Frequently asked questions
What is Ari?
Ari is an AI you text on iMessage, Telegram, or Discord, and in the web chat once you have an account. Ari manages your life and frees your time: reminders and check-ins, habits with streaks, a calendar, memory you can see and correct by telling Ari, web search, and a live web browser for errands. Ari makes sure you reach your goals by remembering what you said and following up. Ari is AI, not a human.
How do I start?
Send Ari a message on iMessage, Telegram, or Discord. Your first real message creates your account automatically. There is no form and no code to enter for your first channel. If you already have an Ari account, pair the new channel before using it.
How much does Ari cost?
Chat with Ari every day, free forever. 100+ premium messages to use anytime, with every feature. Then 10 messages a day, forever. No card needed. The paid plan is $17.99 USD/month or $109.99 USD/year (about $9.17 USD/month). Checkout shows the exact amount before you pay.
What does the free plan include?
Chat with Ari every day, free forever. Your 100+ premium messages include every feature, with up to 30 minutes of live browser a day and a few AI images to try. After that you keep 10 messages a day, every day, live reminders on your first 5 commitments, habit check-ins (they count toward the daily messages), and the apps you build. Ari keeps remembering on both plans. The memory explorer, connected tools, the live browser, AI images, and other scheduled check-ins are part of the paid plan once the premium messages are used.
What does the paid plan add?
Unlimited regular chat, plus Ari's private computer, the live browser, and skills. Ari's private computer: Computer tasks with no monthly cap (fair use): Ari runs code, builds, researches, and works through files in the background, with 20 GB of storage that stays between conversations. The live browser: Up to 2 hours a day of Ari working on real websites: errands, forms, bookings, and order checks. Watch live, take over anytime, and nothing is bought or submitted until you allow it. Installable skills: Ari installs skills from a searchable library and writes new ones. Skills with scripts run on Ari's computer, and with an API key you save and allow, Ari can work with almost any app that has an API. Paid also keeps connected tools, scheduled check-ins, the memory explorer, and AI image generation.
Is paid unlimited?
For regular chat, yes. Paid is not pay-per-message. Computer tasks have no monthly cap under fair use: a single very large task stops when it reaches its limit and you can pick it back up, and after a very heavy day you can continue the next day. The live browser has a daily time allowance of 2 hours on paid. AI image generation uses image credits, with one-time top-up packs if you want more.
How do image credits work?
Creating or editing an image with Ari uses 1 image credit — generations and edits cost the same. The paid plan includes 40 credits each month; they reset with your billing cycle and don't roll over. Generating images runs on real GPU compute, which is why images are metered while regular chat isn't.
Can I get more image credits?
Yes. Subscribers can buy one-time credit packs: $10 for 50 credits, $20 for 110 credits, or $30 for 180 credits — that's up to 180 images or edits from the largest pack. Packs are one-time purchases, not subscriptions, and purchased credits never expire. They stay yours even if your subscription lapses; you just can't buy more until you resubscribe. Ask Ari for a top-up link in chat, or buy from You > Plan.
Where do I see my image-credit balance?
You > Plan in the app shows your monthly included credits, purchased credits, and recent image activity. Ari can also tell you what's left whenever you ask.
What is the difference between a task, event, instruction, and project?
Use a task for something you do, like call mom or buy groceries. Use an event for something that happens, like a dentist appointment or meeting. Use an instruction when Ari should do the work later, like check the weather tomorrow and tell you. Use a project to organize multiple tasks, events, or instructions.
How do I add Telegram, Discord, or iMessage to my existing account?
Telegram and Discord use one-click connect from You > How Ari reaches you in your signed-in Ari account. For iMessage, You > How Ari reaches you gives you a pairing code to text to Ari. If Ari already made a separate account on that channel, the steps to move it are on the help page: https://textari.chat/contact#pairing.
Is my data private?
Yes. Your conversations belong to you. We never sell your data. You can ask us for a copy of everything, or to delete your account, at any time by emailing [email protected]. See the Privacy Policy for the full detail.
Can I cancel?
Anytime, from your dashboard billing page. No email or phone call is required. See the refund policy for how billing periods work.
What channels are supported?
Start on iMessage, Telegram, or Discord. Once you have an account, the same conversation also works in the web chat at textari.chat.
What if I lose access to my iMessage, Telegram, or Discord?
As long as you have one paired channel, you can pair a new one from your dashboard. If you lose access to every paired channel, contact support and we will help you recover your account.
How does Ari handle a crisis?
Ari is not a crisis service and not a therapist. If you mention thoughts of self-harm, Ari responds with care and points you to real help. In the US, call or text 988. If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
Does Ari charge per message or use credits?
Neither for regular use. Ari is a flat subscription — $17.99 USD/month or $109.99 USD/year — and normal chat, reminders, habits, and calendar work are not metered. Only AI image generation uses credits. Ari does not sell message packs and there is no per-text charge.
Does Ari work with my calendar?
Yes. Ari keeps a dedicated calendar of your commitments and can also read and write your Google Calendar once connected. Ari checks for collisions before booking, and moves the lower-priority thing rather than double-booking you.
Which tools does Ari connect to?
Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Tasks, Todoist, Notion. Connect them from your signed-in account and Ari can read, draft, file, and follow up across them when you ask.
Can Ari build apps or websites?
Yes. Ask in chat and Ari builds a small web app, like a lift tracker or a reading log, or a simple website. Each one gets its own address you can open on any device or share.
Can Ari use websites for me?
Yes. Ari uses a real web browser to check stock, prices, and hours on the actual site, find and book tables, fill out forms, and check order status in your accounts. You can watch live and take over anytime, inline in the web chat or from a tap-to-watch link on iMessage, Discord, and Telegram. Ari asks before anything that spends money or submits, and passwords are filled from your private vault without ever being shown to the AI.
Does Ari track habits and streaks?
Yes. Ari tracks habits, counts streaks, and follows up when one slips. A missed day resets the current streak while your best streak stays, and Ari asks what happened and picks the habit back up.
Is Ari a real person?
No. Ari is AI, never a human. Ari can be wrong and is not a substitute for professional medical, legal, or financial advice.