Is Character.AI shutting down? What its Chapter 11 means for you
Character.AI filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 12, 2026 to sell the company. It is still running while the sale happens. Here's what's confirmed, the key dates, and your options. Updated 2026-10-22.
The short answer
- Not shut down. Character.AI says "the platform remains up and running, and you can continue to access all services at this time."
- It's being sold. The company started "a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy process to facilitate a court-supervised sale of the company," expected to finish "by the end of November or perhaps early December 2026."
- It could close. Character.AI says it is looking for a buyer with a plan to keep it running, but "if such a bid is unavailable, however, the platform will be wound down."
- Subscriptions: "your subscriptions remain active, and billing is unchanged for now." It says it will notify subscribers in advance of changes to paid features.
- Your chats: you can export your data, or delete your account, from the app or website.
Key dates
| Oct 12, 2026 | Character Technologies, Inc. files for Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 26-11603). |
|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | Disney opens the bidding with $20 million for a license to select assets, as the "stalking horse" bidder — other buyers can still outbid it (reported by BetaNews). |
| Oct 30, 2026 | Court hearing on the bidding procedures (10:00 AM ET). |
| Nov 19, 2026 | Meeting of creditors (1:00 PM ET). |
| Late Nov – early Dec 2026 | Sale expected to be complete, per Character.AI. |
What should you do now?
Export your chats and characters
Character.AI says you can export your data from the app or website. Doing it now costs nothing and protects you if the platform changes after the sale.
Should I cancel my subscription?
Billing is unchanged for now and Character.AI says it will warn subscribers before changes to paid features. If you'd rather not keep paying through an uncertain sale, you can cancel; if you subscribed through the App Store or Google Play, cancel there.
Will my characters move to the new owner?
Nothing has been announced. It depends on who buys which assets — Disney's opening bid is for a license to select assets, not necessarily the whole platform. We'll update this page when the court approves a sale.
Character.AI alternatives (SFW)
Apps without adult content, with live status. Check each app's minimum age.
| App | Now | Free | Price | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PolyBuzz | Working | Yes | From $19.90/month | 18+ |
| Talkie | Working | Yes | From $9.99/month | 16+ per ToS (ages 16-17 need parent/guardian permission). US App Store rates the iOS app 18+; Google Play rates it Teen. |
| Chai | Working | Yes | From $9.99/week | 18+ |
| Botify AI | Working | Yes | — | 18+ (per ToS) |
18+ character apps
These allow adult roleplay and are for adults only.
| App | Now | Free | Price | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janitor AI | Working | Yes | From $12.99/month | 18+ |
| SpicyChat | Working | Yes | From $5.95/month | 18+ |
| CrushOn AI | Working | Yes | From $4.90/month | 18+ |
| Joyland | Working | Yes | From $9.99/month | 13+ (16+ for EU residents) per ToS; adult content requires 18+ confirmation; app stores rate it 17+ |
| Chub AI | Working | Yes | From $20/month | 18+ (per ToS) |
| FictionLab | Working | Yes | From $8.99/month | 16+ (per ToS); 18+ required to enable mature content |
All Character.AI alternatives → · Character.AI guide →
Sources
- Character.AI — "An update on Character.AI" (Oct 12, 2026)
- Claims agent case page — Character Technologies, Inc., Case No. 26-11603 (BLS), District of Delaware
- BetaNews — "Character.AI enters Chapter 11 as Disney bids $20 million for IP license" (Oct 15, 2026)
AIChatRadar is independent and not affiliated with Character.AI or any bidder. This page is information, not legal or financial advice.