AI companion conversations tend to be more personal than a typical chatbot exchange, so the privacy questions matter more than usual. The good news is that most of what you need to know is checkable before you type a single message. Work through the checklist below and you'll have a realistic picture of how an app treats your data.
1. Data storage and deletion
Start with the most important question: can you get your data out, and can you get it removed?
- Conversation deletion: can you delete individual chats from within the app?
- Account deletion: is there a clear "delete account" option, or only a way to "deactivate"? Deactivating is not the same as deleting.
- Retention after deletion: the privacy policy should say whether data is removed immediately or kept for a period, including in backups.
- Export: some apps let you download your data — useful for knowing what they hold.
How to verify
Search the privacy policy for the words "retention," "delete" and "backup." A trustworthy policy states a specific retention period and describes the deletion process. Vague language like "we may retain data as needed" without a timeframe is a signal to be cautious.
2. Training and data sharing
Many providers improve their models using real conversations. That's not automatically a problem, but you should know whether it's happening and whether you can opt out.
- Training use: does the policy say chats may be used to train or fine-tune models?
- Opt-out: is there a setting to exclude your conversations, and is it on or off by default?
- Third parties: is data shared with advertisers, analytics providers or other partners?
- Human review: some apps have staff review flagged chats for safety — worth knowing if that's the case.
How to verify
Look in both the privacy policy and the in-app settings. Search the policy for "train," "third party" and "share." Then open the app's privacy or data settings and check for a training or personalization toggle, and note its default state.
3. Age verification and content controls
Age verification and content filters are two separate controls, and it's easy to confuse them. An age gate governs who can access the app or its mature content; a content filter governs what the app will generate. Both vary widely across the category and neither is standardized.
| Control | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Age gate | Restricts access by age | Self-declared birthdate vs. document-based check |
| Content filter / SFW toggle | Controls mature output | Whether it's on by default and how it's enforced |
| Adult labelling | Signals mature content | Clear 18+ labelling on relevant sections |
Apps with mature content should make their 18+ status obvious and back it with some form of age gate. A stronger age check is generally a sign the provider takes compliance seriously.
4. App permissions
A text-based companion app needs surprisingly little access to your device. Each permission it requests should map to a feature you actually use.
- Notifications: reasonable for message alerts.
- Microphone: only needed if you use voice input or replies.
- Photo library / camera: only for features that involve uploading or generating images.
- Contacts / location: rarely necessary for a companion app — question these if requested.
How to verify
On iOS and Android you can review and revoke permissions in your device settings at any time. The app store listing's data-safety or privacy section also summarizes what the app collects — compare that against what the app asks for in practice.
Turning the checklist into a decision
You don't need every answer to be perfect; you need them to be clear and reasonable for what the app does. An app that documents retention, offers real deletion, explains training use, gates age appropriately and requests only relevant permissions has earned a baseline of trust. One that's vague on all four deserves more caution — regardless of how good the conversation feels. Privacy is one of the five criteria we weigh in How to Choose an AI Companion App, and where we can confirm these details for a specific app, we note them in our reviews and rankings.
This checklist is general guidance, not legal advice, and the specifics differ by app and by region — always defer to the app's own current privacy policy and your local regulations.
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Can I delete my AI companion chat history?
Many apps let you delete individual conversations and your whole account, but not all delete data immediately or from backups. Check the privacy policy for how deletion is handled and whether a retention period applies after you request removal.
Are my conversations used to train the AI?
Some apps use conversation data to improve their models, sometimes with an opt-out and sometimes not. Look for a clear statement in the privacy policy, and check the settings for a training or data-sharing toggle before assuming your chats stay private.
What app permissions should an AI companion app need?
A text-based companion app generally needs very little — notifications at most. Requests for contacts, location, microphone or photo library access should match a feature you actually use, such as voice replies; if a permission has no obvious purpose, that is worth questioning.