How we rate platforms
Every platform in our directory is assessed against the same six editorial criteria. Here is what each one means and how scores are presented.
Our six criteria
- Features The range and depth of what a platform offers: conversation quality, memory, voice or image features, group chats and other tools. We look at whether features work as described, not just whether they are listed.
- Ease of use How quickly a new user can get started, how clear the interface is, and how pleasant the platform is to use day to day.
- Accessibility Device and platform availability (web, iOS, Android), how readable and navigable the interface is, and whether core features are usable without a paid plan.
- Customization How much control users have over a companion's personality, backstory, appearance and conversation style.
- Value What users get for free and what they get for the price of paid plans, relative to similar platforms. We do not quote prices because they change often; please verify pricing directly with each provider.
- Privacy & transparency How clearly a platform explains its data practices, content policies, age requirements and billing terms. This is a transparency assessment, not a security audit.
The overall score
The overall rating is an editorial judgement informed by the six criteria above. It is not a strict average: a serious weakness in one area, such as unclear billing terms, can lower the overall score more than a simple average would.
How scores are displayed
Ratings are stored on a 5-point scale. Overall ratings are shown out of 5 with stars; individual criteria are shown on a 10-point scale with progress bars for readability. For example:
| Out of 5 | Out of 10 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 – 5.0 | 9 – 10 | Excellent against our criteria |
| 4.0 – 4.4 | 8 – 8.9 | Very good, with minor trade-offs |
| 3.0 – 3.9 | 6 – 7.9 | Good, with notable limitations |
| 2.0 – 2.9 | 4 – 5.9 | Below average |
| 0.0 – 1.9 | 0 – 3.9 | Poor |
How lists are ordered
Ratings and list order are separate. Our lists are ordered by public popularity data: each platform's global website rank in the Tranco list (Tranco list Y897G (2026-11-13)). Tranco is a research ranking of the top one million websites that averages several independent traffic sources (Chrome UX Report, Cloudflare Radar, Cisco Umbrella, Majestic and Farsight) over 30 days, so it is hard to manipulate. The most visited platforms appear first; platforms outside the top one million follow.
Popularity is not the same as quality: a newer or smaller platform can still be the better fit for you.
Our process
- We use the platform where possible and read its public documentation, terms and privacy policy.
- We record the date of each review on the platform page.
- Entries marked pending verification contain sample data that has not yet been confirmed by our editors.
- We re-check platforms periodically and when we are told about significant changes.
Independence
Ratings are editorial assessments and may be updated. They are not paid for, and adding our badge or submitting a site does not influence scores. If we ever use affiliate links, they are labelled on the relevant page and do not affect ratings.
Spotted something out of date? Let us know and we will review it.