The short answer on Dream Companion alternatives
If you are searching for a Dream Companion alternative, the first question is what you want from it. Plenty of AI companion apps exist, but most of them have no short-series feature at all. If you want AI shorts, meaning serialized episodes with consistent characters, the real alternatives are Candy AI and Secrets AI.
Our editors rate Candy AI first at 8.7/10, and it is the best Dream Companion alternative by a wide margin. Secrets AI scores 7.6/10 and comes second. Dream Companion scores 7.2/10. Here is how to decide.
Alternative #1: Candy AI (Candy Shorts)
Candy AI is the biggest AI shorts platform we cover, with 142 series (129 standard and 13 members-only Spicy) and 822 episodes. Dream Companion’s MDC Shorts has 3 series and 16 episodes, so Candy has about 47 times as many series and adds new ones every week.
- Series
- 142
- Free episodes
- Episodes 1 & 2 free on every standard series
- From
- $3.99/month
- Tokens/episode
- 12 tokens (30 on creator series)
- Largest AI shorts library available
- Episodes 1–2 free on almost every series
- Consistent faces and voices across episodes
- Chat with the star after each episode
What it does well:
- The biggest library by far, with new series every week
- Licensed creator series with Riley Reid, Lexi Luna, Asa Akira and more, and the chance to chat with the star after episodes
- A members-only Spicy tier for Premium members
- The best annual price: $3.99 per month, about $0.48 per locked episode
- Episodes 1 and 2 free with a free account on standard series
Where it falls short:
- Locked episodes cost 12 tokens (30 on creator series), and Premium is $13.99 per month, so a one-month binge costs more per episode than on Dream Companion
- Its companion tools are narrower than Dream Companion’s
For plan details, see our Candy AI pricing guide or the Candy AI review.
Alternative #2: Secrets AI (Secret Shorts)
Secrets AI has 21 published series (plus 2 coming soon) and 105 episodes, all Secrets Originals. Episode 1 is free without an account, episode 2 is free with a free account, and later episodes cost 500 Moments each. Premium is $19.99 per month or $9.17 per month billed annually ($109.99), with 8,000 Moments per month, about 16 locked episodes.
What it does well:
- A bigger library than Dream Companion, with 105 episodes against 16
- Longer episodes, roughly 1.5 to 2.5 minutes against 1 to 1.7
- Strong companion features, which suit viewers coming from Dream Companion
- Payment by card or 300+ cryptocurrencies, billed as “S LABS INC”
Where it falls short:
- A higher monthly price: $19.99 against $11.99 for Dream Companion Premium
- No licensed creator series and no Spicy tier
- An annual price of about $0.57 per locked episode, higher than Candy’s about $0.48 and level with Dream Companion’s roughly $0.58
Read our Secrets AI review for the full picture.
Who should stay with Dream Companion?
Switching is not always the right move. Dream Companion still makes sense if you:
- mainly want the AI companion tools: chat, spicy audio messages, voice calls, image and video generation and custom characters
- want a cheap, quick binge, since one month of Premium at $11.99 unlocks all 10 locked MDC Shorts episodes
- prefer to pay with a prepaid card, which Dream Companion accepts
- have not yet finished Hot Friend’s Mom Wants Me, Cozy Nights With My Stepbrother or Secret Affair
If that sounds like you, read our Dream Companion review and the Best MDC Shorts ranking to pick where to start.
Side-by-side comparison
Here are all three platforms in one table.
| Candy AI | Secrets AI | Dream Companion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.7 / 10 | 7.6 / 10 | 7.2 / 10 |
| Series | 142 | 21 | 3 |
| Free episodes | Episodes 1 & 2 free on every standard series | Episode 1 free without an account, episode 2 with a free account | Episode 1 free without an account on most series, episode 2 with a free account |
| Price (monthly) | $13.99/month | $19.99/month (Premium) | $11.99/month (Premium) |
| Price (annual) | $3.99/month | $9.17/month (Premium, billed $109.99/year) | $5.83/month (Premium, billed $69.99/year) |
| Locked episode cost | 12 tokens (30 on creator series) | 500 Moments | 10 Dream Coins (Premium required) |
| Included monthly | 100 tokens per month with Premium | 8,000 Moments per month with Premium | 100 Dream Coins per month with Premium |
| Episodes per month | ~8 standard episodes (100 tokens) | ~16 episodes on Premium (8,000 Moments) | ~10 episodes on Premium (100 Dream Coins), enough for the whole library |
| Creator series | Yes: Riley Reid, Lexi Luna, Asa Akira & more | No (Secrets Originals only) | No (Dream Companion originals only) |
| Members-only tier | Yes (Spicy, Premium only) | No | No (episodes 3+ need Premium) |
| Visit | Visit | Visit |
For a direct matchup, see our Candy AI vs Dream Companion comparison or the Candy AI vs Secrets AI comparison.
How to switch without wasting Dream Coins
Moving to Candy AI or Secrets AI does not have to cost you the coins you already paid for. A few simple steps help.
- Try the new platform first. Candy’s episodes 1 and 2 and Secrets’ first episodes are free, so you can start watching while your Dream Companion plan is still active.
- Finish what you care about. Unlocked MDC Shorts episodes stay on your account, and 100 Dream Coins unlock the whole catalog, so spend your coins on the series you want before your plan ends.
- Cancel from account settings, and remember that access continues to the end of the billing period you already paid for. We have not confirmed whether unused coins carry over, so use them before you go.
- Think twice about a yearly Dream Companion plan if you expect to move on. A one-month Premium plan is enough for all the shorts.
Our recommendation
For AI shorts, Candy AI is the best Dream Companion alternative, with the biggest library, the creator series and the best annual price. Secrets AI is a solid second choice if companion tools and a first episode with no sign-up matter to you. Stay with Dream Companion if you mainly want the companion app and a fast binge of its three series.
Our advice: start with Candy’s two free episodes, and keep Dream Companion for a single month if you want to finish the MDC Shorts too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Dream Companion alternative for AI shorts?
Candy AI. It scores 8.7/10 against 7.2/10 for Dream Companion and has 142 series and 822 episodes, licensed creator series and the best annual price per locked episode. Secrets AI (7.6/10) is the second-best option.
Is Secrets AI better than Dream Companion?
On our scores, yes: Secrets AI rates 7.6/10 against 7.2/10. It has 21 published series and 105 episodes against 3 series and 16 episodes, and longer episodes. Dream Companion is cheaper per month at $11.99 against $19.99.
Are there free Dream Companion alternatives?
You can try both for free. Candy AI gives episodes 1 and 2 free with a free account on standard series, and Secrets AI gives episode 1 free without an account and episode 2 with a free account. Locked episodes need a paid plan on both.
Do other AI companion apps have short series like MDC Shorts?
Most AI companion apps are chat-first and have no short-series feature. That is why our editors focus on Candy AI and Secrets AI as the real alternatives for AI shorts.
Should I cancel Dream Companion before trying Candy AI?
No. Candy's free episodes cost nothing, so you can sample them while your plan is active. Unlocked MDC Shorts episodes stay on your account, and you can cancel anytime from account settings, with access continuing to the end of the billing period.
Who should stay with Dream Companion?
Viewers who mainly want the AI companion tools or a cheap, quick binge. One month of Premium at $11.99 includes 100 Dream Coins, enough to unlock all 10 locked MDC Shorts episodes.