The Velvet Hour blog
Guides and comparisons of AI companion apps. We make Velvet Hour, so we say so wherever it matters, and we check every fact about other apps against their own pages.
November 5, 2026 · 7 min read
AI companion apps you can actually call: 6 compared (2026)
Which AI companion apps let you have a real spoken conversation, what it costs, and what you get free. Velvet Hour, Nomi, Kindroid, Replika, Character.AI and Sesame, checked November 2026.
November 5, 2026 · 4 min read
Apple's new 18+ rule for AI companion apps: what changes, and when
From November 16, 2026, App Store apps with a virtual companion that does romantic content must declare it and carry an 18+ rating. Here is what that means.