lock to US numbers. Pricier than competitors.

Full review or Visit site
B

6. MyAnima

Best for deep conversation on a budget
7.4/10, from $9.99/mo, text, voice, images

Conversation shifts with your mood. Grows over time. Pick this if you want to talk. It loops back on itself sometimes. The free tier chokes too fast to really tell.

Wins: Holds a conversation well. Handles roleplay. Loses: Repeats itself; learns slowly. Free plan barely functions.

Full review or Visit site
B

7. HeraHaven

Most complete character builder
7.6/10, price on site, text, images, anime

Built for closeness. Realistic and anime models, plus a feature set that runs deeper than expected. A near-complete builder, but the cost only works if you actually need that depth.

Wins: Realism or anime: you pick the look. Dense with features. Even runs a blog. Loses: Pricier than most rivals. Support locks you into email.

Full review or Visit site
B-

8. MyBot

Best value
6.8/10, from $1.99/mo, text, images

Personality and looks dialed in precisely, without the usual price tag. Value is unmatched. Realism shifts with your effort. Speed wobbles.

Wins: Broad feature set, deep customization. Cheap subscriptions. Loses: Realism depth hinges on what you feed it. Mostly quick, then suddenly not.

Full review or Visit site

Every platform we grade

Full leaderboard, all platforms, sorted by overall score.
#PlatformGradeScoresFrom
1OurDreamBuilding a virtual partner that looks and acts convincingly realB+$19.99/mo
2KrushRealism that almost breathesB+$14.99/mo
3Candy AIFast, total immersionB$12.99/mo
4HeraHavenShaping a precise AI girlfriendBprice on site
5KupidPlayful sex and sustained attentionB$18/mo
6NomiSelfies, delivered on requestB$15.99/mo
7MuahQuick setup, polished designB$9.99/mo
8MyAnimaLong talksB$9.99/mo
9MyBotThe 'almost human' feelingB-$1.99/mo
10YumeAIHentai hottieB-$12.99/mo
11DarlinkBasic customizationsB-$15.99/mo

Questions

What is the difference between an AI companion and an AI girlfriend app?
Framing, mainly. Companion apps sell friendship, emotional support, lasting bonds. Explicit content sits off to the side, optional. AI girlfriend apps put romance up front; they usually bundle explicit chat with generated images. Most platforms here manage both. The grade judges how well they do it. The content column notes if explicit material starts switched on.
Which AI companion has the best memory?
Krush and Nomi both remember. They pull earlier session details back without you asking. Krush does it better. It brings up small specifics unprompted more consistently.
Are these grades based on hands-on testing?
No. Provisional grades draw on documented features, current pricing, published reviews. Each platform later gets the same hands-on test through a paid account. Grades change; the log tracks when.

Changelog