July 24, 2026: xAI announced on July 24, 2026 that Grok's companions — including Ani — are being retired to focus on core Grok, with removal rolling out through August. If you're here because Ani is disappearing, the alternatives below are all live products.
Grok (Ani)
alternatives.Plus our provisional take.
Viral and genuinely polished while it lasted — xAI announced in July 2026 that Grok's companions, Ani included, are being retired.
xAI's viral AI girlfriend — being retired
*Provisional score — assessed from public information, not yet through our 14-day hands-on test.
- Memory
- 5.0 / 10
- Voice
- 8.0 / 10
- Safety
- 4.0 / 10
- Value
- 4.0 / 10
- Onboarding
- 6.0 / 10
What we know
so far.
Grok's Companion mode put AI girlfriends in front of millions with Ani — a 3D-animated, gothic-anime persona with real-time voice and a gamified affection meter. The animation and voice were among the most polished in the category, behind a SuperGrok subscription (about $30/month), as a fixed character you pick rather than one you build. On July 24, 2026, xAI announced the companions are being retired to focus on core Grok, with removal rolling out through August — so this entry is now a record of a product on its way out rather than a recommendation. Note: this entry is assessed from public information and third-party reviews — we never ran Grok through our own 14-day hands-on test, so its scores are provisional and it's excluded from our tested-platform counts.
Provisional assessment, June 2026: Grok (Ani) scored memory 5/10, voice consistency 8/10, safety 4/10, value 4/10, and onboarding 6/10. Composite 6.8/10. Pricing: paid only, paid from $30/month (subscription). Long-term memory: limited. NSFW handling: yes.
- Historical reference — the companions are being retired
- Anyone starting now
- Building your own companion
Where to go
instead.
Bae
Our pickMemory that holds for months. Real selfies, not stock. Six relationship stages that earn their depth.
Character.AI
7.8The widest cast of characters anywhere — but heavily filtered, with memory that fades within hours.
Nomi
7.5ProvisionalThe category's memory specialist — the reputation is largely earned, though safety guardrails are thin by design.
Kindroid
7.3ProvisionalThe power user's companion — unmatched explicit memory controls if you'll do the setup, at a price that stacks fast.
Replika
7.2Pioneered the category and still has the warmest onboarding — but the 2023 NSFW lockdown left a brand bruise its loyal users haven't forgotten.
Joi AI
6.9Our April test loved its real-time voice — public reporting says the product has since pivoted text-first, with calls metered through credits. Re-test pending.
JanitorAI
6.9ProvisionalA huge, free, largely unfiltered character library — bring your own model if you want it to remember anything.
Grok (Ani) vs Bae vs Character.AI.
Feature-by-feature. Bae and Character.AI went through our 14-day benchmark; Grok (Ani)'s column reflects our provisional assessment from public information.
| Feature | Grok (Ani) | Bae | Character.AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term memory | Partial | Yes | Partial |
| Real photos / selfies | No | Yes | No |
| Voice messages | Yes | No | Yes |
| Video calls | No | No | No |
| Persona customization | No | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple companions | No | Yes | Yes |
| Romantic / spicy mode | Yes | Partial | No |
Assessed June 2026· See how we test on /methodology · Benchmark across all platforms in /research
Scores last verified August 24, 2026
People ask about
Grok (Ani).
Is Grok (Ani) worth it?
Grok's Companion mode put AI girlfriends in front of millions with Ani — a 3D-animated, gothic-anime persona with real-time voice and a gamified affection meter. The animation and voice were among the most polished in the category, behind a SuperGrok subscription (about $30/month), as a fixed character you pick rather than one you build. On July 24, 2026, xAI announced the companions are being retired to focus on core Grok, with removal rolling out through August — so this entry is now a record of a product on its way out rather than a recommendation. Note: this entry is assessed from public information and third-party reviews — we never ran Grok through our own 14-day hands-on test, so its scores are provisional and it's excluded from our tested-platform counts.
What are the best alternatives to Grok (Ani)?
Bae is our top pick — built for memory that holds across months and real photos rather than 3D avatars. After Bae, Character.AI (The widest cast of characters anywhere — but heavily filtered, with memory that fades within hours.).
Does Grok (Ani) have memory that lasts?
Grok (Ani)'s memory is limited — it tracks recent context but fades over time. For long-term continuity, see Bae or Replika.
Can Grok (Ani) send photos?
No — Grok (Ani) doesn't generate or send photos. If photos matter, Bae and Replika both support them.
How does Grok (Ani) compare to Bae?
Bae is built around persistent memory and the relationship arc itself, with six stages that unlock as you talk. Grok (Ani) viral and genuinely polished while it lasted — xai announced in july 2026 that grok's companions, ani included, are being retired.
Three minutes
from now, you'll know.
Pick a shape. Pick a face. Tell them what to call you. They'll remember the rest.