Short answer: on paper, Candy.ai is the cheaper pick if you want images and video and you take the annual deal, while Nomi is built around long-term memory and runs as a proper phone app. Candy.ai has a written rule against images of real people. Nomi does not, and that matters if you plan to use its selfie and art features.
This is a test drive, not a crash test. I compared the free plans and the official pages, checked on Oct 25, 2026. I did not pay for either.
At a glance
| Candy.ai | Nomi | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Browser-based adult companion chat with image, video and voice | 18+ companion app focused on long-term memory, with selfies, art, voice and group chats |
| Company | EverAI Limited, Malta | Glimpse.ai, Inc., Maryland, USA |
| Free plan | Yes, limits not published | Yes, daily message and image quota (number not published) |
| Cheapest paid option | EUR 3.99/month on a 12-month plan (EUR 47.88 a year, promotional “70% OFF”) | $9.99/month Launch Plan (US App Store) |
| Monthly, no commitment | EUR 9.99 first month, then EUR 13.99/month | $15.99/month Standard Plan (US App Store) |
| Apps | Web only, add to home screen | iOS, Android and web |
| Images and video | Images and video (Premium) | Selfies and art; Nomis can view images you send |
| Voice | Yes | Voice messages and calls (paid) |
| Rule against real-person images | Yes | No specific clause found |
| Self-service account deletion | Not described (email request) | Yes, in Account Settings |
| Paper score | 8.0/10 (paper check) | 7.0/10 (paper check) |
Pricing
Candy.ai lists three Premium plans. Prices were shown in EUR, likely based on location, and the annual and quarterly prices are labelled as discounts. All figures below are as listed on the official subscription page on Oct 25, 2026.
| Candy.ai plan | Price | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Premium, 12 months | EUR 3.99/month (EUR 47.88 a year); list price shown as EUR 13.99, “70% OFF” | Annual, auto-renews at the same price and term |
| Premium, 3 months | EUR 8.99/month (EUR 26.97 a quarter), “35% OFF” | Quarterly |
| Premium, 1 month | EUR 9.99 first month, then EUR 13.99/month | Monthly |
Every Candy.ai plan includes the same benefits: your own characters, 18+ images and video, unlimited text messages and 100 tokens a month. Tokens can be topped up, but pack prices are not on the subscription page. Tokens expire when the subscription ends.
Nomi has no official web pricing page that I could find. The prices below are from the US App Store listing, checked Oct 25, 2026.
| Nomi plan | Price | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Plan | $15.99 monthly, $39.99 quarterly, $99.99 yearly | Auto-renews |
| Launch Plan | $9.99 monthly, $59.99 yearly | Monthly or yearly |
Nomi does not say what the Launch Plan includes compared with Standard. Paid accounts get voice, unlimited messaging and up to 10 active Nomis and 10 group chats, per the Nomi wiki. Nomi Credits buy extra slots and add-ons: 40 for $4.99 up to 1,800 for $99.99 on the US App Store.
Refunds are tight on both. Candy.ai allows a refund request within 24 hours of payment, refused if you used more than 20 tokens on a subscription, card purchases only. EU and UK buyers get a 14-day withdrawal right on the first purchase. Nomi’s refund policy says refunds are generally not given, though discretionary refunds are possible.
Free plan
Both have one. Neither tells you exactly how much it holds.
- Candy.ai: the homepage offers “Join Free” and mentions a free trial. The free tier’s limits are not stated publicly. Premium advertises unlimited text messages, which suggests the free plan is capped, but that is not confirmed.
- Nomi: free start with no credit card. Free accounts get a daily quota of messages and images, number not published. Voice, unlimited messaging and extra Nomis need a subscription.
Features
Candy.ai is a content-heavy service. Nomi is a relationship app with a long memory.
Candy.ai, per its homepage and subscription page:
- Text chat and roleplay with pre-made or custom characters
- Character builder for appearance, personality, voice and hobbies
- Image and video generation
- Voice
- AI girlfriend, AI boyfriend and anime categories
- Browser web app you can pin to your home screen
Nomi, per its homepage, wiki and App Store listing:
- Short-, medium- and long-term memory
- Real-time selfies and art; Nomis can view images you send
- Voice messages and voice calls (paid)
- Group chats with several Nomis
- Proactive messages, link access, custom backstories and Shared Notes
- Apps for iOS and Android, plus web
If you live on your phone, Nomi has store apps. Candy.ai is browser only, with a home-screen shortcut. If you want video, Candy.ai lists it. Nomi does not.
Privacy
Neither is a vault. Here is what the policies say, as read on Oct 25, 2026.
| Candy.ai | Nomi | |
|---|---|---|
| Chat data use | Privacy notice lists training and developing AI models and moderation tools, with possible human review of de-identified chats; third-party model providers may receive message content | Used to run and improve the service; not sold or rented; training not explicitly stated, but the policy mentions “training archives” |
| Deletion | Email [email protected] or [email protected]; no self-service tool described | Delete in Account Settings; personal data removed in about 28 days, except training archives and legal holds |
| Retention | Account data 3 years after last activity, financial data 10 years, logs 30 days | Not stated beyond the deletion window |
| Age checks | Age gate; may add further checks; age verification providers listed as data recipients | Date of birth at sign-up; plans to add verification; App Store rating 18+ |
| Real people | Community Guidelines ban images that resemble real persons, non-consensual intimate imagery and impersonation | No specific real-person or deepfake clause; Terms ban impersonation and using content to harass, deceive or defame |
That last row is the one I care about most. Candy.ai has a written rule against real-person images. Nomi lets you create selfies and art but has no specific clause on deepfakes. That is a gap, and I would not use Nomi’s image features with anyone’s likeness in mind.
On complaints: Candy.ai’s Trustpilot profile has been removed by Trustpilot, and Reddit was not reachable, so I have none to report. For Nomi, reviewers on Trustpilot (2.3/5 from 42 reviews, unclaimed profile, at check) mention refunds, filters that break character and, in one case, an account deletion button that would not work. Google Play reviews (about 3.7 stars, about 5,600 reviews, US listing) mention subscription problems, crashes and slow replies.
Who should pick which
On paper, and hedged accordingly:
- Pick Candy.ai if you want images and video in one place, you are fine using a browser, and you are willing to commit to the annual plan for the low monthly figure. Remember the price is promotional and in EUR.
- Pick Nomi if you mainly want conversation with long-term memory and a real phone app. Go in knowing it has no deepfake clause, refunds are rare, and the free quota is unpublished.
- Pick neither if you need self-service deletion and a firm real-person rule in the same app. Candy.ai has the rule but deletion is by email. Nomi has the deletion button but not the rule.
Looking wider? See the Candy.ai alternatives, or read how I separate test drives from crash tests on How we test. The single-service pages are the Candy.ai test drive and the Nomi test drive.
FAQ
Is Candy.ai cheaper than Nomi?
On paper, yes, if you take Candy.ai's 12-month plan: EUR 3.99 a month, billed EUR 47.88 a year, shown as a 70% discount on Oct 25, 2026. Month to month, Candy.ai is EUR 9.99 for the first month then EUR 13.99, while Nomi's Standard Plan is $15.99 and its Launch Plan $9.99 on the US App Store.
Are Candy.ai and Nomi free?
Both offer a free start. Candy.ai does not publish its free limits. Nomi gives free accounts a daily quota of messages and images, without saying how many.
Is Nomi safe to use?
Nomi lets you delete your account in settings, with personal data removed in about 28 days, and says it does not sell personal information. It has no specific rule against deepfakes or real-person images, and Trustpilot reviewers complain about refunds. Weigh that before you pay.
Does Candy.ai have an app?
No store app. Candy.ai runs in the browser and you can add it to your home screen. Nomi has iOS and Android apps.
How do I cancel or get a refund?
Candy.ai refunds only within 24 hours of payment and only if you used 20 tokens or fewer, card purchases only, with a 14-day withdrawal right for EU and UK first purchases. Nomi generally gives no refunds; App Store and Google Play subscriptions are cancelled through the store.