Nomi markets itself as an AI companion with heart — persistent memory, group chats and companions that feel like they know you. That pitch only works if the app remembers a lot about you, which makes the safety question unavoidable: where does that information live, who can see it, and what happens when you want it gone? This guide answers those questions in plain English. It’s part of our AI companion guides series and builds on our broader look at whether AI companion apps are safe.
- Minimal sign-up data — a pseudonym and date of birth are enough
- Policy states chats are not sold or shared with advertisers
- Genuine data export and account deletion tools, and the app is 18+
- Encrypted in transit, but not end-to-end — the company can access chats server-side
- Deliberately light moderation has drawn public criticism
- Persistent memory accumulates personal detail by design
What data does Nomi collect?
Nomi asks for surprisingly little up front. You can create an account through Google or Apple, give a name or pseudonym and a date of birth, and start chatting. Payment details are added only if you subscribe. Beyond that, the data Nomi holds is largely what you choose to give it: your messages, the personality and appearance choices you make for your companions, and anything you submit through the app.
The catch is the same one that applies to every memory-first companion. Nomi’s appeal is that your companion remembers your life across weeks and months — and each remembered detail is data sitting on the company’s servers. The lighter sign-up requirements genuinely help (you can be pseudonymous from day one), but the chat itself is where the sensitive information accumulates. We explain the mechanics in our guide to how AI companion memory works.
Can anyone read your Nomi chats?
Nomi encrypts conversations in transit, and its stated policy is that chats are not shared with advertisers or sold. But the encryption is not end-to-end: the AI has to process your messages to reply, so the system — and, in principle, the company — can access conversation content server-side. That could matter in exceptional circumstances such as a valid legal request.
This is the standard arrangement across the category, as we found in our Replika safety guide and our Character.AI safety guide. The practical rule is identical everywhere: assume anything you type could, in principle, be seen under the right circumstances. Keep your full name, address, workplace and financial details out of the chat — a habit that works especially well with Nomi, since the app never demanded your real identity in the first place.
Does Nomi sell your data?
Nomi’s stated policy is that it does not sell user data, and its business model backs that up: it’s a subscription product, not an ad-funded one, so it has little incentive to trade in user information. As of mid-2026 there has been no publicly reported data breach, and the company offers genuine data export alongside account deletion — a combination that puts its data practices among the stronger ones we’ve reviewed in this category. Policies can change, so it’s still worth skimming the current privacy policy before subscribing.
The moderation question
Safety isn’t only about data. Nomi takes a deliberately hands-off approach to filtering conversations — the company’s philosophy is that adult users should be able to talk to their companions without heavy interference. Fans see this as respecting users; critics have publicly argued the guardrails are too light, and the app has drawn media criticism on this front. Both readings have some truth. For self-aware adults, a low-interference companion can feel more natural. But it also means the app does less to steer conversations away from unhealthy territory, so it’s a poor fit for anyone in a vulnerable state — and firmly inappropriate for under-18s, which matches the app’s adults-only positioning.
Practical steps to protect your privacy
A few habits meaningfully reduce your exposure. Lean into the pseudonym option — there’s no reason your companion needs your legal name. Use a dedicated email address via your Google or Apple sign-in if you can. Be deliberate about what you feed the memory system: enjoy the personalisation, but leave out identifying specifics like your street address, employer or photos of your face. And remember that subscribing attaches payment details to your account, which limits how anonymous any account can truly be.
If you decide to move on, delete your account properly rather than just removing the app — uninstalling does not erase what’s on the servers. Nomi’s export tool is worth using first if you want a copy of your history. Our step-by-step guide on how to delete your AI companion data walks through the details.
Is Nomi the right choice for you?
For adults who want persistent memory, group chats and minimal interference — and who are comfortable managing their own boundaries — Nomi is one of the stronger options in the category, with data practices to match. Our full Nomi review covers its features and pricing in detail, and our ranked list of the best AI companion apps shows how it compares to the field. For the complete picture on choosing and using these apps well, start with the complete 2026 guide.
FAQ
Are Nomi chats end-to-end encrypted?
No. Conversations are encrypted in transit, but the AI has to read your messages to respond, so the company can access chat content server-side. No mainstream AI companion app currently offers true end-to-end encryption, so the sensible habit is to keep identifying details out of any chat.
Can I export or delete my Nomi data?
Yes — Nomi offers both data export and full account deletion, which is better than many rivals. Deleting the account is the correct way to leave; simply uninstalling the app leaves your history on the servers.
Is Nomi suitable for under-18s?
No. Nomi is an 18+ app, and its light-touch moderation makes that restriction especially important. Younger users and parents should read our broader safety guide for context on the category as a whole.
The bottom line
Nomi’s data fundamentals are among the better ones in this category: pseudonymous sign-up, a no-sale policy, real export and deletion tools, and no publicly reported breach to date. The trade-offs are the universal one — no end-to-end encryption on a memory system that accumulates personal detail by design — plus a moderation philosophy that puts more responsibility on the user than most rivals. The sensible verdict: safe for careful, self-aware adults who share deliberately. For the wider picture across every app in this category, start with our safety and privacy guide and the rest of our guides hub.