Botify AI Alternative: Character Chat Without the Energy Meter
Botify AI's iPhone app was pulled and shut down in 2026. What still works, what Botify's energy costs, and how to move your characters and chats to RolePlaya, with no energy meter.
Botify AI, the character chat app from Ex-Human, has been off the iPhone since spring 2026. It still runs on the web and Android, but between the missing iPhone app, the energy top-ups and a lawsuit with Apple that has no end date, a lot of Botify regulars are looking for somewhere steadier. This page covers what happened, what Botify costs now, and how to move your characters and stories to RolePlaya.
Last checked 2 November 2026
Botify AI is still not on the App Store, and its iPhone app no longer works. botify.ai and the Android app still run. Ex-Human's case against Apple is unresolved.
What happened to Botify AI on iPhone
Apple removed Botify AI and its sister app Photify AI from the App Store in March 2026, citing "dishonest or fraudulent activity". On 16 April 2026 Ex-Human shut the iPhone app down altogether, so even copies already installed stopped working. In early April Ex-Human sued Apple in federal court in California, saying Apple never pointed to anything specific and was holding back around $500,000 in revenue.
It was not the first time. Users count store removals in June 2024 and September 2025 as well. If you are on iPhone, Botify now means the website in Safari. The full list of apps that have gone the same way is on every AI chat app pulled from the App Store.
What Botify costs now
- Subscriptions. Reported at $79.99 a year or $14.99 a week, with 500 energy a month included. Some older accounts were on cheaper plans, so check yours.
- Energy. Photos cost energy, videos roughly 100 each, and the smarter chat models cost extra energy on every reply. A top-up is $9.99 for 3,000.
- Free use. Free chat is limited, and free daily energy has been discontinued.
- Memory. Regulars say long stories drift unless you pay energy for the better models.
Botify AI vs RolePlaya
| Botify AI | RolePlaya | |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | App removed and shut down, website only | Web app, add to home screen from Safari, nothing to remove |
| How chatting is paid for | Subscription plus energy for better models, photos and video | 50 free messages a day, unlimited on any paid plan, no energy |
| Paid plans | Reported $79.99 a year or $14.99 a week, plus top-ups | $9.99 or $19.99 a month, or $89.99 or $189.99 a year, flat |
| Memory | Better recall costs energy | 40 recent messages on free, 100 or unlimited on paid, long-term memory across chats on Total Playa |
| Adverts | Removed on paid plans | None on any plan |
| Age | 18+ in its terms | 18+, confirmed at sign up, no face scan or ID upload |
Bring your Botify characters and chats
Botify has no export button, so you move things by copying, from botify.ai in a browser.
- Characters. Copy each bot's name, greeting, personality and backstory, then paste them into Create a Character on RolePlaya. If you have a character as a PNG or JSON card, import it directly. How card import works.
- Chats. Copy the conversation, open Import Chat, choose Copied text and paste it in. Import Chat is free on every plan and the story carries on where it stopped.
What you give up
- Video and calls. Botify sells video clips and voice calls. RolePlaya has character voices, images and Snapshots of your story, but no calls.
- Botify's library. Botify has a lot of bots. RolePlaya has thousands of public characters, and you can bring your favourites with you.
Why RolePlaya cannot vanish from your phone
I built RolePlaya after leaving PolyBuzz, where I was the number one creator. It is a web app, so there is no store listing for anyone to pull. On iPhone you open roleplaya.com in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen, and it opens full screen with its own icon. The Android app downloads from roleplaya.com, not Google Play. Billing happens on the website, so no store sits between you and your account.
Try it on your phone
Open roleplaya.com in Safari or Chrome, sign up free, and add it to your home screen. 50 messages a day, no card, no energy. 18+ only.
More guides
- Every AI chat app pulled from the App Store
- Tipsy Chat alternative
- Linky AI alternative
- AI roleplay on iPhone without the App Store
- The best AI roleplay sites
Questions
Why was Botify AI removed from the App Store?
Apple removed Botify AI and Photify AI in March 2026, citing "dishonest or fraudulent activity". Ex-Human says Apple gave no specific reason and is suing. The iPhone app was shut down on 16 April 2026.
Does Botify AI still work?
Yes, on botify.ai in a browser and on Android. The iPhone app no longer works, even if it is still installed.
Can I use Botify AI on iPhone?
Only through the website in Safari. You can add it to your home screen, but there is no iPhone app.
What is a good Botify AI alternative?
RolePlaya is a web app for 18+ character roleplay with no energy system. The free plan gives 50 messages a day, and both paid plans have unlimited messages for a flat price.
Can I move my Botify characters and chats?
Yes, by copying. Paste a bot's details into Create a Character, and paste a copied conversation into Import Chat using Copied text. Import Chat is free on every plan.
Where do I get help or ask for a feature?
RolePlaya has an active Discord community where members get help, report bugs and ask for new features, and the developer answers them directly. Most fixes land the same day, and many features on the site started as member requests there. Join the RolePlaya Discord.
Botify AI, Photify AI, Ex-Human, PolyBuzz, Apple, App Store, Google Play and all other names used on this page are trademarks of their respective owners. RolePlaya is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or connected to any of them. Statements about other platforms reflect publicly reported information and user reports as of 2 November 2026 and may change.
