Definition
ERP (Erotic Roleplay) is collaborative adult fiction conducted between a user and an AI companion. In ERP, both the user and the AI take on characters within a sexual or explicitly romantic scenario, advancing the narrative through message exchanges. The AI generates responses that match the established scene, maintaining character and advancing the fiction in explicitly sexual directions.
ERP is a subset of AI roleplay generally — all ERP is roleplay, but most AI roleplay is not ERP. The term specifically refers to the adult content dimension.
What ERP Involves
In practice, ERP on AI companion platforms includes:
- Explicit sexual roleplay — the AI plays a character engaging in sexual scenarios with the user’s character or persona
- Adult fiction narratives — building story arcs with explicit intimate content
- Taboo relationship scenarios — step-family, age-gap (fictional adults), forbidden relationships, power dynamics
- BDSM and kink scenarios — dominant/submissive dynamics, specific fetish scenarios as configured in the companion
ERP does not include — and no legitimate platform allows — sexual content involving minors or characters portrayed as minors. This is an absolute prohibition across the entire AI companion industry.
Platform Availability
ERP availability varies significantly by platform and is one of the primary differentiators in the AI companion market:
| Platform | ERP Available | Access Method |
|---|---|---|
| Affiny | ✅ Yes | God Mode — authenticated users, coin-based |
| SpicyChat | ✅ Yes | Free tier (volume limits) |
| Candy AI | ✅ Yes | Paid subscription |
| Replika | ⚠️ Partially | Pro subscription — history of instability |
| Character AI | ❌ No | Blocked at model level, all tiers |
The Replika ERP Incident
The most significant event in AI companion ERP history was Replika’s removal of the feature in February 2023. Replika had allowed ERP for years; its abrupt removal following regulatory pressure in Italy caused widespread user backlash. Many users who had developed intimate companion relationships over months or years experienced the change as a betrayal.
Replika later partially restored ERP for Pro subscribers, but the episode is significant for two reasons:
- It demonstrated that ERP features can be removed from platforms without notice in response to external pressure
- It drove significant user migration to other platforms — particularly SpicyChat, Candy AI, and later Affiny
The event is why “Replika ERP alternative” remains a major search term years after the original incident.
ERP on Affiny: God Mode
Affiny’s approach to ERP uses a feature called God Mode — a scene directive you write (up to 5,000 characters) that sets the explicit scenario, the companion’s behavior, and the tone before the conversation begins. Activating God Mode turns off content filtering for that companion session.
Key characteristics:
- Available to authenticated users (profile completion required — age verification signal)
- No separate subscription or adult content tier
- Same coin pricing as standard chat
- Works in both text chat and influences voice call behavior
- The directive stays active until manually cleared
This architecture differs from subscription-gated ERP (like Replika’s current model) — adult content is available by authentication, not by payment tier.
FAQ
What does ERP stand for in AI companion apps?
ERP stands for Erotic Roleplay — collaborative adult fiction between a user and an AI, where the AI maintains a character in explicitly sexual scenarios.
Which AI companion platforms allow ERP?
Affiny (via God Mode, coin-based), SpicyChat (free tier with limits), and Candy AI (subscription) all allow ERP. Replika allows it for Pro subscribers but has a history of instability. Character AI blocks all adult content including ERP at the model level.
Is ERP the same as sexting with an AI?
They overlap but aren’t identical. ERP involves roleplay — both participants are playing characters within a fictional scenario. Sexting with an AI is more direct first-person exchange. Many AI companion platforms support both; ERP specifically refers to the character and scenario framing.
What happened to Replika ERP?
Replika removed ERP in February 2023 under regulatory pressure, then partially restored it for Pro subscribers. The removal caused significant user exodus and lasting trust damage. Many former Replika ERP users moved to other platforms and have not returned.