PolyBuzz's iPhone app disappeared from Apple's App Store in October 2026. The listing was still live in an archived copy from 4 October and returned "not found" by 16 October; as of 22 October, Apple's own lookup service returns no PolyBuzz app in the US, UK, Australian or other stores we checked. Neither Apple nor PolyBuzz has published a reason. PolyBuzz is not shut down: the website polybuzz.ai and the Android app on Google Play still work, and the Play listing was updated on 20 October. If you already have the app on your iPhone it may keep running, but you cannot download it again and may not get updates.
Be careful with look-alike apps: an App Store search for PolyBuzz now shows unrelated apps with similar names. If you want to keep your characters, PolyBuzz on the web is the direct route. If you want to move on, the apps below are character chat services that are still available, 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, not from hands-on testing.
Why people look for an alternative
- You use an iPhone. The PolyBuzz app is no longer on the App Store, so new installs are only possible on Android or through the website, even though PolyBuzz's FAQ still points to both stores.
- You find membership expensive. Free use shows ads and limits voice, and when we checked, the Basic membership was listed at $16.99 a month or $164.99 a year, with prices varying by region.
- You want longer memory. PolyBuzz says characters can forget earlier parts of long chats, and its permanent-memory model is reserved for the top membership tier.
- You want clearer account rules. The terms are adults-only and let PolyBuzz suspend accounts when it believes a birthdate is false, while an older FAQ answer still mentions a Teen Mode.
3 alternatives worth considering
Largest library on web, iPhone and Android
Character.AI
Chat and roleplay with millions of user-made AI characters, free with unlimited messaging.
- 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.
- Available on
- Web app plus official apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.
- Category
- Writing & Language
Character.AI has more than 10 million user-made characters and lets you create your own, with guides on writing personas and scenes. Messaging is free and unlimited on the standard chat styles, with 15 memory pins; when the service is busy, free users can be placed in a waiting room.
(c.ai) lite starts at $4.99 a month (varying by region) for daily premium chat styles, fewer ads and 30 memory pins, and c.ai+ adds unlimited premium styles, no ads and Lorebooks. The terms set a minimum age of 13, or 16 in the EEA and UK, and teens can share a weekly Parental Insights report with a parent.
- Choose it if
- People who want the closest everyday replacement: millions of community characters, free unlimited messaging and apps on every platform.
- Look elsewhere if
- You want no ads or long-term memory without paying, or you mainly want to import characters you built elsewhere.
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 mainly used PolyBuzz for interactive stories and want an App Store app.
- Look elsewhere if
- You use Android or a browser, are under 18, or want to see prices before you install.
Best for collecting and creating characters
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 that can be traded for virtual currency, 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.
Free use is available, and Talkie+ is a monthly subscription bought in the mobile apps; the website advertises a discount but not the price. The minimum age is 14, or 15 to 16 in some countries, and pornographic and violent content are prohibited.
- Choose it if
- Android and web users who like collecting cards from chats, or who create characters and want a revenue share.
- Look elsewhere if
- You need an iPhone app: the main Talkie app was not listed on the US, UK or Australian App Store when we checked.
Compared with PolyBuzz
| Fact | PolyBuzz | Character.AI | Swerve | Talkie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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. | 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 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. |
| Free use | The free tier shows ads and limits voice listening; ad-free use and unlimited voice need a membership. | Free users can be placed in a waiting room when the service is busy; subscribers skip it. | Not established from official pages | Not established from official pages |
| 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. | Web app plus official apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. | 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. | 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 | 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 free replacement that works on iPhone, Android and the webCharacter.AI →
- I am an adult on iPhone and mostly play interactive storiesSwerve →
- I am on Android and enjoy collecting or creating charactersTalkie →
Questions people ask
Did PolyBuzz get deleted?
No. Only the iPhone app was removed from the App Store, between 4 and 16 October 2026. The website polybuzz.ai and the Android app on Google Play were still working on 22 October, and your account can be used through the website.
Is PolyBuzz banned?
There is no public ban. Apple has not said why the app left the App Store, and PolyBuzz has not published a statement. The service remains available on the web and on Google Play, where it is rated Mature 17+; PolyBuzz's own terms require users to be 18 or older.
Is the PolyBuzz app on the App Store a fake?
When we checked on 22 October 2026, the official PolyBuzz app was not on the App Store, so any app that appears in a PolyBuzz search there is a different product. Use polybuzz.ai in your browser instead.
Can I move my PolyBuzz characters to another app?
None of these alternatives documents an import from PolyBuzz. Character.AI and Talkie let you recreate a character by hand. PolyBuzz itself accepts character cards from other platforms, so moving in the other direction is easier.
Did you test these apps hands-on?
No. This guide is based on each company's official website, help pages and terms, checked on the dates shown on each tool's profile, plus Apple's and Google's public store listings for availability.
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.