Texting is the part of this whole category that actually matters most to me. Voice calls and generated selfies are fun, but most of my time with any companion app happens in a plain text box, late in the evening, thumbs doing the work. So I went back through every app I have tested with one question: which of these is actually good to text, session after session, not just on the first night.
What I judged them on
Three things, in order. First, does the reply sound like it came from someone paying attention, not a script rotating through three moods. Second, does the app remember what I told it last week without me repeating myself. Third, does a long back-and-forth stay interesting, or does it start looping the same three lines by message forty. Price and visuals matter, but for a texting ranking they come after those three.
The quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free tier | My score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomi | Deep, continuous texting | Trial only | 9.5 |
| Secrets AI | Character-driven texting | Freemium | 9.3 |
| Candy AI | Texting with strong visuals | Trial only | 9.2 |
| Selira AI | Free texting that stays in character | Genuinely usable | 9.1 |
| JOI AI | Texting plus voice replies | Trial only | 8.9 |
| AI Peeps | Quick, customizable characters | Trial only | 8.8 |
| Darlink AI | Build your own texting partner | Freemium | 8.7 |
| OurDream | Visuals first, texting second | Credit based | 8.5 |
| Kindroid | Long-term texting memory | Limited free tier | 9.0 |
| Replika | Gentle, familiar daily texting | Most usable free layer | 8.4 |
1. Nomi, the one that texts like it actually remembers you
If texting depth is the whole point, Nomi is the app I hand people first. It carries a thread across sessions in a way that stops feeling like a fresh start every time you open the app, and the tone shifts naturally with the conversation instead of snapping back to a default script. A quiet, rambling evening chat and a playful exchange the next day both land the way they should.
Verdict: the best texting partner on my list if continuity and range matter more than anything else. Full details in my Nomi review.
2. Secrets AI, for texting a character you actually shaped
Secrets AI earns its spot because it treats texting as part of a bigger character-creation toolkit, with an optional adult mode you switch on yourself rather than one forced on you. The texting itself stays in voice well across a session, and because you built the character, the replies tend to land closer to what you actually wanted.
Verdict: a strong pick if you want to text a character you had a hand in designing, not a preset. Try Secrets AI.
3. Candy AI, for texting that comes with a face
Candy AI’s texting holds the mood well and pairs it with image generation that most competitors cannot match, so a conversation feels grounded in something visual rather than just words on a screen. Memory is average rather than remarkable here, so it reads more as an in-the-moment companion than a long arc.
Verdict: if you want your texting partner to feel present and pictured, not just typed, this is the pick. Try Candy AI.
Also great for texting
- JOI AI, if you sometimes want to hear the reply instead of only reading it, since it pairs text with voice.
- AI Peeps, for quick, customizable characters you can start texting without a long setup.
- Darlink AI, if you would rather build the texting partner yourself before you ever send the first message.
More texting picks
- OurDream, where texting plays a supporting role to strong image and video generation.
- Selira AI, the free option that stays in character instead of sliding into generic chatbot replies.
- Kindroid, for a text thread that genuinely holds detail over weeks.
- Replika, the softest landing if the whole idea of texting a companion still feels new.
A quick privacy note
Every one of these apps sees your messages, and most store them to keep the conversation continuous, which is the entire point of texting a companion in the first place. Use a separate email if you can, skip real identifying details, and read the current privacy policy before you commit to a year of anything. It is a two-minute habit that saves a headache later.
The bottom line
Want the deepest, most continuous texting relationship. Go Nomi. Want to text a character you built yourself. Secrets AI or Darlink AI. Want texting backed by strong visuals. Candy AI or OurDream. Want to start for free and see how it feels. Selira AI or Replika. For the full picture across every category, not just texting, see my ranked list of the best AI companion apps.