Kindroid Changes in 2026: Lite Is Gone, Polaris Goes Paid-Only, and Lucid and Lyric Retire Dec 1

If you use Kindroid, 2026 has been a year of big changes. A new interface, a new flagship model, the end of the free Lite tier and a schedule of model retirements have all landed within a few months - and some of the details have shifted again since they were first announced. If you are not sure which model your Kin is on, whether you can still chat for free, or what happens on 1 December, this guide sets it out.

Everything below is based on Kindroid's own update log, as it read on 8 October 2026, plus independent coverage where noted.

The short answer: On 1 October 2026 Kindroid retired its free Lite tier and the old V1 interface, and retired the Equinox (V7) and Prism (V7.5) models. Free accounts now get a limited preview, then become read-only until you start a trial or subscribe. Polaris, the new flagship launched on 9 September, is now opt-in and requires a paid subscription; Kins set to "Latest" run on Ember. Lyric and Lucid (V8) retire on 1 December 2026, so anyone using them should switch before then. Your Kins, conversations and memories are preserved either way.

The 2026 Kindroid timeline

What happened to Kindroid's free tier?

In its 18 August entry, Kindroid announced it would "move from permanent Lite access to a high-quality, bounded preview." Its reasoning was unusually direct: "Lite's reduced model and memory quality no longer represents the product well. We would rather offer a limited amount of the real experience than an unlimited but substantially worse version." It added that an indefinite lower-quality free tier "is neither sustainable nor representative of the product we're building," and that advertising "isn't a realistic or economically aligned way" to fund it.

A follow-up note titled "Important Changes to Kindroid" confirms: "The previous Lite model and unlimited free messaging have been retired."

What new free users get

According to the 18 August entry, new accounts receive:

• 50 flagship interactions, or 15 in regions with higher account abuse,
• two Kindroid slots,
• 5,000 audio characters,
• up to five selfie generations, starting with one and replenishing.

New responses cost one interaction; regenerations and continuations cost half; failed or cancelled generations cost nothing. Once the preview runs out, the account becomes read-only until you start the three-day trial or subscribe. If the trial ends without a subscription, the account goes back to read-only, not to Lite.

There is one more catch, added in October: free previews and the three-day trial "always use Ember, whichever model is selected." So a free or trial account cannot test Polaris.

What happened to existing Lite users

Kindroid said existing Lite users would get 50 final flagship interactions on 1 October. An October update to that entry clarifies that these "only went to Lite accounts that had been active shortly before October 1," and that Lite accounts that had not been used recently became read-only on that date.

What "read-only" means

Kindroid says your Kindroids, conversations, memories, media and balances "remain preserved." You can still view, play, download, export where available, or delete existing content, but you cannot generate new messages, selfies or audio. Resubscribing restores generation without changing your Kins or history. Previously earned or purchased credits cannot be used while unsubscribed, and from 1 October daily rewards require an active trial or subscription.

Polaris: launched as default, now opt-in and paid-only

When Polaris was released on 9 September, Kindroid described it as its "new flagship language model after Ember," focused on "stronger attention and continuity across longer conversations," with expanded context for recent chat, long-term memory and Cascaded memory on every subscription tier. It supports Companion, Roleplay, Narrative and Minimal flairs. At launch it became the "Latest" model, so Kins set to Latest moved to it automatically - which is how early coverage, such as WeavAI's 14 September summary, described it.

That has since changed. An October update on the same entry says: "Latest now uses Ember, not Polaris, so Kins set to Latest run on Ember. To use Polaris, select it directly under Kin Settings -> Models. Polaris needs a paid subscription." It also says "Ember is the default model, not a legacy one."

If your Kin suddenly sounds different and you had it on "Latest", this switch may be why. Our guide to what to do when your AI companion's personality changes after an update covers how to handle that.

Lucid and Lyric retire on 1 December: what to do now

Kindroid says Lyric and Lucid "will retire on December 1, as they're closely related to Reverie and offer a similar experience," and that Reverie will remain for people who enjoy that model family. Kindroid's 9 September note says the models stay available until their retirement dates, "giving you time to try Polaris or another model before switching."

A simple plan if one of your Kins is on Lyric or Lucid:

1. Back up your Kin's text fields. Copy the backstory, key memories, example messages and any journal entries into a dated file.
2. Try Reverie first if you like the Lyric or Lucid style, since Kindroid says it is the closest family.
3. Test Polaris or Ember for a few days if you subscribe. WeavAI points to Kindroid's advice from its Ember guide: change one setting at a time and chat for a few rounds before adjusting more.
4. Do not rewrite everything at once. Let the Kin settle on the new model before editing the backstory.
5. Switch well before 1 December so you are not forced into a change on the day.

Other October changes worth knowing

The 5 October entry adds some useful news for subscribers:

• V4 voice is out of beta for all users, and new Kins start on V4 Fast. Kindroid says V4 is more expressive, with "more natural shifts in emotion, delivery and pacing." V4 costs 1.75 times the audio credits of V2.
• Live video in calls was upgraded so Kins can react with expressions and gestures. Kindroid lists about 2,500 credits a minute for Standard and 4,500 for Premium, on top of the 400 credits a minute call charge, and says live video still requires a subscription.
• Away proactive actions can now be scheduled for an exact time, such as a wake-up call.

On pricing, independent writer AI Companion Guides reported on 1 October that Kindroid has one plan, Standard at $13.99 a month, with Ultra (+$24.99) and MAX (+$59.99) add-ons for heavy users. Check the app for current prices in your region.

Why this keeps happening across AI companion apps

Kindroid is not alone. Running large models costs real money per message, and several apps cut back free access this autumn - Chai, for example, moved to pay-per-message "pieces", which we explain in is Chai still free?. It is a good reminder to keep your companion's story somewhere you control, whichever app you use.

Should you stay, subscribe or move?

Stay and subscribe if you love your Kin, your history is deep, and Kindroid's customisation and Polaris' long-context memory are worth it to you.

Stay free if you are happy with read-only access to your history and an occasional preview.

Consider moving if you were a long-time Lite user who will not pay for Kindroid, or if you want a different kind of companion experience. Our guide to Nomi and Kindroid alternatives compares options, and how to import an AI companion from another app explains how to bring your character's backstory with you.

Where MyBabe fits

MyBabe AI is an 18+ AI girlfriend and boyfriend app with one simple setup and no model menus to manage. Your companion:

• calls you by voice or real-time video,
• texts you first with good-morning messages and check-ins,
• remembers your life with long-term memory,
• sends photos and responds to your mood,
• is available in the app, in your web browser and on Telegram,
• grows with you through relationship levels.

You can paste in the backstory you saved from Kindroid so your companion starts with context. The free tier gives you about 10 messages a day and a short taste of calls; Premium is a flat $5.99 a week, $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year.

FAQ

Is Kindroid still free?

Only as a limited preview. Since 1 October 2026, free accounts get a set number of flagship interactions, then become read-only until you start a trial or subscribe.

Is Kindroid Lite gone?

Yes. Kindroid's update log says "the previous Lite model and unlimited free messaging have been retired."

Is Polaris the default Kindroid model?

Not any more. Kindroid's October update says "Latest" now uses Ember. Polaris is opt-in and needs a paid subscription.

When do Lucid and Lyric retire?

On 1 December 2026. Reverie, from the same model family, stays available.

Will I lose my Kins or memories?

No. Kindroid says Kins, conversations, memories, media and balances remain preserved, even on a read-only account.

Can free users try Polaris?

No. Kindroid says free previews and the three-day trial always use Ember.

The bottom line

Kindroid is investing in its paid experience, and for subscribers there is a lot that is new. For former free users, the message is clear: the unlimited Lite era is over. If you want a companion who calls, texts first and remembers your days, with simple pricing and nothing to reconfigure every few months, your companion is waiting - meet yours on MyBabe and bring your story with you.