Choosing an AI companion,
with clear eyes.

An AI wellness companion is an app you talk to day after day, to set down what you are living through, gain some perspective and feel accompanied. They are not all equal, and they do not share the same purpose. Here is how to tell them apart.

A useful disclosure: this article is written by Arteluxia, the maker of Luxia. We have an obvious interest, and we would rather say so. The criteria below apply to any app, including ours.

1. Memory: does it really remember you?

This is the difference between a conversation that restarts from zero and a relationship that builds. Check whether the app keeps track of the people close to you, your projects and what you are going through from one week to the next. We go deeper in our article on persistent memory.

2. Control over that memory

What an AI retains about you belongs to you. You should be able to view it, correct it and delete it easily.

3. Whether it checks in on you

Most apps wait for you to come to them. Some reach out, to varying degrees: a simple reminder, or a message tied to what you told them. Check too whether they respect your schedule.

4. Privacy

You will be sharing intimate things. Read what the privacy policy says about selling data, advertising and deleting your account.

5. Honesty about its limits

A good app says clearly that it is an AI, that it does not replace a health professional, and points you to human help in a crisis. Be wary of those that leave this vague.

6. Language

Talking about yourself takes nuance. If your language matters to you, test the quality of the answers, not just the menus.

7. The real price

Look at what the free plan actually allows, and at what sits behind the subscription: quite often, the memory itself.

A few well-known apps

This overview reflects what we could read in October 2026. These services change quickly, so check with each of them.

• Replika: one of the best-known AI companions, focused on bond and relationship, with a memory you can view and edit.
• Ebb, by Headspace: a companion built into the Headspace world, whose memory was strengthened in late 2025 to pick up the thread of past conversations.
• Wysa: more oriented toward mental health support and guided exercises than everyday conversation.
• Luxia: our app, designed around the art of living and everyday wellbeing. Her memory can be viewed and corrected. On Premium, she writes to you first about what you shared, avoiding your working hours. She is new, on Android for now, in English and French.

How to decide

The simplest way is to try two apps for a week, with one question in mind: do I feel a little more present in my own life? If you are going through a hard time, please also talk to a professional or someone close to you. No AI replaces that.