How to read this table: every answer comes from the provider’s own policy, help pages or app-store listing, checked 31 October 2026. “Not stated” means we read the official pages and they don’t say. “Couldn’t check” means the page blocked automated access, so check it yourself. Policies change often: two of these were updated in the week before our check.
The comparison
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see all five apps.
| Question | Character.AI | Janitor AI | Replika | Nomi | Kindroid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Are chats used to improve AI models? | Couldn’t check Its policy pages blocked automated access. Check Settings for a data or model-improvement option. | Couldn’t check Policy blocked; the help centre does not say. | Small, anonymised portions are used internally for safety and chatbot improvement. Not used to train third-party models. | Nomis learn “in aggregate” from chats, such as thumbs-up feedback, with names removed. | Policy does not mention model training; it lists “improving the Services”. |
| Can you opt out? | Couldn’t check | Couldn’t check | Not stated | Not stated | Users in the EU, UK and Switzerland get a consent setting under Profile, Privacy and data usage. |
| How long is data kept? | Couldn’t check | Account deletion is permanent. No retention period found. | Text chats 24 months, photos, videos and voice 12 months while the account is open. Profile and memories deleted within 60 days of account deletion. | Personal information removed about 28 days after deletion. De-identified training data is kept. | Until you delete it. Some account records kept up to 7 years for fraud prevention; server logs 30 days. |
| Can you export your data? | Yes, through the app or website. | Not found in the help centre. | On request (privacy settings or my@replika.com). No self-serve tool found. | On request to support@nomi.ai, depending on local law. No self-serve tool found. | Yes, self-serve: Profile, Preferences, Export data, once every 30 days. |
| Can you delete your account yourself? | Yes, through the app or website. | Yes: Settings, Security, Delete account, confirmed by email code. | Yes: Account Settings, Delete Replika. Permanent. | Yes: Profile, Account Settings, then type DELETE. Permanent. | Yes, by deleting every Kin; the last is deleted after 24 hours. Does not cancel a subscription. |
| Can people read your chats? | Couldn’t check | Reported content is reviewed by moderators. Whether private chats are read: not stated. | Humans may review content that automated systems flag as a risk of serious harm. | Not stated. Chats are not end-to-end encrypted. | Support can’t browse chats. Authorised staff may review excerpts flagged by safety systems. Not end-to-end encrypted. |
| Selling data and advertising | Store labels disagree: Apple lists data used to track you and says the app contains ads; Google Play says no data is shared. | Couldn’t check Chats sent through a proxy go to the outside provider you connect. | Never shares conversations with advertisers, but shares device and activity data with Meta, Google and AppsFlyer. Opt out under “Your Privacy Choices”. | Does not sell or rent personal information. No ad networks now, though the policy allows them. | Says it does not sell or share personal data, but elsewhere says some disclosures may count as a “sale”. |
| Minimum age and checks | Rated 18+ on the App Store. Open-ended chat removed for under-18s in the US since November 2025. | 18+. Age checks in Australia, Brazil and the UK through k-ID. | 18+ (or local age of majority). May ask for a selfie or ID. | 18+. Date of birth at sign-up; no verification method described. | 18+. Paid users verified through billing; some free users checked by selfie or ID through Yoti. |
| Privacy policy last updated | Couldn’t check | Couldn’t check | 28 October 2026 | 27 April 2026 | 29 October 2026 |
What stands out
This section is our editorial judgement, based on the table above.
- Kindroid gives you the most self-serve control: a built-in data export, detailed deletion rules and a consent setting for some regions. Watch out that deleting your account doesn’t cancel your subscription.
- Replika is the most specific about retention, with fixed periods for chats and media. It also shares device and activity data with advertising partners, which you can opt out of.
- Nomi’s policy is short on detail: no opt-out from model improvement and no self-serve export.
- Janitor AI’s policy couldn’t be checked, and if you connect an outside model through a proxy, your messages go to that provider too.
- Character.AI’s future is uncertain. It began a Chapter 11 sale process in October 2026 and says it will wind down if no buyer keeps it running. If you use it, export your data now. See our Character.AI guide.
Before you share anything personal
None of these apps offers end-to-end encryption for chats, as far as their pages say. Treat anything you type as something the company can read and keep. Our privacy checklist shows how to check any app yourself.
Sources
- Character.AI: October 2026 announcement; under-18 changes; App Store listing; Google Play data safety. Privacy policy and help centre blocked automated checks.
- Janitor AI: help centre, including the age verification, account deletion and proxy setup articles. Privacy policy and terms blocked automated checks.
- Replika: privacy policy and terms (both updated 28 Oct 2026); account deletion help.
- Nomi: privacy policy (updated 27 Apr 2026); terms; wiki: are conversations private?; wiki: encryption; wiki: account deletion.
- Kindroid: privacy policy and terms (privacy policy updated 29 Oct 2026); FAQs; age verification.
Documentation-based comparison, not a technical audit. Checked 31 October 2026. No affiliate links.