Chub AI changed on June 28, 2026. A moderator post in r/Chub_AI announced that the site is “crypto-only forever”, that free users “now only get 20 messages per day” and that the “Mercury tier has been removed”. The only paid plan left is $20 a month, payable in crypto.
That is why so many people are hunting for Chub AI alternatives right now. For free character-card roleplay without a daily cap, the closest replacements are JanitorAI, WyvernChat and a self-hosted SillyTavern. CrushOn AI and SpicyChat suit readers who will pay a normal subscription for less setup.
If you would rather have a polished companion that needs no setup and you do not mind leaving your Chub cards behind, Candy AI is the easiest switch. Nectar AI is cheaper month to month at $9.99, with a 15-message daily free tier to try first.
Every price and limit below comes from the platform’s own pricing page, help center or app code, checked on October 6, 2026. If your problem is an error message rather than the paywall, start with Chub not working instead.
Why do people start looking for Chub AI alternatives?
Most people leave Chub because of its June 28, 2026 changes: a 20-message daily cap for free accounts, a $20 subscription that only takes crypto, and no cheap Mercury tier anymore. Setup friction and memory drift in long roleplays were already pushing people out before that.
The cap counts swipes too. The author of “Any good Chub.ai alternatives?”, a popular r/CharacterAIrunaways thread, wrote on July 9, 2026 that free messages “are now limited to 20 per day, including swipes” after almost a year on the site.
Payment is the second wall. Chub’s subscription page says it went crypto-only because “the primary sources of censorship pressure for most websites are credit card companies and payment processors.” Readers without a crypto wallet are stuck, and one reply in the same thread said exactly that: “i would sub to chub but they literally only bitcoin”.
Location is the third. Chub’s own app code switches NSFW and NSFL search results off for visitors it places in 11 countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada and Germany, plus Utah and Mississippi. More on that in Chub blocking content by region.
Leaving is not the only option. Chub’s API docs still support OpenRouter and a local Kobold or Ooba backend, which they call free “if being hosted from your machine”, and r/Chub_AI regulars point newcomers to cheap DeepSeek credit on OpenRouter instead of the $20 plan. If DeepSeek replies have gone strange inside Chub, read why DeepSeek no longer works properly on Chub AI first.
Two of those pain points have their own fixes worth trying before you move. If credits are what is pinching, there are ways to use Venus Chub AI for free with free models and a local API. If the characters keep forgetting your story, start with making Chub AI memory better for long sessions.
How we evaluated Chub AI alternatives for this list
We judged each Chub AI alternative on the numbers a Chub user feels straight away: how much the free tier really allows, what the paid plan costs, how much context the AI keeps, and whether adult roleplay is allowed. Each figure comes from the platform’s own pricing page, help center or app code, read on October 6, 2026.
We also read the Reddit threads where ex-Chub users compare notes, because a platform people try once and abandon is not a real alternative. Where a rival beats a pick on a specific point, we say so, and anything a platform does not publish is marked that way in the table.
Card portability got extra weight. Many Chub users have dozens of bots they wrote themselves, so a platform that imports Tavern-format cards saves hours of rebuilding.
The numbers in the list below are not a ranking. For most Chub users the best free move is JanitorAI (5) or WyvernChat (10), SillyTavern (6) suits anyone who will self-host, and the paid picks are compared in the table.
Top Chub AI Alternatives
1. CrushOn AI
CrushOn AI sits at the top for Chub users who want a hosted site that still speaks Chub’s card format. Its character creator accepts Pygmalion and TavernAI JSON files and TavernAI images, and its World Cards, CrushOn’s name for lorebooks, import SillyTavern and chub.ai JSON exports.
The free tier is the catch. CrushOn’s own app tells free users “You have to get subscription plan to talk to nsfw characters”, and free chats run on a monthly allowance of message credits, so a Chub user who came for unfiltered roleplay pays from day one.
Context depends on the model group. CrushOn sorts its models into Free 8K, Pro 8K and 16K, and Ultra up to 24K, so long stories need a higher plan. It does not show plan prices to logged-out visitors, so check the checkout page before committing.
Key reasons CrushOn replaces Chub for many readers:
Imports TavernAI cards and Chub lorebook exports
Up to 24K context on Ultra models
Summarized long-term memory built into chats
NSFW characters need a paid plan
2. Candy AI
Candy AI is the pick for readers whose real complaint about Chub is the upkeep. There is no model to choose and no API key to manage, and the subscription goes through an ordinary checkout instead of a crypto wallet.
The price is easy to read. Candy’s subscription page lists $13.99 a month, with the first month at $9.99 and a yearly plan at $3.99 a month billed as $47.88, and every paid plan includes unlimited text messages plus 100 tokens a month for images, video and voice.
The free tier is the weakest on this list. Candy’s help center caps free users at 5 messages in total across all characters, so treat it as a demo rather than a place to chat.
The honest limitation is migration. Candy runs a curated roster and its own character builder, so your Chub cards do not transfer and the personas you care about have to be rebuilt.
Key reasons Candy AI replaces Chub for some readers:
No crypto wallet, no API key, nothing to host
Unlimited text messages on every paid plan
Images, video and voice inside the same chat
$9.99 for the first month, then $13.99
3. Character AI
Character AI appeals to a different kind of switch. Its help center says “Unlimited messaging stays on every plan, including free,” which beats Chub’s 20 a day outright.
The draw is scale and discovery. When someone wants to explore a massive range of characters without friction, Character AI delivers that experience immediately.
The structure favors browsing and experimentation. You can jump between characters quickly and see how different personalities are written without committing to a single setup.
That makes it a natural alternative when exploration matters more than fine-tuned control.
The tradeoff is intentional constraint. Character AI prioritizes consistency and safety over customization, which limits how far some conversations can go.
For many people, that limitation is acceptable because the platform feels polished and dependable.
One constraint matters more than the rest right now. Character.AI ended open-ended chat for under-18 accounts on November 25, 2025, after announcing the change on October 29, and minors are moved to a limited creation experience instead of free-form roleplay.
If Chub AI felt restrictive to you, weigh that carefully, because Character AI is the most heavily moderated option on this list.
Why Character AI becomes the fallback choice:
Extremely large and easy to browse character library
Consistent behavior across chats
No setup or configuration overhead
Works well for casual and exploratory conversations
4. SpicyChat
SpicyChat works best when the priority is getting into a conversation fast on a roomy free tier. Its plan table gives free accounts 4,096 tokens of context, and the app’s own limit notice puts signed-in users at 2,000 messages a day, a hundred times Chub’s free allowance.
Paying buys memory. True Supporter doubles context to 8,192 tokens and adds Semantic Memory 2.0.
I’m All In is listed at 16,384 tokens in the plan table, and SpicyChat’s docs say it reaches 32,768 on the models that support it. SpicyChat’s own checkout link prices I’m All In at $24.95 a month.
NSFW needs an age check in some places. SpicyChat asks for a video selfie or ID in France, the UK, Italy, Australia and 26 US states, and unverified users there keep SFW chat only.
What makes SpicyChat a common switch:
4,096 tokens of context free, up to 32,768 paid
Group chats and lorebooks built in
Very fast onboarding with minimal setup
Selfie or ID check for NSFW in some regions
5. JanitorAI
JanitorAI is the closest like-for-like move for most Chub users. Its subscription FAQ says the free tier includes unlimited chats with millions of bots, standard chat models and a context limit of around 9k tokens.
The paid tier is Janitor+, launched on June 24, 2026 at $12.99 a month or $99 a year. It adds 5x more context, priority replies and monthly swipes on Janitor’s best models, and billing runs through Stripe rather than crypto.
So what’s better, Janitor AI or Chub AI? For a free user Janitor wins easily, with unlimited chats against Chub’s 20 messages a day. Chub keeps the edge for subscribers, whose $20 buys unlimited use of its Soji model with 60K context, and our Chub AI vs Janitor AI comparison goes deeper.
NSFW works on the website for bots tagged Limitless. The JanitorAI app starts in a Safe Mode with NSFW off, and you switch it on from a web browser.
Reasons JanitorAI stays on the shortlist:
Unlimited free chats on standard models
About 9k tokens of context free, 5x more on Janitor+
Janitor+ at $12.99 a month, paid by card
NSFW on Limitless bots, enabled from the web
6. SillyTavern
SillyTavern is the self-hosted route, and it is where Chub’s own regulars send each other. In r/Chub_AI’s “Can someone advise me good alternatives?” thread from September 26, 2026, the top reply was “sillytavern is about the best way, you can even keep the api from chub”.
The software is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence, with about 34,000 stars on GitHub. You run it on your own computer or Android phone and connect a model provider such as OpenRouter or a local backend, so your only cost is what that provider charges.
Moving from Chub is easier here than anywhere else, because SillyTavern’s importer downloads characters and lorebooks straight from Chub. Context, filters and memory all depend on the model you connect, and our SillyTavern OpenRouter setup guide covers the free models.
Why SillyTavern replaces Chub for power users:
Free and open source, you pay only the model provider
Imports Chub characters and lorebooks directly
No platform filter, the model’s own rules apply
Setup takes real effort the first time
7. Poe
Poe fits readers who want variety without complexity. Instead of locking into one system or style, it allows quick switching between different models in a single interface.
That flexibility changes how people experiment with conversation tone and response quality.
The appeal here is efficiency. You can test ideas, prompts, and characters across models without rebuilding setups or moving data around.
That makes Poe useful when exploration matters more than deep personalization.
Poe does not try to replicate Chub’s character ecosystem. Instead, it offers a broader view of what different models can do.
For some readers, that perspective is exactly what was missing.
Why Poe becomes an alternative:
Easy access to multiple model behaviors
Fast experimentation without setup overhead
Clean interface focused on testing and iteration
Useful for comparing conversation styles quickly
8. Replika
Replika fits readers who are not chasing character libraries or roleplay depth. The appeal here is continuity and emotional presence rather than variety.
Conversations are designed to feel ongoing and familiar instead of exploratory.
This alternative works best when someone wants a single persistent companion.
The experience emphasizes routine, tone consistency, and long-term interaction over switching characters or experimenting with formats.
That focus makes it fundamentally different from Chub, but still a valid alternative depending on intent.
Replika becomes the right move when the goal shifts away from roleplay mechanics and toward conversational presence.
For some readers, that shift happens naturally after cycling through more complex platforms.
Why Replika replaces Chub for some users:
Strong focus on long-term conversational continuity
Companion-oriented design rather than character hopping
Minimal setup and clear usage patterns
Better fit for daily, ongoing interaction
9. Chai
Chai works when speed and accessibility matter more than depth. The platform feels designed for short sessions and frequent check ins rather than extended roleplay arcs.
That makes it appealing for readers who want something lightweight and always available.
The experience prioritizes responsiveness and ease. You can jump into a conversation without preparation and move on just as easily.
That rhythm suits mobile use especially well, where long setup flows quickly become frustrating.
Chai does not try to replace complex character ecosystems. It succeeds by keeping interactions simple and approachable, which is often enough once expectations shift away from deep continuity.
Why Chai fits certain Chub switchers:
Fast entry into conversations
Strong mobile experience
Low mental overhead
Better for short and casual chats
10. WyvernChat
WyvernChat comes up in three of the five recent ex-Chub Reddit threads we read. One r/CharacterAIrunaways commenter said it “comes closest” and is “where the ex chub mods initially pointed me”, praising its card downloads and group chats.
It costs nothing to start. New chats run on WyvernChat’s Free Queue with no API key, and its own docs promise no message limits. Paid models come through a linked Featherless subscription at $10, $25 or $50 a month, with context up to 256K on supported models at the top tier.
Chub cards move over cleanly. Upload a SillyTavern-style PNG card and WyvernChat offers to import the character details, and any character can be downloaded back out as a V2 card.
The free queue is the weak point. One user hit a minute-long wait, which a WyvernChat staffer in the same r/CharacterAIrunaways thread called a bug: “Sometimes shit gets stuck.” Explicit characters are allowed under a Mature or Explicit rating after moderator review.
Why WyvernChat fits Chub switchers:
Free Queue with no API key and no message limits
Imports SillyTavern-style PNG cards
Group chats, lorebooks and personas
The free queue can stall at busy times
Comparison Table
Prices and limits were read from each platform’s own pages on October 6, 2026. Poe, Replika and Chai are left out of the table because none of them is built around character-card roleplay.
Read across the free-tier column and JanitorAI and WyvernChat are the only hosted sites that beat Chub’s free plan without a catch. If you are ready to pay by card, Candy AI is the most polished hosted pick, Nectar AI costs less on a monthly plan, and CrushOn AI is the one that keeps your Tavern cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sites are most like Chub AI?
JanitorAI and WyvernChat are the closest hosted sites, since both run on community-made character bots and WyvernChat imports Tavern-format cards. SillyTavern is closest of all if you can self-host it, because it downloads Chub characters directly.
Are there AI chats like Chub AI that are free?
Yes. JanitorAI gives unlimited free chats on standard models and WyvernChat’s Free Queue has no message limits, while SillyTavern is free software that needs a model provider behind it. Any of them is roomier than Chub’s 20 free messages a day.
Which Chub AI alternative keeps character cards?
SillyTavern, which imports Chub characters and lorebooks straight from Chub. WyvernChat reads SillyTavern-style PNG cards, and CrushOn AI accepts TavernAI JSON and PNG files.
Why do people leave Chub AI?
Mostly the June 28, 2026 changes: free accounts capped at 20 messages a day, the cheaper Mercury tier removed, and a $20 subscription that only takes crypto. Setup friction and memory drift in long roleplays were already pushing people out before that.
How to Select the Best Chub AI Alternative for Your Needs
The best Chub AI alternative depends on whether you will pay, and how. Free users who want Chub’s card-driven experience should start with JanitorAI or WyvernChat, while anyone happy to pay by card can choose between Candy AI, Nectar AI, CrushOn AI and SpicyChat.
When predictability matters more than flexibility, subscription based tools usually feel calmer over time.
Control is the next dividing line. Some readers want to shape every detail, while others just want conversations to flow without interruption.
Recognizing which side you fall on prevents switching from becoming a repeating cycle.
Longevity matters more than first impressions. An alternative should feel sustainable after the novelty wears off.
That means clear limits, consistent behavior, and an experience that matches how often and how deeply you want to engage.
A simple way to narrow the choice:
Choose JanitorAI or WyvernChat if you want Chub’s free, card-driven roleplay without a 20-message cap
Choose SillyTavern if you want to keep every Chub card and control the model yourself
Choose Candy AI if you want the smoothest hosted experience and can leave your cards behind
Choose Nectar AI if you want a cheaper month-to-month plan with a daily free allowance to test first
Choose CrushOn AI if you want a hosted site that imports Tavern cards and you will pay for NSFW
Choose SpicyChat if you want a roomy free tier on a hosted site
Choose Character AI if your roleplay is SFW and you want unlimited free messages
Choose Replika if a single companion experience is the goal
If you only try one paid option, start with Candy AI, the most polished hosted pick on this list.
For free roleplay, JanitorAI and WyvernChat cover most of what Chub’s free tier used to offer, and SillyTavern covers the rest for anyone willing to set it up.
