Character.AI: chatting with AI characters, and what to know first
Character.AI is an entertainment platform where you talk to characters created by other users or by yourself. It is not a productivity assistant but a space for interactive fiction, with strict rules for minors.
Data as of October 22, 2026
Key figures
| Developer | Character Technologies, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Launched | Not disclosed |
| Free version | Yes, limited |
| Plans | from $9.99 per month |
| Official website | character.ai |
Features
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Web search | Not disclosed |
| Agent mode | No |
| File upload | Not disclosed |
| Image generation | Yes |
| Voice mode | Yes |
| Memory | Yes |
| Code execution | Not disclosed |
| Autonomous browsing | No |
Where to use it
| Where to use it | |
|---|---|
| Web | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes |
| Android | Yes |
| Windows | Not disclosed |
| macOS | Not disclosed |
| Browser extension | Not disclosed |
| French interface | Not disclosed |
| Spanish interface | Not disclosed |
Privacy
| Privacy | |
|---|---|
| Opt out of training on your chats | Not disclosed |
| Temporary chat | Not disclosed |
| EU data residency | Not disclosed |
Entertainment, not a work assistant
On Character.AI, each “character” is a chatbot with a personality, tone and backstory set by its creator: a novel’s hero, a language-practice partner, a role-play companion. You can build your own, give it a voice or explore what the community has made. The platform also offers more guided formats such as Stories (interactive narratives), Imagine, AvatarFX for animation and Streams.
This is a different use from a general AI assistant like ChatGPT. Characters improvise, stay in role and can state false things with confidence; that is hallucination, embraced here as part of the fiction. For reliable research, health questions or legal matters, it is the wrong tool.
Minors: much stricter rules
After news reports and questions from regulators about how these conversations affect teenagers, Character.AI changed course in late 2025:
- Minimum age: 13, and 16 for residents of the EU and UK, according to the help center.
- No open-ended chat under 18: announced October 29, 2025 and rolled out from November 24, 2025 in the US, then in stages elsewhere. Teen chat time had been capped before the cutoff.
- Age assurance: an in-house model plus third-party tools such as Persona.
- Teen experience: a more conservative model, stronger filters, a narrower set of characters and creative formats instead of open conversation.
The pages we checked do not give an exact timeline for each country outside the US. If you are a parent, the safest move is to review your child’s account settings and read the official safety page. Our explainer on AI ethics gives useful background.
Free tier and c.ai+
The free tier gives access to characters and the main features, with ads and daily limits. The c.ai+ subscription ($9.99 per month as of October 22, 2026) removes ads and adds better memory, customization options and unlimited access to the top models.
On privacy, the official pages we could consult do not confirm a simple setting, available everywhere, to keep your chats out of model training. Read the privacy policy before sharing anything personal. If you want a more conventional assistant instead, our which AI is right for me? quiz can point you in the right direction.
Strengths
writing
AI assistants
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to use Character.AI?
According to the official help center, you must be at least 13, or at least 16 if you live in the European Union or the United Kingdom. Younger users are not allowed under the terms of service.
Can teenagers still chat freely with characters?
No. On October 29, 2025, Character.AI announced it would end open-ended chat for users under 18. The change began rolling out on November 24, 2025 in the US, with other markets following. Teens keep access to guided formats such as Stories and video creation.
How does Character.AI check a user's age?
The company combines an in-house age assurance model with third-party tools, including Persona. Rollout started in the US, with global expansion announced.
How much does c.ai+ cost?
As of October 22, 2026, c.ai+ costs $9.99 per month, or $94.99 per year on annual billing. It removes ads, adds better memory and gives unlimited access to the platform's top models.
Data sources
Data as of October 22, 2026
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