Character.AI filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 12 October 2026 to sell the company under court supervision. The app is still running and subscriptions still bill as normal, and the company expects the sale to finish by late November or early December 2026. The risk is what comes after: Character.AI says that if no buyer offers to keep the platform going, "the platform will be wound down". Its press release names a Disney affiliate as the opening bidder, but that $20 million bid is for a non-exclusive licence to some of the company's intellectual property, not a purchase of the app.
Nothing has to be done today, but two steps make sense now: export your data while the service is up, and try a second app before you need one. The apps below are character chat services that were available when we checked, chosen for where they run, who they are for and how they charge. The comparisons come from each company's official website, help pages and terms, and from Character.AI's own announcement and press release, not from hands-on testing.
Why people look for an alternative
- The service may close. Character.AI says the platform will be wound down if the sale does not produce a buyer that keeps it running, and it will not know which way it goes until the sale ends in late November or early December 2026.
- You pay for a subscription. Billing is "unchanged for now", and Character.AI says it intends to tell subscribers in advance if paid features change, but it has not said what happens to a yearly plan if the platform winds down.
- Your characters and chats live only on Character.AI. There is no import into other apps, so recreating a favourite character elsewhere takes time you may not have later.
- You are a teen. Most alternatives are adults-only; Character.AI's minimum age is 13, or 16 in the EEA and UK, so younger users have fewer places to go and should check each app's age rules first.
3 alternatives worth considering
Best for bringing characters with you
PolyBuzz
AI character chat and roleplay app with millions of community-made characters.
- Pricing
- Free to use, with optional paid memberships (Basic, Premium and Ultimate) and virtual currencies (Coins and Opals) sold separately. Memberships add stronger memory models, unlimited voice listening, no ads and faster replies. When Ordalin checked the membership page in October 2026 it showed the default tier at $16.99 per month or $164.99 per year; prices are localised by region and can differ at checkout.
- Available on
- A web app at polybuzz.ai that works in desktop and mobile browsers; there is no desktop client. · Mobile apps for Android and iOS. The FAQ still points to both stores, but the iOS listing was not available on the App Store as of 22 October 2026.
- Category
- Writing & Language
PolyBuzz is the closest in shape to Character.AI: a community character library, characters you create yourself, and voice. It also accepts character cards from other platforms, which none of the other picks documents, so if you saved or wrote your characters as cards you can bring them in instead of retyping them.
Its iPhone app left Apple's App Store in October 2026 and was still missing when we checked on 25 October, so use polybuzz.ai in a browser or the Android app. Free use shows ads and limits voice; the Basic membership was listed at $16.99 a month when we checked, and the terms are adults-only.
- Choose it if
- Adults on the web or Android who want a community character library and the option to load character cards made on other platforms.
- Look elsewhere if
- You use an iPhone app, are under 18, or want long memory without paying.
Best for teens 14 and over
Talkie
AI character chat app with community characters, collectible cards and creator revenue share.
- Pricing
- Free Use plus a Talkie+ subscription that gives full access, billed monthly through the App Store or Google Play. The site advertises Talkie+ at 50% off but did not list a price; it is shown in the app. In-app recharges are generally non-refundable.
- Available on
- Website at talkie-ai.com and mobile apps; the terms name iOS and Android. · Talkie Claw (beta) lets characters chat with you on Telegram and Discord.
- Category
- Writing & Language
Talkie, from SUBSUP and powered by MiniMax models, adds a game layer to character chat: conversations earn collectible cards, and creators can earn a share of revenue. The beta Talkie Claw feature lets characters send images, videos and songs and message you on Telegram or Discord.
The minimum age is 14, or 15 to 16 in some countries, and pornographic and violent content are prohibited. Free use is available; Talkie+ is a monthly subscription bought in the mobile apps, and the website does not list its price. On iPhone, check that the developer is SUBSUP before installing.
- Choose it if
- Users who want a character chat app with a lower minimum age than most, plus collectible cards and a creator revenue share.
- Look elsewhere if
- You want explicit content, or want to see the subscription price before installing.
Best for story roleplay on iPhone
Swerve
iPhone app for interactive AI stories with community-made characters, for adults 18+.
- Pricing
- The website does not publish prices. The terms describe an auto-renewing monthly subscription, and gems are used as in-app credit; all sales are final.
- Available on
- iPhone app on the App Store only. Android and web versions are announced with waitlists; Swerve says there is no official Android APK or web version yet.
- Category
- Writing & Language
Swerve is AI fiction that unfolds around what you say and do, from MSPW Labs, a Y Combinator-backed company in Palo Alto. It is iPhone-only for now; Android and web versions have waitlists, and Swerve warns that there is no official APK or web version yet.
It is for adults only. A monthly subscription and gems are sold in the app, the website does not list prices, and all sales are final. Messages are screened for self-harm content, and the terms forbid sexually explicit contributions.
- Choose it if
- Adults on iPhone who mostly used Character.AI for interactive stories rather than ongoing chats with one character.
- Look elsewhere if
- You use Android or a browser, are under 18, or want to see prices before you install.
Compared with Character.AI
| Fact | Character.AI | PolyBuzz | Talkie | Swerve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free with unlimited messaging. (c.ai) lite starts at $4.99 a month (prices vary by region) and adds a daily allowance of premium chat-style messages, fewer ads and 30 memory pins. c.ai+ adds unlimited premium chat styles, no ads, the full memory suite and faster replies; its price is shown at checkout and was not published on the pages Ordalin checked. | Free to use, with optional paid memberships (Basic, Premium and Ultimate) and virtual currencies (Coins and Opals) sold separately. Memberships add stronger memory models, unlimited voice listening, no ads and faster replies. When Ordalin checked the membership page in October 2026 it showed the default tier at $16.99 per month or $164.99 per year; prices are localised by region and can differ at checkout. | Free Use plus a Talkie+ subscription that gives full access, billed monthly through the App Store or Google Play. The site advertises Talkie+ at 50% off but did not list a price; it is shown in the app. In-app recharges are generally non-refundable. | The website does not publish prices. The terms describe an auto-renewing monthly subscription, and gems are used as in-app credit; all sales are final. |
| Free use | Free users can be placed in a waiting room when the service is busy; subscribers skip it. | The free tier shows ads and limits voice listening; ad-free use and unlimited voice need a membership. | Not established from official pages | Not established from official pages |
| Available on | Web app plus official apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. | A web app at polybuzz.ai that works in desktop and mobile browsers; there is no desktop client. · Mobile apps for Android and iOS. The FAQ still points to both stores, but the iOS listing was not available on the App Store as of 22 October 2026. | Website at talkie-ai.com and mobile apps; the terms name iOS and Android. · Talkie Claw (beta) lets characters chat with you on Telegram and Discord. | iPhone app on the App Store only. Android and web versions are announced with waitlists; Swerve says there is no official Android APK or web version yet. |
| Category | Writing & Language | Writing & Language | Writing & Language | Writing & Language |
| Sources checked | Checked 22 October 2026 | Checked 22 October 2026 | Checked 22 October 2026 | Checked 22 October 2026 |
Quick decision guide
- I want a community character library and to bring my own character cardsPolyBuzz →
- I am a teen, or want an app with stricter content rulesTalkie →
- I am an adult on iPhone and mostly play interactive storiesSwerve →
Questions people ask
Is Character.AI shutting down?
Not yet. Character.AI filed for Chapter 11 on 12 October 2026 to sell the company, and says the platform remains up and running. It also says that if the sale does not produce a buyer that keeps the platform going, the platform will be wound down. The sale is expected to finish by late November or early December 2026.
How do I export my Character.AI chats?
Character.AI says you can export your data, or delete your account, in the app or on the Character.AI website. Do it now rather than near the end of the sale process, in case requests take time to arrive.
What happens to my c.ai+ subscription?
Character.AI says subscriptions remain active and billing is unchanged for now, and that it intends to notify subscribers in advance if paid features change. It has not said whether unused time on a plan would be refunded if the platform winds down.
Did Disney buy Character.AI?
No. Character.AI's press release names Disney Worldwide Services as the stalking-horse bidder for a non-exclusive perpetual licence to certain intellectual property and claims, for $20 million and transition services. That is not a purchase of the app, and other bidders can still make higher offers for the company.
Can I move my characters to another app?
Character.AI has no export into other apps. PolyBuzz accepts character cards from other platforms, so it is the easiest place to bring characters you have saved as cards; on Talkie and Swerve you would recreate them by hand.
Did you test these apps hands-on?
No. This guide is based on Character.AI's announcement of 12 October 2026 and its press release, each alternative's official website, help pages and terms, and Apple's public App Store listings, checked on 25 October 2026.
Related guides
Ordalin does not accept payment for placement. Pricing, platforms and check dates come from each tool's official website as recorded in its profile; the editorial notes are our judgement. How we review.