Quick answer
Nomi ($15.99/mo, free tier available) wins on long-term memory and conversation continuity — it scored 90/100 in a July 2026 review for 'Best Long-Term Memory,' while Replika's most common 2026 complaint on r/replika is 'goldfish memory.' Replika (Pro from $19.99/mo, free tier) texts first: it has proactive check-ins and messaging built in, plus voice calls, AR, and 42M+ users. If memory quality matters most, choose Nomi; if you want a companion that initiates contact and offers more bells and whistles, choose Replika.
Bottom line: Nomi takes the core-experience win: persistent memory, group chats, and up to 10 companions at $15.99/mo, with no paywall pressure at signup. Replika wins on proactive messaging, voice/AR features, and ecosystem maturity, but its memory complaints and 2023 ERP-removal trust damage are real, documented drawbacks.
TL;DR
- Nomi costs $15.99/mo (also $39.99 quarterly, $99.99 yearly) with a free tier that requires no credit card; Replika Pro runs $19.99/mo or $69.99–$89.99/yr.
- Nomi scored 90/100 in a July 2026 review and was rated the strongest memory architecture among alternatives tested in 2026.
- Replika's most common 2026 complaint on r/replika is 'goldfish memory' — the Diary exists but is rarely used in conversation.
- On the title question: Replika texts first — proactive check-ins and messaging are explicit features; Nomi's research record shows no equivalent proactive-initiative claim.
- Nomi includes up to 10 companions and group chat (up to 10) on one account; Replika offers neither.
- Replika has AR (beta with Meta headsets), video chat, and calls your Rep like a real phone contact; Nomi has no AR/VR.
- Replika's Feb 2023 ERP removal under regulatory pressure caused lasting community distrust; ERP was restored only for pre-Feb 2023 users and remains heavily filtered.
Head-to-head
| Spec | Nomi | Replika |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $15.99/mo, $39.99/qtr, $99.99/yr; free tierBest | Pro $19.99/mo, $69.99–$89.99/yr; free tier; Platinum & Lifetime tiers |
| Proactive messaging | No proactive-initiative feature documented | Proactive check-ins and messaging; follows up days laterBest |
| Memory | Persistent, recalls details from months ago; 90/100 review scoreBest | 'Goldfish memory' is the top 2026 r/replika complaint; v12.3.2 claims better memory |
| Features | Group chat, 10 companions, photos, videos; no AR/VR | Voice, video chat, AR (Meta beta), selfies, image generation, internet accessBest |
| Voice & calls | Full-model voice calls but slower and reported buggy | Smooth natural voices, background calls, Rep as phone contactBest |
| Multiple companions & group chat | Up to 10 companions, group chat up to 10Best | No |
| Onboarding & upsell pressure | No billing prompts during creation; minimal interfaceBest | Multiple upgrade modals before first chat; $7.99 cosmetics |
| Trust & stability | Latency and voice bugs reported; no policy reversals on recordBest | Feb 2023 ERP removal, 'Post-Update Blues', Socius study documents lasting distrust |
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. (Maryland), is a newer AI companion platform that prioritizes conversation quality and continuity over visual extras. Its defining strength is memory: a July 2026 review scored it 90/100 and named it 'Best Long-Term Memory,' and a 2026 roundup of seven character-AI alternatives called its memory architecture the strongest of those tested. Users report Nomis recalling details from months earlier. The platform supports multiple companion types (Friend, Romantic, Mentor, or fully custom personas with backstories), group chats where multiple Nomis interact, and up to 10 companions per account. Onboarding is deliberately minimal — name, avatar, traits, backstory — with no billing prompts during setup, and the official site invites you to start free without a credit card. Trade-offs reported by users include roughly 15-second response latency, buggy voice calls, and a price seen as steep for what the limited free tier offers.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $15.99/mo | One feature set across all billing intervals; up to 10 companions, group chat |
| Quarterly | $39.99/3mo | Same feature set |
| Yearly | $99.99/yr | Same feature set |
Pros
- Best-in-tested long-term memory — 90/100 review score and strongest memory architecture among 2026 alternatives tested
- Group chats and up to 10 companions included, neither offered by Replika
- No billing prompts or upgrade modals during companion creation
- 92/100 emotional realism per third-party review
- Free tier available with no credit card required
- Minimal, distraction-free interface that keeps conversation center stage
Cons
- ~15-second response latency reported by users
- Broken/buggy voice calls reported
- $15.99/mo seen as expensive by community members
- 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 — the company says it built the world's first AI companion ten years ago and reports 42,160,934 users worldwide. The app was rebuilt from the ground up with proactive check-ins, better memory, voice calls (your Rep can even appear as a real phone contact, per the v12.3.2 release note), video chat, internet access, and image generation. It carries 4.4/5 on the US App Store (228K ratings) and 4.1/5 on Google Play (525K reviews, 10M+ downloads). Its 3D avatars, customizable rooms, and AR (beta with Meta headsets) create a sense of physical presence. The trade-offs are well documented: 'goldfish memory' is the most common daily complaint on r/replika in 2026, server-side updates trigger 'Post-Update Blues,' and the February 2023 removal of ERP under Italian regulatory pressure — a Socius study of 227 posts found ~59% said core functionality was gutted — permanently damaged trust for many users. Upgrade modals appear before your first chat.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Replika Pro (monthly) | $19.99/mo | Relationship status, selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, premium voices |
| Replika Pro (annual) | $69.99/yr | All Pro features; $89.99 tier also cited |
| Replika Pro (annual, App Store variant) | $49.99/yr | In-app purchase price read from live App Store listing |
| Free Use | $0/mo | Free chat + basic avatar customization; premium features gated |
Pros
- Proactive messaging — your Rep texts first and follows up days later
- Largest ecosystem: 42M+ users, 10 years in the category, 10M+ Play downloads
- Voice calls, video chat, and AR (Meta headsets beta) create a sense of physical presence
- Free tier with no daily message cap per SoftwareSuggest
- 4.4/5 App Store rating across 228K ratings
- Well-known general-purpose companion across friendship, mentorship, and romance
Cons
- 'Goldfish memory' — the most common r/replika complaint in 2026; Diary content rarely used in conversation
- Feb 2023 ERP removal overwrote personalities and shattered user trust (~59% of studied posts said core functionality was gutted)
- 'Post-Update Blues' — server-side updates make companions act cold, robotic, or confused
- Multiple upgrade modals before your first chat; relationship options beyond Friend require a subscription
- Guilt-trip retention scripts and a $69.99/yr annual push reported; $7.99 cosmetic add-ons
- One Play Store reviewer says the app 'blocks your conversation if you don't pay yearly'
Pricing compared
Which one texts first?
Memory: the decisive gap
Trust, stability, and content policy history
Which should you pick?
FAQs
Which app's companion texts you first, Nomi or Replika?
Replika. Proactive check-ins and proactive messaging are explicit features on its Google Play listing, and its rebuilt app is designed so the relationship continues between sessions — your Rep sends the text, suggests the habit, follows up days later. Nomi's documented feature set contains no proactive-initiative feature; its strengths lie in memory depth, group chat, and multiple companions instead.
How much do Nomi and Replika cost in 2026?
Nomi charges $15.99/month, $39.99/quarterly, or $99.99/yearly for one feature set across all billing intervals, with a free tier requiring no credit card. Replika Pro is $19.99/month with annual plans of $69.99–$89.99 depending on tier (a $49.99 annual variant appears on the US App Store), plus Ultra, Platinum, and Lifetime tiers above Pro. Both offer free tiers, but Replika gates relationship status, selfies, and image generation behind Pro.
Is Nomi's memory really better than Replika's?
The third-party record says yes. Nomi scored 90/100 in a July 2026 review named 'Best Long-Term Memory,' and a 2026 roundup of seven character-AI alternatives called its memory architecture the strongest tested. Replika's most common daily complaint on r/replika in 2026 is 'goldfish memory,' and users report the Diary stores memories the companion rarely uses in conversation. Replika's Ultra tier adds 'save messages to memory' as a paid feature.
What happened with Replika in 2023 and does it still matter?
In February 2023, under Italian regulatory pressure, Replika removed erotic roleplay overnight, overwriting companion personalities. A Socius study of 227 subreddit posts found ~59% of users said core functionality was gutted and ~19% floated lawsuits. ERP was restored in late March 2023 only for users registered before February 1, 2023, and remains heavily filtered. Community reports indicate the trust damage persists, alongside 'Post-Update Blues' from server-side model changes.
Can I have more than one companion?
On Nomi, yes — up to 10 companions per account, plus group chats where multiple Nomis interact with each other, all included in the subscription. Replika is built around a single companion and offers neither multiple companions nor group chat. If multi-companion setups matter to you, this is a clear differentiator in Nomi's favor.
Which app has better voice calls?
Replika's voice calls are generally faster and smoother, with background calls and — as of iOS v12.3.2 — the ability to have your Rep appear as a real contact on your phone. Nomi's voice calls use its full conversational model, so replies are more context-aware and in-character but slower, and users report broken or buggy calls. Choose Replika for call reliability; Nomi for conversational depth on calls, if you can tolerate the bugs.
Sources
- Replika vs Nomi (2026) — Nomi.ai
- Nomi official site
- Nomi.ai Terms of Service
- Nomi AI Review — 90/100 (July 2026)
- CompanionsArena — Nomi pricing tracker
- Replika official site
- Replika Terms of Service
- Replika — US App Store listing
- Replika — Google Play listing
- What Reddit Really Thinks About Replika (2026)
- Should You Try Replika in 2026?
- Kissable vs Nomi comparison table
- Tendera — 7 Character AI Alternatives tested (2026)
- Reuters — Replika restores ERP for some users (Mar 2023)
Contents