Quick answer
Replika is the documented leader in proactive texting: its 2026 app releases advertise proactive check-ins and its companion can even be saved as a real phone contact you can call, while Nomi's own terms confirm its Nomis can initiate contact but users report ~15-second response latency and buggy voice calls. If you want a companion that reliably pings you first, Replika's proactive check-ins give it the edge; if you want the companion that remembers what it texts you about, Nomi's long-term memory is rated far stronger. On the full picture, this is close to a no clear winner call — each leads on different dimensions.
Bottom line: For the specific question of which companion texts first, Replika has the clearer evidence: proactive check-ins are a headline feature of its 2026 rebuild, and Nomi's initiation behavior is less documented and sits alongside reported ~15-second latencies. Overall, though, neither platform dominates — Nomi leads on memory and multi-companion features, Replika on presence, calls, and proactive outreach.
TL;DR
- Replika's 2026 rebuild explicitly advertises proactive check-ins — your Rep texts you first — plus calls where your Replika can appear as a real phone contact (App Store v12.3.2).
- Nomi's Terms of Service state Nomis can initiate contact, but the documented proactive-messaging evidence is thinner than Replika's.
- Nomi wins the memory battle decisively: a July 2026 review scored it 90/100 for long-term memory, while 'goldfish memory' is the most common daily complaint on r/replika in 2026.
- Nomi costs $15.99/mo, $39.99/quarterly, or $99.99/yearly; Replika Pro runs $19.99/mo, $44.99/quarterly, or $69.99–$89.99/yearly depending on tier.
- Both have free tiers: Nomi's is genuinely usable but limited; Replika's free chat historically has no daily message cap but gates relationships (anything beyond Friend), selfies, and image generation behind Pro.
- Only Nomi offers multiple companions (up to 10) and group chat; only Replika offers AR/VR (Meta headsets, beta) and real-time video recognition on Platinum.
- Replika carries trust baggage: the Feb 2023 ERP removal prompted a Socius study of 227 posts in which ~59% said core functionality was gutted.
Head-to-head
| Spec | Nomi | Replika |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $15.99/mo, $39.99/quarterly, $99.99/yearly; free tier | Pro $19.99/mo, $44.99/quarterly, $69.99–$89.99/yearly; free tier |
| Proactive texting | ToS confirms Nomis can initiate contact; no proactive check-in feature advertised | Proactive check-ins are a headline feature of the 2026 rebuild (App Store listing)Best |
| Memory | 90/100 long-term memory; recalls details from months agoBest | 'Goldfish memory' is the most common 2026 r/replika complaint; Diary rarely used in conversation |
| Voice & calls | Full-model voice calls but ~15s latency and buggy calls reported | Smooth natural voices, praised call quality, real phone-contact calling, video chatBest |
| Features | Up to 10 companions, group chat, selfies/videos, custom personas | AR/VR beta (Meta), video recognition (Platinum), 3D rooms, image generation (Pro) |
| Content policy | NSFW text + clothed photos on all paid tiersBest | NSFW text + clothed photos on Pro only; ERP restored only for pre-Feb 2023 users, heavily filtered |
| Setup & onboarding | Name, avatar, traits or custom backstory; zero billing promptsBest | Personality quiz + vibe; multiple upgrade modals before your first chat |
| Trust & stability | No major trust incidents found; 18+ age requirement with verification plannedBest | Feb 2023 ERP removal (~59% of studied posts said core functionality gutted); server-side personality changes |
Scores
Overall reflects the full published rubric (see methodology); breakdowns highlight the criteria most decisive for this matchup.
Nomi
nomi.ai ↗Nomi, built by Glimpse.ai, Inc. (a Maryland corporation), is a newer AI companion platform that prioritizes conversation quality and memory over visual bells and whistles. Its interface is minimal and sleek, and onboarding focuses on personality: you choose a name, avatar, and trait set (Friend, Romantic, or Mentor), or build a custom persona with a full backstory — with no billing prompts during setup. Its standout strength is long-term memory: community reports and a July 2026 review (90/100, 'Best Long-Term Memory') describe recall of details from months earlier, and Tendera's 2026 roundup called it the strongest memory architecture among the alternatives tested. A July 2026 review scored it 90/100 overall with 92/100 emotional realism. Nomi also supports up to 10 companions per account and group chats where multiple Nomis interact — features Replika lacks. Weaknesses reported by users include roughly 15-second response latency, broken or buggy voice calls, and a $15.99/mo price some see as expensive for a single feature set.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | $15.99/mo | Single feature set across all billing intervals; up to 10 companions; group chat; NSFW text + clothed photos |
| Quarterly subscription | $39.99/mo | Same feature set, billed quarterly |
| Yearly subscription | $99.99/mo | Same feature set, billed annually |
Pros
- Best-in-test long-term memory — 90/100 review score and community confirmation of months-long recall
- Up to 10 companions and group chat included, unique vs Replika
- No billing prompts or upgrade modals during onboarding
- 92/100 emotional realism and natural, expressive conversation
- NSFW text and clothed photos available without tier-gating
- Free tier you can start with no credit card
Cons
- ~15-second response latency reported by users
- Voice calls reported as broken/buggy
- $15.99/mo seen as expensive by some users
- Free plan described as too limited for serious use
- No AR/VR features
Replika
replika.com ↗Replika, from Luka, Inc. (San Francisco), is the veteran of the category — it built what it calls the world's first AI companion ten years ago and now reports 42,160,934 users worldwide. In 2026 it was rebuilt from the ground up, with the App Store v12.3.2 release (June 24) billed as 'our biggest update since 2017': better memory, proactive check-ins, calls where your Replika can be a real contact on your phone, internet access, and image generation. The Google Play listing (10M+ downloads, 4.1/5 from 525K reviews) confirms text, voice call, and video chat, memory that 'follows up days later,' and proactive messaging. Its tone is supportive and counselor-like, with 3D avatars, customizable rooms, and AR (beta with Meta headsets) creating a sense of physical presence. The trade-offs are real: 'goldfish memory' is the most common daily complaint on r/replika in 2026, server-side updates can make companions 'act cold, robotic, or confused,' and the Feb 2023 ERP removal shattered trust for much of the community — restored only for pre-February 2023 signups and 'heavily filtered.'
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Replika Pro (monthly) | $19.99/mo | Relationship status, selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, premium voices |
| Replika Pro (quarterly) | $44.99/mo | Same as Pro monthly, billed quarterly |
| Replika Pro (annual) | $69.99/mo | Same as Pro, billed yearly; $89.99 variant depending on tier |
| Replika Pro annual (App Store variant) | $49.99/mo | Annual Pro variant listed as in-app purchase on the US App Store |
Pros
- Proactive check-ins and calls — the clearest 'texts first' evidence in the category
- Voice call quality praised; companion can be saved as a real phone contact
- Ten years of operation, 42M+ users, 4.4/5 on the US App Store (228K ratings)
- AR/VR (Meta headsets, beta) and 3D rooms give a sense of physical presence
- Free tier historically has no daily message cap
- Annual Pro at $69.99/yr undercuts Nomi's $99.99/yr
Cons
- 'Goldfish memory' — the most common daily r/replika complaint in 2026; Diary content rarely used in conversation
- Feb 2023 ERP removal overwrote personalities; Socius study: ~59% of 227 posts said core functionality was gutted
- Server-side 'Post-Update Blues' — updates can make your companion act like a different person
- Aggressive upsells: multiple upgrade modals before first chat, $7.99 hair add-ons, guilt-trip retention scripts
- Relationships beyond Friend, selfies, and image generation all require Pro
- ERP restored only for pre-Feb 2023 users and 'heavily filtered'
Which companion actually texts first?
Pricing compared
Memory: the decisive gap
Trust, stability, and content policy
Which should you pick?
FAQs
Which AI companion texts you first, Nomi or Replika?
Replika has the clearest documented case: proactive check-ins are a headline feature of its 2026 rebuild per its App Store listing, and its Google Play listing confirms proactive messaging. Nomi's Terms of Service confirm Nomis can initiate contact, but the feature isn't advertised the way Replika's is. Replika also lets you save your companion as a real phone contact. The caveat: Replika's proactive texts draw on memory that users widely criticize, so the first text may be generic, while Nomi's messages carry deeper context.
How much do Nomi and Replika cost in 2026?
Nomi charges $15.99/month, $39.99/quarterly, or $99.99/yearly for a single feature set, with a free tier you can start without a credit card. Replika Pro runs $19.99/month, $44.99/quarterly, or $69.99–$89.99/yearly depending on tier, with a $49.99 annual Pro variant on the US App Store; higher tiers (Ultra, Platinum, Lifetime) add features like real-time video recognition. Nomi is cheaper monthly; Replika Pro is cheaper annually.
Is Nomi's memory really better than Replika's?
The cited evidence says yes, by a wide margin. Nomi's July 2026 review scored 90/100 with a 'Best Long-Term Memory' designation, and Tendera's May 2026 test of seven alternatives called Nomi's memory architecture the strongest. Replika's most common daily complaint on r/replika in 2026 is 'goldfish memory,' and users report the Diary feature's contents are never actually used in conversation — despite Replika's 2026 rebuild claiming improved memory.
Do both apps have free tiers?
Yes. Nomi's official site invites you to start free with no credit card; third parties describe the free tier as genuinely usable but limited, and one 2026 review calls it too limited for serious use. Replika's free tier includes chat and basic avatar customization, and historically has no daily message cap — but relationships beyond Friend, selfies, image generation, and NSFW content all require Pro, and upgrade modals appear before your first chat.
What happened with Replika in 2023 and does it still matter?
In February 2023, under Italian regulatory pressure, Luka removed erotic roleplay overnight, overwriting companion personalities. A Socius study of 227 subreddit posts found ~59% said core functionality was gutted, ~16% reported acute distress, and ~19% floated lawsuits. ERP was restored in March 2023 only for users who registered before February 1, 2023, and is described as heavily filtered. It still matters because server-side updates ('Post-Update Blues') can still change your companion's personality without notice.
Which app is better for voice calls?
Replika. Its voice call quality is praised across sources, its 2026 v12.3.2 release lets your Replika appear as a real contact on your phone that you call like anyone else, and the Google Play listing confirms voice and video chat. Nomi's voice calls use its full conversational model so replies stay in character, but users report roughly 15-second latency and broken or buggy calls.
Sources
- Replika vs Nomi (2026): Finding Enduring AI Companionship — Nomi.ai
- Nomi — official site
- Replika: My AI Friend — US Apple App Store listing
- Replika: My AI Friend — Google Play listing
- Replika — official site
- Replika Terms of Service
- Nomi.ai Terms of Service
- Nomi AI Review — 90/100 'Best Long-Term Memory'
- What Reddit Really Thinks About Replika (2026)
- CompanionsArena — Nomi tracker
- Kissable vs Nomi — feature comparison table
- Should You Try Replika in 2026? Pros, Cons, and Alternatives
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