NEWS · Published 2026-10-27

CHAI removed from the App Store: is it coming back?

CHAI’s iPhone app is no longer on the App Store. The App Store page for listing id 1544750895 returns Not Found, and CHAI’s founder confirmed on October 22, 2026 that the app is “currently unavailable to download.” If CHAI is already on your iPhone, the founder says you are unaffected. The Android app is still on Google Play. No return date has been given.

Is CHAI back on the App Store?

Not yet. As of October 27, 2026, CHAI is still not on the App Store. We checked the App Store page for id 1544750895 in the US and UK storefronts and both returned Not Found. Apple’s iTunes lookup for the same id returns no results in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. The listing was live on October 14, 2026, according to a Wayback Machine snapshot.

What CHAI’s founder said

On October 22, 2026 (US time), a post flaired “[Official] CHAI Founder” in the r/ChaiApp subreddit confirmed the removal (Reddit):

“Hey - just wanted to give an update, while we're working on improving our Apple app, it is currently unavailable to download in Apple App Store. If you already have it installed, you will be unaffected. Will, Founder”

That is the only explanation so far. The post does not say whether Apple removed the app or CHAI pulled it, and gives no date for its return. We found no statement from Apple. CompanionHunt’s tracker of app shutdowns and store removals logged the same change on October 22 and notes that refunds and data export were not addressed (CompanionHunt).

CHAI is not a small app quietly fading out. Its company site says its annualized revenue run-rate reached $120M as of October 1, 2026 (CHAI Research).

What people in the CHAI community are saying

The founder’s post drew about 80 comments within days. The questions are practical. One person asked about billing (comment):

“Is this going to affect our current subscriptions when it’s time to renew? Mine doesn’t renew until November 3 but in case it’s not back, I’m curious if it’ll renew on its own if the app is gone from the App Store.”

Others doubted the “unaffected” part. “Unaffected? I had it downloaded and it’s been stuck on a loading screen for four days straight😔,” one wrote (comment). Another hit an update prompt with nowhere to go: “I got a popup for an update, but I cant updated because its not in the apple store anymore...” (comment).

One of the most upvoted replies asked if this would be like an earlier gap: “will it be like when the app was taken off and had to wait weeks until it goes back on…or different?” (comment). New threads asking “When will chai be back on the App Store?” kept appearing in r/ChaiApp through October 25.

When will CHAI be back?

There is no announced date. The founder linked the gap to work on “improving our Apple app,” which suggests CHAI plans to return, but nothing more specific has been said. Any date you see online is a guess. We are checking the listing and will update this page if it comes back.

What still works

• The app already on your iPhone. The founder says installed copies are unaffected. Some commenters report loading problems, and you can’t install updates while the listing is gone. Don’t delete the app if you want to keep using it: you can’t download it again until it returns.
• Android. CHAI is still on Google Play as Chai: Chat AI Platform (Google Play), rated Mature 17+.
• Your chats. CHAI has not said anything about deleting accounts or chats. If your chats matter to you, keep the installed app rather than reinstalling.

If you pay for CHAI through the App Store

A CHAI subscription bought on iPhone is an Apple subscription. It keeps renewing unless you cancel it, whether or not the app is in the store. Check or cancel it in iPhone Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions. Deleting the app does not stop Apple billing by itself.

Looking for something else?

If you mostly used CHAI for its huge character library and story chats, our CHAI alternatives guide compares options that are still on iPhone. PolyBuzz is also off the App Store, since October 15 (our PolyBuzz update). Character.AI is on the App Store but filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 12, 2026 (our bankruptcy update).

If what you want is a companion you design yourself, with long-term memory and selfies, Duple is one option on iPhone. Duple Lite is free and includes up to 2 companions; Duple Plus is $6.99 a week, $14.99 a month or $69.99 a year. Duple is iPhone-only and has no live voice chat.

We will update this post if CHAI or Apple says more, or when the iPhone app returns to the App Store.