A safer AI companion for your teenager.
Teenagers already talk to AI. withsonder is an AI companion app for ages 13 and over, built in the UK so that conversation has a name, clean language, daily limits and clear safety rails, rather than an open-ended chatbot with none of those.
What withsonder is (and isn't)
withsonder gives your teenager a choice of six companions: Nova, Sage, Finn, Luna, Rex and Aria. Each has a distinct personality and stays the same person from day to day. They can help with revision, talk through a stressful evening, or just keep company.
It is not therapy, not a crisis line and not a homework machine. It is designed to be one good, limited source of support, and to point people back towards the real people in their lives.
How it keeps conversations safer
- Ages 13 and over only. There are no under-13 accounts. We encourage a parent or carer to know when a 13 to 17 year old is using it.
- Clean language. Companions keep their language PG and do not mirror swearing or crude content.
- No sexual, violent or age-inappropriate content, and no help with anything designed to cause harm.
- Teach, don't cheat. Companions ask questions, give hints and check understanding. They are designed not to hand over finished essays, coursework or answers. See our guide to AI homework help without cheating.
- Built-in limits. There is a daily message limit (25 during the free trial, 50 on Premium). There are no streaks, no "I'll miss you" nudges and no guilt for leaving. Closing the chat is encouraged.
- Honest about being AI. The companions say they are AI if asked.
- Works with Apple's parental controls. Use Screen Time for app limits and Family Sharing with Ask to Buy to approve any subscription.
If your teenager is struggling
Our automated safety checks look for language that may indicate self-harm, abuse or severe distress. When one triggers, the companion responds with warmth and encourages real-world help, the app shows UK crisis resources (999, Samaritans 116 123, Childline 0800 1111 and text SHOUT to 85258), and a safeguarding event is logged so our team can review it.
Being straight with you
Automated checks are not perfect and withsonder is not a crisis service. It does not alert parents, so it cannot replace you noticing a change in your teenager. If you are worried, talk to them, speak to your GP or school, or contact Childline, Samaritans or YoungMinds.
Privacy and data
We don't sell data and we don't show adverts. Conversations are processed by our AI provider to produce replies, and payments are handled by Apple or Stripe. Chat history, and the short notes the companion keeps so it can remember your teenager (such as a pet's name or an exam date, never health or family problems), are kept for 12 months after last activity, and your teenager can delete their account from the app's Profile screen. We aim to follow the spirit of the UK Children's Code. Read the full privacy policy.
How to talk to your teenager about it
You don't need to be an expert. A few openers that tend to work better than "show me your phone":
- "Do you use any AI chat apps? What do you use them for?"
- "Has an AI ever given you an answer that felt wrong or strange?"
- "Would you tell me if a chat made you feel worse?"
- "What would you want an AI to never do?"
For a longer version, read our parent's guide to AI companions and teenagers.
Your questions answered
How old does my child need to be to use withsonder?
13 or over. We don't offer accounts for under-13s. We encourage a parent or carer to know when a 13 to 17 year old is using the app.
Can I see my teenager's conversations?
No. withsonder doesn't give parents access to chats. We believe teenagers need a private place to think out loud, and we'd rather you talk with them about it. The exception is safety: if our automated checks detect serious risk, a safeguarding event is logged for review by our team. See our safeguarding policy for detail.
Is withsonder free?
You can start with a 14-day free trial, and no payment details are needed to begin. After the trial, Premium is a subscription: £12.99 a month or £99.99 a year on the website (UK only, paid by card through Stripe), or £14.99 a month or £119.99 a year in the iPhone app (Apple shows the price before you confirm). You can cancel any time. Daily message limits apply: 25 messages a day during the trial and 50 on Premium.
Will withsonder do my child's homework?
No. The companions are built to teach: they ask questions, give hints and check understanding. They are designed not to write finished essays, coursework or exam answers.
Is withsonder therapy or a crisis service?
No. It is company and study support, not therapy, medical care or an emergency service. If someone is in danger, call 999. Samaritans are on 116 123, Childline on 0800 1111 (under 19s), and you can text SHOUT to 85258.
What happens if my teenager says something worrying?
Our automated checks look for language that may indicate self-harm, abuse or severe distress. When triggered, the companion responds with care, encourages real-world help, the app shows UK crisis resources, and a safeguarding event is logged for review. These checks are not perfect, which is why we also encourage open conversation at home.
Is withsonder available outside the UK?
Not yet. withsonder is currently for people in the UK, because its safety information and support lines are UK-specific. We will add other countries one at a time.
Does withsonder pretend to be a real person?
No. The companions are AI characters and say so if asked.
Can I control how much my teenager uses it, or how it is paid for?
Yes, with Apple's own tools. Screen Time lets you set app limits, and Family Sharing with Ask to Buy lets you approve any subscription. withsonder also has a built-in daily message limit and does not use streaks or guilt-trip notifications.
What data do you collect, and who sees it?
We collect account details, an age range, conversations and any files a user chooses to upload. We don't sell data and we don't use it for advertising. Chats are processed by our AI provider (Anthropic) to produce replies, and payments are handled by Apple or Stripe. Conversation history is kept for 12 months after last activity, and a user can delete their account from the app's Profile screen.