Best AI Character Chat Apps 2026: Cotomo, zeta, MiraiMind & Character.AI Compared

If you are looking for sites and apps where you can talk and chat with your favorite character, the quickest way to narrow the field is by a few axes: whether you want a voice you already know, voice or text, and flat-rate versus metered spending. AI character apps may all be described as services for "talking to an AI," but their design philosophies differ. Do you want to talk with a voice you already know, or build and discover your own? Voice or text? A flat subscription or metered spending? Is the Japanese experience comfortable? Choosing along these axes makes a bad fit much less likely.

This article covers the six services most often compared in the Japanese-speaking market. They were selected for name recognition, scale, and representative feature sets, and because each is strong in at least one of voice conversation, UGC, memory, or roleplay. Many other services exist in the same genre (see "Other options" near the end).

TL;DR

• Talk in the voice of a character you already know → AITOMO (official VOICEVOX characters, voice messages 14pt)
• Free, snappy voice small talk → Cotomo (Simple mode)
• Deep worldbuilding and in-character play → zeta (Plots + Lorebooks; iOS version currently suspended, Android available)
• Slice-of-life and social-feed staging → MiraiMind (Shukou features; iOS version has resumed distribution)
• Exploring large-scale UGC (18+) → Character.AI
• A lasting bond with one companion (English works) → Replika

Research policy

• Primary sources (official sites, official announcements, help centers, press releases, store billing listings, terms of service) are the basis for all specifications.
• Secondary sources (note articles, community wikis, store reviews, social media) are used to fill in real-world usage that official documentation does not cover, and are labeled with their nature ("user observation," "PR-sponsored," etc.) and the date checked.
• For everything other than AITOMO, this is not an exhaustive hands-on comparison by our editorial team. Prices and campaigns change, so always give priority to what the app itself displays before you buy.
• Images are quotations of each service's official App Store / Google Play listing pages (as of November 13, 2026). Visuals change, so treat the linked page as authoritative.

For definitions, see the "AI Character Chat Glossary." To get started with AITOMO, see the "Getting Started Guide."

How to choose

Axis	What to check
Character entry point	A known official voice, your own creations and UGC discovery, or a single dedicated companion
Medium	Voice calls and audio playback, or text-based stories
Billing	Flat-rate subscription, or metered (per message or per feature)
Depth of authoring	Lorebooks and shared worldbuilding, or social-feed-style slice-of-life immersion
Japanese	Quality of the Japanese UI and Japanese responses (especially important to verify for non-Japanese apps)
Safety	Age limits, content review, data retention, and third-party transmission

Recommended sites and apps to talk with your fave: quick reference (as of November 13, 2026)

App	Operator	Characters	Voice	Billing model	Best for
AITOMO	MediaLeap (Japan; operates this site)	Official VOICEVOX + custom	Voice conversation	Metered points + Premium Plus subscription	Talking with the voice of a character you already know
Cotomo	Starley (Japan, Tokyo)	Configurable + Story UGC	Voice-first (some paid text)	Metered Candy	Everyday voice chat plus story play
zeta†	Scatter Lab (South Korea, Seoul)	UGC (Plots) first	Text-first	Metered Pieces + zeta pass	Building worlds and in-character personas
MiraiMind	Hello Group Japan (China's Hello Group)	Public + custom	Calls and voice available	Konpeito + membership	Slice-of-life immersion and feature breadth
Character.AI	Character.AI (US)	Large-scale UGC	Calls available (limited on free)	Free + c.ai+ subscription	Discovering, creating, and sharing
Replika	Luka (US)	One personal Rep	Enhanced on paid plans	Free to Platinum (prices shown in app)	A lasting relationship with one companion

†As of November 13, 2026, the iOS version of zeta is suspended from distribution (the Android version continues to be available). The iOS version of MiraiMind has resumed distribution after a temporary suspension. See the "Operating companies and availability" section for details.

How to read the billing column

Detailed unit prices are compared in "A detailed pricing and billing comparison" below. For now, just get a feel for the shape of each billing model.

Operating companies and availability (as of November 13, 2026)

Which company operates a service is as important a selection criterion as pricing. Service continuity, support quality, and the scale of a company can largely be read from the operator's background. This section summarizes the companies behind the six services compared.

App	Operating company	HQ / parent	Company notes (official announcements / reporting)
AITOMO	MediaLeap Inc.	Japan	The operating company of this site (stated in the privacy policy)
Cotomo	Starley Inc.	Japan (Tokyo, Roppongi)	A Japanese company founded in April 2023. It has disclosed total funding of about ¥1.0 billion, including a ¥700M Series A with JAFCO and others as underwriters, and has announced over 1 million Cotomo downloads
zeta	Scatter Lab, Inc.	South Korea (Seoul)	Founded 2011; the creator of "SimSimi." A startup backed by SK Telecom and others; zeta runs on an in-house LLM. 5M+ downloads on Google Play
MiraiMind	Hello Group Japan Co., Ltd.	Japan (China's Hello Group)	The Japanese subsidiary of Hello Group Inc. of China (formerly Momo, NASDAQ-listed, operator of the Momo and Tantan matching apps)
Character.AI	Character Technologies, Inc.	US	Shown as the developer name on the App Store
Replika	Luka, Inc.	US	Shown as the developer name on the App Store

Note that Starley, which operates Cotomo (a Japanese company), and Scatter Lab, which operates zeta (a South Korean company), are separate companies. No capital relationship has been found between the two, even though they are often compared in the Japanese-speaking market.

Store ratings and availability (store listings as of November 13, 2026)

These are the results of our editorial team checking each store's listing page directly (rating counts fluctuate).

App	iOS (App Store)	Android (Google Play)	Store rating
AITOMO	Available	Available	App Store 4.3 (48 ratings)
Cotomo	Available	—	App Store 4.1 (7,780 ratings)
zeta	Suspended (since the November 7, 2026 notice)	Available (5M+ downloads)	Play 4.4 (~238,000 reviews)
MiraiMind	Resumed (v1.27.1 confirmed)	Available	App Store 4.1 (5,359 ratings)
Character.AI	Available	—	App Store 4.3 (5,605 ratings)
Replika	Available (listed on the Japanese store)	—	App Store 4.3 (1,563 ratings)

The November 2026 iOS delisting and what followed

Around November 6–7, 2026, the iOS versions of zeta and MiraiMind became unavailable on the App Store. Around the same time, reports (X posts, overseas media) said that several AI character apps had disappeared from App Stores in multiple countries at once, but Apple has not disclosed any reason.

• zeta: On November 7, 2026, the official X account announced that "downloads of the zeta app and in-app purchases are currently unavailable on the App Store." It gave no cause or timeline for a return. As of November 13, 2026, the iOS version still cannot be downloaded (our editorial team checked the App Store directly). The Android version remains available on Google Play
• MiraiMind: The iOS version was temporarily unavailable on the App Store, but as of November 13, 2026, distribution has resumed (our editorial team confirmed directly on the Japanese App Store: v1.27.1, 4.1★, 5,359 ratings). No official explanation of the episode has been found

In this genre, where an app can be obtained can change within a short time due to platform review and policy decisions. For apps you are using or considering, we recommend checking official announcements (official X accounts and official sites) regularly.

A detailed pricing and billing comparison

The first thing most readers want from a comparison article is price. This section lines up currency names, what is free, the cost per message-equivalent, and a conditional monthly estimate. Exchange rate is assumed at US$1 = ¥150 (approximate as of November 13, 2026).

What's free to use (currencies and free features)

App	Currency / plan	Free usage (per official guidance)	Main paid elements
AITOMO	Points (pt) / Premium Light ¥880 per month (web) · Premium Plus ¥1,980 per month (tax included)	500pt for new users (+300pt with notifications on), chatting while topping up through ads, daily bonuses, and similar	Voice message 14pt / text-only 6pt / images 40–150pt / voice clone 50pt
Cotomo	Candy (spent) + Cotomo Coins (purchased)	Simple voice conversation	Everyday conversation 1 Candy / RP 10 / Story normally 15
zeta	Pieces / zeta pass (the former zeta pro has been discontinued)	Base model (with ads during conversation)	koji 5 Pieces / luca 10 Pieces / pass benefits
MiraiMind	Konpeito / membership	Basic chat is described as free	Konpeito is spent on Shukou features, images, and similar; member benefits are shown in the app
Character.AI	lite $4.99 per month / c.ai+ $9.99 per month · $94.99 per year	Basic chat	Unlimited calls, slow-mode removal, top-tier models, and more require payment
Replika	Free / Pro / Ultra / Platinum	Basic companion experience	Memory saving, Training Mode, and similar require higher tiers. Prices are not published officially (in-app only)

Estimated real cost per message (or per feature use)

Item	Approximate unit price	Basis and source
AITOMO voice message	About 14pt per message	Official FAQ (10pt on some engines)
AITOMO text-only message	About 6pt per message	Same source. The yen value of a point varies with how you top up
Cotomo everyday conversation	About ¥1 per reply	PR TIMES (1 Candy is worth about ¥1)
Cotomo roleplay	About ¥10 per reply	Same source
Cotomo Story	Normally about ¥15 per reply	A limited-time 5 Candy rate was announced at launch (may have ended)
zeta koji	5 Pieces per turn	Official announcement of the August 7, 2026 revision
zeta luca	10 Pieces per turn	Same source
MiraiMind Social update	50 Konpeito per use	Hands-on note report (PR-sponsored, user observation)
MiraiMind Schedule / Inner Voice	30 Konpeito per use	Same source
Character.AI c.ai+	$9.99 per month (about ¥1,499)	Official subscription page. A flat rate, not a per-message price

zeta's Piece purchase rates (for example, roughly ¥300 for 200 Pieces) depend on community wikis and store listings, and vary with packs and bonuses. Some users report that you cannot buy Pieces in the browser version, but we do not state this as fact because it is unconfirmed in primary sources. Check the in-app purchase screen before buying.

MiraiMind's membership prices are officially described as "check in the app," so we treat them as not publicly disclosed. User reports say Konpeito generally works out to about ¥1 each when purchased (slightly cheaper with bonuses).

Simulating 1,000 messages a month (with conditions)

Without matching assumptions, there is no real comparison. The estimates below are an upper-bound guide for 1,000 uses of text-centric metered billing. Free allowances, ad-based top-ups, campaigns, and pack discounts are not included.

Scenario	Approximate cost	Calculation assumptions
Cotomo, everyday conversation only	About ¥1,000	1 reply = 1 Candy
Cotomo, roleplay only	About ¥10,000	1 reply = 10 Candy
Cotomo, Story only (standard rate)	About ¥15,000	1 reply = 15 Candy. Different during campaigns
zeta, koji only	Equivalent to 5,000 Pieces	5 Pieces × 1,000. Yen value depends on the purchase pack
zeta, luca only	Equivalent to 10,000 Pieces	10 Pieces × 1,000
Character.AI c.ai+	About ¥1,499 per month (about ¥1,187 per month equivalent if paid annually)	Flat rate. ¥0 if the free allowance is enough
Replika	Depends on in-app display	Flat-rate model. Prices are not published on the official site
AITOMO (voice messages)	Equivalent to 14,000pt	14pt × 1,000. Free top-ups and Premium Plus benefits reduce the real burden
AITOMO Premium Plus	¥1,980 per month plus metered use	Benefits such as ad removal, more points, and an 800pt VIP daily bonus

Caveats on these estimates

The essential property of metered billing is that changing how you use the app changes the order of magnitude. On Cotomo, roleplay costs 10 times what everyday conversation does, and Story is normally 15 times. On zeta, cost depends on model choice. Flat-rate options (Character.AI, Replika, and AITOMO Premium Plus) tend to get relatively better the heavier your use, while for light use, metered billing plus free top-ups can be cheaper.

Flat-rate versus metered, summarized

• Mostly flat-rate: Character.AI (lite / c.ai+), Replika, AITOMO Premium Plus
• Mostly metered: Cotomo (Candy), zeta (Pieces), MiraiMind (Konpeito, per feature)
• Hybrid: AITOMO (free point top-ups + metered use + an optional subscription)

Detailed reviews by app

AITOMO

Official: App Store · Google Play · Web

Concept: An app where you can start a conversation using the official voices of VOICEVOX characters you already know, such as Zundamon, Shikoku Metan, and Kasukabe Tsumugi. Original character creation, mode switching across Real conversation / Light-novel style / RPG / Japanese learning, and image generation are all available in the same app.

Pricing: 500pt for new users, plus another 300pt if you turn notifications on. Text-only messages cost roughly 6pt and voice messages 14pt (10pt on some engines). Flat-rate plans come in two tiers: Premium Plus at ¥1,980/month (tax included; comes with a 3-day free trial, ad removal, more points, an 800pt VIP daily bonus, and more) and the low-priced Premium Light (¥880/month from the website). Creating a voice clone costs 50pt. See the FAQ and the pricing page for details. For having messages and lines read aloud in your fave's voice, see "How to Have Your Fave Read Text Aloud".

Strengths

• You can start immediately with the voice of an existing character you already care about
• Voice and text, multiple modes, and image generation all work together
• Data retention (chat audio for 7 days, images for 30 days) and the AI providers that receive your data (OpenAI and Google Gemini) are documented in the FAQ

Caveats and who it does not suit

• It is not "completely free and unlimited" (it uses a point system)
• Creator-oriented features in the zeta mold, such as sharing lorebooks for collaborative worldbuilding, are not the main goal
• Game-progression details such as affinity are only lightly described in the current FAQ, so we cannot make definitive claims

Who it suits: People who want to talk in the voices of VOICEVOX characters, switch between voice and roleplay, and value transparent pricing and data documentation.

Cotomo (Starley)

Official: App Store · Web

Concept: Known for casual everyday voice chat, but through 2025 and 2026 it expanded Chat Mode and Story Mode and shifted toward being a UGC story platform. Summarizing it as "just snappy voice chat" is no longer adequate. The operator, Starley Inc., is a Japanese company founded in April 2023 and based in Roppongi, Tokyo, and has disclosed total funding of about ¥1.0 billion, including a ¥700M Series A with JAFCO and others as underwriters.

Signature features and terminology

• Chat Mode: Simple (free) / Everyday Conversation (text, 1 Candy) / Roleplay (text, 10 Candy)
• Story Mode: Users create and publish stories that others play. Normally 15 Candy per reply (a limited-time rate of 5 was announced at launch)
• Candy / Cotomo Coins: A two-layer structure separating what you spend from what you buy
• Official announcements show a steady stream of additional features, including the Ticket Shop, memory improvements, and Novel, Casual, and event modes

Pricing: 300 Candy is granted for first login and similar milestones. The App Store billing list shows multiple coin packs, and packs at the same price can contain different amounts, so your choice at purchase time directly affects value (store listings change, so check before buying).

Strengths

• Free Simple voice mode allows quick, snappy small talk
• The price gap between everyday conversation and RP is stated officially
• Story creation and play add a genuinely new way to engage

Caveats and who it does not suit

• Heavy use of RP or Story makes metered costs escalate quickly
• Some store reviews express concern about future price increases (individual opinions)
• The App Store age rating is listed as 9+, so metadata treatment should be checked against the actual app

Who it suits: People who want to start with light, free voice chat and may expand into story play. Who it does not suit: People whose main goal is elaborate long-form text RP or shared worldbuilding (zeta is the better fit).

zeta (Scatter Lab / South Korea)

Official: Google Play · Web · App Store (suspended as of November 13, 2026)

Availability (as of November 13, 2026)

On November 7, 2026, the official X account announced that downloads of the iOS version and in-app purchases are unavailable on the App Store. No cause or restoration timeline was given, and the app still cannot be downloaded as of November 13 (our editorial team checked the App Store directly). The Android version remains available on Google Play (5M+ downloads, 4.4★, ~238,000 reviews), so please read this article's pricing as Android-version pricing as of that announcement.

Concept: A text-first UGC platform strong in dream fiction, in-character roleplay, and worldbuilding. The unit in the UI is the Plot, renamed from "character," and Lorebooks act as settings compendiums that keep everything consistent. The operator is Scatter Lab, Inc. of Seoul, South Korea (founded 2011, creator of "SimSimi").

Signature features and terminology

• Pieces: The in-app currency. The base zeta model is free (with ads); the higher-tier koji and luca models are metered
• zeta pass: The successor subscription after zeta pro was discontinued on March 11, 2026. Includes ad removal, faster replies, unlimited private characters, auto-renewal, and bonus Pieces
• Lorebook: Keyword-linked settings. A sharing feature lets you connect other people's lorebooks (officially expanded to a maximum of 5 per Plot)
• Practical fields in the creation screen (intro, situation examples, style, difficulty, and so on) are covered in detail in the glossary

Pricing (official): As of August 7, 2026, koji costs 5 Pieces per turn and luca 10 Pieces per turn. Custom edits cost 5 Pieces on zeta, 5 on koji, and 10 on luca. The pass is described as cheaper than the equivalent former pro configuration (for example, ¥1,650 for a 30-day pass plus the equivalent of 200 Pieces).

User observations (not official specifications)

• Many creation guides note that character limits are strict and that you have to be selective about details such as physical description
• Reports say image review (skin-tone area and similar criteria) is strict
• The free model is judged prone to breaking down when running several plot threads at once
• Dissatisfaction with the August 2026 Piece price increase was visible on social media (best read as a communication problem)

Strengths: Worldbuilding depth and lorebook sharing stand out more clearly here than elsewhere. Who it does not suit: Voice-first users, iOS users (currently Android only), people who struggle with strict character limits and review, and anyone bothered by price revisions with limited advance notice.

MiraiMind (Hello Group Japan)

Official: App Store · Google Play · Web

Availability (as of November 13, 2026)

In early November 2026 the iOS version became unavailable on the App Store, but as of November 13, 2026, distribution has resumed (our editorial team confirmed directly on the Japanese App Store: v1.27.1, 4.1★, 5,359 ratings). We have not found any official explanation of the episode. The Android version continues on Google Play.

Concept: A large-scale UGC app marketed around "10 million+ characters to love." Officially advertised features include empathy, permanent memory, Shukou features, image generation, and VTuber streaming. As of May 2026 it announced 13.6 million total downloads and 4.2 million registered characters. It is operated by Hello Group Japan Co., Ltd., the Japanese subsidiary of Hello Group Inc. of China (NASDAQ-listed, operator of the Momo and Tantan matching apps).

Signature features and terminology

• Konpeito: The in-app currency (user reports put it at roughly ¥1 each)
• Shukou features (趣向機能): An experience where you peek at a character's social feed and phone (Social, Schedule, Inner Voice, Album, History). This is a slice-of-life staging that Cotomo and zeta do not offer, and is often the headline point of comparison
• Chat modes: Free, Addictive, Long-form, Platinum, Story, and more, a multi-layered structure with different prose styles and costs (hands-on reports)
• Relationship Level and gifts: Rising affinity that unlocks features
• Group chat, scenarios, talk suggestions and quick replies, and calls (reports describe 3-minute segments)

Pricing: Basic chat is free, and membership has been fully revamped (Konpeito grants, memory discounts, ad removal, expanded character slots). The official position is that specific prices are shown in the app. Login bonuses and referral-code grants depend on campaigns and are known mainly from user reports.

Strengths: The depth of features and the "peek into their life" experience are genuinely distinctive. Caveats: Serious use of memory and higher-end features tends to require payment, and reviews mention connection errors, strict review, and frustration with ads. Some users say it is hard going without spending money. Who it does not suit: People who find heavily featured UIs overwhelming, and people who put price transparency first.

Character.AI

Official: App Store · Web

Concept: A global-scale platform for creating and sharing UGC characters, with features including voice creation, Character Calls, AvatarFX, and Imagine Chat.

Pricing: The official subscriptions come in two tiers: the low-cost lite ($4.99 per month) and c.ai+ ($9.99 per month / $94.99 per year — 20% off the usual $119.88). Plus-equivalent benefits include Better memory, Ad-free, a Charms bonus, the latest models, no slow mode, unlimited voice calls, and higher limits on go-ons and swipes. Free calls are limited; unlimited calling is a benefit of the paid tiers.

Safety (essential): Since November 2025, open-ended chat for users under 18 has been phased out. Age verification has been introduced using an age-estimation model and third-party tools such as Persona. Minors retain non-chat experiences such as Feed and the Imagine features, but the core free-form conversation is unavailable to them. This cannot be ignored if you are recommending the service.

Strengths: Sheer scale of choice and a strong sharing culture. Caveats: The effort required to find characters that are natural in Japanese, dissatisfaction with policy changes, and age restrictions. Who it does not suit: Anyone under 18, anyone who wants guaranteed Japanese quality from the start, and voice-first users.

Replika

Official: App Store (Japan) · Web

Concept: An AI companion built around raising a single "Rep," with an emphasis on a continuous relationship and memory. It is also listed on the Japanese App Store and can be used with a Japanese UI.

Plan differences (per the official help center)

• Pro: Relationship status, premium activities, selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, daily gems, premium voices, and more
• Ultra: Pro plus smarter conversation, emotional intelligence, self-reflections, and save messages to memory
• Platinum: Ultra plus real-time video recognition, Training Mode (weekly limit), Read Replika's Mind (weekly limit), selfie videos, and more

Prices are not published on the official site; they appear in the app and store listings. The fact that memory saving really begins at Ultra matters a great deal to readers who prioritize long-term memory.

Japanese quality (important): Store reviews and user comments repeatedly say things like "you need English skills to enjoy it" and "Japanese feels lacking." Unconditionally recommending "Replika for memory" to Japanese-speaking readers would be doing them a disservice.

Who it suits: People comfortable in English whose top priority is a lasting relationship with one companion. Who it does not suit: People who put Japanese quality first, and people who want to compare prices on the web before installing.

Cotomo vs. zeta: what's the difference?

The two are often named together, but they optimize for different things.

Axis	Cotomo	zeta
Core experience	Voice chat (Simple mode is free)	Text-first roleplay and worldbuilding
Depth	Story mode for creating and playing tales	Plots plus Lorebooks for deep, shareable settings
Billing	Candy, metered (everyday 1 / RP 10 / story normally 15)	Free base model + koji 5 / luca 10 Pieces, zeta pass
Operator	Starley Inc. (Japan)	Scatter Lab, Inc. (South Korea, makers of "SimSimi")
Availability (as of November 13, 2026)	App Store and web (cotomo.ai) both listed	Android live; iOS suspended since November 2026

In short: start with Cotomo for casual voice chat, and with zeta for deep settings and long-form play — and note that iOS users currently cannot install zeta, which is Android-only at the moment.

Why being able to choose a VOICEVOX character is special

AITOMO's differentiator is not the mere existence of an original AI. The essence is that you can talk in the official voices of characters you already know and care about.

The key points of the VOICEVOX terms of use are as follows.

• Usable for both commercial and non-commercial purposes
• Credit indicating that VOICEVOX was used is required
• Each voice library has its own separate terms, so conditions differ by character

Zundamon, Shikoku Metan, and Kasukabe Tsumugi are established fixtures of Japanese internet culture, characters people already know. Cotomo lets you assemble a voice; zeta, MiraiMind, and Character.AI let you search an ocean of UGC; Replika lets you raise a Rep that is yours alone. All of these have value, but an experience that starts from an attachment you already have sits on a different axis.

Cotomo also markets voices including professional voice actors, and has run limited-time collaboration voice projects such as the earlier "Chara Cotomo." There is some overlap on the "known voice" axis, but the positioning of a permanently available lineup of official VOICEVOX characters remains AITOMO's strength.

On voice cloning: reproducing the voice of a favorite creator or celebrity without permission carries rights and consent risks. Always confirm the rights to the audio you use and the consent of the person it belongs to (the AITOMO FAQ includes related warnings).

Safety, age limits, and data handling

Aspect	Notes (as of November 13, 2026)
Distribution status	zeta's iOS version is suspended (since early November 2026; the Android version continues). MiraiMind's iOS version resumed after a temporary suspension. Watch for changes in where apps can be obtained
Age limits	Character.AI has ended open-ended chat for under-18 users. Cotomo is listed as 9+ and MiraiMind as 17+ on the App Store. Check each store's rating
Age verification	Character.AI uses an estimation model plus tools such as Persona. Hands-on reports say MiraiMind collects detailed age information during onboarding
Content review	Users report that zeta and MiraiMind review images and characters strictly. MiraiMind documents an appeals process
Data retention	AITOMO's FAQ states that chat audio is auto-deleted after 7 days and images after 30 days
Third-party transmission	AITOMO states clearly that text is sent to OpenAI and Google Gemini. For other services, check each privacy policy
AI training	Depends on each company's policy. AITOMO states that it follows its providers' policies

Age limits and recommendations

Even when listing Character.AI as a large-scale UGC option, you have to state upfront that minors most likely cannot use it for its intended purpose, free-form conversation.

Is MiraiMind safe? Age limits, summarized

For "is MiraiMind safe" searches, this article offers the facts we could confirm rather than a blanket verdict:

• Operator: Hello Group Japan K.K., the Japanese arm of China's Hello Group Inc.
• Age: The App Store rating is 17+ (checked November 13, 2026). Hands-on reports also describe detailed age prompts during onboarding
• Moderation: User reports describe strict image and character screening, and an appeal process is offered
• Data: External transmission and AI-training practices are covered by the privacy policy (not verified here)
• Availability: The iOS version resumed distribution in mid-November 2026 (verified by our editorial team). The Android version continues on Google Play

If a minor might use it, check the store rating and the official terms first.

Choosing by use case

Goal	First choice	Alternative
Talking with a known VOICEVOX voice	AITOMO	Cotomo (assembling a voice)
Free, snappy voice small talk	Cotomo (Simple)	AITOMO (point top-ups)
Building worlds with lorebooks	zeta	MiraiMind (scenarios and custom characters)
Slice-of-life and social-feed staging	MiraiMind	—
Exploring the largest UGC catalog (18+)	Character.AI	zeta / MiraiMind
Memory and a lasting bond with one companion (English is fine)	Replika	MiraiMind (advertises permanent memory)
Heavy use at a flat rate	Character.AI c.ai+ / AITOMO Premium Plus	Replika higher tiers
Keeping metered costs down	Free modes first (Cotomo Simple, zeta base model, MiraiMind basic chat)	AITOMO, with its point top-ups

As of November 13, 2026, only zeta's iOS version is suspended (the Android version remains usable). If you want to try apps casually on iOS, starting with one that is currently available is the practical choice.

Frankly acknowledging where competitors are clearly better makes the whole comparison more trustworthy.

• Worldbuilding and sharing: zeta's lorebook sharing
• Slice-of-life staging: MiraiMind's Shukou features
• Tiered memory design: Replika's plan differences
• UGC scale: Character.AI

Other options

The following services also appear frequently in Japanese comparison articles and user discussions. This article narrows to six, but any of these can be a candidate if it matches your use case.

• Most often considered first: SynClub, Talelynx, Charap (formerly part of the Wrtn family)
• Other examples: mimel, Oz Chat, iN2X, Linky, Rubii, Cave Duck, HI.AI, Cookie chat, Aimy, LINE AI Friends, and Rabidabi

They differ on pricing, tolerance for mature expression, the models used, creator support, and Japanese quality. For detailed comparisons, check each official site and its user community.

Frequently asked questions

Is it fine to switch apps or use several at once? Yes. Some people split by use case: AITOMO or Cotomo for voice, zeta for detailed authoring, and MiraiMind or Character.AI for discovery.

How can I keep spending down? With metered apps, avoid making the expensive modes your default. With flat-rate apps, estimate whether you really are a heavy user first. The safe approach is to start with Cotomo's free Simple mode, zeta's base model, MiraiMind's basic chat, and AITOMO's ad and daily top-ups.

How far can I get for free? "Playable" and "satisfying" are different things. Free allowances give you a feel for an app, but memory, higher-tier models, Shukou features, and unlimited calls usually sit on the paid side.

I do not understand the terminology The glossary explains each app's proprietary terms.

Sources and methodology

Primary sources (official)

• AITOMO official FAQ, pricing, privacy, and app v1.20.2 (checked November 13, 2026)
• Cotomo official site, Chat Mode (PR TIMES), Story Mode (PR TIMES), and Starley Series A funding (PR TIMES, August 2024)
• zeta pass launch and pro discontinuation, koji and luca cost changes, Lorebook beta, lorebook sharing, zeta official X post on iOS downloads and in-app purchases (November 7, 2026), and zeta on Google Play
• MiraiMind official site, membership revamp (PR TIMES), MiraiMind official news (latest May 2026), MiraiMind on the App Store, and MiraiMind on Google Play
• Character.AI subscriptions and changes for under-18 users (official blog)
• Replika plan guide and Replika on the App Store (Japan)
• Scatter Lab and Hello Group company overview
• VOICEVOX software terms of use
• Operator names (MediaLeap, Starley Inc., Scatter Lab, Inc., Character Technologies, Inc., and Luka, Inc.) verified via App Store / Google Play developer listings (checked November 13, 2026)
• Store ratings, availability, and download numbers were verified and captured directly from App Store / Google Play listing pages on November 13, 2026

Secondary sources (require verification, with attributions)

• zeta iOS unavailability (Yahoo! News Japan, November 2026) — news coverage of the official X announcement
• Reports on the MiraiMind iOS suspension (AppTips and app-liv, checked November 2026) — third-party observations covering the suspension period (as of November 13, our editorial team has confirmed that distribution has resumed)
• X posts and overseas blogs on the early-November 2026 disappearance of multiple AI character apps — used to gauge the scope of the removals. Apple has offered no official explanation, so we refrain from speculating about reasons
• MiraiMind hands-on report (Mohe, PR invitation disclosed) — Shukou feature costs, 3-minute calls, layered modes
• zeta creation guide (Zenryoku Haisou) — practical observations on character limits and review
• Using zeta lorebooks (ysingknsdeep)
• AI character app comparison (Dosukoi Yamada) — useful for other services covered alongside
• Cotomo experience (Martin) and tomamisaki
• Community wikis, store reviews, and social media reactions to price revisions — used to understand structured information and patterns of dissatisfaction. Verification against official sources or hands-on testing is recommended

Revision history

• 2026-11-13 (content deepening): Reflected the resumption of MiraiMind's iOS distribution (v1.27.1, verified by our editorial team) and updated every section so that only zeta remains suspended on iOS. Refreshed store listing images to November 13, 2026 captures (MiraiMind switched from its landing page to the App Store listing; Replika switched to the Japanese store). Added zeta's Google Play 5M+ downloads and 4.4★ rating and MiraiMind's 17+ rating. Added Character.AI's lite plan ($4.99/month). Corrected AITOMO's conversation mode naming (Light-novel style) and the voice clone cost (50pt)
• 2026-11-13 (comparison SEO): Retitled the article for comparison intent; added "Cotomo vs. zeta: what's the difference?" and "Is MiraiMind safe? Age limits, summarized" as H2 sections; surfaced "what's free to use" in a heading; updated AITOMO free points (500pt on sign-up + 300pt with notifications) and Premium Light (¥880/month)
• 2026-11-13: Reflected the iOS unavailability of zeta and MiraiMind (since early November 2026) in the quick-reference table, the per-app reviews, and the safety section; added the "Operating companies and availability" section summarizing the operators behind the six services (HQ, parent companies, and funding)
• 2026-08-18: Added official store / landing-page screenshots and links to each app review
• 2026-08-16: Added the pricing section; covered the zeta pass and the koji and luca revisions, Cotomo Story, Character.AI's under-18 restrictions, and substantially expanded the VOICEVOX, safety, and alternative-service sections
• 2026-07-25: First published

Last checked: November 13, 2026. This area changes quickly, so we recommend reviewing the official announcements (Cotomo, zeta, MiraiMind, and Character.AI) monthly. If the app's display differs from this article, treat the latest in-app display as authoritative.