Alternatives
Grok's Ani is gone: what happened, and the best alternatives
Ani, the animated companion inside Grok, was one of the most talked about AI companions of 2025. In July 2026 xAI said it was retiring the companion mode. If you used her and want something similar, the question is which part you miss most: the animated avatar, the voice, or the relationship that built up over time.
What happened to Grok's Ani?
xAI retired the 3D companion mode in 2026, including Ani, Valentine, Mika and Rudi.
Coverage of the shutdown reports that on 24 July 2026 xAI called the companions an experiment it was retiring to focus on core Grok, and that an in-app notice named 1 September 2026 as the removal date, rolled out account by account. We found no xAI blog post with these dates, so they come from press and guide coverage rather than an official page.
What did Ani offer, and what is left?
An animated 3D avatar, outfits, a real-time voice and an affection level that unlocked more over time.
At launch in July 2025 the feature was limited to SuperGrok subscribers, reported at $30 a month, and first appeared in the iPhone app. According to RoboRhythms, chat history and saved memories stay on your account after the retirement, while the companion tab, the avatar, the outfits and the voice layer are gone.
Which apps come closest to Ani?
None copies her exactly, but each covers one part.
| If you miss | Look at | How it works there |
|---|---|---|
| The animated avatar | Replika | A 3D avatar you customise, with voice calls on the paid plan |
| Talking face to face | Kindroid | Live avatar video calls for subscribers, billed in audio credits |
| Talking face to face | X-Friend | Live video calls with your own character in Premium and Ultra |
| A voice that answers | Nomi | Voice chats and a hands-free call |
| The progression | X-Friend, Replika, Nomi | One companion who remembers and changes with you |
Is there an Ani alternative with video calls?
Yes. Kindroid and X-Friend both offer live video calls.
Kindroid's live avatar video calls lip sync and gesture in real time and are available to subscribers, charged in audio credits per minute. In X-Friend, the character you created appears on screen, talks in real time, remembers your chats and changes place when you ask, say to the kitchen or the beach. Video calls are part of Premium and Ultra with a set number of minutes per week.
Is there an anime style alternative?
Yes, if the anime look was the point.
Character.AI and Talkie Lab have large numbers of anime characters, although as text and voice rather than an animated 3D figure. In X-Friend you can create an anime character in the creator, and video calls work with anime characters as well as realistic ones.
What does X-Friend cost compared with SuperGrok?
Premium is €7.99 a week or €139.99 a year (Google Play, Germany), Ultra €17.99 a week or €249.99 a year. SuperGrok was reported at $30 a month at launch, but it is a general AI subscription, and the companions are no longer part of it.
X-Friend runs on Android and in the browser, including on iPhone. There is no free trial; you start with a limited number of free messages, and there is a 3 day money-back guarantee.
Questions people ask
Is Grok's Ani still available?
No. xAI announced on 24 July 2026 that it was retiring the 3D companions, including Ani, and an in-app notice gave 1 September 2026 as the removal date, rolled out account by account. These dates come from press coverage; we found no official xAI post with them.
What is the best alternative to Grok Ani?
For an animated avatar, Replika. For talking face to face, Kindroid or X-Friend, which both have live video calls. For a voice companion with good memory, Nomi.
Did Ani require a subscription?
At launch in July 2025 the companions were limited to SuperGrok subscribers, reported at $30 a month, and appeared in the iPhone app first.
Do I lose my chats with Ani?
According to coverage of the shutdown, chat history and saved memories stay on your Grok account. The avatar, outfits, companion tab and voice layer are removed.
Where to go from here
- Video calls in X-Friend
- Can an AI girlfriend video call you? The apps that can in 2026
- The X-Friend character creator
- An AI girlfriend you create yourself
Sources
- RoboRhythms, "Grok Ani Alternatives Now That the Companion Is Retiring": retirement announcement of 24 July 2026, removal date 1 September 2026, what stays on the account.
- Decrypt and other press coverage, July 2025: launch of Grok companions for SuperGrok subscribers at $30 a month on iOS.
- Kindroid help center, "Voice, calls, and video calls". Nomi.ai homepage. Replika and Talkie Lab App Store listings, checked 20 October 2026.