As someone who still enjoys the app…
I don’t think it should be necessary to pay for c.ai+ just to comfortably use the app long-term, and I say that as someone who willingly pays for the yearly subscription. The app used to feel perfectly usable for free back when the main perks were things like skipping slow mode and getting faster responses.
For context: I’m a writer, and roleplay has always helped me work through writer’s block. Keeping up with RP partners who eventually disappeared or lost interest became difficult, so Character.AI felt like an amazing solution. Being able to create bots that stay in character and are always available was genuinely exciting.
So this isn’t meant as hate toward the app. I’m pointing out issues because I want to see it improve.
Pros:
- Great stress reliever
- Helps with brainstorming and writing ideas
- Fun for experimenting with crossovers, alternate universes, and character dynamics
Main issues:
- c.ai+ increasingly feels less like a bonus feature and more like a requirement
- Bots still struggle with blocked or filtered words in inconsistent ways
- Responses frequently cut off mid-sentence
- Conversations can become extremely repetitive, even after many swipes/regenerations
- Even mild action or conflict scenes can get blocked despite users being verified adults
- The Feed feature has potential, but many users would probably engage with it more if simple text posts were allowed
- Group chats still don’t support personas, which is a major limitation for some users
- Completely SFW images sometimes get flagged incorrectly
I’m not trying to complain just for the sake of it. A lot of these concerns are brought up repeatedly by users, and it would be nice to see more communication or improvement regarding them.
I’ll also be submitting this as a support ticket. Maybe nothing changes, but at least the feedback is being shared.