Is Replika safe? Privacy, age checks and content, explained
Quick answer
Replika is an 18+ AI companion app that checks age with a date of birth and, when needed, a selfie or ID check. It says your messages are never read by people on its behalf and never used for ads, though its policy allows human review for safety, uses small anonymized samples to train its own safety models, and shares some device and usage data with advertising partners. Romance is allowed and pornographic content is banned. In 2025 Italy’s privacy regulator fined its maker 5 million euros.
The short answer
Replika has been around longer than most AI companion apps, and its privacy policy is detailed and fairly clear. Its rules have tightened over time. The things to know are that it shares some non-chat data with advertising partners, it isn't end-to-end encrypted, and Italy's privacy regulator has fined it.
Competitor details last checked November 3, 2026, from each company’s own website and terms. Features change often, so check each app before you sign up.
| Replika | |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18+ (or the age of majority where you live, if higher) |
| Age checks | Date of birth, plus a selfie or ID check (via Incode) when needed |
| Encryption | Encrypted in transit; no end-to-end claim |
| Who can read chats | Says people don’t read chats; safety checks may involve human review |
| Training AI on chats | Small anonymized samples train its own safety models, not outside AI models |
| Selling data | Chats never used for ads; some device and usage data shared with ad partners |
| Content | Romance allowed; pornographic content banned |
| If you mention self-harm | Shows crisis resources (988 in the US) when it detects a crisis |
| Deleting your data | Delete in Settings; profile and memories erased within 60 days |
Privacy: who can see your chats?
Replika's help center says your messages are never read or answered by people on its behalf. Its privacy policy adds detail: replies are generated with outside AI providers, which must delete conversation data promptly, and its safety systems use automated checks and, where necessary, human review to spot messages that suggest a crisis.
It uses small, anonymized portions of messages to train its own safety systems and improve the chatbot, and says that data isn't used to train outside AI models. Data is encrypted in transit; Replika doesn't claim end-to-end encryption.
On advertising, Replika says your conversations are never used for ads and advertisers never see them. Its policy does say it shares device and usage data with partners such as Meta and Google through trackers, which counts as "selling" or "sharing" under some US state laws. US users can opt out under "Your Privacy Choices", and in the EU and UK that sharing is opt-in.
Age checks
Replika is for adults only. It asks for your date of birth, and when needed, it uses an age check from a specialist provider: a selfie age estimate, done on your device where possible, or an ID check through Incode. Replika says it only receives an age band, and biometric data is deleted within 24 hours.
The Italian fine
In May 2025, Italy's data protection authority fined Luka, Replika's maker, 5 million euros. The regulator found that Replika had no valid legal basis for some of its data processing when Italy blocked the app in early 2023, that its privacy policy was inadequate, and that it lacked real age verification. It also opened a separate investigation into how Replika's AI was trained. The regulator's release notes that the decision can be appealed. Replika's age checks and privacy policy have been updated since.
What content is allowed?
Replika supports romantic conversations, and choosing "romantic partner" opens them up, but its terms ban pornographic content. It has zero tolerance for anything sexualizing minors, including in fiction, and it doesn't let you make your Replika impersonate a real person, such as an ex, without their consent.
What happens in a crisis?
Replika's terms tell anyone in crisis to stop using the app and contact a crisis line, such as 988 in the US, and the app can recognize messages that suggest a crisis and show crisis resources. It's not an emergency service. If you or someone you know is in danger, call or text 988 in the US, or your local emergency number.
Deleting your data
You can delete your Replika from Settings in the app or on the web, and it's permanent. Replika says your profile, memories and purchases are erased within 60 days. While your account is open, it keeps texts for up to 24 months and photos, video and voice for up to 12 months. You can't clear all chat history without deleting the account.
How DreamHoney compares
| DreamHoney | Replika | |
|---|---|---|
| Age checks | Our terms require 18+; no ID or selfie check | Date of birth, plus a selfie or ID check (via Incode) when needed |
| Encryption | Encrypted in storage and in transit | Encrypted in transit; no end-to-end claim |
| Training AI on chats | Used for memory and to improve replies; never sold | Small anonymized samples train its own safety models, not outside AI models |
| Selling data | Doesn’t sell your data | Chats never used for ads; some device and usage data shared with ad partners |
| Content | Flirty but non-explicit | Romance allowed; pornographic content banned |
| If you mention self-harm | Your character steps out of the roleplay and points you to 988 or emergency services | Shows crisis resources (988 in the US) when it detects a crisis |
| Deleting your data | Delete your account from your Profile; chats, memories and photos are deleted | Delete in Settings; profile and memories erased within 60 days |
Replika's age checks go further than ours: DreamHoney relies on its terms rather than a selfie or ID check. DreamHoney is built around 68 ready-made photorealistic characters rather than one avatar, it stays flirty but non-explicit, and deleting your account removes your chats, memories and photos. See DreamHoney vs. Replika or the best Replika alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is Replika safe to use?
Replika is an 18+ app with age checks, a detailed privacy policy and crisis resources. It says chats are never used for ads or read by people on its behalf, though safety checks may involve human review and some device data is shared with ad partners. Italy’s privacy regulator fined its maker in 2025.
Does Replika read your messages?
Replika says your messages are never read or responded to by people on its behalf. Its privacy policy allows human review where necessary to detect crisis messages.
Does Replika sell your data?
Replika says conversations are never used for advertising. Its policy says it shares device and usage data with partners such as Meta and Google, which counts as selling or sharing under some US state laws; US users can opt out.
Why was Replika fined in Italy?
In May 2025 Italy’s data protection authority fined Replika’s maker, Luka, 5 million euros over its legal basis for processing data, an inadequate privacy policy and a lack of real age verification. The decision can be appealed.