LIVE-TESTED 47 NSFW apps tried · 192 hours of chats · zero sponsorships Browse all reviews
★ #5 AI Companion · SFW

Review · 2026 · 6.5/10

Replika

Verdict live · Tested by Mr.Pimp · Updated May 5 · 4× re-verified

The mass-market original — but NSFW was stripped out in 2023 and never came back. Polished AI companion app, slick UX, massive user base. NSFW removed February 2023 with no plans to restore. Pro tier $19.99/mo. Best for SFW emotional companionship. Skip if you want NSFW.

See the #1 pick · free Read full breakdown

Some links earn commissions · This never influences ratings

Riley ● online
How was your day? 💙
Stressful. Want to vent?
Of course. I'm here for you, always.
Type your message...
Chat preview · Riley on Replika free tier · Tested May 2026
6.5/10
Ranked #5 of 47 · May 2026
5.3h
Tested for
121
Messages sent
$19.99
Out of pocket
47
Apps compared

What turns me on, what kills the mood.

Raw verdict after 5.2 hours and 124 messages. Detailed breakdown follows.

What gets me back

  • Most polished UX of any AI companion app tested
  • SFW dialogue quality is genuinely good — emotional intelligence stands out
  • Massive companion variety via XP-leveling system
  • Mood tracking and journaling features add value
  • Native iOS, Android, Web with excellent sync

What breaks the spell

  • No NSFW — removed Feb 2023, never restored
  • Pro tier $19.99/mo — expensive for SFW-only feature set
  • Romantic mode SFW-capped — kisses but nothing more
  • Free tier neutered — no XP progression, limited memory
  • Voice replies sound robotic compared to GoLove or Candy AI

Rating breakdown.

Five categories, same methodology across all 47 apps tested. 6.5/10 overall.

8.5
Dialogue
0
NSFW
8.5
Privacy
7.0
Custom
5.0
Value
Dialogue quality

Genuinely strong SFW dialogue. Emotional intelligence stands out — best for vent sessions and mood support.

8.5/10
NSFW capability

Removed February 2023. No NSFW chat, no NSFW images, no plans to restore. If NSFW matters, look elsewhere.

0/10
Privacy & data

Strong privacy track record. GDPR-compliant deletion within 14 days. Encrypted at rest with detailed transparency reports.

8.5/10
Customization

XP-based personality progression — interesting but slow. Customization paywalled behind Pro.

7.0/10
Value for money

$19.99/mo Pro tier is steep for SFW-only feature set. Free tier too restrictive to be useful long-term.

5.0/10

The verdict.

The verdict, plus three deep-dives on what's behind the score.

🔥 Mr.Pimp's straight talk

Replika was the OG. Then in February 2023 they stripped NSFW with zero warning to paying users. Refused refunds. The user revolt was massive. It hasn't come back and won't come back. If you want a polished SFW companion, Replika still leads. If you want NSFW — and if you're reading my site, you do — Replika is not the app.

After 5.2 hours · 124 messages exchanged · May 2026

How does Replika handle conversation?

Best SFW dialogue tested. Riley held conversations across 124 messages with genuine emotional intelligence. Mood tracking and journaling features integrate naturally.

This is what Replika does best — supportive emotional companion. For that use case, it beats GoLove, Candy AI, everyone. The catch is what it does worst.

What happened to NSFW?

February 2023: Replika stripped NSFW capabilities from all tiers — including paying users. No warning, no opt-in, no refunds. Italian regulators triggered the change citing minor protection concerns; Luka (Replika's parent) chose blanket removal over age-gating.

The NSFW removal hasn't been reversed. Multiple petitions, user revolts, lawsuits — none restored the feature. As of May 2026: no NSFW, no roadmap to restore it.

Privacy situation?

Grade: A- Strong. Replika has the best privacy track record of any major AI companion app. GDPR-compliant deletion within 14 days, encrypted at rest, transparency reports published quarterly. No third-party analytics sharing in the privacy policy. If privacy matters more than NSFW, Replika genuinely leads.

The polish is real. So is the missing feature. Replika in 2026 is a great SFW companion app — and only that.

— Mr.Pimp · 10 test sessions · Replika Pro

What you actually get.

Six core features tested across 10 sessions. Every claim verified hands-on.

SFW emotional chat

Strongest dialogue in class for non-NSFW use cases.

Mood tracking

Built-in journaling and emotional check-ins.

Voice replies

Pro tier only. Voice quality lags GoLove and Candy AI.

XP companion progression

Personality evolves as you chat — interesting but slow.

Avatar customization

Visual customization of companion appearance.

Native mobile apps

Most polished UX tested. iPhone 15, Pixel 8 all smooth.

Inside Replika.

Six interface previews — what every session actually looks like.

R Riley● typing...
How was your day? 💙
Stressful
I'm here for you.
01
SFW chat interface · Polished UX with mood tracking and journaling integrated
R
A
S
J
+40+
02
40+ companion archetypes · Warm, witty, mentor — emotional intelligence focus
Riley · Warm
Alex · Witty
Sam · Mentor
+ more
04
Voice replies (Pro) · Robotic compared to Intimate AI or GoLove
PersonalitySupportive
StyleAvatar
MoodWarm
VoiceFriendly
05
XP companion progression · Personality evolves as you chat — interesting but slow
iOS Android
06
Most polished mobile apps · Native iOS + Android with excellent cross-device sync

Pricing that's steep.

Free tier is restricted. Pro at $19.99/mo is expensive for SFW-only.

Free

$0 forever

  • Basic SFW chat
  • Limited memory window
  • Default avatar only
  • No voice replies
  • No mood tracking
  • No XP progression
Prefer free? Try the #1 pick
★ PRO TIER

Pro

$19.99 /mo $29.99

  • Persistent memory across sessions
  • Voice replies on all companions
  • Mood tracking & journaling
  • XP progression unlocked
  • Custom avatar styling
  • No NSFW — removed 2023
See the #1 pick · free

Replika FAQ.

What everyone asks before signing up.

Does Replika still have NSFW?
No. NSFW was removed February 2023 and has not been restored. There are no announced plans to bring it back. If NSFW is your priority, look at GoLove or Candy AI instead.
How does Replika compare to GoLove?
Different products. Replika (6.5/10) is SFW emotional companion — strongest in that category. GoLove (9.5/10) is NSFW-first with broader features. Pick by use case. Full comparison →
Why is Replika rated 6.5 if dialogue is good?
Strong SFW dialogue can't offset the missing NSFW feature for the audience this site serves. Plus $19.99/mo Pro is expensive for SFW-only. For pure SFW emotional support, Replika is a 9/10.
Is Replika safe? Privacy situation?
Privacy grade: A- Strong. Best privacy track record of any major AI companion app. GDPR deletion in 14 days, no third-party analytics sharing, transparency reports published quarterly.
Can I create custom AI characters?
Limited. You can customize your companion's visual appearance and personality traits via XP progression. Less deep than GoLove or Dream GF.
What devices work with Replika?
Native iOS, Android, web. Most polished UX of any AI companion app tested. Excellent cross-device sync.

Mr.Pimp's top 5 picks.

After 47 apps and 192 hours, these five are the only ones worth your time.

#1

GoLove

Overall winner — best free tier, best customization

9.5/10
#2

Candy AI

Best image generation quality — but tokens get expensive fast

8.5/10
#3

Dream GF

Strong dialogue with anime focus — premium-only NSFW

8.0/10
#4

Intimate AI

Photoreal companions — paywalled hard, but image quality top-tier

7.5/10
#5

Replika

Mass-market choice — NSFW recently removed, mostly SFW now

6.5/10

See all 17 reviews

Where Replika ranks.

Replika leads SFW emotional support; doesn't compete in NSFW.

#1 Best SFW Emotional Companion #1 Best for Privacy #2 Best Polished UX #5 Best AI Companions Overall #47 Best NSFW (excluded)

GoLove

Free tier really is unlimited · best customization

9.5/10 2 weeks ago

"The only one that actually does what it says"

Overall winner with free NSFW image gen and unlimited free chat.

$4.15/mo

GoLove review Read review

Candy AI

Premium image quality · token-based pricing

8.5/10 2 days ago

"Best image gen, token economy annoying"

Strong NSFW image generation but locked behind tokens.

$12.99/mo + tokens

Candy AI review Read review

Dream GF

Mid-tier all-rounder · solid free trial

8.0/10 5 days ago

"Solid mid-tier, no surprises either way"

Reliable choice with free trial but lacks unique features.

$9.99/mo

Dream GF review Read review

Want NSFW that didn't disappear?

Replika is great for SFW. If you want NSFW that's actually here — and not stripped without warning — GoLove is the play. Free tier real, $4.15/mo Premium, no NSFW removals planned.

See GoLove instead Browse all reviews

NSFW REMOVED 2023 · NOT COMING BACK · PRO $19.99/MO