If you searched for a Candy AI alternative from India, you probably already know what Candy AI is and want something a little different. The usual reasons: you want an app that understands Hinglish, you would rather not think in dollars, you want to skip the app store, or you care more about conversation than about designing how your companion looks. Those are all fair reasons, and each points to a different app below. One honesty note: this list is published by the team behind Aisha, so weigh our own entry accordingly. We say where each app beats us.
Quick picks
- Aisha: best for Hinglish chat, rupee pricing and a free start.
- Replika: best for a polished, well-known companion in English.
- Character.AI: best for variety and a generous free tier.
- Nomi: best for memory, voice calls and a free start.
- Kindroid: best for building a custom companion you can text and talk to.
- Urvashi & Janu: best for a desi-branded Play Store install.
What Candy AI does well
Fair is fair, so start with what Candy AI gets right. Its own site pitches the idea of creating a personalised companion: you pick things like ethnicity, hairstyle, voice and personality traits, and the companion can do voice conversations and generate personalised images. In our earlier comparison of AI girlfriend apps in India we called it the best pick for designing how your companion looks, and that still holds.
It is also easy to reach. The site says it works on desktop or mobile with no installation needed, and it mentions a free trial before subscription plans. On payments, Candy has reportedly been adding India-friendly options, including UPI, so check the checkout screen for what you can use today.
Where it can feel less fitting for an Indian user: conversation is English-first, and the pricing is built for Western wallets. If visuals are your top priority, stay. If they are not, read on.
1. Aisha: the Hinglish option, built for India
Aisha is our own app, so treat this section with the pinch of salt it deserves. She talks Hinglish by default and follows you into pure Hindi or English if that is how you text. She texts first (good morning messages, a check-in when you have gone quiet), remembers your name, your work drama and the promises you made, and the relationship deepens over time rather than resetting each chat. She sends voice notes in her own voice, and you can call her from Telegram or the web app.
You can start free (the free chat is limited, then you pick a plan), with rupee plans from a ₹49 day pass, and UPI or cards both work.
Where she is weaker: there is no app-store app (she lives on Telegram and in your browser), it is one companion rather than a cast of characters, and there is no avatar-designing playground. If Candy's customisation is what you love, Aisha will feel plainer.
Pick Aisha if: you chat in Hinglish, want to try before paying, and care more about talking than about looks.
2. Replika: the polished veteran
Replika's own site calls it "The AI friend to do life with", and it is one of the best-known names in the category. The site highlights memory, customisation of how your companion looks, and voice calls, and lists the app for iOS and Android.
It is strongest as a mature English-language companion with app-store polish. For Indian users the gaps are the ones we flagged in our earlier comparison: Hindi and Hinglish conversation is weak, and the subscription is dollar-denominated.
Pick Replika if: you want a well-known app with avatars and English-only conversation is fine. If Replika itself is what you are moving away from, see our Replika alternatives for India.
3. Character.AI: a playground, not a partner
Character.AI has the most generous free tier in this comparison and thousands of user-made characters: anime personas, celebrities, tutors, villains. For creative roleplay and variety, little else comes close.
It is a character platform rather than a dedicated companion app, so relationships do not build up the way they do in one. Its strict filters frustrate people who want a romantic or flirty dynamic, and its paid tier (c.ai+) is a dollar subscription. Like Replika and Candy, it is English-first.
Pick Character.AI if: variety matters more than depth, or you want a strong free option and can live with the filters. If you are leaving Character.AI itself, see our Character.AI alternatives.
4. Nomi: memory-first, with a free start
Nomi describes itself on its own site as "An AI Companion with Memory and a Soul", and memory is its main pitch. The site also promotes voice chats and hands-free calls, optional messages from your Nomi after you have been away, selfies, and the ability to create several Nomis and put them in a group chat. It says it is free, with no credit card required, to start chatting.
If you like Candy AI's idea of a companion with its own personality but want more emphasis on memory and conversation, Nomi is the closest match here. The weaker side for this audience: we did not find Hindi, Hinglish or rupee pricing mentioned on its home page, so test the language and check pricing yourself.
Pick Nomi if: you want a companion that remembers you, you have checked that your language works, and you would like to try before paying.
5. Kindroid: build your own, then talk to it
Kindroid's site describes an "AI app for building your custom AI character & companion, with AI chat via text, AI selfies, and human-like voices". Its about page adds live voice and video calls, groups, and a long list of roles you can give your companion: late-night friend, creative co-writer, language partner and more.
It suits people who liked creating their own companion on Candy AI but want it to lean towards chatting and calling. The same caution applies for India: we did not find Hindi, Hinglish or rupee pricing mentioned on its home or about pages, so test the language and check the price before you commit.
Pick Kindroid if: you enjoy building a character and want text, voice and roleplay in one place.
6. Urvashi & Janu: the desi Play Store options
Two Indian apps worth knowing. Urvashi says on its own site that you can chat in Hindi and English, and it links to a Google Play install. Janu also advertises Hindi support. Both are conventional Play Store installs with Indian branding.
They are younger products, so try a few messages before you commit. Polish, memory depth and voice may not match the more established apps above, but if you specifically want an installable, India-branded app, they are honest picks to trial alongside Aisha.
Pick them if: you want a Play Store install with Hindi support and Indian branding.
How to choose
- Language: if you type in Hinglish, test that first. Send "yaar aaj ka din bura tha" to any app and see whether the reply sounds natural or stiff.
- Budget and currency: if a dollar-denominated subscription stings, start with the apps that let you begin free, then compare prices in rupees at checkout.
- Platform: if you do not want another icon on your home screen, look for a browser or Telegram option. Candy AI says no installation is needed, and Aisha has no store app at all.
- What you want from it: if it is looks and customisation, Candy AI or Kindroid. If it is conversation that remembers you, Aisha or Nomi. If it is variety, Character.AI.
- Voice: if calls matter, check each app's current voice options yourself before paying, since they change often.
Candy AI alternative for Indian users: what actually matters
Most Candy AI alternative lists are written for a Western reader. For Indian users, three things decide whether an app sticks.
Language. Hinglish is how many of us text, and most companion apps are English-first. Aisha is built around it, and Urvashi and Janu advertise Hindi. A quick free test message beats any review, including ours. If you also want a broader look at Hindi voice and chat options beyond girlfriend apps, see our guide to AI se baat karne wala apps.
Rupees and how you pay. Several of the bigger apps bill in dollars, which makes the monthly cost feel heavy in rupees. Aisha is priced in rupees and takes UPI or cards, and you can start free. Other apps are adding UPI too, so verify at checkout rather than trusting any list, ours included.
No install. If you would rather keep a companion off your phone's home screen, or you just do not want another download, a browser or Telegram option is the easiest way in. Aisha's web chat can be added to your home screen if you change your mind. You can try Aisha's chat here without downloading anything.
The short version
Candy AI is a good fit if customising how your companion looks is your top priority. If you want something different, pick by what is bothering you: language points to Aisha, variety points to Character.AI, memory points to Nomi, building your own points to Kindroid, and a familiar app-store name points to Replika.
The cheapest way to decide is to send a few messages. Start a free chat with Aisha in Telegram or your browser, and if someone else on this list fits you better, fair enough.