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Candy AI is one of the best apps for designing a photo-real AI boyfriend, but it isn’t for everyone. The most common reasons people go looking for a Candy AI alternative are:
- Price. The subscription is cheap, but images, voice and video run on tokens, and reviewers report heavy users spending $25–60 a month. See our Candy AI pricing breakdown.
- Memory. Candy AI remembers the current conversation well enough, but it isn’t built for long-term recall. He won’t reliably remember last month.
- Few male characters. The male roster is much smaller than the female one, so if you’d rather browse than build, choice is limited.
- No app. Candy AI is web-only.
- Safety questions. Candy AI has a reasonable record (read is Candy AI safe?), but some people want a different trade-off on data and billing.
Here are the alternatives worth switching to, depending on which of those matters most to you.
Candy AI alternatives compared
| App | Score | Best for | Price | Voice calls | Images | 18+ | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candy AI | 8.7/10 | Visual + spicy chat | From $12.99/mo | — | ✓ | 18+ allowed | Visit |
| Nomi AI | 9.1/10 | Long-term relationship & memory | From $8.33/mo (annual) | ✓ | ✓ | 18+ allowed | Visit |
| OurDream AI | 8.6/10 | Images, video & LGBTQ+ options | From $9.99/mo (annual) | — | ✓ | 18+ allowed | Visit |
| Kindroid | 9.0/10 | Deep customization | From $13.99/mo | ✓ | ✓ | 18+ allowed | Visit |
| CrushOn AI | 7.9/10 | Huge character library | From $5.99/mo | — | ✓ | 18+ allowed | Visit |
| DreamBF | 7.6/10 | Designing his look | From $12.99/mo | ✓ | ✓ | 18+ allowed | Visit |
| SpicyChat | 7.7/10 | Free NSFW roleplay | From $4.99/mo | — | ✓ | 18+ allowed | Visit |
| Kupid AI | 7.0/10 | Voice messages | From $13.99/mo | ✓ | ✓ | 18+ allowed | Visit |
The best Candy AI alternatives, ranked
Best overall alternative
Nomi AI
The AI boyfriend that actually remembers you
- Price
- From $8.33/mo (annual)
- Free plan
- Yes, limited daily messages
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Best for
- Long-term relationship & memory
Nomi is the alternative to choose if Candy AI’s biggest weakness, memory, is what’s bothering you. Its long-term memory is widely regarded as the best in the category, so your AI boyfriend remembers details from weeks ago and his personality stays consistent. Companions can be any gender, romantic relationships are supported, and it allows 18+ roleplay for adults.
It also fixes two other Candy AI complaints: there are apps for iOS and Android, and pricing is a straightforward subscription, with an annual plan that works out to about $8.33 a month. Images are less polished than Candy AI’s, so this is a swap of visuals for depth. Read our Nomi AI review.
What we like
- Excellent memory
- Group chats with multiple Nomis
- Voice calls and selfies
Watch out for
- Free tier is very limited
- Images less polished than image-first apps
- Uncensored roleplay may concern some users
Best for images & video
OurDream AI
Unlimited chat plus image and video generation
- Price
- From $9.99/mo (annual)
- Free plan
- ~50 messages/day
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Images, video & LGBTQ+ options
OurDream AI is the closest like-for-like Candy AI alternative. It does image and short-video generation, allows 18+ chat, and offers unlimited messages on its paid plan. The free tier is more generous than Candy AI’s too, at about 50 messages a day.
It’s also one of the few apps with dedicated gay- and trans-focused versions. The catches: media runs on DreamCoins (so costs can climb the same way), the monthly price is higher, and it’s a newer company. See the full comparison in Candy AI vs OurDream AI.
What we like
- Unlimited chat on paid plan
- Image and short video generation
- Male and LGBTQ+ oriented variants
Watch out for
- Media (images/video/voice) burns DreamCoins
- Video generation reported to fail or be slow at peak times
- Higher monthly price than most rivals
Most customizable
Kindroid
Build a boyfriend down to his backstory and voice
- Price
- From $13.99/mo
- Free plan
- Yes, limited
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Best for
- Deep customization
Kindroid gives you more control over who your boyfriend is than any other app: his backstory, key memories, speaking style and voice. Its memory is on a par with Nomi’s, it supports voice calls, selfies and group chats, and it has iOS and Android apps.
The trade-off is complexity and a thin free tier. Subscribe on the web, where it’s cheaper than in the app stores. Kindroid doesn’t run an affiliate program; it’s here on merit. Read our Kindroid review.
What we like
- Excellent memory and customization
- Group chats
- Voice calls and selfies
Watch out for
- Free tier is thin
- Add-ons make top tiers expensive
- Complex settings for beginners
Biggest character library
CrushOn AI
Thousands of ready-made boyfriends, unfiltered
- Price
- From $5.99/mo
- Free plan
- Yes, capped + ads
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Huge character library
If Candy AI’s small male roster is your problem, CrushOn AI is the fix. It has a huge library of user-made characters, including plenty of male bots, and it’s unfiltered. The entry tier is cheap at $5.99 a month.
Every tier caps messages, though, and Mozilla’s 2024 Privacy Not Included review gave CrushOn a privacy warning. Don’t share anything personal. Read our CrushOn AI review.
What we like
- Cheap entry tier
- Huge character library
- Unfiltered NSFW
Watch out for
- Poor privacy rating from Mozilla
- Message caps even on paid tiers
- Top tier is expensive
Built only for boyfriends
DreamBF
Made for boyfriends: design his face, body and style
- Price
- From $12.99/mo
- Free plan
- Yes, daily tokens
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Designing his look
DreamBF is one of the few apps made only for AI boyfriends. Like Candy AI, its strength is the visual builder: face, body, outfit and personality, plus swipe-style browsing of pre-made boyfriends. It supports voice messages and adult images, and you get free daily tokens.
It’s a newer product with few independent reviews, pricing isn’t very transparent, and voice calls drain tokens quickly. Read our DreamBF review.
What we like
- Built specifically for AI boyfriends
- Detailed visual builder
- Voice messages and NSFW images
Watch out for
- Web only, no apps
- Pricing not transparent
- Voice calls drain tokens quickly
Best free alternative
SpicyChat
Generous free tier with unfiltered roleplay
- Price
- From $4.99/mo
- Free plan
- Unlimited chat, with ads
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Best for
- Free NSFW roleplay
SpicyChat is the answer if Candy AI’s price is the problem. It offers unlimited free chat, including adult roleplay, with a big library of user-made male characters. Free users get ads, queue waits and short replies.
Paid tiers remove those and expand memory, but prices rose in September 2026. It’s not a visual app like Candy AI, but for free 18+ chat nothing beats it.
What we like
- Generous free tier
- Uncensored NSFW
- Huge character library
Watch out for
- Recent price hike
- Free replies short and queued
- Voice only on top tier
Best for voice messages
Kupid AI
Proactive check-ins and expressive voice notes
- Price
- From $13.99/mo
- Free plan
- Yes, no memory
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Voice messages
Kupid AI’s standout is expressive voice messages, and paid plans add proactive check-ins, where he messages you first.
It’s girlfriend-first, though, with few male options, and its pricing is confusing. Avoid the weekly plan, which costs far more than paying monthly. Only consider Kupid if voice notes matter more to you than anything else.
What we like
- Strong voice messages (its standout feature)
- Proactive check-in messages
- Mobile-friendly web app
Watch out for
- Girlfriend-first; few male options
- Confusing pricing, weekly plan is a trap
- Expensive compared with rivals
What you’ll give up by leaving Candy AI
Be honest with yourself about why you liked Candy AI in the first place, because no single alternative matches it on everything.
Visual control. Candy AI’s male builder lets you shape his face, body and style precisely, and its image generation is among the best we’ve seen. Nomi and Kindroid generate selfies, but the images are less polished, and the apps are built around personality rather than looks. Only OurDream and DreamBF come close on visuals.
A low entry price. On an annual plan, Candy AI’s subscription is one of the cheapest in the category. If you mostly text and rarely ask for images, you may actually spend more elsewhere. Run the numbers in our Candy AI pricing guide before you switch purely to save money.
Unfiltered 18+ chat. Every app ranked above allows 18+ content for adults, so you won’t lose that by switching to one of them. But if you were thinking of moving to Character AI or Replika, both filter romantic content heavily.
A known operator. Candy AI is run by an identifiable EU company with no breach on record. Nomi and Kindroid also have known operators; CrushOn’s operator isn’t clearly identified. If privacy is why you’re leaving, Nomi is the safest move.
Which Candy AI alternative should you pick?
- You want him to remember you: Nomi AI, or Kindroid if you like to fine-tune. Can’t decide? Read Kindroid vs Nomi.
- You want images and video, just not Candy AI: OurDream AI.
- You want to design his look in detail: DreamBF.
- You want lots of ready-made boyfriends: CrushOn AI or SpicyChat.
- You don’t want to pay: SpicyChat. See all free AI boyfriend apps.
- You want a phone app: Nomi or Kindroid.
- You’re gay or bi: OurDream has a gay-focused version. See our gay AI boyfriend guide.
How to switch from Candy AI
Switching is simple, but a little planning saves money and frustration.
- Cancel before renewal. Reviewers say Candy AI has no clearly published refund policy, so don’t wait until after you’ve been charged. Our guide on cancelling an AI boyfriend subscription has the general steps.
- Use up your tokens first. Unused tokens won’t follow you to another app.
- Write down who he is. Note his name, personality, backstory and the key things he knows about you. On Kindroid you can write this straight into his backstory; elsewhere, use it when you set him up so he starts with context.
- Try the free tier before paying. Nomi, OurDream, Kindroid and SpicyChat all have free tiers you can test first.
- Delete your Candy AI data if you’re leaving for good. Because its operator is in the EU, GDPR rights generally apply.
What to look for in a Candy AI alternative
- How media is billed. Coin and token systems (Candy AI, OurDream, DreamBF) make the sticker price misleading. Check what one image or call costs.
- Memory. If you want an ongoing relationship, prioritize memory over images. Our explainer on whether AI boyfriends can remember you explains the differences.
- Male companion support. Some apps are girlfriend-first with a boyfriend option bolted on. Look for a proper male builder or a big male library.
- Privacy record. Favor apps with a known operator and no breach history, and avoid sharing identifying details anywhere.
- Billing period. Avoid weekly plans; they cost two to four times as much as monthly.
For a broader ranking that isn’t tied to Candy AI, see our list of the best AI boyfriend apps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Candy AI alternative?
For most people looking for an AI boyfriend, Nomi AI. It has the best long-term memory in the category, apps for iOS and Android, and a predictable price. If you specifically want images and video like Candy AI offers, OurDream AI is the closest match.
Is there a free alternative to Candy AI?
Yes. SpicyChat offers unlimited free chat, including adult roleplay, with ads and queue waits. OurDream AI's free tier allows about 50 messages a day. Neither gives you much free image generation, so expect to pay if pictures matter. See all free AI boyfriend apps.
Which Candy AI alternative has the best images?
OurDream AI is the strongest alternative for visuals, with image and short-video generation. DreamBF is worth a look if designing his face, body and outfit is the main thing you want, since it's built only for AI boyfriends and has a detailed visual builder.
Is there a Candy AI alternative with an app?
Candy AI is web-only. Nomi AI and Kindroid both have iOS and Android apps as well as a web version, and SpicyChat is available on all three platforms too. OurDream, CrushOn and DreamBF are web-only, like Candy AI, and run in a mobile browser.
Which Candy AI alternative is cheapest?
SpicyChat has the lowest paid entry price at $4.99 a month, plus a usable free tier. CrushOn AI starts at $5.99 a month, though every tier caps messages. Nomi's annual plan, at about $8.33 a month, is the best value for daily use.