An honest, cited look at Backyard AI — what it does well (including where it beats FlirtAlly), what it costs, and who it's for. Researched 2026-10-03 · official site.
local/offline privacy — desktop app runs models entirely on-device, data never transmitted; FlirtAlly is cloud-only (s4; be honest about it)
no-filters by default — homepage markets unfiltered chat with no verification friction; our Spicy side is age-gated (Didit) and plan-gated (s2 vs FEATURES_v3 §1/§31)
model choice and tuning depth — 12+ selectable models, token samplers (Min-P/Top-P/Top-K), custom context length up to 100k on Pro; we expose no model picker (s1, s3)
We publish competitor wins on purpose — a comparison that never loses isn't a comparison.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Notes | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — | 300 messages/week, 1 included model (Fimbulvetr), 16k max context, no credit card required; includes voice calls, group chats (up to 4 characters), lorebooks | reported |
| Standard | $12 | — | unlimited messages with every Standard model (Mistral-Nemo 12B, Fimbulvetr v2 11B, Llama 3 Stheno 8B and others); 16,384-token max context | reported |
| Pro | $35 | — | largest models with maximum memory — up to 100,000-token context; adds Command R+ 104B, Llama 3.3 70B-class models, Magnum 72B | reported |
Free tier: exists — 300 cloud messages/week, 1 model, 16k context, no credit card; separate local desktop product historically free (see contradictions) Platform variance: yearly toggle exists on /plans but annual prices are not rendered; iOS app is free to download (IAP prices not enumerated); app-store IAP prices may differ from web — verify per platform before publishing pricing tables (s1, s3; confidence: medium)
Backyard Standard $12/mo vs our Spark $12.99/mo (unlimited chat) — we undercut their entry paid tier; their Pro $35 sits between our Flame $19.99 and Exclusive $49.99; free tiers differ in shape, not just size: 300 msgs/week with 1 model vs our 30 msgs/day plus a daily image, voice note, call minutes, and 2 emails — present neutrally with tables (s1 vs FEATURES_v3 §27)
| Capability | Backyard AI | FlirtAlly |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term memory | lorebooks + author's note context tools; up to 100k-token context window on Pro; App Store description mentions custom characters with memory high conf | Four-layer memory with semantic recall — tell them your dog's name today, they ask about it next week. Unlimited on every plan, free included. |
| Voice | voice calls included on all tiers, including free; homepage markets 'Dynamic Voices & Audio' with named character voices high conf | Real-time voice calls in-app, plus companions with real PSTN phone lines you can actually dial. |
| Video messages | none found on official plans page, homepage, or App Store description low conf | Lip-synced video messages in their own voice (10-second clips). |
| Group chat | group chats with up to 4 characters, all tiers including free high conf | Group threads with 2–5 of your companions — they read each other's replies and banter. |
| Selfies & photos | none found — no AI image generation/selfies on plans page or App Store description; characters support background images (uploads, not generated selfies) low conf | Selfies on demand (3cr), identity-locked to their canonical face — always recognizably them. |
| Texts first | none found — no reliable source found low conf | They text first — opt-in, quiet-hours aware, always stoppable. |
| Real games | none found low conf | 17 real server-authoritative games with credit wagers — they play for keeps and remember losses. |
| Real phone lines | none found — voice is in-app only low conf | Buy a matched companion their own dedicated real phone number (200cr/mo); only your calls ring through. |
| Physical mail | none found low conf | Real printed letters and gift cards in your physical mailbox, written from relationship memory. |
We show conflicts instead of hiding them — pricing in this category changes fast.
FlirtAlly is live and free to start — a no-card free plan. Companions who remember you, text first, and answer a real phone number.
Not verified — noted honestly rather than guessed: annual/yearly pricing: toggle exists on /plans but no annual prices are rendered (s1) · r/BackyardAI member count unknown — reddit blocked automated fetch · image generation/selfies: none found on official pages; unverified whether any tier includes generated images · proactive messaging: unconfirmed — no reliable source found · whether the local desktop app remains free/unlimited alongside the metered cloud free tier — unverified (see contradictions)