Every app on the ranking gets a score from 0 to 5 on the same ten criteria. The weights say how much each criterion counts; conversation counts most, because it is what you do in these apps every day.
The ten criteria
- 1.
Chat quality
20%How natural the replies are, whether a character stays in character, and whether it keeps track of what was said earlier in the conversation.
- 2.
Image quality
12%How good the pictures are, and whether the same character still looks like herself from one picture to the next.
- 3.
Features
10%What the app does beyond chat, such as voice messages, calls and video, and whether those extras work.
- 4.
Generative tools
10%How much control you get when making pictures and scenes, and how many credits that takes.
- 5.
User experience
10%How easy the app is to use on a phone and on a computer, from sign-up to the tenth conversation.
- 6.
Value for money
10%What the price buys: the limits, the credits, and what the free plan leaves out.
- 7.
Characters
8%How large and varied the library of ready-made characters is.
- 8.
Customization
8%How far you can shape a companion: looks, personality and backstory.
- 9.
Advanced content
7%How the app handles mature conversations for adults who choose them, and how clearly it says what it allows.
- 10.
Free trial
5%How much you can do before paying anything.
The bands
A card shows four of the ten scores in words as well as numbers, so a glance tells you where an app is strong:
What the order means
The order is our overall pick, from the app we would try first to the one we would try last. The scores beside each app show where it is strong and where it is weak, so an app further down can still be the right one for what you want. The lists pick those out: the best for a free start, for a companion that remembers you, and for adults who want no filters.
Where the scores come from
The scores are compiled from published hands-on reviews and each app's own pricing and plan pages, and updated when those change. Prices are the lowest advertised plan when we last checked and often need an annual subscription, so check the app's own page before you pay. Last update: September 25, 2026.
How we earn
Some apps pay us a commission when you sign up through our Visit links; others do not, and every app is scored the same way either way. No app can pay for its place or its scores. The disclosure explains it in full.