PolyBuzz is one of the most-downloaded AI character-chat apps, with nearly half a million ratings on the US App Store alone. In 2026 it's also become one of the more complicated to pay for: subscriptions, Coins and, since this summer, a third currency called Opals. This PolyBuzz review covers what each costs, who actually runs the service, what its terms say about refunds and your content, and what users are reporting. It's written for adult users; PolyBuzz's own terms say it is for 18+ only. Last checked Oct 2026.
Popular and free to start, but costly to use fully, with strict terms
PolyBuzz has a huge character library and a working free tier. But it now splits features across subscriptions, Coins and Opals, its terms refuse refunds even after cancellation, and they claim broad rights over content created in the app.
You want a big, casual character-chat app and are happy on the free tier with ads, or with one clearly priced subscription.
You want predictable costs, long memory without paying extra, a refund option, or to keep rights over what you create.
Provisional score, based on PolyBuzz's website, terms of use, privacy policy, US App Store listing and public user reviews, all checked Oct 7, 2026. Hands-on testing is pending.
What PolyBuzz is, and who runs it
PolyBuzz is an AI chat service where you talk to characters created by other users or make your own, with image generation, voice input and "live photos." It runs as a website (polybuzz.ai) and as iOS and Android apps.[1][3]
Who runs it depends on where you look:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Website operator | Singularity Mutual Entertainment Culture Media Limited, Hong Kong (Kwun Tong address) |
| iOS app seller | Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC |
| Governing law | State of Delaware, USA |
| Disputes | Binding individual arbitration at the New York International Arbitration Center, class-action waiver (opt-out available) |
| Minimum age | 18; date of birth required on first use |
| Terms and privacy policy | Both last updated June 1, 2026 |
The terms state that PolyBuzz "strictly prohibit[s]" users under 18 worldwide and that you must enter your date of birth when you first use it, as a guest or a registered user.[1] In the UK, the privacy policy describes mandatory age verification through third-party providers under the Online Safety Act; PolyBuzz says it keeps only the verified or not-verified result, not your ID.[2]
How much does PolyBuzz cost?
PolyBuzz's terms point you to the in-app purchase page for prices and say rates can change "with or without expressive notice."[1] The most stable public list is the US App Store:
| App Store item | Price |
|---|---|
| Poly Standard Weekly Plan | $4.99 |
| Poly Standard Monthly | $9.90 |
| Poly Premium Monthly | $19.90 |
| Poly Ultimate Monthly Plan | $29.90 |
| 1,000 / 3,000 / 8,000 Coins | $2.49 / $4.99 / $9.99 |
| 1,000 / 4,000 Opals | $5.90 / $19.90 |
Subscriptions auto-renew: PolyBuzz says it will "bill you on the date of subscription and on each periodic renewal until cancellation."[1]
Coins on the website
Coins are PolyBuzz's in-app money for model "rounds," regenerating replies, live photos and unlocking "Moments."[4] When we loaded the Coins page on Oct 7, 2026, it showed a "Today Only" countdown and an "83% off" banner: 1,000 Coins for $2.49 (marked "Newbie Perks"), 3,000 for $4.99, 8,000 for $8.49 and 20,000 for $19.90, each shown against a higher crossed-out price.[4] Treat countdown discounts with care; we can't confirm how often the "regular" prices are actually charged.
What are Opals on PolyBuzz?
Opals are a newer, separate currency. PolyBuzz's Opals page ties them to "Sovereign" features it describes as "Enhanced Memory," "Emotional Depth," "Immersive Storytelling" and a "Luxury Experience."[5]
| Opals pack (website) | Bonus | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | None | $5.90 |
| 4,000 | +400 Gems | $19.90 |
| 8,000 | +1,200 Gems | $38.90 |
| 15,000 | +3,000 Gems | $69.90 |
| 50,000 | +10,000 Gems | $199.99 |
Users on the r/polybuzz subreddit describe Opals as the currency for "Sovereign mode" and report a small free daily allowance.[6] Unverified We haven't confirmed the daily amount, how many Opals a Sovereign reply costs, or whether Opals expire.
Is PolyBuzz free?
Yes, to start. PolyBuzz's site lists "Multiple chat rounds," "Advanced chat model," "Unlimited searches," "Generate images for free" and "Create characters by yourself" as what you get when you log in.[4] Unregistered visitors can browse and chat "with limitations," according to the privacy policy.[2]
The catch is in the user reviews. Several Trustpilot reviewers from July to October 2026 say ads now interrupt chats every few minutes, and one says the Opals change has made it "a pay to play."[7] These are individual accounts, but they line up with PolyBuzz moving more features behind paid currencies.
PolyBuzz refunds and cancelling
The refund clause is short and strict:
You understand and agree that, subject to applicable laws, any user payment made in accordance with our rates and policies will not be refunded, even if the subscription is subsequently cancelled.
To cancel, the terms say to follow "Settings – Help Center."[1] If you subscribed through Apple or Google, cancel in that store's subscription settings, and ask Apple or Google directly for any refund. The terms also warn that when you request cancellation, PolyBuzz may pass the payment vendor details such as your account age, active hours and in-app purchase usage.[1]
PolyBuzz privacy and your content
The privacy policy (June 1, 2026) and terms contain several points worth knowing before you share anything:[2][1]
- AI training: the permissions section says photos are collected "to... train our AI algorithm," and precise geolocation is requested "to train our AI algorithm."
- Data collected: email, username, uploaded pictures and input text, payment records, device identifiers (including IMEI, MAC and advertising IDs), logs, precise geolocation and, with permission, your contacts.
- Advertising: third-party ad networks may use cookies and IDs such as IDFA or GAID to target ads. You can request an opt-out from personalised ads by email.
- Selling data: "We DO NOT sell User Information," though the policy's CCPA section says ad and analytics services may result in the "sharing" of online identifiers.
- Retention: no fixed period. PolyBuzz keeps aggregated, anonymised data "for any purpose."
- Your content: the terms say intellectual property rights "of the contents generated during your use... shall belong to us in accordance with applicable laws," and uploads are covered by a "permanent, irrevocable... perpetual... sublicensable" licence.
That content clause goes further than most competitors, which usually take a licence but leave ownership with you.
What PolyBuzz users report
- App Store: 4.4 out of 5 from about 482,000 US ratings (Oct 7, 2026).[3]
- Trustpilot: 2.2 out of 5 from 23 reviews, all within the last 12 months: 52% one-star, 22% two-star, 17% three-star, 0% four-star and 9% five-star. The profile is unclaimed and PolyBuzz doesn't invite reviews.[7]
| Theme | What reviewers said (Trustpilot, Jul to Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Ads | Multiple reviewers said long ads now appear every few minutes on the free tier. |
| Opals and paywalls | A reviewer said the Opals change meant they "can't even chat with my characters anymore." |
| Memory | One paying user called the paid "permanent memory" feature "useless" and said it can't be edited. |
| Billing | One reviewer said they had to dispute a card charge through their bank. |
| Filters | Some said filters block ordinary storylines. |
The gap between a 4.4 App Store score and a 2.2 Trustpilot score is common in this category: app-store ratings are often prompted inside the app, while Trustpilot draws people with a complaint.
How to delete your PolyBuzz account
- Cancel any subscription first (Settings → Help Center in PolyBuzz, or in the App Store or Google Play).
- Open the Setting page, then Account → Delete.[2]
- Deletion is irreversible, and PolyBuzz says some data may stay in backups "when the backup system is updated or upgraded."[2]
- For a copy of your data or other privacy requests, email [email protected], or the DPO at [email protected] with "Attn: DPO" in the subject.[2]
What we like
- Very large user base: 4.4 from about 482,000 US App Store ratings
- Free to start, with chat, character creation and image generation
- Published 18+ policy with date-of-birth gate and UK age verification
- Privacy policy says it does not sell user information
- In-app account deletion: Setting → Account → Delete
What to watch
- Three ways to pay: subscriptions, Coins and Opals; costs are hard to compare
- Terms say payments "will not be refunded, even if the subscription is subsequently cancelled"
- Terms claim rights in content generated during use, plus a perpetual licence to uploads
- Privacy policy lists precise geolocation and photos as data used to train its AI
- Trustpilot 2.2 from 23 reviews, with recent complaints about ads and Opals
PolyBuzz alternatives
If you want a big character library with a simpler price list, SpicyChat has unlimited free messages and three public tiers. Janitor AI offers unlimited free chats on its own model (see Is Janitor AI free?). If you want an adults-only companion with a published refund window, Candy AI refunds within 24 hours if you've used 20 tokens or fewer; read our Candy AI review. We also compare Chai in our Chai AI review.
Our #1 pick: scenario-first Latina companions, Dream Plus at $9.99 every 30 days with 1,000 gold coins, and 1 coin per message. Read our Caracas Dream review or try Caracas Dream (owned by the same company as this site, 18+).
Frequently asked questions
Is PolyBuzz free?
It is free to start. Free users can chat, create characters and generate images, with ads. Recent user reviews say ads are frequent and that the new Opals currency is needed for the more detailed "Sovereign" chat mode. Paid subscriptions on the US App Store run from $4.99 a week to $29.90 a month.
How much does PolyBuzz cost?
On the US App Store: Poly Standard at $4.99 a week or $9.90 a month, Poly Premium at $19.90 a month and Poly Ultimate at $29.90 a month. Coins cost $2.49 to $9.99 per pack in the app, and Opals cost $5.90 for 1,000 up to $199.99 for 50,000 on the website.
What are Opals on PolyBuzz?
Opals are a separate PolyBuzz currency that its website ties to "Sovereign" features: enhanced memory, emotional depth and richer storytelling. Packs on the website range from 1,000 Opals for $5.90 to 50,000 for $199.99. Reports of free daily Opals come from users on Reddit; we haven't verified the amount.
Who owns PolyBuzz?
The website terms and privacy policy say PolyBuzz.ai is operated by Singularity Mutual Entertainment Culture Media Limited in Hong Kong. The iPhone app is sold by Cloud Whale Interactive Technology LLC. The terms are governed by Delaware law, with arbitration at the New York International Arbitration Center.
Can I get a refund from PolyBuzz?
PolyBuzz's terms say payments "will not be refunded, even if the subscription is subsequently cancelled," subject to applicable law. App Store and Google Play purchases can be raised with Apple or Google under their own refund processes.
Is PolyBuzz safe?
It's a large, established app with published terms and a privacy policy that says it does not sell user information. But the terms give PolyBuzz broad rights over content created in the app, the privacy policy says photos and precise location may be used to train its AI, and payments are non-refundable. Don't share identifying details in chats.
How do I delete my PolyBuzz account?
The privacy policy says to go to the Setting page, then Account, then Delete. Deletion is irreversible, and some data may stay in backups until they are updated. Cancel any subscription first.
Sources
- PolyBuzz Terms of Use, last updated June 1, 2026 (read Oct 7, 2026)
- PolyBuzz Privacy Policy, last updated June 1, 2026 (read Oct 7, 2026)
- PolyBuzz: Chat with Characters on the US App Store (seller, ratings, in-app purchases), read Oct 7, 2026
- PolyBuzz Coins page, read Oct 7, 2026
- PolyBuzz Opals page, read Oct 7, 2026
- r/polybuzz: Sovereign mode and opals (user discussion)
- Trustpilot: polybuzz.ai, read Oct 7, 2026