App Showcase: Tolan: Alien Best Friend
App info
- App name: Tolan: Alien Best Friend
- Onboarding steps: 14
- Paywall type: Free Trial - Soft Paywall
- Monthly installs: 250,000
- Monthly revenue: $500,000
- App category: health and fitness
What it does
Tolan is an AI companion app designed for self-discovery and mental wellness. It matches users with a personalized 'alien best friend' who acts as a conversational partner. Through text and voice chat, users can discuss their goals, feelings, and daily life, while the AI provides support and learns from the interactions. The app also includes features like a journal, personality quizzes, and a customizable world for the AI companion.
Where it shines
Tolan's strength lies in its ability to build a genuine emotional connection from the very beginning. The onboarding quiz isn't a dry form; it's a mystical chat with a cosmic 'Oracle' (01:20) that makes the matching process feel special. Another standout moment is the AI-authored journal (08:36). Here, the AI, Noah, reflects on its conversations with the user, creating a powerful sense of memory and a developing relationship. This transforms the AI from a simple tool into a true companion.
UX highlights
- Conversational Onboarding: The quiz-as-a-chat with the Oracle (01:20) is an immersive way to gather user data without feeling transactional.
- Tangible Personalization: The 'Building your plan' animation (03:07) visually represents the creation of the user's unique AI, making the result feel earned.
- Pre-Paywall Bonding: By letting the user meet and name their AI friend 'Noah' (04:15) before showing the paywall, the app fosters an emotional attachment that increases the perceived value of subscribing.
- Visual Storytelling: The main interface isn't just a chat screen. It’s a 3D world (05:15) that the user can decorate, giving the AI a home and reinforcing the app's narrative.
- AI-Generated Reflections: The journal feature (08:36), written from the AI's perspective, provides a unique and compelling reason for users to return and see how their relationship is evolving.
Monetization & growth
The app uses a soft paywall strategy. After the complete onboarding and the reveal of the personalized AI, the user is presented with the 'Tolan Plus' subscription (04:31). The offer includes a 3-day free trial for the annual plan, which is highlighted with a 'SAVE 66%' tag to anchor its value against the monthly option. The paywall uses social proof like '100K+ Reviews' and a feature comparison table to justify the upgrade. Growth is also integrated early via an automatic check for referral links during onboarding (00:50).
Who it’s for
Tolan is for individuals seeking a non-judgmental space for self-reflection and companionship. It appeals to users interested in mental wellness, journaling, and personal growth who might find traditional methods isolating. The gamified elements, like customizing the AI's world and earning tokens, also suggest it targets an audience that enjoys a sense of progression and light, rewarding tasks.
Notes & opportunities
The overall experience is polished and emotionally resonant. However, the immediate check for an invite link at 00:50 might be confusing for users who came from an ad or the App Store directly, as the subsequent 'invalid invite' message (00:53) creates a moment of unnecessary friction. While the conversational quiz is strong, its length could be a drop-off point for some users. Introducing a micro-interaction or a quicker value reveal earlier might help maintain momentum.