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
Home / Long-term memory / Backyard AI
Backyard AI
3.8
A polished desktop app for local companions
Pay annually and save $36/yr (25% off) — see all deals.
0Backyard AICompareVisit Backyard AI ↗
Our verdict. The easiest way to run a local companion without touching a terminal. Best for: Local companions with a friendly interface.
Capability profile
What it actually shipsA quick read of the features this product ships today, scored from real catalogue fields — not an opinion. Voice is three tiers (live calls, voice notes, or none); everything else is shipped or not. The full breakdown is in the table below and on the comparison pages.
Editor score: 3.8 / 5. Best for Local companions with a friendly interface.
At a glance
Hand-verified dataPrice
$12/mo
Cheapest plan works out at $9/mo.
- Free tier: usable without paying
- Price band: Under $10/mo
- Regional pricing varies by country — confirm the amount at checkout
- Checked by hand on 14 Sept 2026
Prices come from public pricing pages and change often. What you pay depends on your region and the plan you pick.
- Price details
- Free local tier. Hosted cloud: Standard $12/mo or $9/mo billed yearly; Pro $35/mo or $26/mo billed yearly.
- Companion types
- Any character
- Voice
- Voice notes / TTS
- Images & video
- Image generation
- Memory
- Retains context across sessions
- Custom characters
- Yes
- Runs locally
- Yes — can run offline on your own machine
- Adult content
- Optional mature mode — the product has an optional mature mode we do not cover on this site
- Visual style
- Mixed
- Platforms
- Desktop · iOS
- Traffic
- 180K monthly visits — Third-party estimate, checked 14 Sept 2026
- Privacy & safety notes
- Local mode keeps conversations on your machine; cloud tier is optional.
Price history
Our own price-tracking dataset — updated every time we re-check the catalogueTracking since 27 Sept. As we collect more snapshots, the trend line fills in here. See the full price-tracking dataset →
What it does well
- Friendly desktop app
- No setup knowledge required
- Character card ecosystem
Where it falls short
- Needs decent local hardware
- Smaller community
Tags
Categories
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Backyard AI — common questions
Is Backyard AI free?
Yes — Backyard AI has a free tier you can use without paying. Free local tier. Hosted cloud: Standard $12/mo or $9/mo billed yearly; Pro $35/mo or $26/mo billed yearly. We last checked it by hand on 14 Sept 2026.
How much does Backyard AI cost?
$9/mo (Under $10/mo). Free local tier. Hosted cloud: Standard $12/mo or $9/mo billed yearly; Pro $35/mo or $26/mo billed yearly. Companion pricing changes often and varies by region, so confirm the amount at checkout. We last checked it by hand on 14 Sept 2026.
Does Backyard AI remember previous conversations?
Yes — Backyard AI keeps context across separate chat sessions rather than resetting every time you open it.
Does Backyard AI have voice?
Partly — Backyard AI offers voice notes or text-to-speech playback, but not live two-way voice calls.
Does Backyard AI have an adult mode?
Backyard AI has an optional mature mode that can be switched off. This directory covers the product itself and does not describe explicit content.
Which platforms does Backyard AI run on?
Backyard AI is available on desktop, ios.
Can I run Backyard AI locally?
Yes — Backyard AI can run on your own machine or against your own model, so conversations do not have to leave your hardware.
How current is the information on this page?
The price and feature details for Backyard AI were last checked by hand on 14 Sept 2026. Everything else on the page comes from the product's own public documentation.
Reader reviews
Loading…Before you buy. We publish prices from public pricing pages and label anything we have not personally checked. Prices on companion sites change often and regional pricing varies, so confirm the final amount at checkout. Affiliate disclosure. Spotted a wrong price? Tell us.