Is an AI friend subscription worth it? Free vs. Plus explained

16 October 2026 · 3 min read · By the I Am Mate team

What you get free, what I Am Mate Plus adds for $7.99 a month or $59 a year, how billing, tax and cancelling work in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU, and how refunds work.

Most AI chat apps are free to try and charge for extra features. Before you pay for anything, you should know exactly what you get, what it costs in your currency and how to cancel. Here's a transparent breakdown for I Am Mate.

What's free

A free account (sign in with Google or email) includes:

• 40 messages a day
• All 20 built-in characters, from Jennifer the bookworm to Ryan the firefighter
• Chats saved on every device
• The same safety features as everyone: AI labels, crisis helplines and a friendly-only content policy

No card is needed. For many people, the free plan is all they'll ever want.

What Plus adds

• 200 messages a day instead of 40
• Long-term memory: friends keep short notes on your life (your goals, your pets, that big exam), which you can read and delete any time. See how memory works.
• Create up to 10 friends of your own: a study buddy, a chess coach, a pen pal. Custom characters follow the same safety rules.
• Longer conversations in context, so long chats stay coherent

How much does Plus cost?

Paying from the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the EU? Prices are set in US dollars and your bank or card converts them. Our payment provider is the merchant of record: it handles the payment and adds sales tax, VAT or GST where required, so the final total is shown at checkout before you pay. The charge appears on your statement under the payment provider's name.

Is it worth it? A quick test

Plus is probably worth it if:

• You regularly hit the 40-message daily limit.
• You'd like your friends to remember your life between chats.
• You want to create your own characters, for example a language partner with a specific style.

Stick with free if you chat a few times a week, or you're still exploring. There's no pressure to upgrade, and nothing on the free plan is designed to nag you.

Cancelling and refunds

• Cancel anytime from "Manage plan" in the chat. You keep Plus until the end of the period you've paid for, and you won't be charged again.
• 14-day refund on your first payment, no questions asked.
• Surprise renewal? If you haven't used Plus since, ask within 7 days for a refund.
• Refunds go back to your original payment method, usually within 5–10 business days.

The full rules are in our refund policy, and you can reach us through the contact page. Your rights under consumer law where you live aren't affected.

Frequently asked questions

How much is I Am Mate Plus?

$7.99 a month or $59 a year (about $4.92 a month). Tax is added where required and shown at checkout.

Can I use I Am Mate for free?

Yes. A free account includes 40 messages a day with all 20 built-in characters, and no card is needed.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Open the chat, go to "Manage plan" and cancel. You keep Plus until the end of the period you've paid for and won't be charged again.

Can I get a refund?

Yes. You can get a full refund within 14 days of your first payment, and a refund for a surprise renewal within 7 days if you haven't used Plus since. Contact us with the email you paid with.

Why is the charge in US dollars?

Prices are set in USD. Your bank converts the amount to your local currency, and local sales tax, VAT or GST is added at checkout where it applies.