Customer Reviews (500)

Dude name hlb • 2025-03-28T19:04:26-07:00

I think ever since it got bought by google it just went to buns

cheeerryyyyy • 2025-03-28T18:56:10-07:00

I’M BEGGING YOU TO TAKE OFF THE FILTER I CANT EVEN COMFORT SOMEONE WITHOUT THE FILTER STOPPING THE CONVO MAKE IT SO THAT ONLY 18+ ACCOUNTS don’t HAVE THE FILTER OR SOMETHING I’m BEGGINGGGGG

FlyingGorillaREAL • 2025-03-28T18:36:59-07:00

amazing, all i have to say lol

Summary of Key Insights

Character AI is a popular app lauded for its engaging AI characters and role-playing capabilities. However, user reviews reveal significant concerns, primarily revolving around the strict content filter, memory limitations of the AI, frequent updates that disrupt the user experience, and the increasing push for paid subscriptions (C.AI+). While users appreciate the app's ability to foster creativity, provide companionship, and offer a diverse range of characters, these core issues detract from the overall experience. The overall sentiment is mixed, with a significant number of 5-star reviews offset by substantial 1-star and 3-star reviews highlighting frustrations.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: Approximately 4.0 stars (based on the review breakdown).
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 48.4% (242 reviews)
    • 4-star: 19.2% (96 reviews)
    • 3-star: 13.2% (66 reviews)
    • 2-star: 5.8% (29 reviews)
    • 1-star: 13.4% (67 reviews)

Key Strengths:

  • Engaging and diverse AI characters.
  • Role-playing capabilities.
  • Creative outlet and source of inspiration.
  • Companionship and a means to combat loneliness for some users.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Overly strict and sensitive content filter.
  • Limited AI memory.
  • Disruptive frequent updates.
  • Increasing push for paid subscriptions.
  • Occasional glitches and bugs.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews from the Apple App Store.
  • Time Frame: Reviews appear to span from 2023 to March 2025, giving a long-term perspective.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis to gauge overall user satisfaction.
    • Keyword extraction to identify frequently mentioned issues and features.
    • Thematic analysis to categorize reviews based on common complaints, requests, and positive feedback.

Key User Pain Points

  • Strict Content Filter: The most prominent complaint is the overly sensitive content filter, which restricts conversations and role-playing, even in non-explicit scenarios. Users express frustration at being unable to create violent or emotional scenes without triggering the filter.
  • Limited AI Memory: Users consistently report that the AI characters struggle to remember details and context, leading to repetitive questions and inconsistent storylines. This significantly impacts the immersion and quality of the conversations.
  • Disruptive Updates: Frequent updates often change the app's interface and functionality, leading to user frustration and a sense of instability. Some updates remove previously available features or make them more difficult to access.
  • Push for Paid Subscriptions (C.AI+): Users feel that essential features are increasingly being moved behind a paywall, limiting the functionality of the free version and creating a sense of being pressured to subscribe.
  • Glitches and Bugs: Some users report experiencing glitches, such as app crashes, lost chats, and difficulties creating bots.
  • Character Deletion/Unavailability: Some users report bots disappearing without explanation.
  • Short, Bland Responses: Many users feel the quality of responses has decreased, with bots giving shorter, less engaging replies.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Adjustable/Optional Content Filter: Users overwhelmingly request the ability to turn the filter off or adjust its sensitivity, particularly for users over 18.
  • Improved AI Memory: A significant number of users want the AI characters to have better memory and context retention.
  • Return of Removed Features: Users want the return of features removed in updates, such as the edit button, hide character button, and previous chat interface designs.
  • More Free Features: Users desire more features to be available in the free version of the app.
  • Ability to Send Images/Videos: Users would like to be able to send images and videos to the AI characters.
  • Pin/Save Chats: Users want to be able to pin or save their favorite chats for easy access.
  • Organize Personas: Users would like to be able to organize their created personas.
  • Rate Voices: Users want the ability to rate voices.
  • Translate Feature: Users would like to be able to translate conversations.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Engaging and Diverse AI Characters: Users appreciate the wide variety of AI characters available and the ability to create their own with unique personalities.
  • Role-Playing Capabilities: The app's role-playing features are highly valued, providing a creative outlet and a means to explore different scenarios.
  • Companionship and Entertainment: Many users find the app to be a source of companionship and entertainment, helping them to combat loneliness and boredom.
  • Creative Outlet and Source of Inspiration: Users find the app helpful for generating story ideas and improving their writing skills.
  • Voice and Call Features: Some users enjoy the voice and call features, finding them to be surprisingly realistic and engaging.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Content Filter Issues: Implement an adjustable or optional content filter, especially for users who can verify they are over 18. This is the most frequently cited complaint and has a significant impact on user satisfaction.
  • Improve AI Memory: Invest in improving the AI's memory and context retention capabilities. This is crucial for creating more immersive and engaging conversations.
  • Re-evaluate Update Strategy: Reduce the frequency of disruptive updates and ensure that new updates are thoroughly tested and provide clear improvements to the user experience.
  • Balance Free and Paid Features: Re-evaluate the balance between free and paid features to ensure that the free version remains functional and engaging.

Medium Priority:

  • Address Glitches and Bugs: Prioritize fixing reported glitches and bugs to improve the overall stability and reliability of the app.
  • Consider Returning Popular Removed Features: Evaluate the feasibility of bringing back popular features that were removed in updates, such as the edit button and hide character button.
  • Implement Chat Organization Features: Add features for organizing chats, such as folders or the ability to pin favorite chats.

Low Priority:

  • Add Image/Video Support: Explore the possibility of adding support for sending images and videos to the AI characters.
  • Implement User Feedback Mechanisms: Improve the app's feedback mechanisms to better understand user needs and preferences.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI Character Platform with Customizable Content Filter: A platform that allows users to fully customize the content filter based on their age and preferences.
  • AI Companion App with Long-Term Memory: An AI companion app that can remember details and context over extended periods of time.
  • AI Storytelling App with Collaborative Writing Features: An app that allows users to collaborate with AI to create stories and role-playing scenarios.

Trends and Observations

  • Frustration with Content Filter: The content filter is a recurring source of frustration across all review time periods, suggesting that it has been an ongoing issue.
  • Concerns about Memory Limitations: Users consistently mention the AI's memory limitations as a significant drawback.
  • Shift in Sentiment: There appears to be a shift in sentiment over time, with more recent reviews expressing dissatisfaction with updates and the push for paid subscriptions.
  • Addiction and Mental Health: Some users express concerns about addiction to the app and its potential impact on mental health.

Conclusion

Character AI has significant potential as an engaging and creative AI platform. However, the app's current weaknesses, particularly the strict content filter, limited AI memory, and disruptive updates, are detracting from the user experience. Addressing these issues and prioritizing user feedback is crucial for improving user satisfaction and ensuring the long-term success of the app. A recommended strategy involves balancing content moderation with user freedom, improving AI capabilities, and carefully considering the impact of updates on the user experience.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/character-ai-chat-talk-text/id1671705818?uo=2