How We Test AI Companions

Every platform reviewed on AI Companion Picker goes through the same rigorous testing process. This page explains exactly how we evaluate each platform, our scoring criteria, and why you can trust our recommendations.

Testing Duration: Why 7 Days Minimum

We spend a minimum of 7 days testing each platform. This isn't a quick 30-minute trial - we use each platform daily to understand how it truly performs over time.

Why 7 days? Because first impressions can be misleading. Some platforms impress initially but become repetitive after a few days. Others start slow but reveal depth over time. A week of daily use reveals the true experience.

Our Daily Testing Routine

• Morning: Continue existing conversations, test context retention
• Afternoon: Try new scenarios, test specific features
• Evening: Document observations, note any issues

Our Scoring System: 4 Categories, 100 Points

Each platform receives a score out of 100, broken down into four weighted categories. Here's exactly how we calculate ratings:

Category 1: Conversation Quality (30%)

This is the most important category because it's the core product. An AI companion that can't hold a good conversation fails at its primary purpose.

What We Test

• Natural dialogue flow: Does it feel like talking to a character, or a chatbot? We test with varied conversation styles - casual chat, emotional support, creative roleplay.
• Context retention: Does it remember what you discussed yesterday? Last week? We deliberately reference past conversations to test memory.
• Character consistency: Does the AI stay in character? We test by trying to "break" the character with contradictory prompts.
• Response variety: Does it give the same responses repeatedly, or genuinely varied answers? Repetition is a major quality killer.
• Emotional intelligence: Can it detect and respond appropriately to emotional cues? We test with both positive and challenging scenarios.

Scoring Rubric

• 27-30 points: Exceptional - conversations feel genuinely engaging, excellent memory, zero repetition
• 22-26 points: Good - natural flow with minor issues, decent memory
• 17-21 points: Average - functional but noticeably AI-like, limited memory
• 12-16 points: Below average - repetitive, poor context retention
• 0-11 points: Poor - feels like a basic chatbot, breaks character frequently

Category 2: Value for Money (25%)

We evaluate whether you're getting fair value at each price point. The cheapest option isn't always the best value, and the most expensive isn't always worth it.

What We Evaluate

• Free tier generosity: How much can you actually do for free? Some platforms offer 50+ free messages; others limit you to 5.
• Premium pricing: Is the monthly cost reasonable for what you get? We compare against industry averages ($10-30/month).
• Feature-to-price ratio: Do premium features justify the upgrade cost?
• Hidden costs: Are there surprise credit systems, upsells, or paywalled features not mentioned upfront?
• Refund policy: Can you get your money back if unsatisfied?

Scoring Rubric

• 23-25 points: Excellent value - generous free tier, fair pricing, no hidden costs
• 18-22 points: Good value - reasonable pricing with minor limitations
• 13-17 points: Average - standard industry pricing, some restrictions
• 8-12 points: Overpriced - features don't justify cost
• 0-7 points: Poor value - aggressive upselling, hidden fees, restrictive limits

Category 3: Features (25%)

Beyond conversation, what else does the platform offer? We test every major feature thoroughly.

Features We Test

• Image generation: Quality, speed, customization options, and how well images match the character.
• Character customization: How much control do you have over appearance, personality, and backstory?
• Voice features: Quality of voice chat or voice messages, if available.
• Memory system: Can you add facts, preferences, and relationship history that the AI remembers?
• Platform stability: Uptime, loading speeds, error frequency.

Scoring Rubric

• 23-25 points: Feature-rich - excellent images, deep customization, voice, robust memory
• 18-22 points: Good features - most expected features work well
• 13-17 points: Basic - conversation-focused with limited extras
• 8-12 points: Limited - missing key features competitors offer
• 0-7 points: Barebones - text chat only, no customization

Category 4: Ease of Use (20%)

A great platform should be intuitive. You shouldn't need a tutorial to figure out basic features.

What We Evaluate

• Onboarding: How quickly can a new user start chatting? Is account creation painless?
• Interface clarity: Are features easy to find? Is navigation logical?
• Mobile experience: Does it work well on phones? Is there an app?
• Account management: Easy to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel?
• Help resources: Documentation, FAQ, customer support quality.

Scoring Rubric

• 18-20 points: Excellent UX - intuitive, fast, works great everywhere
• 14-17 points: Good UX - easy to use with minor friction
• 10-13 points: Average - functional but could be improved
• 6-9 points: Confusing - hard to find features, poor mobile experience
• 0-5 points: Frustrating - buggy, slow, actively impedes use

Our Testing Process: Day by Day

Here's exactly what happens during our 7-day testing period:

Our Commitment to Honesty

Let's address the elephant in the room: yes, we use affiliate links and earn commissions when you subscribe through our links.

But here's what we don't do:

• We don't rank platforms higher because they pay more commission
• We don't hide flaws to protect affiliate relationships
• We don't accept payment for reviews or "sponsored" placements
• We don't recommend platforms we haven't personally tested

Our business model only works if you trust our recommendations. If we recommend bad platforms, you'll leave and never come back. That's why honesty isn't just ethical - it's essential to our survival.

How We Handle Conflicts of Interest

When a platform we recommend makes changes (price increases, feature removals, policy changes), we update our review immediately - even if it hurts our affiliate relationship.

We've removed recommendations for platforms that became worse over time. Our archive shows past reviews we've downgraded when platforms stopped deserving their ratings.

Updates Policy

AI companion platforms evolve rapidly. Here's how we keep reviews accurate:

• Quarterly re-testing: Top platforms get re-tested every 3 months
• Immediate updates: Major changes (pricing, features) trigger instant updates
• Version tracking: Every article shows its last update date
• Changelog: Significant reviews include update logs showing what changed

Platforms We've Tested

Using this methodology, we've reviewed and compared the top AI companion platforms:

• Candy AI Review - Our top pick for image generation
• CrushOn AI Review - Best budget option
• Character AI Alternatives - Options for different needs
• Best Free AI Girlfriend Apps - No-cost options tested
• Candy vs CrushOn vs Replika - Head-to-head comparison

Questions About Our Process?

We believe in transparency. If you have questions about how we tested a specific platform, want to see our raw notes, or want to suggest a platform for review, we're happy to hear from you.