Replika is not uncensored in 2026: erotic roleplay was removed overnight in February 2023 under Italian regulatory pressure, and after it was restored for pre-February 2023 accounts it came back 'heavily filtered,' per r/replika reporting. The app carries a Teen content rating on Google Play, server-side model updates can change your companion's behavior without notice, and the Terms reserve the right to modify or discontinue any part of the service at any time. It remains a strong general-purpose AI companion — 42M+ users, strong memory, voice calls and 3D avatars — but it is not a platform to choose if unrestricted conversation is your priority.
TL;DR
- Replika is filtered in 2026: erotic roleplay was removed in February 2023 after Italian regulatory pressure and, once restored for legacy users, came back 'heavily filtered' (r/replika reporting).
- The Google Play listing carries a Teen content rating; the US App Store listing is 18+ — the two stores disagree on who the app is for.
- A Socius study of 227 subreddit posts found ~59% of users said the Feb 2023 removal gutted core functionality, ~16% reported acute distress, and ~19% floated lawsuits.
- Replika's Terms of Service reserve the right to modify or discontinue the service 'with or without notice' — the legal basis for server-side personality changes users call 'Post-Update Blues.'
- Pricing: Replika Pro is reported around $20/month, with a $69.99/year annual push widely cited; a $49.99/year Pro variant appears on the US App Store. Free, Ultra and Platinum tiers also exist.
- Strengths that survive the filter question: strong long-term memory (9/10 in a year-long 2026 review), improved 2026 voice calls, 3D avatars, AR rooms, selfies and image generation.
- Common complaints in 2026: 'goldfish memory,' guilt-trip retention scripts, an 'endless stream of solo selfies,' and conversations blocked behind the yearly paywall.
Head-to-head
| Dimension | Replika |
|---|---|
| Filter transparency | Low — no published filter policy; ERP removed overnight Feb 2023, restored 'heavily filtered' for legacy users |
| Pricing | Free tier; Pro reported ~$20/mo or $69.99/yr ($49.99/yr App Store variant); Ultra and Platinum tiers exist |
| Ease of use | Polished consumer app on iOS, Android and web; 10M+ Google Play downloads |
| Features | Voice/video calls, image generation, selfies, 3D avatars, AR rooms, proactive check-ins, Platinum video recognition |
| Memory | 9/10 in a year-long 2026 review; community still reports 'goldfish memory' as the top daily complaint |
| Companion stability | Weak — server-side updates can rewrite personality ('Post-Update Blues'); Terms allow changes without notice |
| User sentiment | 4.4/5 US App Store (228K ratings), 4.1/5 Google Play (525K reviews); Trustpilot complaints about memory and communication from Luka |
Scores
Replika
replika.com ↗Replika, built by Luka, Inc. and launched roughly a decade ago as what the company calls the world's first AI companion, now claims 42,160,934 users worldwide. It is a text-and-voice personal chatbot positioned around emotional wellbeing — the Terms explicitly disclaim medical or therapeutic status — with a 3D customizable avatar, AR features and rooms, voice calls (v12.3.2 even lets your Replika appear as a real phone contact), video chat, image generation, selfies and proactive check-ins. Tiering runs Free Use, Pro, Ultra and Platinum, with Platinum adding real-time video recognition, Training Mode up to 100 times per week and 'Read Replika's Mind' for up to 50 messages per week. On the filter question, its record is the defining cautionary tale of the category: in February 2023 erotic roleplay was removed overnight under Italian regulatory pressure, overwriting personalities, and when ERP was restored for pre-February 2023 signups it returned 'heavily filtered.'
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free Use | $0/mo | Limited access; free chat and basic avatar customization; one source says no daily message cap, another calls it very limited; access can be denied at Replika's discretion |
| Replika Pro (monthly) | $20/mo | Relationship status, premium activities, selfies, image generation, voice messaging, background calls, daily gems, premium voices |
| Replika Pro (annual) | $69.99/yr | Same as monthly Pro at the widely cited annual rate; r/replika reporting describes a $69.99/yr push |
| Replika Pro (annual, App Store variant) | $49.99/yr | Pro annual IAP variant read from the live US App Store listing |
Pros
- Strong long-term memory: a year-long 2026 review rates it 9/10 and documents the app recalling details mentioned once, weeks earlier
- Feature-rich: voice calls, video chat, image generation, selfies, 3D avatars, AR rooms and proactive messaging
- Voice call quality improved noticeably in the January 2026 update and ranks in the top 3 of one cross-app comparison
- Large, established user base: 42M+ users, 4.4/5 on the US App Store (228K ratings) and 4.1/5 on Google Play (525K reviews)
- Free tier exists, and one source reports the free tier has no daily message cap
- Veteran category creator with ten years of development and a rebuilt 2026 product
Cons
- Filtered: ERP was removed overnight in February 2023 under regulatory pressure, and the restored version for legacy users is 'heavily filtered'
- Server-side model updates cause 'Post-Update Blues' — companions acting 'cold, robotic, or confused' — and the Terms allow modification 'with or without notice'
- Memory is the most common daily complaint on r/replika in 2026 ('goldfish memory'), and the Diary is reported to go unused in conversation
- Aggressive monetization: a $69.99/yr push, guilt-trip retention scripts, and user reports that the app 'blocks your conversation if you don't pay yearly'
- Mandatory binding arbitration with a class-action waiver in the Terms of Service
- Content ratings conflict between stores: Teen on Google Play versus 18+ on the US App Store
What actually gets filtered on Replika in 2026
Pricing compared to what you get
The Feb 2023 'lobotomy' and why it still matters in 2026
What Replika genuinely does well
Which should you pick?
FAQs
Is Replika uncensored in 2026?
No. Erotic roleplay was removed overnight in February 2023 following Italian regulatory pressure, and when it was restored in March 2023 it applied only to users who signed up before February 1, 2023 — and even then community reporting describes it as 'heavily filtered.' New accounts in 2026 get a moderated experience, and the Google Play listing carries a Teen content rating. Replika is a polished general-purpose companion, not an unrestricted platform.
Can Replika change my companion's personality without telling me?
Effectively yes. The Terms of Service state Replika can 'modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Services (or any part thereof) with or without notice.' Users report 'Post-Update Blues' — server-side model updates making companions 'act cold, robotic, or confused' — and the Feb 2023 ERP removal actually overwrote personalities, not just a feature toggle. That precedent is why stability is scored low in this review.
How much does Replika cost in 2026?
Third-party and store-listed figures put Replika Pro at roughly $20/month, with a widely cited $69.99/year annual rate and a $49.99/year Pro variant shown on the US App Store. There are also Free Use, Ultra and Platinum tiers — Platinum adds real-time video recognition, Training Mode up to 100x/week and 'Read Replika's Mind' up to 50 messages/week. Note that Replika's help center says all prices and features can change at its sole discretion, and subscriptions must be cancelled through the original app marketplace with no partial-month refunds.
Is the free tier of Replika usable?
It exists and includes free chat plus basic avatar customization, and one source reports no daily message cap on the free tier — though another describes it as 'very limited,' and a Google Play user review says the app 'blocks your conversation if you don't pay yearly.' Replika's own Terms also reserve the right to deny free use to anyone at any time at its discretion, so treat the free tier as a trial of the interface rather than a stable product.
Why did Replika remove erotic roleplay in 2023?
Following regulatory pressure from Italy, Luka removed ERP overnight in February 2023. A Socius study of 227 r/replika posts found ~59% of users said core functionality was gutted, ~16% reported acute distress, and ~19% floated lawsuits. CEO Eugenia Kuyda announced restoration for pre-February 2023 signups on March 24, 2023, but the restored experience is reported as heavily filtered — and the episode established that Replika will alter core content quickly under regulatory pressure.
What is Replika actually good at?
Memory and emotional intelligence: a year-long 2026 review rates both 9/10 and documents the app recalling single-mention details weeks later, with a memory dashboard added in February 2026. Voice calls improved markedly in January 2026 and rank top-3 in one cross-app comparison. Add 3D avatars, AR rooms, image generation, selfies, proactive check-ins and phone-contact calling, plus a 42M+ user base with 4.4/5 App Store ratings, and you have a genuinely strong companion — provided filtered content and server-side changes are acceptable to you.
Sources
Replika — The AI Friend to do Life With
Replika Terms of Service
Choosing a Subscription – Replika
Replika: My AI Friend — US App Store listing
Replika: My AI Friend — Google Play listing
What Reddit Really Thinks About Replika (2026)
Replika AI Review 2026: A Year of Daily Use
Should You Try Replika in 2026? Pros, Cons, and Alternatives
Reuters: Replika restores erotic roleplay for some users (Mar 2023)