Chai AI
The pioneering AI character app: 15M+ bots and interactive stories.
Chai is an AI character chat app. Launched on the App Store in November 2022, it is one of the pioneers of the genre: the company says it was the first to let the general public create their own conversational AIs, ahead of Character AI and ChatGPT. Its users have created more than 15 million characters, according to the publisher, and the app also offers interactive stories written with AI.
Chai is made by Chai Research, a US start-up that builds its own language models, trained on feedback from its users. The company reports more than $55 million raised and $100 million in annual recurring revenue as of July 2026.
How does Chai work?
Search the catalogue for a character (adventure, romance, fantasy, role-play…), start chatting, and create your own bots in a few steps. Stories offer interactive narratives you can steer. Chai runs on iPhone and Android.
Chai pricing in 2026
The app is free. A Premium subscription costs €9.99 per month on the French App Store, and a virtual currency, Pieces, is sold from €2.99.
Our verdict on Chai
Pros: a gigantic character catalogue, original interactive stories and in-house models built for conversation.
Cons: the app is rated 18+ on the French App Store, and ratings vary by country: 4.3/5 from nearly 290,000 reviews in the US, but 3.9/5 in France, below Character AI or PolyBuzz.
Chai alternatives
- Character AI: the leading AI character platform.
- PolyBuzz: 20M+ characters with voices.
- Replika: a single AI companion focused on relationship and support.
- SpicyChat: an adult chatbot platform with lorebooks and group chats.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chai free?
Yes, the app is free. A Premium subscription is offered at €9.99 per month on the French App Store.
Which languages does Chai support?
The app is available in English only.
Is Chai suitable for teenagers?
No. The app is rated 18+ on the French App Store.
Features
Key features
- 15M+ community-made characters.
- Bot creation in a few steps.
- Interactive stories written with AI.
- In-house language models optimised for conversation.
- iPhone and Android apps.
- Premium subscription and virtual currency (Pieces).