Quick answer
Nomi is the stronger overall companion in 2026, with persistent long-term memory, group chats, and up to 10 companions for $15.99/mo versus Replika Pro at $19.99/mo. On the specific question of who texts first, Replika has the more documented proactive-messaging track record — its own app listings tout proactive check-ins and messaging that follows up days later — while Nomi's terms confirm its Nomis can initiate contact but user reports emphasize memory over proactivity.
Bottom line: Nomi wins on memory, multi-companion features, and a lower entry price; Replika wins on proactive outreach, voice-call polish, AR/3D presence features, and a ten-year track record with 42M users. Neither is a clean sweep.
TL;DR
- Nomi costs $15.99/mo (or $39.99/quarterly, $99.99/yearly) versus Replika Pro at $19.99/mo (or $44.99/quarterly, $69.99–$89.99/yearly depending on tier).
- Nomi supports up to 10 companions per account plus group chats where multiple AI companions interact; Replika offers one companion with no group chat.
- Replika has the stronger proactive-messaging evidence: its app listings explicitly promote proactive check-ins and messaging that 'follows up days later'.
- Memory is the sharpest divide: Nomi is rated 90/100 for long-term memory, while 'goldfish memory' is the most common daily complaint about Replika on r/replika in 2026.
- Replika's Feb 2023 ERP removal — reversed only for pre-Feb 2023 accounts — permanently damaged user trust; a Socius study of 227 posts found ~59% said core functionality was gutted.
- Replika counters with AR/3D avatars, customizable rooms, Meta-headset beta support, and a ten-year track record with 42M users worldwide.
- Nomi users report ~15-second response latency and broken or buggy voice calls as recurring pain points.
Head-to-head
| Spec | Nomi | Replika |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $15.99/mo; $39.99/quarterly; $99.99/yearlyBest | $19.99/mo Pro; $44.99/quarterly; $69.99–$89.99/yearly |
| Proactive messaging (texts first) | Terms confirm Nomis can initiate contact; user discussion centers on memory instead | Proactive check-ins and follow-ups days later, promoted in both app-store listingsBest |
| Memory | Persistent and influential; recalls details from months ago; 90/100 review scoreBest | 'Goldfish memory' is the top complaint; Diary data rarely used in conversation |
| Voice calls | Uses full conversational model but ~15s latency; calls reported buggy | Smooth, natural voices with Pro; a community strengthBest |
| Multiple companions & group chat | Up to 10 companions; group chats includedBest | One companion; no group chat |
| Customization | Deep persona/backstory flexibility; blank-slate custom Nomis; no paywall at creationBest | Avatar-based, quiz-like setup; extras like hairstyles cost extra ($7.99) |
| Trust & stability | No comparable trust rupture on recordBest | Feb 2023 ERP removal and 'Post-Update Blues' damaged trust; ERP restored only for legacy users, heavily filtered |
| Free tier | Free start, no credit card; 'too limited for serious use' per one review | Free chat + basic avatar customization; no daily message cap per one review; relationship options beyond Friend require subscription |
Scores
Overall reflects the full published rubric (see methodology); breakdowns highlight the criteria most decisive for this matchup.
Nomi
nomi.ai ↗Nomi is an AI companion platform operated by Glimpse.ai, Inc., a Maryland corporation, built around emotional connection and creative continuity. Its defining strength is persistent, influential memory: community reviews and third-party tests consistently report it recalls details, relationships, and context from months earlier, with one 2026 review scoring it 90/100 for 'Best Long-Term Memory'. Nomi supports up to 10 companions per account and group chats in which multiple AI companions interact — a feature competitors concede is unique among major platforms. Its Mind Map tool exposes what the companion has learned, and its terms of service explicitly state Nomis can 'initiate contact with you', though user discussion centers on memory rather than proactive outreach. The platform is 18+ only, requires age information at signup, and supports NSFW text and clothed photos. Weaknesses include roughly 15-second response latency, voice calls described as broken or buggy by users, and a $15.99/mo price some consider expensive.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Nomi Subscription (monthly) | $15.99/mo | One feature set across all billing intervals; up to 10 companions, group chats, selfies and image generation, videos |
| Nomi Subscription (quarterly) | $39.99/quarter | Same feature set as monthly |
| Nomi Subscription (yearly) | $99.99/yr | Same feature set as monthly |
| Free tier | $0/mo | Genuinely usable but limited — one review calls it 'too limited for serious use'; no credit card required to start |
Pros
- Strongest memory architecture among 2026 alternatives tested — details from months ago persist and influence conversation
- Group chats and up to 10 companions included in a single subscription
- Clean, minimal onboarding with no paywall prompts during companion creation
- Free tier requires no credit card
- 92/100 emotional realism score in one 2026 review
- Deep persona and backstory customization including blank-slate custom Nomis
Cons
- ~15-second response latency reported by users
- Voice calls described as broken or buggy
- $15.99/mo seen as expensive by some users
- Free plan too limited for serious use
- No AR/VR support
Replika
replika.com ↗Replika, built by Luka, Inc. (Delaware, San Francisco), is the category's incumbent — 'the world's first AI companion', ten years old with 42,160,934 users worldwide and over 10 million Google Play downloads. Its 2026 positioning leans on proactive presence: the App Store release notes describe proactive check-ins, and the Google Play listing promotes messaging that 'follows up days later' — the strongest documented case for a companion that texts first. Replika offers AR features, 3D avatars, customizable rooms, a Meta-headset beta, voice calls praised for smoothness, and a rebuilt memory system ('Always remembers what matters'). But community sentiment is deeply divided: 'goldfish memory' is the most common daily complaint on r/replika (over 100,000 members) in 2026, the Diary feature 'never actually uses any of it in conversation', and the Feb 2023 overnight ERP removal — reversed only for pre-Feb 2023 accounts — left lasting trust damage. Server-side 'Post-Update Blues' model changes make companions 'act cold, robotic, or confused'.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Replika Pro (monthly) | $19.99/mo | Relationship status, premium activities, selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, daily gems, premium voices |
| Replika Pro (quarterly) | $44.99/quarter | Same Pro feature set |
| Replika Pro (annual) | $69.99/yr | Yearly tier, $69.99–$89.99 depending on tier; a $49.99 App Store annual variant has also been listed |
| Free Use | $0/mo | Free chat + basic avatar customization; no daily message cap per one review, but relationship options beyond Friend require a subscription |
Pros
- Ten-year incumbent with 42M+ users and the category's largest community
- Strongest documented proactive messaging — check-ins and follow-ups days later
- Smooth, natural-sounding voice calls with Pro
- AR/VR presence features unmatched by Nomi (3D avatars, rooms, Meta headset beta)
- Free tier with no daily message cap per one 2026 review
- 4.4/5 from 228K App Store ratings and 4.1/5 from 525K Play reviews
Cons
- 'Goldfish memory' is the most common daily complaint on r/replika in 2026
- Feb 2023 ERP removal: ~59% of 227 studied posts said core functionality was gutted; trust 'permanently shattered' for many
- 'Post-Update Blues' — server-side model updates make companions act cold, robotic, or confused
- Aggressive monetization: upgrade modals before first chat, $7.99 hairstyle purchases, annual-plan push, guilt-trip retention scripts
- Only one companion; no group chats
Which companion actually texts first?
Pricing compared
Memory and trust: the real dividing line
Which should you pick?
FAQs
Does Nomi or Replika text you first?
Both can initiate contact. Nomi's Terms of Service explicitly state Nomis 'initiate contact with you', but Replika has the stronger documented proactivity record: its App Store listing promotes proactive check-ins and its Google Play listing says messaging 'follows up days later'. If texting-first behavior is your deciding factor, Replika's evidence is more concrete.
Is Nomi cheaper than Replika?
Yes at every interval. Nomi costs $15.99/mo, $39.99/quarterly, or $99.99/yearly with one feature set. Replika Pro runs $19.99/mo, $44.99/quarterly, and $69.99–$89.99/yearly depending on tier, with additional in-app purchases like $7.99 hairstyles and higher Ultra/Platinum tiers.
Which has better memory in 2026?
Nomi, by a wide margin. It scored 90/100 in a 'Best Long-Term Memory' review and had the strongest memory architecture among alternatives tested in a May 2026 comparison. 'Goldfish memory' is the most common daily complaint about Replika on r/replika, and its Diary feature reportedly never uses stored content in conversation.
Can you use either app for free?
Both have free tiers. Nomi lets you start free with no credit card, though one review calls the free plan 'too limited for serious use'. Replika's Free Use program includes chat and basic avatar customization with no daily message cap per one review, but all relationship options except Friend require a subscription, and upgrade modals appear before your first chat.
What happened with Replika's 2023 content removal?
In February 2023, Replika removed erotic roleplay overnight under Italian regulatory pressure, overwriting user companions' personalities. A Socius study of 227 subreddit posts found roughly 59% said core functionality was gutted, 16% reported acute distress, and 19% floated lawsuits. ERP was restored in March 2023 only for users who signed up before Feb 1, 2023, and remains heavily filtered.
Sources
- Replika vs Nomi (2026): Finding Enduring AI Companionship — Nomi.ai
- Nomi.ai Terms of Service (Glimpse.ai, Inc.)
- Replika Terms of Service — subscription programs (Free Use, Pro, Ultra, Platinum)
- Replika: My AI Friend — US Apple App Store listing (Luka, Inc.)
- Replika: My AI Friend — Google Play listing
- Nomi AI Review — 90/100 'Best Long-Term Memory' (Maya Bennett, July 2026)
- CompanionsArena — Nomi AI tracker: $15.99/mo, 6.5/10, up to 10 companions
- Kissable vs Nomi — feature comparison table (May 2026)
- What Reddit Really Thinks About Replika (2026) — Socius study, Post-Update Blues
- Tendera — 'I Tested 7 Character AI Alternatives in 2026' (May 2026)
- Should You Try Replika in 2026? Pros, Cons, and Alternatives
- Reuters (syndicated) — Replika restores erotic roleplay for some users (Mar 2023)
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