Apple told developers on 2 November 2026 that dating apps and AI companions with sexual or romantic content must carry an 18+ age rating on the App Store. Apple said two descriptors arrive in App Store Connect on 16 November 2026, and every existing and newly submitted app must comply by 12 January 2027.
Apple defines Dating and Relationships to include virtual companions that engage a user in sexual or romantic content. An app with that descriptor receives an 18+ rating automatically with no exception for products aimed at teens or young adults, and the rule applies even when romance is one feature among many.
What Apple changed
Apple added two descriptors in App Store Connect on 16 November 2026: "Shared Location" and "Dating and Relationships". Developers must answer them with any update or rating change. "Shared Location" requires disclosure and does not raise the rating in most regions. "Dating and Relationships" triggers a minimum of 18+ automatically and Apple applies it when romance is one feature among many, such as an app with matchmaking or a chatbot that allows romantic roleplay.
On a device where Screen Time or Family Sharing limits the rating, Apple hides 18+ apps from the store. Adults without a limit see no change. Brazil is the regional exception, with A16 for shared location and A18 for dating and relationships, and a developer can request a rating for a family safety app. The rule covers only the App Store. Google Play is not covered.
Which AI companion apps are affected
StartupHub.ai read the App Store search listings on 3 November 2026 for the companion apps on its two companion lists and for the App Store companions people search for most. The table that follows shows App Store companions that are rated 17+ today, including Character.AI and Replika. Each falls under the new descriptor as Apple describes it and would move to 18+, and TechCrunch names Character.AI and Replika as apps the rule is aimed at.
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| Companion | App Store listing | Publisher | Rating on 3 Nov 2026 | Under the new rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replika | Replika - AI Companion Chat | Luka, Inc. | 17+ | 18+ |
| Character.AI | Character AI: Chat, Talk, Text | Character Technologies, Inc. | 17+ | 18+ |
| Nomi | Nomi: AI Companion with a Soul | AI GLIMPSE INC | 17+ | 18+ |
| Kindroid | Kindroid: Your Personal AI | Beautifully Incorporated | 17+ | 18+ |
| Talkie | Talkie Lab - AI Playground | SUBSUP PTE. LTD. | 17+ | 18+ |
| Chai | Chai.X | NEWSDELIVER LIMITED | 17+ | 18+ |
| Janitor AI | Janitor: Interactive Stories | JanitorAI, INC | 17+ | 18+ |
| DreamGF | DreamGF - AI Girlfriend Chat | AvaCasa, LLC | 17+ | 18+ |
The AI companions that run in the browser
StartupHub.ai found that 17 of the 18 apps on its AI girlfriend list have no App Store listing under their own name and the table that follows lists those companions. Those companions are used in a web browser, so a browser product has no App Store rating to change. The only App Store result for Candy AI is published by an individual developer and not the company.
| Companion | Where it runs | App Store listing on 3 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Candy AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| SpicyChat | Browser | None under its own name |
| OurDream AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| CrushOn AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| Secrets AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| My Dream Companion | Browser | None under its own name |
| Kupid AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| Secret Desires AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| xchar AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| SweetBun | Browser | None under its own name |
| HeyGF.ai | Browser | None under its own name |
| Darlink AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| Erogen | Browser | None under its own name |
| SecretWaifu | Browser | None under its own name |
| SweetDream AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| TryNectar AI | Browser | None under its own name |
| Couple.me | Browser | None under its own name |
The full AI girlfriend list and the companion apps for women list grade every one of them on the same ten criteria.
Character.AI alternatives and sites like Candy AI: what to check
Readers who leave an App Store companion typically search for an alternative by name, for sites like the one they used, or for a website version. A companion used in the browser has no App Store rating, so its age gate, its privacy policy and its billing terms are what to check instead.
The AI girlfriend list grades each app on ten criteria: chat memory, character consistency, voice and video, filter behaviour, free allowance, price, billing honesty, security, privacy and community rating. StartupHub.ai keeps an alternatives page for Character.AI. The site also keeps an alternatives page for Replika and a review of Candy AI.
What it means for the companion market
TechCrunch reports that the top AI companion apps across the App Store and Google Play had been downloaded 220 million times globally as of last summer. The rule narrows discovery for App Store companions on devices where Screen Time or Family Sharing limits the rating and leaves browser products untouched, so the gap between app-first and web-first companions widens. Apple applies the rule to the App Store only and Google Play is not covered.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple's 18+ rule affect AI companions that run in a web browser?
No. The rule applies to apps on the App Store. A companion used in the browser has no App Store rating, so its age gate, its privacy policy and its billing terms are what to check instead.
Will adults see a change in the App Store?
No, adults see no change; the rating governs visibility, not what an adult can use. Where Screen Time or Family Sharing limits the rating, 18+ apps are hidden from the store.
When does the rule take effect?
Apple said two descriptors, Shared Location and Dating and Relationships, arrive in App Store Connect on 16 November and every existing and newly submitted app must comply by 12 January 2027. So far Apple has not said what happens to an app that misses the deadline.
Why is Brazil different?
Brazil is the exception and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security requires A16 for shared location and A18 for dating and relationships. A developer can request an official rating from the ministry, for example for a family safety app.
Sources
- TechCrunch: Apple restricts dating apps and AI companions to users 18 and up
- TechTimes: Apple App Store requires 18+ age rating for AI romantic companions and dating apps
- App Store listings and age ratings read through Apple's search API on 3 November 2026.
