Replika
4.1
The original AI friend, built around emotional connection
Still the strongest product for people who want one companion and a real feeling of continuity.
$5.83/moVoice callsMemory+2
Alternatives to Friend
8 sites worth considering instead of Friend, pulled from the categories it appears in and ordered by our editorial score. For reference, Friend costs See site.
| Site | Price | Free tier | Voice | Memory | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replika The original AI friend, built around emotional connection | $5.83/mo | Yes | Voice calls | Yes | vs |
| Pi The most empathetic free AI, with unlimited voice | Free | Yes | Voice calls | Yes | vs |
| SoulChat Six hand-written companions with long-term memory, free to try without an account | $9.99/mo | Yes | Voice notes | Yes | vs |
| ChatGPT Memory, voice mode and the strongest general model | $20/mo | Yes | Voice calls | Yes | vs |
| Kindroid Deep character builders with phone-grade voice calls | $11.67/mo | Yes | Voice calls | Yes | |
| Ash Voice-first AI companion built specifically for mental health | $14.16/mo | Yes | Voice calls | Yes | |
| ElliQ A desktop companion robot designed for older adults | See site | No | Voice calls | Yes | |
| Digi AI romance with Pixar-grade avatars, voice calls and role-play worlds | $12/mo | Yes | Voice calls | Yes |
Side by side
All 104 alternatives pagesPi
4.0
The most empathetic free AI, with unlimited voice
Completely free, genuinely warm, and no upsell wall. Not a roleplay product, but an excellent listener.
FreeVoice callsMemory
SoulChat
Not rated yet
Six hand-written companions with long-term memory, free to try without an account
A deliberately hand-authored cast of six rather than a community character library — you trade variety for characters that keep one consistent voice.
$9.99/moMatureVoice notes+4
ChatGPT
4.2
Memory, voice mode and the strongest general model
Not built as a companion, but its memory and voice mode make it a legitimate daily chat partner.
$20/moVoice callsMemory+4
Kindroid
4.2
Deep character builders with phone-grade voice calls
The best pick for people who will actually fill in the backstory — lazy setup buys you a chatbot.
$11.67/moMatureVoice calls+5
Ash
4.1
Voice-first AI companion built specifically for mental health
The best-funded wellbeing companion ($93M raised): therapeutic memory, weekly insights and a purpose-built psychology model.
$14.16/moVoice callsMemory
Switching from Friend — common questions
What are the best alternatives to Friend?
8 sites from the same categories are listed above, ordered by our editorial score. We match on category rather than on marketing claims, so what you see is what competes with Friend for the same use case.
Is there a free alternative to Friend?
Yes — Replika, Pi, SoulChat, ChatGPT, Kindroid, Ash, Digi have a free tier you can use before paying anything.
How much does Friend cost compared with the alternatives?
Friend is See site. The alternatives above range from $0 to $20 a month.