App dossier · AI companions
Character.AI
Developer: Character.AI
- US App Store rating18+
- Google Play ratingTeen
An AI-character entertainment platform, historically known for roleplay and open-ended chatbot conversations. Its under-18 experience changed: the company announced removal of open-ended AI chat for under-18s starting in November 2025. Older guides that simply recommend teen chat are out of date.
Official store icon identified from the store listing artwork (opens in new tab). Icon is shown to identify the app; trademark belongs to Character.AI.
Open-ended AI chat is adult-only.
US App Store rating: 18+. Google Play rating: Teen. These ratings are separate from the account minimum age.
Account minimum age: Open-ended AI chat is restricted to adults under the announced policy. Other account eligibility depends on the current terms and region; the checked iOS listing is 18+.
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The essentials
Age, contact, spending
Minimum age
Open-ended AI chat is restricted to adults under the announced policy. Other account eligibility depends on the current terms and region; the checked iOS listing is 18+.
Age check
The company announced strengthened age assurance to route users to the appropriate experience. A false birthday is not an acceptable workaround.
Who can contact teens
A character response is generated by AI, not a private message from a real friend or therapist. Public character creation and community features create separate audience questions.
Disappearing content
Do not assume chat history is temporary or confidential. Avoid sharing identifying, intimate or crisis information with an entertainment chatbot.
Public content
Characters and creations can have different visibility settings. Review whether a character or posted creation is public; private conversation and public character publishing are distinct.
Spending
Paid c.ai+ subscriptions can recur. Paying does not turn generated responses into reliable advice or a real reciprocal relationship.
Store stats
By the numbers
US App Store
4.28 stars from 559,377 ratings, as of October 8, 2026. Apple listing (opens in new tab)
Google Play downloads
50M+ as of October 8, 2026. Google Play listing (opens in new tab)
Official controls
How to set them up
Check the current under-18 experience
Read the company’s current under-18 announcement and check the age and safety settings on the actual account. Do not use old teen-chat instructions or change a birthday to bypass restrictions. Device app limits can provide an additional boundary.
Official instructions → (opens in new tab)
Privacy
What gets shared
Treat prompts and account information as data supplied to a service. AI output can be incorrect, manipulative-sounding or unsuitable despite a character’s reassuring persona.
Safety
What parents should know
- The official 2025 announcement removes under-18 open-ended chat and introduces additional age assurance; the follow-up explains the transition.
- AI roleplay is not professional mental-health care or a source of verified facts. A teen should have a real trusted adult to contact when distressed.
Safeguards described here are reported by the company in its own materials (see Character.AI: official safety, eligibility or parent guidance (opens in new tab)). They are not independent safety guarantees, and Lowkey has not tested them.
Decoder
Slang you will hear
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