Chai Alternative After the App Store Removal
Chai left the App Store on 22 October 2026 and free chat now runs on pieces. What changed, how it compares, and an 18+ alternative that runs in any browser with 50 free messages a day.
Chai has had a rough autumn. Its iPhone app disappeared from the App Store on 22 October 2026, free chat now runs on a daily ration of "pieces", and some users are being sent through a face scan or an ID check. If you are looking for somewhere to keep roleplaying, this page explains what changed and how RolePlaya compares.
What changed at Chai
- Off the App Store. Chai's iPhone app was pulled from the App Store on 22 October 2026, one of several AI chat apps pulled this year. Chai's founder said the app is unavailable while the team works on it, and that copies already installed keep working. The Android app is still on Google Play.
- Pieces instead of free messages. Since September 2026, free accounts get a small allowance of pieces each day, and every message spends them. Subscribers keep unlimited messages.
- Paid plans. Premium is reported at $13.99 a month or $134.99 a year, and Ultra at $29.99 a month. The free plan shows adverts.
- Age checks. Some users are asked for a face scan through Persona, an identity-check company, or for a government ID. In some regions Chai requires a subscription to use the app at all.
If you subscribed in the iPhone app, that subscription is billed by Apple, so check it in your Apple account before it renews.
What Chai still does well
Chai has one of the biggest character libraries in the category, fast casual chat and a large community. If quick, light conversations on Android are what you want, it still delivers that.
Chai and RolePlaya side by side
| Chai (as reported, October 2026) | RolePlaya | |
|---|---|---|
| Free chat | A daily allowance of pieces, spent per message | 50 messages every day |
| Adverts | On the free plan | None on any plan |
| Entry paid plan | Premium $13.99 a month | Bit of a Playa $9.99 a month |
| Top plan | Ultra $29.99 a month | Total Playa $19.99 a month |
| iPhone | Removed from the App Store | Runs in Safari and installs to the home screen |
| Age check | Face scan or ID for some users | Confirm you are 18 or over at sign-up. No face scans, no ID uploads |
Why RolePlaya cannot vanish from your phone
RolePlaya is not in the App Store or Google Play. It runs in your browser, and you can add it to your home screen so it opens like an app. An app store decision cannot remove it from your phone, and app store rules do not decide what it allows. Here is how to add it to an iPhone home screen.
What you get on RolePlaya
- Thousands of public characters made by the community, in every genre.
- Your own Playa. Step into every story as your own character, with a look and a backstory.
- Multi Playa and Worlds. Scenes with more than one character at once, and whole casts that share one setting and memory.
- Dream Partner. Build a private companion from scratch, free to create, who keeps a daily diary about your relationship.
- Voices. Characters can read their replies aloud in a voice you choose from more than 60.
Memory, stated plainly
On the free plan a RolePlaya character holds the last 40 messages of your conversation. Long-term memory that carries across chats costs 300 Playa Points per character, and is included on Total Playa at $19.99 a month. Playa Points are earned free every day as well as bought. The full breakdown is on the pricing page.
Moving your characters across
- Open the Chai characters you care about and copy their descriptions and greetings into a text file while you still can.
- On RolePlaya, create a character and paste them into the background and greeting fields. If you made the character on Janitor AI, Chub or SillyTavern, import the card directly instead.
- If there is a conversation you want to continue, copy it and paste it into Import Chat. The character picks the story up from there. How to import a chat.
Try it
RolePlaya is free to start, with 50 messages a day, no card details and no adverts. 18+ only.
Questions
Why is Chai not on the App Store?
Chai's iPhone app was removed from the App Store on 22 October 2026. Chai's founder said it is unavailable to download while the team works on improving the app, and that copies already installed keep working. The Android app is still on Google Play.
Is Chai still free?
Partly. Since September 2026 free accounts get a small daily allowance of pieces, and every message costs pieces. Premium, reported at $13.99 a month, and Ultra, reported at $29.99 a month, include unlimited messages.
Does RolePlaya need a face scan or ID?
No. You confirm you are 18 or over when you sign up. RolePlaya does not use face scans, ID document uploads or third-party age estimation.
Does RolePlaya work on iPhone?
Yes. RolePlaya runs in Safari, and you can add it to your home screen so it opens like an app. It is not in the App Store, so it cannot be removed from it.
What about other platforms?
There are comparisons for Talkie, Replika, PolyBuzz and Character.AI, and a list of the best AI roleplay sites.
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.
Chai, Chai Research, Persona, Apple, App Store, Google Play, Talkie, Replika, PolyBuzz, Character.AI 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 reviews as of October 2026 and may change. Verify current terms with each platform before deciding. Prices are in US dollars.
