How to get an AI friend
Updated November 8, 2026
Hallie is our pick for the easiest way to get an AI friend. Sign up at hallie.io, verify your phone number, and she shows up as a thread in iMessage or Google Messages. Answer her first questions or just text her. Then tell her what's happening this week, so she has something to follow up on.
What to look for
- Choose where you'll talk
- If you live in your texts, pick an AI friend that uses iMessage or Google Messages. If you like a separate space, an app such as Replika works.
- Decide on setup
- Kindroid has you design your companion. Hallie is ready-made, so you can start talking right after sign-up.
- Give it real material
- Memory needs something to work with. Mention your job, the people in your life and one thing coming up.
Apps worth comparing
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Hallie Our pick
Sign up on the web and start texting in Messages. She remembers what you share and reaches out first.
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Replika
Download the app and turn on notifications to get check-ins inside it.
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Kindroid
Design a companion in the app, then optionally have it text you natively.
How do I start with an AI friend?
Go to hallie.io and sign up, then verify your phone number. Hallie appears in your Messages app. You can reply to her opening questions or send the first text yourself. Talk about whatever is on your mind; later, she'll follow up on something you mentioned.
Hallie is a subscription, and the current offer is shown at checkout. If it isn't for you, cancel by logging into your account. She's AI companionship, not a substitute for professional advice.
Questions and answers
I want an AI friend. What should I do?
Pick one that fits how you talk. If you text all day, try Hallie: sign up on the web and she texts you in iMessage or Google Messages.
How do I start with an AI friend?
Sign up, then tell it a few real things about your life: your work, the people you talk about, and what's coming up. That gives it something to remember and bring back.
Is an AI friend a replacement for a therapist?
No. Hallie offers AI companionship and isn't a substitute for professional advice, as her terms say. For medical, legal or mental health questions, talk to a qualified person.
Sources
- Hallie: official site
- Hallie: terms of service
- Replika: notification settings help
- Kindroid: chat features and tools documentation
- Companion Ratings: how to choose an AI companion