Character.AI
4.4
Millions of community characters with unlimited free text chat
The default starting point: unmatched variety and the most generous free tier in the category.
$7.92/moVoice callsMemory+3
Alternatives to Linky
8 sites worth considering instead of Linky, pulled from the categories it appears in and ordered by our editorial score. For reference, Linky costs $9.08/mo.
| Site | Price | Free tier | Voice | Memory | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Character.AI Millions of community characters with unlimited free text chat | $7.92/mo | Yes | Voice calls | Yes | vs |
| SillyTavern The self-hosted frontend the power users all run | Free | 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 |
| Coze ByteDance’s no-code bot builder | $9/mo | Yes | No | Yes | vs |
| DeepSeek An open-weight model with a surprisingly strong free chat | Free | Yes | No | Yes | vs |
| Inworld A character engine for intelligent NPCs | Free | Yes | Voice notes | Yes | |
| DreamGen Open-ended roleplay and story writing with strong models | $6.26/mo | No | No | Yes |
Side by side
All 68 alternatives pagesSillyTavern
4.3
The self-hosted frontend the power users all run
If you want total control and zero subscription, this is where the advanced users live.
FreeMatureVoice calls+5
Pi
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
Coze
4.3
ByteDance’s no-code bot builder
Build and ship custom AI chatbots to 8+ channels with plugins and workflows — a create-your-own toolkit, not a fixed companion.
$9/moMemoryImages+1
DeepSeek
4.3
An open-weight model with a surprisingly strong free chat
Not a companion, but its free, capable chat and long memory make it a credible daily AI friend.
FreeMemory
Switching from Linky — common questions
What are the best alternatives to Linky?
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 Linky for the same use case.
Is there a free alternative to Linky?
Yes — Character.AI, SillyTavern, Pi, SoulChat, Coze, DeepSeek, Inworld have a free tier you can use before paying anything.
How much does Linky cost compared with the alternatives?
Linky is $9.08/mo. The alternatives above range from $0 to $9.99 a month.