How to Develop an AI Chatbot App like Replika in 2025?

The craze of Artificial Intelligence is increasing day by day, and it is becoming an irreplaceable part of our daily lives. Businesses are willingly embracing this advanced technology, prioritizing AI chatbot app development services to grab the attention of a large base of users worldwide. Discussing the popularity of AI chatbots, Christine Crandell, the President of New Business Strategies, has referred-

“Chatbots Will Be Your New Best Friend”

to Forbes. Moreover, 90% of chatbot users see it as the most quick and easy way to acquire help or guidance. There are a majority of enterprises considering AI apps like Replika as an amazing way to deliver customers a personalized experience.  

Are you also looking to build an AI chatbot app like Replika? Below, we have curated a detailed guide including how to develop an AI app like Replika, required features, benefits, popular alternatives, use cases, and much more.

Let’s navigate to the particulars:

Overview of AI Chatbot Apps like Replika

Replika is a full-fledge, feature-rich AI chatbot application that uses Natural Processing Language (NLP), enabling people to have a human-like conversation with a chatbot. Businesses can use this AI chatbot app on mobile phones, websites, portals, and more. These chatbots comprehend user inputs and provide related responses based on the gathered data.

Personalized chatbots optimize their language interpretation and response-generating capabilities continuously via Machine Learning, providing an appropriate choice for businesses.                        

Launched in 2017, Replika was developed by Luka Inc. for messaging purposes only. Gradually, it improved by leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, NLP, etc., aiming to provide users with companionship emotional support and lead an intellectual chat. 

Get detailed insights about AI Chatbot app development market size and growth:

• The global AI chatbot market size is projected to reach USD 66.6 billion by 2033 from USD 6.4 billion in 2023, at a 26.4% CAGR between 2024 and 2033.
• The worldwide chatbot market size was projected at USD 7.76 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to grow at 23.3% CAGR from 2025 to 2030.
• In 2023, the chatbot market size was calculated at USD 5.4 billion and is projected to grow at 23.3% CAGR from 2023 to 2028.

• The AI chatbots market was esteemed at $3.3 billion in 2024 and it is forecasted to reach $22.6 billion by 2032, from an estimated value of $4.1 billion in 2025. The entire market will grow at a 27.8% CAGR between 2025 and 2032.

Significant Features to Integrate into AI Chatbot Apps like Replika

Features are crucial as they make your solution attractive and stand out from the competitors. Following is a list of the right features to add while building the best AI chatbot app:

– AI-powered Conversations

The chatbot app leverages AI to simulate human-like interactions. It also uses NLP and ML to process responses to users based on their previous conversations and preferences.

– NLP & Sentiment Analysis

NLP helps chatbots to understand and interpret inputs by users accurately. Best AI apps like Replika use sentiment analysis to detect user moods and emotions, while AI adjusts the responses and tone accordingly.

– AI Voice & Speech Recognition

Users can interact with the AI chatbot app via voice commands as speech recognition helps to convert words into text, providing hands-free interactions and a smooth conversation experience for users.

– Smart Reminders & Daily Check-Ins

AI apps like Replika assist users by sending reminders for self-care, tasks, and daily goals. These can also provide personalized suggestions and motivational messages for better productivity and personal growth.

– Gamification & Rewards

This feature facilitates users with interactive roleplaying, challenges, and storytelling modes to earn badges and rewards. AI chatbot app development must include this feature to keep users motivated and engaged.  

– Augmented Reality

AR allows users to interact with AI avatars in real-world environments, improving storytelling, roleplaying, and virtual companionship. AR integration into the chatbot adds a futuristic and interactive element to conversations.    

– Multi-language Support

AI apps like Replika must enable users with multilingual support, leading to global reach and accessibility. Users should be allowed to switch languages easily without dropping their context.  

– Privacy & Security Controls

The best AI chatbot app for Android and iOS always ensures user data privacy and security. Hence, intelligent chatbots implement robust end-to-end encryption, and regular audits, and have control over message deletion, data sharing, etc.

Also Read: How to Build a Chatbot Business Model?

Benefits Provided by AI Chatbot Apps like Replika

When it comes to AI chatbot app development, it is necessary to combine unique features to make the app appealing to users. Get to know here about some interactive features to create the best AI chatbot app:

1. Advanced AI-enabled Conversations

AI chatbots like Replika leverage deep learning and NLP to process human-like communication. These intelligent bots can understand human emotions, context, and intent, making the chat more engaging. By applying adaptive learning and memory retention, AI chatbots can provide faster, smarter, and evocative responses to users. 

2. Vast Monetization Opportunities

AI chatbot development is the most lucrative way for enterprises to make money and get maximum profits. Moreover, top AI development companies suggest businesses include multiple monetization strategies such as subscription models, in-app purchases, premium features, brand partnerships, content sales, and API licensing.  

3. Improved User Engagement

Acquiring the best AI apps like Replika provides users with a more engaging and appealing experience by adopting their preferences, communication styles, and habits. Features like Gamification, voice conversations, and more are also beneficial to encourage users to consistent app usage. Further, it helps in achieving higher loyalty and long-term user acquisition.    

4. Higher Personalization & Adaptive Learning

AI chatbot apps implement ML algorithms to familiarize individual users based on their preferences. AI app like Replika also offers more related interactions by using AI avatars, personalities, etc. to make users feel more valued and understood. Users can modify their chatbot’s personality, delivering a personalized experience.   

5. Cost-effective & Scalable Customer Support

Developing AI apps like Replika reduces operational costs by systematizing sales inquiries, customer services, and FAQs. These chatbots operate round-the-clock unlike human assistants and can manage multiple queries at a time with no downtime. It leads to optimized user satisfaction, faster response times, and less workload expenses.    

Popular Alternative AI Chatbot Apps like Replika

Ensure to add reliable features and functions into your AI chatbot app to make it eye-catching for worldwide user base. You can also have a look at these popular alternatives for AI apps like Replika to learn about the required structure:

AI Chatbot App	Founded Year	Ratings (Avg.)	Downloads	Key Features	Pros	Cons
Character.AI	2021	4.5/5	10M+	– Create & chat with custom AI characters – Multiple AI personalities – Interactive storytelling	– Highly creative & engaging – AI-generated characters – Free to use	– Sometimes slow response times – Limited emotional intelligence
Chai	2022	4.2/5	5M+	– Multiple AI chatbots with unique personalities – Fun and engaging conversations – Custom AI training	– Variety of AI personalities – Interactive and entertaining	– Limited deep AI learning – Ads in the free version
Anima	2021	4.3/5	1M+	– AI friendship & romantic chatbot – Roleplaying and personality customization – Emotional support	-Personalization options – Emotionally engaging AI	– Some features require payment – AI can sometimes be repetitive
Cleverbot	2006	3.9/5	10M+	– AI-powered text-based chatbot – Learns from user interactions – Random & unpredictable responses	– Fun for casual chats – Continuously evolving AI	– Lacks deep emotional intelligence – Nopersonality customization
Jasper AI, Inc.	2021	4.6/5	N/A (Web-based)	– AI writing assistant for content creation – Generates blog posts, ads, and creative text – Supports 25+ languages	– Great for businesses & content creators – High-quality AI-generated content	– Not designed for casual conversations – Subscription-based pricing

– Character.AI

Character.AI is a progressive AI chatbot app enabling users to get engaged with AI-generated characters with full customization. These pre-made or instantly built characters facilitate a more dynamic and winning experience. Moreover, this platform supports storytelling, deep discussions, and role-playing for consistent engagement. If you want to develop an app like Character.AI, it’s crucial to focus on interactive and customizable AI characters to enhance user engagement.

– Chai

Chai is the best AI chatbot app for Android and iOS users that leverages large language models (LLMs) to make user interaction easier. Originally launched in 2021, it provides users with different AI characters, each with a specific personality, tone, and mood. Chai is more useful for those who look to have casual conversations with AI and don’t prioritize companionship or emotional intelligence like Replika.

– Anima

Anima is a specifically designed AI chatbot app for emotional support, virtual relationships, and friendship. This chatbot enables users to customize the bot’s voice, personality, and relationship type while providing a personalized AI companion experience. It emphasizes user preferences and adjusts conversations accordingly.

– Cleverbot

Released in 2006, Cleverbot is the most popular AI app like Replika that leverages NLP and Machine Learning. It generates responses depending on the last user interactions while focusing on emotional support or companionship. This chatbot is widely known for its entertaining conversations and humorous replies, making it suitable for meaningful discussions.  

– Jasper AI, Inc.

Jasper AI is considered a powerful AI-enabled content generation, majorly used for blog writing, marketing, creative storytelling, and ad copy. Unlike other AI chatbot apps, it is customized for writers, businesses, and content creators. Jasper uses GPT-based AI models to facilitate users with context-aware, high-quality text, making it suitable for professionals.

Learn More: How to Develop Apps Like Janitor AI: Cost and Key Features

Use Cases of AI Chatbot App like Replika

AI chatbot development is highly adopted by businesses these days due to its amazing benefits, such as higher user engagement, emotional support, maximum revenue, and more. Get to know about the best industry use cases of AI chatbot apps like Replika here:

1. Virtual AI Customer Engagement (eCommerce & Retail)

Chatbots built by a top-notch AI development company can assist eCommerce and retail businesses to provide customers with better online shopping experiences via flexible customer support and personalized product recommendations. AI chatbots interact with customers in a human-like way and even place their orders via text or voice command.

Example: Sephora virtual assistant, H&M AI stylist.

2. Mental Health & Emotional Support (Healthcare Industry)

AI chatbot app for mental health provides stress-relief interaction, emotional support, and therapy-like conversations. It acts as a virtual companion for patients with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, etc., by offering them guided meditation, behavioral therapy, mood tracking, and more. It reduces the load on human therapists.   

Example: Replika, Wysa, etc.

Know about the AI Chatbot App Development Process

You need to consider each step carefully while obtaining chatbot iOS or Android app development services to ensure a flawless and seamless procedure. Following are step-by-step processes to make an AI chatbot app like Replika:

• Reach out to a dedicated and experienced outsourcing team or hire a reliable AI development company. Delve into deep market research and competitor analysis to determine the features, functions, development team size, estimated project cost, and timeline.
• Choose a suitable business model and platform, whether it is Android, iOS, or both. Consider the benefits and drawbacks before selecting the one.
• Ensure to get the best AI-driven UI UX design services that are appealing and visually attractive to lure the targeted audience. It must be compatible, responsive, and easy to navigate to simplify the process for users.
• Leverage advanced technologies to carry out smooth front-end and back-end development processes. Implement required features and craft AI/Machine Learning solutions to serve global users.
• Lastly, test the Replika-like app based on different parameters like performance, security, integrity, etc. Launch the app on the selected platform to make it available for the targeted audience. Monitor the app continuously to ensure the smooth performance.

How Much Does it Cost to Develop an AI Chatbot App?

After knowing everything about how to build an AI chatbot app like Replika, you must want to know about its development cost.

AI chatbot development costs range between $35,000 and $300,000+, depending on a wide range of aspects such as features, AI model complexity, backend infrastructure, cloud services, and chosen platforms. The cost will also vary depending on different project sizes, including: 

• Basic chatbot: $30,000 – $50,000
• Advanced AI chatbot (ML, NLP, Deep Learning): $100,000 – $300,00

In a Nutshell,

AI-based Chatbot apps like Replika can facilitate businesses with streamlined and automated internal processes while helping them deliver a great user experience. Various industries such as healthcare, eCommerce, retail, banking & financial, and others have started to leverage these intelligent bots to make things easier for them.

As a leading AI chatbot development company, Octal IT Solution offers the best iOS and Android app development services. We have vetted a team of AI experts to develop exceptional solutions with the combination of advanced technology and innovative approaches.

Connect with us to get more details!

FAQs