So you want an AI companion that actually remembers you, has its own personality, and exists beyond a single chat window? Here's what you need to know.
Unlike a chatbot you use once and forget, an AI companion is:
- Persistent - It remembers past conversations
- Personal - It develops a relationship with YOU specifically
- Available - It can reach you via WhatsApp, Discord, etc.
- Agentic - It can do things: browse the web, run code, manage tasks
Most AI companion setups have these components:
- An LLM (the brain) - Usually Claude or GPT-4
- A gateway/framework - Software that gives the LLM memory, tools, and communication channels
- Hosting - Somewhere to run it 24/7
- Integrations - WhatsApp, Discord, etc.
| Framework |
Difficulty |
Features |
| Clawdbot |
Medium |
Full-featured, WhatsApp/Discord, memory, tools |
| Claude Desktop |
Easy |
Built-in, but no persistence between sessions |
| OpenWebUI |
Medium |
Self-hosted chat interface |
- An API key for an LLM provider ($5-50/month depending on usage)
- Either: A VPS (~$5/month) OR a computer that runs 24/7
- Basic comfort with command line (or someone to help you)
- Patience for the initial setup
This page is a work in progress. Contributions welcome!