Friends – Raise AI Companions

Review by eFreeware

If you like the idea of a virtual pet that grows alongside your actual routines, Friends is built for you. It is a social AI companion app from SLAY GmbH where you raise one or more characters over time, either on your own or together with someone close to you. The pitch is simple: everyday habits and interactions feed the companions, and they change as a result.

What makes it stand out from a plain pet simulator is the split between three characters, each tied to a different part of daily life. Pengu is meant for two people to raise jointly, Mellow supports studying and focus, and Bao is oriented around self-care and habits. That structure gives the app a clearer purpose than a generic collectible pet, and it is the main reason I would point someone toward it.

The app is free to download and use, with an optional subscription called Friends Plus and a Pengu Pass offering on top. It has been installed over five million times and holds a 4.5 average from more than 162,000 ratings, which suggests the format has landed with a broad audience since its release in November 2023.

What raising a companion actually involves

The core loop is interaction. You talk to your companion, make choices, and take actions that the developer says shape its personality over time. Companions learn from how you engage with them, adapt to your habits, and respond differently as time passes, remembering past moments and reacting to progress. That is the central promise: the more you put in, the more the character reflects you.

Each action is described as contributing to new behaviors and small surprises, which is the kind of slow-burn reward structure that works best when you check in regularly rather than in long sessions. If you expect a companion to feel meaningfully different after a day, that is probably not the pace this app is built around.

The three companions are not interchangeable. Pengu is designed for two people to shape together through conversations and shared interactions, which makes it a joint project rather than a solo one. Mellow is positioned as a calm study and focus partner that adds structure, reminders and encouragement without pressure. Bao is the self-care side, developing further the more consistent you are with healthy habits and well-being.

That division is the most interesting design decision in the app. Instead of one pet doing everything, each character maps to a specific intention, so you can pick the one that matches what you are actually trying to do that month. I would expect most people to gravitate toward one and treat the others as optional.

The social layer and what it adds

Friends is social by design, and that shows up in how companions can be raised. Pengu in particular is designed for two people who want to build something together, whether they are partners, friends or siblings.

Beyond co-raising, there are reactions, gifts and milestone celebrations, plus a shared digital space that grows as relationships do. This is the part that separates it from a solitary pet app: the companion becomes a small shared object between two people, something to check in on and talk about.

The developer compares the format to a newer generation of Tamagotchi-style experiences, and pitches Friends as going further by combining AI characters, practical use and shared experiences. I would treat that comparison as positioning rather than a promise, but the combination it describes is genuinely what the app is aiming at. Whether the social elements feel meaningful depends on having someone to share them with; raised alone, the app is a more ordinary companion experience.

Customization, widgets and the companion's world

There is a customization layer around the characters and their surroundings. You can personalize companions with outfits and accessories, decorate with wallpapers and themed rooms, and apply visual upgrades that reflect personality and progress. This is where the long-term investment shows up visually: the space you build is meant to look like the time you have put in.

Widgets extend the app to your home screen. Pengu, Bao and Mellow are all there to visit, talk to and keep an eye on. For an app built around routine and small frequent interactions, that is a sensible fit, since it removes the need to open the app just to keep a streak of contact going.

The customization options are cosmetic by nature, so I would not expect them to change how the companions behave. They are there to make the space feel like yours, and for people who enjoy decorating and collecting, that is often enough on its own.

What it asks of you, and the limits of the format

The main requirement is consistency. The developer describes companions that learn from your interactions and adapt to your habits, and Bao in particular develops further the more consistent you are. An app that rewards regularity will feel thin to someone who opens it once a week and expects visible change.

The second consideration is the subscription. The app is free, and the developer says the core features will stay that way. There is an optional Friends Plus subscription for extra features, plus a Pengu Pass that is currently offered. Prices vary by country and can change, and they are displayed in the app. Unless you switch off auto-renewal a day ahead of the period ending, the subscription renews itself, and you handle it from your account settings. If you choose not to subscribe, you can keep using the app for free.

The third is the social premise itself. Pengu is designed for two people, so its appeal depends on having a partner, friend or sibling who is willing to raise it with you. That is a structural feature rather than a flaw, but it does mean the app's most distinctive mode needs a second participant to work as intended.

The content rating is Everyone 10+, so it is not aimed at very young children. The recent notes mention bug fixes and performance improvements.

Who this fits best

I would point this at people who already like the idea of a daily check-in ritual but want it to have a purpose beyond the ritual itself. If you are studying for something and want gentle structure, Mellow is the natural entry point. If you are trying to build a self-care habit and want something that responds to your consistency, Bao is the one to start with.

The strongest fit, though, is a pair: a couple, two close friends, or siblings who want a shared project that lives on their phones. Pengu gives that pair something to shape together, with shared progress, reactions and gifts around it. For someone who wants a companion experience with a social dimension rather than a private one, that combination is the reason to choose this app over a solo pet simulator.

It is less compelling if you are looking for a productivity tool with hard numbers or a game with goals to beat. The app is oriented around companionship, encouragement and routine, and it works at the pace of small daily interactions rather than sessions with a clear finish line.

A companion app worth growing with

Friends is a well-defined take on the virtual pet idea, and the three-companion structure gives it more direction than most apps in the space. Pengu, Mellow and Bao each serve a distinct purpose, the social layer gives the format a reason to involve someone else, and the customization and widgets support the kind of regular, low-effort contact the app is built around. The free tier covers the main features, with Friends Plus and the Pengu Pass available for anyone who wants more.

The trade-offs are honest ones. Progress depends on consistency, the subscription renews automatically unless you turn it off, and the shared companion needs a second person to reach its potential. None of those are hidden costs, but they shape who gets the most out of it.

If you want a companion that grows with your routines and you have someone to share it with, this is an easy recommendation. If you would rather have a solo experience, the app still works, but the part that makes it distinctive is the part you would be leaving aside.

What's new in version 2.3.1 (3)

You've been invited to raise your cute Pengu! - Bug fixes and performance improvements.