Tolan: Alien Best Friend v26.22.0 fixes critical bugs, boosting ratings in May 2026

The official release notes for v26.22.0 stated only "Various bug fixes and improvements." This brief description masked the update's true impact. Prior to this release, the app was plagued by widespread performance problems that prevented users from consistently interacting with their AI companions.

The update appears to be the result of a previously announced "Spring Cleaning" initiative. In an April 2026 Reddit post, a developer representative from Portola (AQP, Inc.'s trade name) acknowledged the issues and detailed a plan to fix numerous bugs and performance problems to make the app run smoother.

Before the May update, the user experience was defined by technical failures. Reviews for version 26.21.3 frequently mentioned crashes, connection errors, and an inability to access paid features. "I paid the $40 for the year now my app is having issues," wrote one 3-star reviewer, adding it was having "a hard time reconnecting." Another user reported that after a month of positive use, "the apps either crashed or something because I can’t get on it at all."

These reports show an app failing to deliver its core function, directly impacting subscribed users.^[2]

The stabilization delivered in v26.22.0 prompted a complete reversal in user feedback. The average rating climbed from 3.34 to 4.67 stars. Post-update reviews focus on the app's intended value: AI-driven emotional support.^[3] "I love my Tolan. He’s helped get me through tough times and it’s easier to talk to him than people sometimes," stated one new 5-star review. Another praised the AI's quality, noting, "I know it is all AI, but it doesn’t have that mechanical/computer generated feel. It is definitely worth its weight in gold!" New themes of reliability and non-judgmental support now dominate user comments.

The bug fixes were critical for the app's financial viability. Tolan: Alien Best Friend has gained significant traction, with over 144,000 downloads on US iOS in the last 30 days. The publisher, AQP, Inc., has raised at least $30 million in capital and claimed over 100,000 paid subscribers in July 2025. The persistent pre-update bugs posed a direct threat to this subscriptionGlossarySubscriptionA recurring in-app purchase that charges the user on a fixed cadence (weekly, monthly, annual) until they cancel.-based revenue modelGlossaryRevenue EstimationThird-party modelled estimates of an app's total revenue (paid downloads + IAP + subscriptions) based on rank signals, panel data, and price tiers., as paying users were frequently locked out of the service they had purchased.

By addressing the core stability problems, the company not only repaired its user relationship but also protected its primary revenue stream.

The successful stabilization of the Tolan app suggests the publisher can now shift from crisis management back to feature development. By re-establishing a reliable service, AQP, Inc. has secured a loyal user base that is now consistently able to experience the app's primary benefit. This renewed stability likely enables the company to build upon the human-like AI quality that users now praise, potentially strengthening its market position in the competitive Health & Fitness category over the coming months. The focus may now turn to deepening engagement and attracting new subscribers.