In this article · 5 sections
18+ only. Fictional adult characters only. Character.AI prohibits pornographic content, including for subscribers.
The Character AI app is published by Character Technologies, Inc. on the App Store and Google Play (package ai.character.app); the browser service is character.ai. The Dutch App Store shows 4.1 from about 11K ratings and 28 interface languages including Dutch. Free use offers unlimited messages and 15 memory pins, with possible busy-time waiting rooms. Mirror APKs do not establish publisher, update or billing authenticity.
The company's 12 October 2026 announcement describes a voluntary Chapter 11 court-supervised sale. Operations and billing continue; the timetable extends into late November or early December. Wind-down depends on no viable bid emerging: the service has not closed.
Alternatives offer different access: Nomi.ai has 50 free daily messages without a card; Candy.ai gives 5 total messages, one created character and one image; OurDream is a browser PWA with US$19.99 Standard Monthly and 1,000 Dreamcoins. See the Character.AI alternatives comparison. None documents importing Character.AI history, so expect a fresh account.
Dutch store items, web prices and what each figure leaves open
The Dutch storefront shows amounts in euros, but the listing does not break out 21% BTW per item. A general tax rate cannot give you the gross total of the plan you pick, so check the amount and billing term on the Apple or Google purchase sheet before you approve it. Do not assume the smaller figure in each pair is monthly and the larger one yearly.
Character.AI lists optional Charms packs in the Dutch App Store (checked 2026-10-29), so extra purchases can add to the subscription cost. On the web, monthly c.ai+ is US$9.99. The annual web plan is a single US$94.99 charge, about US$7.92 a month. In the app, the euro amount you confirm at the store is the one that renews.
| Item | Published figure | What it does not tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, iOS App Store, Google Play | A listing is not a tested Dutch login or checkout |
| Character.AI+ (NL App Store) | €9.99; €99.99 | The store labels print no billing term |
| Character.AI Lite (NL App Store) | €2.99; €5.99 | You cannot read the term from the amount |
| c.ai+ on the web | US$9.99/month; US$94.99/year | USD list price with no BTW breakdown |
| Lite on the web | From US$4.99/month | The official FAQ says the price varies by region |
| Free memory | 15 pins | Pins are saved items, not measured recall |
| Lite extras | 30 pins, usage view, fewer ads | No published number for the daily premium-style allowance |
| c.ai+ extras | Priority access, faster replies, full memory suite with private Lorebooks | No published context size |
| Payment methods named | Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay | iDEAL and SEPA are not named |
| Tokens or credits | Charms packs: €0.99 to €99.99 (NL iOS; checked 2026-10-29) | Optional extra purchases; action tariffs not stated |
From download to cancellation, in order
These steps follow the official listings and help pages checked 2026-10-28.
- Install from an official source. On iPhone, find Character.AI by Character Technologies, Inc. in the App Store. On Android, use the Google Play listing ai.character.app. On a computer, open character.ai. Skip APK downloads from third-party sites, because they are not linked to the Play listing's updates or to Google Play billing.
- Complete age assurance if asked. Persona runs the check, using age estimation, a selfie when needed and an identity document as a fallback. Character.AI says it does not receive identity images, and Persona deletes biometric data within 7 days. That seven-day rule applies to verification material only, not to your chat history. A paid plan does not let you skip the check.
- Switch the interface to Dutch if you prefer. Dutch is among the listed interface languages. The listing says nothing about how well characters reply in Dutch, so judge that from your own chats.
- Decide whether free use is enough. Free messaging is advertised as unlimited, with 15 pins. Lite adds 30 pins, a detailed usage view, fewer ads and a daily premium-style allowance of unpublished size. Unlimited free messages do not mean every premium model is unlimited.
- If you buy, read the term on the purchase sheet. The Dutch items are €9.99 and €99.99 for Character.AI+ and €2.99 and €5.99 for Lite, none with a printed duration. The official FAQ names card, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Subscriptions renew automatically.
- Cancel through the channel you paid with. For c.ai+, go to Profile, then Cancel My Subscription. If you bought Lite through the App Store or Google Play, cancel it in that store's subscription settings. If you bought Lite on the web through Stripe, open a support ticket under Payments and purchases. Paid access continues until the end of the period.
- Export or delete your data. The sale announcement says the privacy policy has not changed and that export and deletion are still available. On the web, go to Profile, Profile Settings, Account, Manage Account & Data, then Delete Account. On mobile, go to Profile, Settings, then Remove Account. Deletion is permanent. Billing continues during the sale process, so stop renewal in step 6 instead of relying on the deletion screen.
When these details were checked
We checked store listings, help-centre pages, Dutch App Store items, web prices and public ratings on 2026-10-28. We checked the Candy.ai free allowance on 2026-10-28 and updated this page on 2026-10-29. The company's sale announcement is dated 12 October 2026, and the Italian Garante decision is dated 3 July 2026.
Where to read next
The full Character.AI review explains what 15 and 30 pins mean in practice, how the Persona process works, what the Garante decided and what the sale process could mean for existing subscribers. If you are thinking about moving, the alternatives page compares daily quotas, total free allowances, browser apps and metered credits across listed services.
Frequently asked questions
Is Character.AI safe to use right now?
The service is running, and the company says billing continues during its Chapter 11 sale process, with a wind-down possible only if no viable bid emerges. On privacy, Italy's Garante imposed a EUR158,000 fine and a 120-day corrective order on 3 July 2026. The order covers transparency, accountability, DPIA and security, and EU-representative issues, and an appeal is permitted. The US FTC included Character.AI in a September 2025 information study of companion chatbots, which is not a finding of wrongdoing. Trustpilot showed 1.2 from 740 reviews when we checked on 2026-10-28. The review puts these points in context.
Is there an official Character.AI APK?
The official Android channel is the Google Play listing ai.character.app. An APK from another site cannot be matched to that listing's publisher, update path or Google Play billing, so use the Play listing or the web version.
Is there another version of Character.AI?
Lite and c.ai+ are plans inside the same app, not separate apps. The Dutch App Store shows €2.99 and €5.99 under Lite and €9.99 and €99.99 under Character.AI+. The web version at character.ai uses the same account.
Is Janitor AI better than Character.AI?
The two are different enough that one scale does not fit both. The JanitorAI iPhone app, Janitor: Interactive Stories, lists Janitor+ at €14.99 a month or €99 a year on the Dutch App Store. It is rated 18+ with in-app age assurance, and English is its only listed interface language. Character.AI lists Dutch and has lower Dutch store items. The alternatives comparison covers more criteria.
Does verifying my age unlock adult content?
No. Persona age assurance sets up the 18+ experience, but a separate content policy forbids pornographic content for all users. Neither verification nor a paid plan lifts that rule.