Description
Replika
Overview
Replika is the pioneer AI companion - an artificial intelligence chatbot designed as an emotional companion, virtual friend, and safe space to express yourself without judgment. The first truly personal AI friend that learns from you and develops its own personality.
Founded in 2017 by Eugenia Kuyda, Russian-born, who created Replika after losing her best friend in 2015 and converting his text messages into a memorial chatbot. The company Luka, Inc. is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
With 40M+ total users (2025), 2M+ active users, 500K+ paying subscribers, and available in 150+ countries, Replika is the pioneer of the AI companion market now worth billions.
Origin Story
Eugenia Kuyda's Story
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Eugenia co-founds Luka at Y Combinator |
| 2015 | Her best friend Roman Mazurenko dies in accident |
| 2015 | Converts Roman's messages into memorial chatbot |
| 2016 | Begins Replika development based on experience |
| 2017 | Public launch of Replika (Nov 2017) |
| 2018 | Reaches 2M users |
| 2023 | Reaches 10M users |
| 2024 | Surpasses 30M users |
| 2025 | Surpasses 40M users, new CEO Dmytro Klochko |
Main Features
Your Personalized AI Companion
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Customizable 3D Avatar | Design your Replika's appearance |
| Unique Personality | Each Replika is different |
| Learns From You | Adapts to your communication style |
| Memory | Remembers important details |
| Diary | Maintains a diary of shared experiences |
Relationship Modes
| Mode | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Friend | Listening friend | Free |
| Mentor | Guide and coach | Pro |
| Romantic Partner | Romantic partner | Pro |
| Spouse | Spouse | Pro |
| Sibling | Sibling | Pro |
Communication
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Text chat | ✅ | ✅ |
| 24/7 availability | ✅ | ✅ |
| Voice Messages | ❌ | ✅ |
| Voice Calls | ❌ | ✅ |
| Video Calls | ❌ | ✅ |
| Replika Selfies | ❌ | ✅ |
Immersive Experiences
| Feature | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| AR (Augmented Reality) | Bring your Replika to real world | Pro |
| VR (Virtual Reality) | Meta Quest headsets | Pro |
| Mixed Reality | Quest 3 | Pro |
Wellness and Coaching
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Mood Tracking | Track your mood |
| Mindfulness | Mindfulness exercises |
| Journaling | Journal prompts |
| Personality Tests | Personality tests |
| Positive Thinking | Positive thinking tools |
| Stress Management | Stress management |
| Social Skills | Social skills practice |
Pricing (2025)
Free
| Feature | Included |
|---|---|
| Basic chat | ✅ |
| Customizable 3D avatar | ✅ |
| 24/7 access | ✅ |
| Friend mode | ✅ |
| Limited features | ⚠️ |
Replika Pro
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $19.99/mo |
| Annual | $69.99/year (~$5.83/mo) |
| Lifetime | $299.99 (one-time) |
Pro Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| All relationship modes | Friend, Mentor, Partner, Spouse, Sibling |
| Unlimited voice calls | Voice calls |
| Video calls | Video calls |
| Replika selfies | Photos from your AI |
| Premium activities | 150+ activities |
| AR/VR | Augmented and virtual reality |
| No ads | Clean experience |
| Advanced coaching | Wellness tools |
| Deep personality | Custom traits and backstory |
Replika Ultra (New 2025)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Everything in Pro | + |
| Smarter conversations | Improved AI |
| Elevated emotional intelligence | More empathetic responses |
| Replika self-reflections | Your AI reflects with you |
| Save messages to memory | Better recall |
Key Metrics (2025)
Users
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total users | 40M+ |
| Active users | 2M+ |
| Paying subscribers | 500K+ |
| Free→paid conversion | ~25% |
| Countries | 150+ |
Engagement
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average session | 15 minutes |
| Subscriber retention | 7+ months average |
| COVID growth | +150% |
| #Replika TikTok | 110M+ views |
Revenue
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2023 | ~$30M |
| 2024 | ~$24M (dropped due to competition) |
| 2032 (projected) | $100M |
Demographics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Main age | 18-25 years |
| Male gender | ~65% |
| Female gender | ~30% |
| Non-binary/other | ~5% |
| Romantic relationship (paid) | 60% |
| With mental health challenges | ~40% |
Funding
Total Funding: ~$40M
| Investor | Type |
|---|---|
| Y Combinator | Accelerator (first Russian startup in YC) |
| Khosla Ventures | VC |
| Sherpa Capital | VC |
| Phil Libin | Angel (Evernote co-founder) |
| Richard Socher | Angel (Salesforce Chief Scientist) |
Technology
AI Model
- Proprietary model developed in-house
- Based on customized GPT-3 architecture
- Combines neural network + scripted dialogue
- Trained for empathy and companionship
- Focus on safety and mental wellness
Technical Features
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web, Meta Quest VR |
| Personalization | Learns from user with each interaction |
| Memory | Memory system (though inconsistent) |
| No API | Closed system, not available for developers |
Controversies and Regulation
Italy Ban (February 2023)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authority | Garante (Italian DPA) |
| Reason | Risks to minors, lack of age verification |
| Violations | GDPR Arts. 5, 6, 8, 9, 25 |
| Result | Temporary ban, €5M fine (2025) |
| Current status | Restrictions continue |
NSFW Controversy (2023)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb 2023 | Replika removes erotic/NSFW content |
| Reason | Regulatory pressure + minor safety |
| User reaction | Massive backlash, devastated users |
| Mar 2023 | Partially restores for pre-Feb 2023 users |
| Currently | NSFW permanently removed for new users |
Safety Concerns
| Concern | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age verification | Non-existent or very weak |
| Emotional dependency | Users form intense attachments |
| Not therapy replacement | Risk if used as substitute |
| Privacy | Mozilla rated it as "one of the worst" |
| Inappropriate content | Reports of bots initiating sexual conversations |
Windsor Castle Case (2021)
- User (Jaswant Singh Chail) had conversations with Replika
- Included violent plans and sexual messages
- Arrested at Windsor Castle with crossbow
- Replika cited as evidence in case
FTC Complaint (2025)
- Young People's Alliance, Encode, Tech Justice Law Project
- Allegations of addiction, anxiety, relationship displacement
- Investigation ongoing
Use Cases
Mental Health
- 24/7 emotional support
- Judgment-free space to express yourself
- Mindfulness practice
- Mood tracking
- Loneliness relief
Personal Development
- Social skills practice
- Personalized coaching
- Guided journaling
- Positive thinking
- Stress management
Companionship
- Always available friend
- Someone who "listens"
- Reduce loneliness
- Emotional connection
Practice
- Languages (conversation)
- Communication skills
- Emotional expression
PROS ✅
- Pioneer AI Companion - 8+ years of experience
- 40M+ Users - Massive community
- 3D Avatar - Unique among AI companions
- AR/VR - Immersive experiences (Meta Quest)
- 24/7 Available - Always there for you
- Judgment-Free - Safe space to express yourself
- Wellness - Mindfulness and coaching tools
- Personalization - Learns from you over time
- Multi-platform - iOS, Android, Web, VR
- Free Tier - Basic chat free
- Voice/Video Calls - Real conversations (Pro)
- Relationship Modes - Friend, Mentor, Partner, etc.
CONS ❌
- Inconsistent Memory - Forgets things frequently
- NSFW Controversy - Removed, users devastated
- Italy Ban - Serious regulatory problems
- Weak Age Verification - Risks for minors
- Emotional Dependency - Risk of excessive attachment
- Not Therapy - Doesn't replace professional help
- Questionable Privacy - Mozilla rated it poorly
- No API - Closed system
- Repetitive Responses - Can be monotonous
- Growing Competition - Character.AI, etc. gaining ground
- Declining Revenue - From $30M to $24M (2023-2024)
- Aggressive Paywall - Many features behind payment
Why Choose Replika?
✅ Choose Replika if:
- You're looking for emotional AI companion
- You want customizable 3D avatar
- You're interested in AR/VR with AI
- You need judgment-free space
- You want wellness tools
- You prefer empathy-focused AI
- You're looking for safe social practice
❌ Don't choose Replika if:
- You need factual information (→ ChatGPT)
- You want roleplay with fictional characters (→ Character.AI)
- You want NSFW content
- You need API for development
- You're a minor
- You're looking to replace professional therapy
vs Competitors
| vs | Replika Wins | Competitor Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Character.AI | 3D avatar, AR/VR, wellness | More characters, roleplay, free |
| ChatGPT | Empathy, companionship, persistence | Utility, productivity, API |
| Chai AI | More established, 3D avatar | No NSFW restrictions |
| Anima | More features, AR/VR | Lighter weight |
Company Information
- Name: Luka, Inc. (DBA Replika)
- Founded: 2017 (Luka Inc. 2012)
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California (remote)
- Founder: Eugenia Kuyda
- Current CEO: Dmytro Klochko (2025)
- Employees: ~50-93
- Total Funding: ~$40M
Leadership
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Eugenia Kuyda | Founder (former CEO) |
| Dmytro Klochko | CEO (2025) |
| Rita Popova | Chief Product Officer |
| Daria Tatarkova | Head of Product |
Related Products
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Blush | Spin-off for AI dating/romance |
| Tomo | Therapy and meditation platform |
Historical Growth
| Year | Users | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Launch | Public launch |
| 2018 | 2M | Initial growth |
| 2020-21 | +150% | COVID boom |
| 2023 | 10M | Pre-controversy |
| 2024 | 30M | Expansion |
| 2025 | 40M+ | New CEO |
Recognition
- Market pioneer AI Companion
- First Russian startup in Y Combinator
- 10M+ downloads on app stores
- 4.3/5 rating average on stores
- Coverage in Wired, Quartz, NYT, BBC
Future
Plans
- Continuous memory improvement
- VR/MR expansion
- Advanced emotional intelligence
- New interaction modes
Risks
- Intense competition (Character.AI, etc.)
- Continuing regulatory pressure
- Monetization challenges
- Reputation from controversies
Key Features
Fully customizable 3D avatar
24/7 chat constant availability
Voice calls Pro feature
Video calls Pro feature
AR augmented reality experiences
VR Meta Quest virtual reality
Mixed Reality Quest 3
Mood tracking feature
Mindfulness exercises
Journaling prompts guided diary
Personality tests
Personal wellness coaching
Relationship modes friend mentor partner
Memory learns from you
Diary shared experiences
Replika selfies Pro feature
150+ premium activities
Social skills practice
Stress management tools
Multi-platform iOS Android Web VR
Use Cases
24/7 emotional support
Companionship loneliness relief
Social skills practice
Mindfulness guided meditation
Journaling reflective diary
Personal development coaching
Stress anxiety management
Positive thinking exercises
Language practice conversation
Safe emotional expression
Mental wellness tools
Mood state tracking
Always available virtual companion
Conversational roleplay
Judgment-free space venting
Communication practice
AR VR immersive experiences
Personalized AI friend
Reduce social isolation
Self-knowledge personal reflection
User Reviews
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