What Data Do AI Companion Apps Collect?
Every AI companion app collects some data. Understanding what's collected helps you make informed decisions about which platforms to use.
Conversation logs: Most platforms store your full conversation history on their servers. This is necessary for features like persistent memory and conversation context. Some platforms encrypt these logs, others don't. Check the privacy policy.
Account information: Email, username, payment details if you subscribe to premium. Standard for any online service.
Usage data: Which characters you talk to, how often, session length, feature usage. Used for product improvement and analytics.
Generated content: AI-generated images, voice clips, and other media you create or receive. These are typically stored on the platform's servers.
The key question isn't whether data is collected (it always is) but how it's stored, who can access it, and whether it's linked to your real identity.
Privacy Best Practices
Use a separate email for AI companion apps. Don't use your primary email that's linked to your professional identity. Create a dedicated email address for these services.
Don't share personally identifying information in conversations. Avoid mentioning your full name, workplace, address, or other details that could identify you. The AI doesn't need this information, and it's stored on servers you don't control.
Use strong, unique passwords. Don't reuse passwords from other services. A password manager makes this easy.
Consider payment privacy. Some platforms accept cryptocurrency or allow payment through intermediaries that don't show the platform name on your bank statement. If billing discretion matters to you, check the platform's payment options before subscribing.
Review the privacy policy. Specifically look for: whether your data is sold to third parties, how long data is retained after account deletion, whether conversations can be accessed by employees, and the platform's data breach notification policy.
Platform-Specific Privacy Notes
Character.AI stores all conversations and uses them for model training. Their privacy policy explicitly states that conversations may be reviewed by employees. Given the SFW nature of the platform, this is less sensitive than it would be for NSFW platforms.
Replika has faced criticism for privacy practices. In 2023, Italian regulators temporarily banned the app over data protection concerns. Replika has since improved its compliance but the incident highlights the importance of checking privacy records.
Smaller platforms (Muah AI, Kupid AI, Pephop AI) often have less robust security infrastructure than larger players. Their privacy policies may be vague or boilerplate. Exercise extra caution with newer or smaller platforms.
CrushOn AI and Candy AI both publish privacy policies that address NSFW content specifically, stating that conversations are encrypted and not shared with third parties. Verify these claims independently if privacy is a critical concern for you.