Talkie
alternatives.Plus our provisional take.
Polished mainstream roleplay with a collectible-card layer — filters tightened hard through 2025–2026, and memory resets are the top complaint.
Mainstream roleplay with gacha collectibles
*Provisional score — assessed from public information, not yet through our 14-day hands-on test.
- Memory
- 4.0 / 10
- Voice
- 7.0 / 10
- Safety
- 4.0 / 10
- Value
- 6.0 / 10
- Onboarding
- 8.0 / 10
What we know
so far.
Talkie is one of the biggest mainstream character-roleplay apps (50M+ Android installs), with easy character creation, strong visuals, voice, and a gacha card layer on top of chat. The record is turbulent: the app was pulled from the US iOS App Store in December 2024 (returning as "Talkie Lab"), briefly removed from Google Play in 2026, and its content filters tightened sharply through 2025–2026 — "sanitized" is the community's word. Cross-session memory is gated behind the paid tier and memory resets in long chats are the most consistent complaint, alongside ad load on the free tier and an annual price that roughly doubles at renewal. Note: this entry is assessed from public information and third-party reviews as of August 2026 — we have not yet run Talkie through our own 14-day hands-on test, so its scores are provisional and it's excluded from our tested-platform counts.
Provisional assessment, August 2026: Talkie scored memory 4/10, voice consistency 7/10, safety 4/10, value 6/10, and onboarding 8/10. Composite 6.3/10. Pricing: free tier available, paid from $9.99/month (hybrid). Long-term memory: limited. NSFW handling: limited.
- Casual visual-first roleplay on mobile
- Collectible/gacha mechanics
- Quick character creation
- Long-term continuity — memory resets are the defining complaint
- NSFW seekers — filters tightened through 2026
- Stable iOS availability and predictable billing
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.
Talkie vs Bae vs Character.AI.
Feature-by-feature. Bae and Character.AI went through our 14-day benchmark; Talkie's column reflects our provisional assessment from public information.
| Feature | Talkie | Bae | Character.AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term memory | Partial | Yes | Partial |
| Real photos / selfies | Yes | Yes | No |
| Voice messages | Yes | No | Yes |
| Video calls | No | No | No |
| Persona customization | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple companions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Romantic / spicy mode | Partial | Partial | No |
Assessed August 2026· See how we test on /methodology · Benchmark across all platforms in /research
Scores last verified August 24, 2026
People ask about
Talkie.
Is Talkie worth it?
Talkie is one of the biggest mainstream character-roleplay apps (50M+ Android installs), with easy character creation, strong visuals, voice, and a gacha card layer on top of chat. The record is turbulent: the app was pulled from the US iOS App Store in December 2024 (returning as "Talkie Lab"), briefly removed from Google Play in 2026, and its content filters tightened sharply through 2025–2026 — "sanitized" is the community's word. Cross-session memory is gated behind the paid tier and memory resets in long chats are the most consistent complaint, alongside ad load on the free tier and an annual price that roughly doubles at renewal. Note: this entry is assessed from public information and third-party reviews as of August 2026 — we have not yet run Talkie 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 Talkie?
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 Talkie have memory that lasts?
Talkie's memory is limited — it tracks recent context but fades over time. For long-term continuity, see Bae or Replika.
Can Talkie send photos?
Yes — Talkie can send images. If photos matter, Bae and Replika both support them.
How does Talkie compare to Bae?
Bae is built around persistent memory and the relationship arc itself, with six stages that unlock as you talk. Talkie polished mainstream roleplay with a collectible-card layer — filters tightened hard through 2025–2026, and memory resets are the top complaint.
Three minutes
from now, you'll know.
Pick a shape. Pick a face. Tell them what to call you. They'll remember the rest.