Best AI companion apps in 2026 that feel like texting a real friend?

I've been using ChatGPT for the random stuff but it's not really what I want, it starts from scratch, doesn't remember anything about me, and it talks like a customer service bot.

So, I’m looking for an AI companion that:

• Remembers what I've told it
• Helps me keep track of stuff I mentioned i wanted to do
• Doesn't cost a kidney, I'm not paying $20/month for a chatbot

What are you using in 2026? I tried Replika a while back and it was too much of a fake girlfriend simulator for me, just want something that texts like a normal person.