The larger part of AI tools gravitate towards using AI for productivity and work purposes. However, Character AI sticks out as a tool that provides companionship from user-generated characters.
Character AI proclaims itself as the tool that lets users chat with any character, and this review tests that claim.
In the review, we will examine Character AI’s features, pricing, pros, cons, and real-world use cases. By the end, you’ll know if it’s worth your time.
Character AI TL;DR
- Character AI is an AI tool that lets you create characters (living, dead, or fictional) and chat with them.
- The tool pulls information about a character from the internet to form the basis of the personality.
- Character AI lets you find out almost anything about your created character.
- This tool was not developed for business tasks or academic writing. It’s more for fun, storytelling, and imagination.
What Is Character AI Best For?
- Anyone who loves roleplaying
- Writers and creatives who need help with character and plot development. It can also spark ideas.
- New language learners.
- People in need of companionship
- Anime and game fans
Alternative To Character AI
| Tool | Purpose | Key Difference |
| Replika | AI companion app | Replika provides more emotional support |
| AI Dungeon | Text-based adventure game | It lets users create and share adventures |
| ChatFAI | Chat with fictional characters | It has a similar concept to Character AI but fewer features |
| Janitor AI | NSFW-friendly AI characters | It has censorship with almost no restrictions. |
| ChatGPT | General-purpose AI chatbot | This is best suited to real-world tasks, not characters |
Character AI Pricing
Character AI offers a free plan that gives access to most features. But there’s also a premium subscription called Character AI+.
| Plan | Cost | Features |
| Free | $0 | Unlimited chats, character creation, and filtered content |
| Character AI+ | $9.99 per month | Faster response time, priority servers, sneak peek features |
Note: For pricing updates, check the Character AI website.
Character AI Main Features
1. Character Creation
Character AI does what it says. It lets you create any character you want.
You can select the anime, voice, tone, personality traits, and even how they greet people. Then, the AI learns from your input. Over time, your character gets better at mimicking your intended behavior.
After signing up, the tool automatically assigned me a username, which I didn’t find pleasing (I changed it later on):
I found the interface to be as intuitive as it could be, this led me to explore the create option.
The tool asked for details concerning my intended character.
I filled in a name, tagline, and description.
I also added a greeting.
There was a voice feature included.
2. Privacy
Character AI lets you choose to keep your characters private or share them with the world. I decided to make mine unlisted, to allow for public access only via a link.
3. Voice Input and Output
On mobile, you can talk to the characters using your voice. I did start out with the text feature before I decided to engage the call feature. However, even in the text feature, I could listen to an audio transcription of my character’s response.
The call feature seemed normal, just like a regular call.
The character and I both had moments of speaking and listening. The AI did pick up on my words with accuracy except a moment when my voice wasn’t very audible. I also explored other characters created and made public by other users.
4. Group Chats
If you want a room where Sherlock Holmes, Elon Musk, and Tony Stark all debate quantum physics, Character AI can cater to that. The Group chat feature lets multiple characters interact in one space.
5. Memory
Characters may remember things you tell them and they try to stay consistent within a session. However, the full memory storage isn’t perfect yet.
6. Safe For Work
Character AI has a strict moderation filter to avoid harmful or NSFW content to keep things family-friendly.
Character AI Pros And Cons
Pros
- It has a free version
- Character AI provides companionship due to the endless characters it provides. You can even choose a character based on your mood.
- It supports both text and voice conversations.
- Character AI can lend a creative hand in role-playing or creative writing roles.
Cons
- The server could get slow during peak traffic times.
- Character AI has strict NSFW rules regarding chat topics.
- Character AI is more suitable as a pastime than a productivity/work tool.
- There is a risk of over-dependence on Character AI for emotional support.
Note:
Last year, Character AI faced a lawsuit after the suicide of a 14-year-old from Orlando. The teen reportedly had suicidal thoughts, and his “ character companion” in Character AI encouraged him to do the deed. Read all about it here:
Character.AI Faces Lawsuit Following Tragic Death of 14-Year-Old
Character AI Privacy Policy
The tool states in its privacy policy that it uses the information it gathers from users to improve its services.
Best Ways to Use Character AI
- Daily journaling with a therapist bot
- Practicing French with a Parisian teacher AI
- Creating a fantasy DnD party for story ideas
- Chilling out with a virtual anime girlfriend
- Writing dialogue for your novel
- Recreating debates between historical figures
The Bottom Line & FAQ
Character AI is worth trying if you’re into creative writing, world-building, roleplay, or just like to have weird conversations with fictional beings. It’s a free and fun tool that can be a good way to learn.
FAQs
1. Is Character AI Trustworthy?
Yes, Character AI is trustworthy for general use. It does not store your private chats publicly, and user-created characters are moderated. However, like any online platform, it’s important not to share personal or sensitive information during chats.
2. Can Character AI Talk Dirty?
No, Character AI has strict content filters that block NSFW (Not Safe For Work) or explicit content. Even if a user tries to guide the conversation in that direction, the AI will usually avoid it or end the discussion.
3. Do Real People Talk on Character AI?
No, you’re not chatting with real people. All conversations happen with AI characters. The characters may feel real, but they are generated by algorithms, not humans.
4. Is Character AI Good Yet?
Yes, Character AI is good for fun, creative conversations, and roleplay. It’s not perfect, and sometimes responses can be off, but it’s constantly improving and great for entertainment.
