Talkie AI: MiniMax's character chat, with collectible cards thrown in
Updated on September 23, 2026
Talkie AI is a character chat app published by MiniMax, the Chinese company also behind the Hailuo video models. Listed on Google Play as Talkie: Creative AI Community (long known as Talkie Soulful AI), it has passed 50 million installs and became one of the most downloaded companion apps in the United States. Chatting costs nothing at the entry level, between ads, a gem currency and the Talkie+ subscription. Celebrities, anime figures and community creations all wait in the same feed, ready to talk by text or voice.
- Voice calls with a distinct voice per character
- Collectible character cards earned through chats
- Available on the web, iOS and Android
- Free character creation with zero code
- Menus available in English only
- Memory fades over very long storylines
- Rated 18+ on Google Play, not meant for minors
Talkie AI chat, from voice calls to collectible cards
Talkie AI chat blends premade characters, simulated celebrities, anime heroes and community creations, sorted into shelves such as romance, gaming, education and entertainment. You pick a face in the feed, type one line, and the scene settles in, by text or through a voice call.
The cards are the real curiosity. Chatting drops collectible character cards, with the rarest ones costing gems, a light gacha twist still uncommon among character chatbot platforms. A community feed and a memory system round things off (memory that, as the official FAQ admits, lets older details slip in very long sagas).
| Feature | What you do there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Text chat | Conversations with premade or community characters | Free, ad-supported |
| Voice calls | Spoken chat, each character with its own voice | Extended with Talkie+ |
| Character cards | A collection that grows as you chat | Rarest ones cost gems |
| Character creation | Custom looks, personality and voice | Free |
Talkie AI online free, gems and the Talkie+ subscription
Basic chat is free, ad-funded and capped daily. The Talkie+ subscription removes ads and extends features, while gems remain a separate purchase even once you subscribe. No amounts appear on the website, prices only show inside the app at checkout.
Google Play rates the app 18+, so it is not intended for minors, and it is no substitute for human support. Amounts shift by region and store, so the in-app payment screen is the only number worth taking at face value.
- Ads removed and chat limits raised
- Longer voice calls with characters
- More characters active at the same time
From Shanghai to the Hong Kong stock exchange, the backstory
MiniMax, a Shanghai-based AI company), has published Talkie since its international launch in June 2023, with operations handled by SUBSUP, a group subsidiary based in Singapore. The Wall Street Journal already counted about 11 million monthly actives by mid 2024, before the group's Hong Kong listing in January 2026, a completed deal rather than a rumor. The same lab builds the Hailuo video generator.
The road had one pothole, a temporary removal from the US App Store in late 2024, explained as technical, followed by a return to the shelves. In this market, Character AI keeps the largest English-speaking community and Chai plays the social angle, while Talkie digs into voice and card collecting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Talkie AI free?
Yes, downloading and basic chat cost nothing, with ads and daily caps. Gems, the in-app currency, cover rare cards and extras, while the Talkie+ subscription removes ads and extends voice calls. Prices appear inside the app and change by region and store, so check yours before paying.
Who owns Talkie AI?
MiniMax, a Chinese AI company based in Shanghai and listed in Hong Kong since January 2026, publishes Talkie, and the official site carries a powered by MiniMax footer. Day-to-day operations run through SUBSUP, a Singapore subsidiary, and the same group builds the Hailuo video generator.
Can you use Talkie AI online without the app?
A web version runs at talkie-ai.com, so a browser is enough to chat and browse characters without downloading anything. Your account carries the same characters and conversations between the browser and the mobile app.
Talkie AI vs Character AI, which one should you pick?
Pick Talkie AI for voice-first chat, card collecting and a very polished mobile app. Character AI fields a larger English-speaking community and leans harder on written roleplay. Both moderate their content, with Talkie rated 18+ on Google Play, and plenty of people simply keep the two installed, each for a different mood.
Verdict: Fifty million installs later, the recipe still holds. Adult anime fans, casual roleplayers and anyone curious about voice-first characters will feel right at home here, rare card in hand.
« An all-in-one creative platform that brings together more than 30 image and video models in a single interface. It includes camera controls that let you direct like a real filmmaker, characters that remain consistent from scene to scene, and ready-to-use tools for ads and short-form content »
