Character.AI and Janitor AI are the two names that come up most when people talk about chatting with AI characters. They look similar (a library of user-made characters you can chat with), but they’re built for different audiences, with very different rules.
2026 has also brought big changes. Character.AI restricted chat for under-18s at the end of 2025, and in October 2026 it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to sell the company. In this guide I’ll compare the two platforms and explain what those changes mean for you.
Quick comparison
| Character.AI | Janitor AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | 13+ (16+ in Europe), but open-ended chat is for adults only | Adults (18+) only |
| Content | Filtered; mature content not allowed | Allows mature roleplay between adult characters on the website |
| Under-18 users | Since late 2025, no open-ended chat; teens can use Stories and creative tools | Not allowed |
| AI models | Character.AI’s own models | Free JanitorLLM, or outside models through a proxy or paid router |
| Price | Free, with c.ai+ at about $9.99/month | Free, with paid janitor+ and pay-per-use model options |
| Status in 2026 | In Chapter 11 sale process (bids due 20 November); still running | Running |
What is Character.AI?
Character.AI lets you chat with AI characters created by other users, from fictional heroes to study helpers, or create your own. It runs on its own AI models and applies content filters to conversations.
Under-18 changes
In October 2025, Character.AI announced it would end open-ended chats for users under 18. The change rolled out in late November 2025. Teens can still browse characters, view past chats and use creative features such as Stories, a guided adventure format. The company uses age assurance based on account activity and third-party tools, with selfie or ID checks if someone is wrongly flagged as under 18.
The company said the change followed lawsuits and public criticism over the effect of companion chatbots on young people.
The October 2026 bankruptcy
Updated 20 October 2026.
On 12 October 2026, Character.AI filed for Chapter 11 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, so it can sell the company through a court-supervised sale. CEO Colin Adams pointed to “significant legal, regulatory, and operational headwinds”. The filing lists assets and liabilities of between $50 million and $100 million.
What Disney is actually buying. Disney is the “stalking horse”, the opening bidder that sets the minimum price. It has offered $20 million. Court filings, as reported by PPC Land, describe this as a non-exclusive licence to Character.AI’s code and patents. It doesn’t include the app, the brand, user data or the finished models. So, as things stand, Disney isn’t buying the Character.AI app you use.
The proposed timeline. These dates come from the company’s proposed bidding procedures and may change:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 19 November | Meeting of creditors, where the company answers questions under oath |
| 20 November | Deadline for rival bids |
| 23 November | Auction, if more than one qualified bid arrives |
| 24 November | Court hearing to approve the sale |
Your chats and the sale. On 14 October, attorneys general from 39 states and Washington, D.C. filed a notice with the court. They set out conditions for any buyer of user data, including protections for minors, limits on using chats for AI training or advertising, and a chance for every user to delete their data before any sale. They also reserved the right to ask for a consumer privacy ombudsman.
What this means for users right now:
- Character.AI says the platform remains up and running during the sale.
- Paid subscriptions stay active, and the company says it will warn subscribers about any changes.
- The company expects the sale to finish around late November or early December 2026.
- If no buyer wants to keep the platform running, it says the business will be wound down.
My advice:
- If you have characters or chats you care about, use Character.AI’s data export option now, just in case.
- If you’ve shared anything personal in your chats, think about deleting those chats or your account before a buyer is chosen, rather than waiting to see what happens to the data.
- Don’t pay for a long c.ai+ plan until the future of the app is clear.
I’ll update this section when the sale result is known.
What is Janitor AI?
Janitor AI is a character chat platform for adults only. It hosts a large library of user-created characters and allows mature roleplay between adult characters on its website (it’s off by default in the mobile apps). You can chat for free with its own model, JanitorLLM, or connect other AI models through an API key (“proxy”) or its paid router.
I cover it in detail, including privacy and safety tips, in my Janitor AI guide.
Key differences
1. Audience and age rules
Character.AI allowed teens and has moved them to a restricted experience. Janitor AI is adults-only. Neither platform is suitable for children to chat freely.
2. Content rules
Character.AI filters content and doesn’t allow mature material. Janitor AI allows mature roleplay for adults. That’s the biggest reason people choose one over the other.
3. Models and quality
Character.AI uses its own models, tuned for character conversation. Janitor AI’s free model has a smaller memory, so long chats can lose track of details, which is why many users connect a paid outside model.
4. Cost
Both are free to start. Character.AI’s c.ai+ subscription (about $9.99 a month, according to a June 2026 pricing review) removes ads and adds faster access and extra features. On Janitor AI, costs come from janitor+ or from the outside model provider you connect.
5. Privacy
On both platforms, your chats are stored by the company and may be used for moderation and to improve services. With Janitor AI proxies, your messages also go to the outside model provider. Don’t share real personal details on either.
Safety tips for both platforms
- Treat characters as fiction. They’re designed to feel personal. If chatting starts to replace time with real people, take a break.
- Don’t share personal information such as your full name, address, school or photos.
- Use the official websites and apps only. Look-alike sites and modified apps exist.
- Parents: use device controls such as Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link. Character.AI’s optional Parental Insights shows a teen’s screen time but not their messages.
If a conversation with an AI ever leaves you feeling low or unsafe, talk to someone you trust or a local support service.
Which should you choose?
- Want filtered, mainstream character chat? Character.AI, keeping in mind its uncertain future during the sale.
- An adult who wants more open roleplay and model choice? Janitor AI, with care over privacy.
- Want creative writing help without a “companion” feel? A general assistant like ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini may suit you better.
Frequently asked questions
Is Character.AI shutting down? Not right now. It’s in a Chapter 11 sale process and says it remains up and running. It has said it will wind down if no buyer keeps the platform going.
Is Janitor AI safer than Character.AI? Not in general. Janitor AI allows mature content and is for adults only. Character.AI is more filtered, but neither is designed for children.
Can teenagers use Character.AI? Users aged 13 to 17 can use some features, such as Stories, but not open-ended chats.
Who is buying Character.AI? No buyer for the app has been chosen yet. Disney’s $20 million opening bid covers a licence to code and patents, not the app, brand or user data. Rival bids are due on 20 November 2026, with an auction proposed for 23 November.
What happens to my Character.AI chats? That depends on the sale. State attorneys general have asked the court to make any buyer of user data give everyone a chance to delete their data first. If you’re worried, export what you want to keep and delete the rest.
Related guides on WebTechHelp
- Janitor AI explained: how it works and is it safe?
- Are AI detectors accurate?
- ChatGOT: compare AI models in one place
Sources
- Character.AI blog: An update on Character.ai (October 2026)
- Benzinga: Character.AI files for Chapter 11, Disney bids $20 million
- TechCrunch: Character.AI is ending its chatbot experience for kids
- Dawiso: Character.AI safety guide for parents and teens
- TechCrunch: Character.AI files for bankruptcy (October 2026)
- PPC Land: Character.ai faces creditors under oath on November 19, a day before bids
- PPC Land: Character.ai faces 40 attorneys general over who can buy its users’ chats
- eesel AI: Character AI pricing in 2026
