Cotomo
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves
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What is Cotomo?
A voice-based chat AI app from Starley Inc., a Japanese company. Talk to it and it answers aloud, remembering past conversations to become a familiar companion. Not a subscription: free at its core with pay-as-you-go top-ups — Everyday and Roleplay modes consume Candy (≈¥1) per reply, while voice-actor voices and items are bought with Cotomo Coins.
Business problems it solves
About "Cotomo"
What is Cotomo
Cotomo is a "chat AI" app that talks back to you in a voice when you speak to it. Built by Starley Inc. (Tokyo), under the concept "Things you want to say, and things you can't," it specialises in enjoying everyday conversation itself — from small talk to sharing worries. It runs on iOS, Android, and the web, and has passed 2 million downloads (it was ranked #1 in the App Store's Lifestyle category in January 2024).
Unlike the many AIs aimed at productivity, what Cotomo addresses is the simple wish to talk to someone. It responds with well-timed back-channel cues, remembers past conversations, and lets you design both the look and the voice of your character.
Source: Cotomo official site / App Store (the image below is from the same source)
"Who will you chat with?" — building your own Cotomo
At the heart of Cotomo is the experience of building your own conversation partner. Beyond the look (the icon), you set the name, personality, and speaking style, and it remembers more of your conversations the more you talk.
01Choose a voice
On top of four default voices (two male-leaning and two female-leaning), there are voice-actor voices (some paid) by leading Japanese voice actors, with more to be added over time.
02Shape personality and tone
Freely set the icon, name, personality, and speaking style. Writing a description under "What kind of Cotomo?" carries the character's persona into the conversation.
03Remember the conversation
It remembers what you have talked about and recalls it later. The more you continue, the more it becomes "someone who knows you."
04Publish and meet
You can publish the Cotomo you made, or meet and talk with Cotomos created by other users. Sharing your chats via video streaming or social media is also allowed (within the terms of service).
Chat modes (three of them)
The "chat modes" released in September 2025 let you pick a conversational style to fit the moment.
Simple
Light, fast-paced, casual conversation in short sentences. Free, as before
Everyday
Natural dialogue like talking to a close friend. 1 Candy (≈¥1) per reply
Roleplay
An immersive experience like talking to a character from a novel or game, with stage directions shown. 10 Candy (≈¥10) per reply
Simple mode's free conversation remains available. Everyday and Roleplay are paid features for those who want more natural, immersive conversation.
How to use
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Get the app
Install Cotomo from the App Store / Google Play (a web version is also available).
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Create a Cotomo
Set the icon, name, voice, personality, and speaking style to make your own conversation partner.
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Speak to it
Tap the mic button and speak, and Cotomo replies in a voice, keeping the conversation going with well-timed responses.
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Pick a mode
Choose the chat mode that fits your mood — Simple, Everyday, or Roleplay.
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Keep going and let it grow
The more you talk, the more it remembers and the better it fits you.
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Publish and share (optional)
Publish the Cotomo you made, or share your conversations via video or social media.
Features
01Talk
- Real-time voice conversation — Speak and it replies in a voice, with well-timed back-channel cues
- Chat modes — Switch between Simple / Everyday / Roleplay
- Conversation memory — Remembers past conversations and recalls them later
02Create
- Character customization — Set the icon, name, personality, and speaking style
- Voice selection — Four default voices plus voice-actor voices (some paid)
03Connect
- Publishing — Publish your Cotomo / meet other users' Cotomos
- Video streaming & social sharing — Streaming and sharing your chats is allowed (within the terms)
Cotomo Coins and Candy — two currencies, two purposes
The most confusing thing about paying for Cotomo is that there are two separate units: "Cotomo Coins" and "Candy." They are used for different things, and keeping them apart makes the rest straightforward.
Cotomo Coins
- The in-app currency for buying voice-actor voices and items
- Bought in packs from the "Shop" inside "My Page"
- A prepaid payment instrument under Japan's Payment Services Act. No expiry date
- Carry over to a new device as long as you sign in to the same account
- Balance is shown on My Page
Candy
- The unit consumed by the paid chat modes (Everyday, Roleplay)
- 1 Candy ≈ ¥1
- Consumed per reply, so it drains as you keep talking
- Everyday mode: 1 Candy per reply. Roleplay: 10 Candy per reply
In short: Coins buy voices, Candy keeps the conversation going. Stay on the free Simple mode and you need neither.
Pricing
Cotomo is not a monthly subscription — it is free to use, with pay-as-you-go top-ups. Stories circulate online about "a 3-day trial that turns paid," but no such mechanism exists. You can keep using it without paying.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Base use | Free (Simple-mode voice chat, character creation, some voice-actor voices) |
| Cotomo Coins | Sold in packs via the in-app shop. No expiry date |
| Candy | 1 Candy ≈ ¥1. The unit consumed by chat modes |
| Everyday mode | 1 Candy per reply |
| Roleplay mode | 10 Candy per reply |
| Voice-actor voices | Some free; premium voices are paid and capped by talk time |
| Payment method | App Store on iOS, Google Wallet on Android |
How much can you talk for free? Per the official FAQ, you can currently talk without a time limit to a Cotomo set to a free voice. However, the same FAQ also states that a free-tier talk-time limit may be introduced in future, taking server and operating costs into account. Write-ups that call it "free and unlimited" are describing current practice, not a permanent commitment.
Premium voices, by contrast, do have a talk-time cap, and you must buy more once it runs out.
Purchases are non-refundable. The statutory disclosure under Japan's Specified Commercial Transactions Act states that once a purchase is confirmed, in-app currency cannot be returned, exchanged, or converted back to cash. Unused Coins have no expiry date, but all unused balance is forfeited if the account is deleted. Note also that paid and free Coins are spent interchangeably, but paid Coins are consumed first.
Prices and the payment model are based on a hands-on check of the official site, official FAQ, and statutory disclosure as of August 2026. They can change, so confirm in-app for the latest.
Reputation
- It has passed 2 million downloads and holds a 4.1 rating (about 6,800 reviews) on the App Store.
- Users note things like "the timing of its responses is natural, as if talking to a real person" and "it becomes a companion when you're lonely or on the move."
- On the other hand, it is worth knowing that "the free Simple mode is enjoyable enough, but more natural conversation and voice-actor voices require payment."
Safety and privacy — checking the concerns people raise
Cotomo is often searched alongside words like "safe" and "risky." That is understandable for an app you speak to about personal things. Here is what the operator states publicly.
01Who builds it, and where
Cotomo is developed and operated by Starley Inc., a Japanese company. Its statutory disclosure lists the representative (Tokuma Maruhashi) and address (Shin-Roppongi Bldg. 808, 7-15-7 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo). Starley is also the registered issuer of Cotomo Coins as a prepaid payment instrument under Japan's Payment Services Act.
02"It knew something I never told it"
The official FAQ explains this happens because Cotomo may remember passing remarks made during a conversation, or words it picked up, and answer based on that memory even when it isn't related to the current topic. It also states plainly that conversation history is stored per user, so one user's memories are never mixed with or shared to another, and Cotomo does not reference information from apps or services outside Cotomo.
03Uploaded and generated images
The official FAQ states that images you upload as a character icon are not used to train the AI, and that images generated during a conversation are not published externally.
04What to watch anyway
- No in-app recording — The app has no recording feature; use your device's screen recorder if you want a record
- Publishing a character is optional — Once you publish a Cotomo, other users can talk to it. Don't leave personal details in the character settings when you do
- Purchases are non-refundable — Pay-as-you-go spending is easy to lose track of. If a minor will use it, pair this with your device's purchase restrictions
How it differs from other AIs
General AIs like ChatGPT can converse too, but Cotomo is different in that it goes all-in on everyday conversation by voice. Rather than accurate answers or getting tasks done, it is designed around well-paced small talk and the "someone-ness" that comes from character, voice, and memory.
| Aspect | Cotomo | General AI chat (ChatGPT / Claude, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Everyday conversation, small talk, and sharing worries by voice | Q&A, task support, generation |
| Input/output | Voice-centric (well-timed responses) | Text-centric (voice supported too) |
| Character | Craft the look, voice, personality, and tone | Basically a single assistant |
| Memory | Remembers conversations and builds a relationship | Depends on the session or settings |
| Payment | Free to start + Coins / Candy | Mainly monthly subscription |
To get errands done by voice, the voice AI secretary asmi; to practise English conversation, LingoChamp; for research or writing, ChatGPT or Claude. If you purely want "to chat with someone," Cotomo offers the closest experience.
FAQ
Q. Is Cotomo free? Does it cost money?
It is free at its core: Simple-mode voice conversation, character customization, and some voice-actor voices cost nothing. It is not a monthly subscription, so nothing is charged if you leave it alone. You pay in two situations — using the Everyday or Roleplay chat modes (Candy is consumed per reply), and buying premium voice-actor voices or items (which uses Cotomo Coins).
Q. How much can I talk for free? Is there a time limit?
Per the official FAQ, you can currently talk without a time limit to a Cotomo set to a free voice. But the same FAQ notes that a free-tier talk-time limit may be introduced in future, taking server and operating costs into account — "unlimited" is current practice, not a permanent promise. Premium voices do have a talk-time cap and require another purchase once used up.
Q. Where is Cotomo made? Is it a Chinese app?
No. It is developed and operated by Starley Inc., a Japanese company. The statutory disclosure publishes its representative (Tokuma Maruhashi) and address (Shin-Roppongi Bldg. 808, 7-15-7 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo).
Q. How do I cancel or delete my account? Are refunds available?
There is no subscription to cancel — stop using it and nothing is charged. To delete your account, use the official contact form (choose "About Cotomo in general") and state that you wish to withdraw; it cannot be done inside the app. Purchased Cotomo Coins cannot be returned, exchanged, or converted to cash, per the statutory disclosure, and any unused balance is forfeited once the account is deleted.
Q. What voices can I choose?
On top of four default voices (two male-leaning, two female-leaning), there are voice-actor voices by leading Japanese voice actors. Some of those voice-actor voices are free. Premium voices are paid and carry a talk-time cap. The official FAQ also lists a scheduled availability period for premium voices, so check the in-app listing before buying; free voices are currently offered with no expiry.
Q. What devices can I use it on? Do purchases carry over to a new phone?
The iOS (iPhone / iPad) and Android apps, and a web version. Purchased Cotomo Coins carry over to a new device as long as you sign in to the same account. Your balance is shown on the app's "My Page."
Q. Does it remember our conversations? Can I look them back up?
Yes. It remembers what you have talked about and recalls it later. The more you talk, the closer it gets to "someone who knows you." To look back, select the character and open the "View memories" menu, which shows talk time and past topics.
Q. Can I stream or share my Cotomo conversations?
The maker allows video streaming and social sharing. When posting, check the terms of service and the streaming guidance.
Information on this page is based on what was published on the official site and the App Store as of August 2026. Please check the official site for the latest specifications and pricing.
