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Heartfelt Services vs Replika

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. Heartfelt Services publishes a starting price ($4.99); Replika does not. Only Replika has a free tier.

Heartfelt ServicesThree AI counselling personas covering mindset, parts work and self-exploration, sold by monthly message allowance.ReplikaAI companion app with a customizable avatar that remembers you across chat, voice calls and AR

Side by side

FactHeartfelt ServicesReplika
CategoryMental Health & Therapy ChatbotsAI Companions & Characters
Pricing modelPaidFreemium
Starts at$4.99 month—
Public APINoNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
CompanyHeartfelt Digital Services, Inc.Luka, Inc.
Launched—2017
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 6, 2026

What our research says

Heartfelt Services

Cheaper than any human session, and the three personas give you a choice of frame rather than one generic listener. It is not clinical care, the site carries no visible crisis guidance, and paying by message count makes long conversations feel metered.

Pros

  • Three distinct counselling personas rather than one chatbot
  • Entry price under $5 a month
  • Names a clinical psychologist among the team
  • Runs in the browser with nothing to install

Cons

  • Message allowances mean long sessions run out
  • No visible crisis or safety disclaimer on the site
  • No mobile app, no API, and no country of incorporation disclosed

Replika

The longest-running mainstream AI companion, with memory and avatar features tuned for an ongoing relationship rather than utility chat. Its history cuts both ways: policy shifts around romantic content in 2023 showed how much the experience can change underneath you, and pricing is only discoverable inside the app.

Pros

  • Long-term memory of personal details persists across sessions
  • Free tier is genuinely usable for text companionship
  • Mature product with nearly a decade of iteration and a very large user base
  • Voice calls, AR and coaching activities go beyond plain text chat

Cons

  • Pro pricing is hidden until the in-app paywall and shifts with region and promos
  • Conversation quality trails frontier chatbots for open-ended or factual topics
  • Feature availability has changed abruptly in the past, affecting paying users

Which one fits

Choose Heartfelt Services if you need

  • Journalling-style self-reflection between sessions
  • People curious about parts work without booking a therapist
  • Low-cost conversation available at any hour

Choose Replika if you need

  • People who want a persistent, personalized companion rather than a task assistant
  • Practicing low-stakes conversation and daily check-ins
  • Users who value avatar customization and voice interaction

More comparisons

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