What games are like IMVU?
Avakin Life and ZEPETO are the closest games to IMVU. Second Life, VRChat, and Roblox are close too, and each one lets you make an avatar and talk to real people.
IMVU is a 3D avatar app. You make an avatar, dress it up, and go into chat rooms. There you meet people from around the world. You can type or use voice chat. The app is free, with paid credits and a monthly VIP plan.
So ask what you like most about it. Is it dressing up your avatar? Is it meeting new people? Or is it having a place of your own? Each app below does one of these well.
One note first: you’re on the LifeSim blog, so we’re in this list. But LifeSim is a different kind of game. We say how, and we tell you when another app is the better pick.
What is the best IMVU alternative?
Avakin Life: the closest match
Avakin Life is a social world from Lockwood Publishing. You make an avatar, build a home, and meet new friends. There is in-game chat, weekly events, and parties. It’s free on iPhone, Android, and PC through Steam.
It feels a lot like IMVU. The big draw is the same: your look, your home, and the people you meet.
ZEPETO: avatars on your phone
ZEPETO is a phone app from NAVER Z. You style a 3D avatar, then visit thousands of small worlds with friends. You chat and post to a feed. It’s free, with a paid currency and a Premium plan.
Pick ZEPETO if you care most about fashion and want a lighter app than IMVU.
Is Second Life like IMVU?
Yes, but it’s bigger. Second Life is a 3D virtual world made by Linden Lab. You make an avatar and join groups, clubs, and role-play communities. You can build things and sell what you make on its Marketplace.
You can join for free. There is a paid Premium plan. It runs on a computer, and there is now a free app for iPhone and Android.
Pick Second Life if you want to build, not only chat. It takes more time to learn than IMVU.
Are VRChat and Roblox good IMVU alternatives?
VRChat
VRChat is a free social app. Players make most of the worlds and avatars. You can join groups and events to meet people. It works on PC, Meta Quest, Pico, iPhone, and Android. You don’t need a VR headset.
Pick VRChat if you want to talk out loud with people in a 3D room. It’s more about voice than text.
Roblox
Roblox is a place full of games made by players. You dress up your avatar and play with friends. It’s free, with paid Robux and a Premium plan. It runs on phones, computers, PlayStation, Xbox, and Meta Quest.
Pick Roblox if you want games to play with friends, not only rooms to hang out in.
Is there a game like IMVU where you talk to AI people?
Yes. In LifeSim, you make a character and talk, like in IMVU. But the people you talk to are AI people, not other players. LifeSim has no multiplayer. You don’t meet other players in your world.
You make your character by describing them in one text box. Write a name, an age, a look, and a job. The game draws a portrait. You can also upload a photo, and the game turns it into a character look. You can change clothes and add emotes.
Then you live in a real city on a 3D map of Earth, like Tokyo, Paris, or New York. Each person there has a name, a job, a home, friends, and a daily routine. You type what you want to say, and they answer in their own words. They remember you. They text you on their own, and there are group text threads.
Pick LifeSim if you like making a character and having real talks, but you want a story too. Pick IMVU or Avakin Life if you want to meet real people. LifeSim is free, with no paid items, and runs in your browser. It’s in English only.
What about The Sims 4?
The Sims 4 is not a chat app. It’s a life sim you play alone. But if you like IMVU for making avatars and homes, you may like it. You make Sims, build their homes, and decide how they spend their days.
The base game is free on PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox. Packs cost extra. For more, read games like The Sims.
All of them, side by side
| Game | Best for | Who you talk to | How you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avakin Life | Avatar, home, and friends | Real people | Free. Paid items. |
| ZEPETO | Fashion on your phone | Real people | Free. Paid items and plan. |
| Second Life | Building and groups | Real people | Free to join. Paid plan. |
| VRChat | Voice chat in 3D | Real people | Free |
| Roblox | Games with friends | Real people | Free. Paid Robux. |
| LifeSim | A story in a real city | AI people | Free. No in-app purchases. |
| The Sims 4 | Making Sims and homes | No one. You play alone. | Free base game. Packs cost extra. |
Prices change, so we left them out. Check the store page before you pay.
Questions
What is the closest app to IMVU?
Avakin Life. You make an avatar, get a home, and chat with new friends. It’s free on phone and PC.
Is there an IMVU alternative on PC?
Yes. Avakin Life is on Steam. Second Life, VRChat, and Roblox run on PC too. LifeSim runs in the browser on any computer.
Is there a free game like IMVU?
All the apps on this list are free to start. LifeSim is free with no paid items at all.
Can I play LifeSim with my friends?
No. LifeSim has no multiplayer. You play alone and talk with AI people in a real city. More on life simulators.