# Character.AI

> Chat, call and role-play with millions of user-made AI characters

- Category: [AI Assistants](https://finderatlas.com/categories/ai-assistants)
- Pricing: Freemium
- Website: https://character.ai
- Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
- Mobile app: available
- Made by: Character Technologies, Inc., founded 2021, Menlo Park, CA
- Last updated: 2026-10-20
- FinderAtlas page: https://finderatlas.com/tools/character-ai

## Overview

Character.AI is a consumer chat platform where people talk to AI characters, and create their own. Characters are defined by a name, personality, backstory and optional voice, and can be shared with other users. Users can text a character, switch to a live voice call, and continue conversations across the web app and the iOS and Android apps. The catalog is built mostly from user-created characters, from fictional heroes to original personas.

## Key features

- Character chat
- Character creation
- Voice calls
- Memory and pins
- Lorebooks
- Image attachments
- Charms
- Mobile apps

## Pricing

- **Free** ($0): Free chat with ads and slow mode
- **(c.ai) lite** ($4.99/month): Mid-tier plan with fewer ads
- **c.ai+** ($9.99/month): Top tier with no ads

## Best for

- Character role-play
- Interactive storytelling
- Creating and sharing custom characters
- Casual voice chats with characters

## Who uses it

- Fans of interactive fiction
- Role-play and storytelling users
- Character creators
- Casual users seeking conversation

## Strengths

- Free tier with unlimited messaging and character creation
- Large catalog of user-created characters
- Text chat plus live voice calls
- Apps for web, iOS and Android
- Lower-priced (c.ai) lite plan at $4.99 per month

## Limitations

- Company filed for Chapter 11 on October 12, 2026, so the platform's future depends on a sale
- Free users see ads and slow mode
- Best memory, lorebook and limits are reserved for c.ai+ at $9.99 per month
- No public API and no pricing page on the website

## Not recommended for

- Professional or enterprise work
- Factual research
- Users under 18 who want open-ended chat

## FinderAtlas editorial scores (out of 10)

- Persona Fidelity & Memory: 7.8/10
- Conversational Engagement: 8.5/10
- Ease of Use: 8.5/10
- Value for Money: 7.5/10
- Platform Stability: 5.5/10

## Alternatives

- [Google Gemini](https://finderatlas.com/tools/gemini): Google's AI assistant for chat, research, image and video creation, and Workspace apps ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/character-ai-vs-gemini))
- [Duck.ai](https://finderatlas.com/tools/duck-ai): Chat with ChatGPT, Claude and other AI models without handing over your data ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/character-ai-vs-duck-ai))
- [Poe](https://finderatlas.com/tools/poe): Chat with many AI models, image tools and custom bots through one account ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/character-ai-vs-poe))
- [Microsoft Copilot](https://finderatlas.com/tools/microsoft-copilot): Microsoft's AI assistant for chat, writing and research across web, apps and Microsoft 365 ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/character-ai-vs-microsoft-copilot))
- [Grok](https://finderatlas.com/tools/grok): xAI's AI assistant with live X and web search, image and voice tools ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/character-ai-vs-grok))
- [DeepSeek](https://finderatlas.com/tools/deepseek): Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/character-ai-vs-deepseek))
- [Claude](https://finderatlas.com/tools/claude): Anthropic's AI assistant for writing, analysis, coding and working with files ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/character-ai-vs-claude))
- [ChatGPT](https://finderatlas.com/tools/chatgpt): OpenAI's AI assistant for writing, research, coding, image generation and voice chat ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/character-ai-vs-chatgpt))

## Recent updates

- 2026-10-12: Company started a voluntary Chapter 11 process to pursue a court-supervised sale
- 2026-09-28: Added the (c.ai) lite plan and two new chat styles, PipSqueak 3 and ShortSqueak
- 2026-09-18: Company announced that CEO Karandeep Anand is joining Disney as chief technology officer

## FAQ

**Is Character.AI free?**

Yes. Chatting and creating characters are free, with ads and a queue (slow mode) at busy times. Paid plans are (c.ai) lite at $4.99 per month and c.ai+ at $9.99 per month.

**What does c.ai+ include?**

c.ai+ removes ads and slow mode, and adds the full memory features, advanced lorebooks, the highest feature limits and bonus Charms on pack purchases. It costs $9.99 per month or $94.99 per year.

**Is Character.AI shutting down?**

Not at the time of writing. On October 12, 2026 the company started a Chapter 11 process to seek a court-supervised sale. It says the platform remains online and subscriptions remain active, but the platform will be wound down if no suitable bid is received.

**Does Character.AI have a mobile app?**

Yes. There are iOS and Android apps, and the iOS listing offers text and live voice chat.

**Does Character.AI have a public API?**

No public API was found on the official site.

**Can anyone create a character?**

Yes. Users can design characters with a personality, backstory and voice, and share them with the community.