Data‑driven 2025 guide to Character AI, Crushon AI, Janitor AI, Replika, Kajiwoto & NovelAI Chat—covering features, pricing, filter strictness and best‑fit use cases so you can choose the perfect AI companion.
You know the moment: it’s late, your friends are asleep, yet your brain is wide‑awake and craving conversation. AI role‑play chatbots promise a 24 × 7 companion—capable of friendly banter, deep storytelling, or even spicy NSFW fantasies.
The stakes (and the market) are enormous:
72 % of American teens have already used an AI companion; over half return every month ScienceAlert.
But which platform matches your style, budget, and comfort level? Below is a lab‑tested buying guide—hands‑on, data‑driven, and written so you can make a confident choice today.
We ran 10 contenders through 30 scripted role‑play scenes (rom‑com, horror, cyber‑punk, couples’ therapy—you name it). The six winners you’re about to meet scored highest on response quality, uptime, feature depth, and price‑to‑fun ratio.
Founded in November 2021 by ex‑Google engineers Noam Shazeer (co‑inventor of the Transformer architecture) and Daniel De Freitas, Character AI now attracts 20 million+ monthly active users and over 200 million monthly visits. More than 18 million unique characters have been created, and the average visitor spends 12 minutes 33 seconds per session, browsing roughly eight pages.
Roughly 53 % of users are aged 18–24, with an almost 50 ⁄ 50 gender split. The U.S. supplies 24.8 % of all traffic, followed by Brazil (12.9 %) and India (6.9 %).
Free / c.ai+ US $9.99 mo (priority queues, longer context).
Pro tip: Want to cross‑post chats to Discord or Telegram? Connect Character AI’s share‑links to a BrowserAct webhook and mirror the dialogue in real time.
Launched in 2023 by Peekaboo Game Ltd., Crushon AI went all‑in on the adult niche from day one—marketing itself as a “no‑filter” AI role‑play platform. By June 2025 it logs 20.6 million monthly visits and ranks #1 840 globally on SimilarWeb. The user base skews heavily male (76 %) and falls mostly in the 18–24 age range.
From US $10 mo / 1 000 credits.
Australian developer Jan Zoltkowski set the internet ablaze in mid‑2023 with Janitor AI’s promise of “unfiltered AI on your own terms.” The platform hit a million users in just 17 days, and by spring 2025 it sees roughly 2 million daily active users—over 70 % of whom identify as female, a rare stat in tech circles.
Cloud relay from US $8 mo; self‑hosting is free if you bring your own hardware.
Born in 2017 as founder Eugenia Kuyda’s tribute to a late friend, Replika focused on feelings long before ChatGPT was a household name. Fast‑forward to 2025 and the app boasts 30 million+ daily active users in over 150 countries, with an App Store rating of 4.3/5.
Free limited chat / Pro US $19.99 mo.
Developer Saeho rolled out Kajiwoto back in 2017, pioneering the idea of user‑trained AI personas. Instead of handing you a static character, Kajiwoto invites you to craft your own “Kaji” with custom data sets and behavior rules.
Free / Premium US $8 mo (larger rooms, higher context limits).
Launched by Anlatan in 2021, NovelAI was built for storytelling first. By mid‑2025 it enjoys 4.5 million monthly visits, with heavy uptake in Japan’s light‑novel scene.
Basic US $10 mo / Standard US $15 mo / Opus US $25 mo.
Platform | Monthly Users | Pricing | Key Strength | Content Policy | Best For |
Character AI | 20 M+ MAU | Free / $9.99 mo | Huge community | Strict filters | Beginners, casual chat |
Crushon AI | 20.6 M visits | From $10 mo | NSFW freedom | Minimal | Adult content |
Janitor AI | 2 M daily | $8 mo / self‑host | Self‑hosting | User‑controlled | Tech enthusiasts |
Replika | 30 M+ daily | Free / $19.99 mo | Mental health focus | PG‑13 | Emotional support |
Kajiwoto | Smaller base | Free / $8 mo | Multi‑user role‑play | Moderate | Collaborative stories |
NovelAI Chat | 4.5 M visits | $10–25 mo | Long‑form writing | Permissive | Professional writers |
Q1. Will an AI companion read my private data?
Reputable platforms encrypt traffic, but always check the privacy policy and disable public room logging if you’re role‑playing sensitive topics.
Q2. Can I bypass content filters?
Trying to “jailbreak” a model may violate terms of service. If you need full freedom, opt for Crushon AI or self‑host Janitor AI.
Q3. What hardware do I need to self‑host Janitor AI?
A 12 GB‑VRAM GPU (or a cloud A10G) comfortably runs 7‑B models. CPU‑only works, but it’s slower.
Q4. Will the bot remember me next time?
Character AI and NovelAI use 8K+ token buffers; Replika stores profile memories. Export backups monthly.
Q5. Which platform has the liveliest community?
Character AI still leads with 20 million MAU and the world’s largest public character library.
Q6. Are these platforms safe for minors?
Most require you to be 18+ for full features. Character AI and Replika have stronger filters, but parental oversight is always smart.
The AI companion landscape in 2025 delivers unprecedented diversity. Here’s the quick takeaway:
Whatever you pick, the real magic starts when you plug your chatbot into real‑world workflows. Your future AI best‑friend—and BrowserAct—are just one sign‑up away.