friend

Freemium#27 of 35 in AI Companion Apps

friend: A distinctive wearable companion for iPhone users who value spoken conversations and memory. Ranked #27 of 35 in AI Companion Apps by our editors (6.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for wearable companion hardware users.

6.5/10★★★☆☆Editor score

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At a glance

• Editor score
  6.5 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Wearable companion hardware users
• Free plan
  Yes
• Voice conversations
  Yes
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Spoken conversations through a wearable speaker
  • Picture sharing, haptics, and reactive lighting
  • Optional indefinite memory retention

• Where it doesn't

  • iOS-only platform
  • Free-plan memories fade after 30 days
  • The experience depends on paid wearable hardware

Our verdict on friend

friend is a wearable AI companion designed for consumers seeking an always-available conversational companion. The pendant connects to an iPhone over Bluetooth and an internet connection, listens while connected, and responds aloud through its speaker. The companion app also supports text conversations, picture sharing, and memory creation from conversations and shared activities. Its combination of physical hardware and app-based interaction makes it a better fit for iPhone users interested in spoken wearable conversations than for people seeking a software-only companion.

The free plan provides access to the app, but memories fade after 30 days. A paid memory subscription keeps memories forever, giving buyers a clear choice between temporary continuity and indefinite retention. The separate friend device includes a wearable pendant, necklace, and USB-C charging cable. Published product details describe approximately 18–24 hours of typical battery use, along with USB-C charging. Touch-sensitive haptics and reactive lighting add physical responses to the conversational experience, while the app handles text, pictures, and shared activities.

Platform fit is the main boundary. friend supports iPhone connectivity through Bluetooth and is available on iOS; Android is not supported. Buyers should choose it if wearable hardware, spoken responses, picture sharing, and persistent memory are central requirements. Those who prefer a companion that works across mobile platforms, or who do not want to purchase dedicated hardware, should consider a software-only alternative instead. The product’s value is concentrated in the connection between the pendant, iPhone app, memory system, and physical feedback rather than in broad platform coverage.

Your product? Our editors can test friend in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

friend pricing

All 3 friend plans and prices →

friend fact sheet

friend integrations

friend lists 1 integrations on its own site.

• iPhone via Bluetooth

Alternatives to friend

• Nomi AIA broad AI companion for users who value memory, customization, and voice.9.3
• KindroidA highly customizable companion with deep memory, multimodal chats, and proactive interaction.9.2
• ReplikaA mature all-round companion app with memory, voice, visuals, and relationship customization.9.1

See all friend alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

friend is listed in our AI Companion Apps directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 14 Oct 2026 · How we research and update