Research report · Published 2026-10-12 · ChatCompare Editorial
Free Tiers Compared: What Each AI Companion Gives You Before You Pay
Key finding: Free tiers fall into four groups. Some are effectively unlimited (Desire AI during beta, SpicyChat AI and CrushOn's basic models). Some give a large daily allowance (Erogen AI at about 600 messages a day). Some give a small daily allowance (Nectar AI, DreamGF). And some are short demos (Candy AI at about 5 messages, GirlfriendGPT at 10–20, Kupid AI at 15). Almost every free tier withholds long-term memory, voice calls and most media.
"Free" is the most stretched word in AI companion marketing. For some apps it means you can chat all evening. For others it means you can see a paywall in under a minute. This report lines up the free plans of all 21 apps on our specification sheet, using vendor plan pages where readable and dated independent captures where not.
The full free-tier table
| App | Free allowance | What's locked | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpicyChat AI | Unlimited messages with ads and peak queues; 4K context; 180-token replies; 3 personas | Semantic Memory, images, advanced models, TTS | Unlimited |
| CrushOn AI | Unlimited basic models; 100 Pro credits/month; 225-char replies; 8K context | Ultra models; history deleted after 7 days inactive | Unlimited (basic) |
| Erogen AI | ~600 messages/day; 4K context; 40 voice messages/day; 20+ credits/month; 50 characters | Long-term memory, fast models, video | Large daily |
| Nectar AI | ~15 messages and ~10 images/day (independent captures) | Most models, video, voice chat | Small daily |
| DreamGF | 10 messages/day rising to 50 with a daily streak | Unlimited chat, media | Small daily |
| GoLove AI | Basic chat, memory, voice messages, standard photos | NSFW, unblurred media, calls, generation | Feature-limited |
| Swipey AI | Basic chat with platform characters, Create AI, feed, ~20 Hearts | Custom AI chat, images, calls, video | Feature-limited |
| Honeybot AI | 140 starter tokens, ads, lower priority | Ongoing use beyond tokens | Starter balance |
| Joi AI | Limited messages; small starter Neuron balance (reported) | Stronger models, most media | Starter balance |
| OurDream AI | One-time 55-coin trial, then 1 coin per message | Images, video (subscription required) | Starter balance |
| SoulGen | Small credit allowance; blurred/watermarked output (reported) | Clear output, priority, multitask | Starter balance |
| Kupid AI | 15 messages; 1 custom character; memory of last 30 messages | Photos, videos, voice | Demo |
| Infatuated AI | Up to 10 messages per chat | Full feature set | Demo |
| GirlfriendGPT | 10–20 messages in total; 2–3 characters | Everything after the cap | Demo |
| Candy AI | About 5 messages in total; 1 character; 1 image | Everything after the cap | Demo |
| Nomi AI | One companion; limited daily messages | Voice calls, images, group chats | Small daily |
| FantasyGF | Trial allowance; reviewers call it usable (quota not stated) | Unlimited messaging, expanded media | Trial |
| Lovix AI | Registration required; limited starter tier | Extended memory, voice, custom creation (per vendor) | Not stated |
| DarLink AI | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| VoiceGF | Voice demo; daily check-in points (vendor) | Not stated | Not stated |
Group 1: unlimited or near-unlimited
Three apps let you chat without a hard message count. SpicyChat AI removed its daily cap in 2026, and the trade-offs are ads, queues at busy times, a 4,096-token context (roughly twenty messages of memory) and 180-token replies. CrushOn AI gives unlimited chat on its basic models, plus 100 monthly credits for better ones. Its replies are capped at 225 characters on free, and free chat history is deleted after a week of inactivity. Desire AI, owned by this site's operator, is free with no account during its open beta. It applies daily network and abuse limits, and the vendor notes that people sharing a network may share that ceiling.
What none of these give you for free is durable long-term memory. If you need a companion to remember you next month, a free tier won't show you that.
Group 2: a large daily allowance
Erogen AI is the stand-out here. Its own plan page lists about 600 messages a day, 40 voice messages a day, one year of chat history, up to 50 characters, and a monthly top-up to at least 20 credits for trying media. The limits are a slow default model, a 4K context and no long-term memory slots. For roleplay volume at no cost, nothing else with published limits comes close.
Group 3: small daily or feature-limited allowances
Nectar AI was measured by two independent captures at about 15 messages and 10 images a day. Both testers also reported being unable to chat with their own custom companion on free, which contradicts the FAQ, so treat that point as unresolved. DreamGF uses a streak: 10 messages on day one, rising by one each consecutive day to 50. Miss a day and you're back to 10. Nomi AI offers one companion and limited daily messages, with no calls or images. Long-term reviewers call it a teaser, which is a shame given that memory, its strength, takes time to show.
GoLove AI and Swipey AI take a different approach. Rather than counting messages tightly, they restrict features. GoLove's free tier includes basic chat, memory, voice messages and standard photos but keeps adult content, unblurred media and calls paid. Swipey lets you build a character and chat with platform characters but requires Premium to chat with your own custom AI.
Group 4: starter balances and short demos
Starter-balance apps give you a one-off amount of their currency. Honeybot AI gives 140 tokens, OurDream AI a one-time 55-coin trial, and Joi AI a small Neuron balance. When it's gone, it's gone. OurDream's help centre says images and video require a subscription.
Demo tiers count messages in total, not per day. Candy AI allows about five messages, one custom character and one image. GirlfriendGPT's terms describe 10 to 20 messages in total and two or three characters, and say that once you reach the limit you cannot continue chatting. Kupid AI allows 15 messages. Infatuated AI allows up to 10 messages per chat. These are enough to see a character's opening style and little else.
What free tiers consistently hold back
- Long-term memory. No free tier on our sheet includes pinned memories or memory slots. Erogen, SpicyChat, Nectar and Candy all reserve them for paid plans.
- Voice calls. Free voice is mostly limited to voice messages (GoLove, Erogen) or a demo (VoiceGF).
- Video. Not available free on any app we could confirm.
- Speed. Free users get slower models or queues on Erogen, SpicyChat and Honeybot.
- Better models. Advanced or "Pro" models are usually credit-metered or paywalled.
How to get the most from a free tier
- Decide what you're testing. In most cases that's writing style and character consistency, not media.
- Spend demo messages across two or three characters to see the house style, not just one personality.
- Don't spend starter currency on a single picture if you haven't judged the chat yet.
- Test memory within the free window, for example by mentioning a detail and asking about it fifteen messages later. This will show you the context limit in action.
- If the demo is too short to judge, buy one month, not one year.
Which free tier is best for what
- Most chat for $0: SpicyChat AI or Erogen AI.
- No sign-up at all: Desire AI (featured partner, not ranked).
- Largest library free: CrushOn AI.
- Free voice messages: Erogen AI or GoLove AI.
- Testing an image-first app: Nectar AI's daily image allowance.
Free-tier allowances change often. Several on this list changed during 2026, including SpicyChat removing its daily cap. Figures were checked in October 2026. Confirm on each vendor's sign-up page before relying on them.