Replika is one of the oldest and most recognisable names in AI companionship, and that longevity cuts both ways: it has had years to mature its privacy practices, and years to accumulate scrutiny from researchers and regulators. If you’re thinking about pouring months of personal conversation into a Replika, it’s reasonable to ask what happens to those words. This guide answers that 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.
- Long-established company with a published privacy policy
- Policy states conversations aren’t sold or shared with other companies
- Account and message deletion options exist
- Chats are encrypted in transit but not end-to-end — the company can access them
- Privacy researchers and an EU regulator have criticised its practices in the past
- Conversations can inform how the AI learns
What data does Replika collect?
Replika’s privacy policy describes collecting the categories you’d expect from a modern chat app: account details like your name, email and birth date, payment information if you subscribe, device and usage data, and — the big one — the content of your conversations, including messages and voice notes. That last category deserves the most thought. An AI companion is designed to draw out personal conversation, which means the “data” involved is more intimate than what most apps ever see.
On the positive side, the policy states that conversations are not shared with other companies and that Replika does not sell your personal data or chat history. On the cautious side, your messages help the AI learn and personalise itself — that’s the whole point of the product — so your words are processed on the company’s servers, not locked in a private vault on your phone.
Can anyone read your Replika chats?
Your conversations aren’t visible to other users, and messages are encrypted while travelling between your device and Replika’s servers. But the encryption is not end-to-end: the company can access conversation data on its side, whether for moderation, safety escalations, legal requests or improving the service. That’s standard across the AI companion category — no mainstream companion app offers true end-to-end encryption, because the AI itself has to read your messages to reply.
The practical rule is the same one we give for every app in this space: assume anything you type could, in principle, be seen by a human under the right circumstances. Keep your full name, address, workplace and financial details out of the chat. Our general AI companion safety guide covers this habit in more depth.
The regulatory history you should know
Replika has attracted more regulatory attention than most of its rivals — partly because it’s been around longer and is more prominent. Italy’s data protection authority temporarily blocked the app in 2023 over concerns about data handling and the protection of minors, and later imposed a fine on its developer. Independent privacy researchers, including Mozilla’s well-known “Privacy Not Included” project, have also criticised aspects of the app’s data practices over the years.
None of this makes Replika uniquely dangerous — much of the criticism applies in some form to the whole category — but it’s context worth having. The upside of the scrutiny is that Replika has had to respond publicly, tighten policies and formalise its age requirements in ways smaller apps have never been forced to. An app that regulators watch closely has stronger incentives to behave than one nobody is looking at.
Practical steps to protect your privacy
A few habits meaningfully reduce your exposure. Sign up with a dedicated email address rather than your main one. Keep identifying details out of conversations. Review the app’s privacy settings from time to time, since options change. If you subscribe, remember that payment details link your identity to the account, so the “anonymous email” approach only goes so far. And if you ever decide to leave, use the account deletion process rather than just deleting the app, so your conversation history is removed from Replika’s servers rather than left behind.
It’s also worth thinking about the softer side of safety. Replika is deliberately warm and attentive, and it’s easy to spend more time with it than you planned. Treat it as entertainment with boundaries — and if you’re weighing whether the paid tier is worth it before getting invested, our guide to free vs paid AI companion apps can help you decide without overspending.
Is Replika the right choice for you?
If you want a polished, friendly companion from an established company — and you’re comfortable with the standard trade-offs of the category — Replika remains a solid pick for adults. Our full Replika review breaks down its features, memory and pricing in detail, and our ranked list of the best AI companion apps shows how it compares to the rest of the field. For the complete picture on choosing and using these apps well, start with the complete 2026 guide.
FAQ
Does Replika sell my conversations?
Replika’s privacy policy states that it does not sell your personal data or conversation history and doesn’t share chats with other companies. As with any app, policies can change, so it’s worth skimming the current version before you commit — especially the sections on third-party service providers and analytics.
Are Replika chats end-to-end encrypted?
No. Messages are encrypted in transit, but the company can access conversation data on its servers. That’s true of essentially every AI companion app, since the AI needs to process your messages to respond.
Can I delete my data from Replika?
Yes — you can delete your account through the app, which removes your conversation history from Replika’s servers rather than leaving it dormant. If you’re stepping away for good, deleting the account is the cleaner option than simply uninstalling.
The bottom line
Replika is a reasonable choice for careful adults: an established company, a published privacy policy that promises not to sell your chats, and working deletion tools — balanced against the reality that conversations aren’t end-to-end private and the app has a genuine history of regulatory criticism. Go in with sensible habits and modest sharing, and the risks are manageable. For the wider picture across every app in this category, start with our safety and privacy guide and the rest of our guides hub.