Top 10 Best Pretty Little Liars Characters

Pretty Little Liars gave us some of the most memorable and complicated characters to ever hit teen drama. From the fiercely loyal to the dangerously deceptive, each character brought their own brand of drama, romance, and mystery to Rosewood.

Some kept you rooting for them no matter what, while others made you question every move they made. And then there were those who somehow managed to do both at the same time.

Now it's your turn to decide which characters deserve the top spots. Do you prefer the quick-witted and stylish, the calculating and secretive, or the ones who always seemed to be caught in the middle of the chaos?

1. Hanna Marin

   

   Hanna Marin is a former high school student in Rosewood who was part of Alison DiLaurentis's friend group before her disappearance. She later becomes one of the four main girls targeted by "A" while navigating personal and romantic challenges.

   Hanna is funny, cute, and lightens up the mood with her jokes. She's also extremely protective of the ones she loves, like her mom, the other Liars, and Caleb. She's also intelligent, though she seems like the dumb blonde.

   In the finale of season 1, Hanna was the one who didn't trust the police officer and told him that she had written a note for her mom. She also doesn't care what other people think of her and is really daring and brave. She always stands up for herself and especially for the ones she loves, like Caleb's foster mom.

   I think Hanna is a very deep and complex character, and it takes a lot of reading between the lines to understand her personality. She's very smart. People just don't see it. She isn't book smart, but she's got a sharp mind that helps the Liars a lot in times of crisis.

2. Spencer Hastings

   

   Spencer Hastings is an intelligent and ambitious student from a wealthy family who constantly strives for academic and personal success. She is deeply involved in uncovering the mysteries surrounding "A" and Alison DiLaurentis's disappearance.

   Spencer will always be my favorite. She understands everything perfectly and is the first to tell the truth. "I never want to go back to the way I was. All I cared about was winning, now all I want is to be happy."

   The other Liars always blame Spencer and expect everything from her. They can act hypocritically towards her if she ever does anything slightly wrong but don't expect her to do the same. It drives me crazy how Ali says she doesn't trust her when Spencer does the most to help her. Spencer is beautiful and so incredibly intelligent. Without her, the others would be utterly lost.

   I love Pretty Little Liars but relate to Spencer so much more than the rest. Always a Spencer fan!

3. Aria Montgomery

   

   Aria Montgomery is an artistic and independent-minded girl who returns to Rosewood after a year abroad and becomes entangled in "A's" game. She secretly dates her English teacher, Ezra Fitz, which complicates her life.

   Aria is my favorite and has the best personality of all the Liars. She is caring for her brother Mike and shows compassion to people she is close with, like her family. Aria is a unique character on the show, from her personality to her fashion style, and has a spunky attitude that I like.

   She is mature for her age and is smart in dangerous situations, always there for the Liars. She is a cute, pretty girl that I could hang out with or potentially date, and is cool to be around. Aria is an outgoing person who is bold, fearless, and fierce.

   Really, how can you not love her? Not only is she insanely gorgeous, pretty, and has an amazing smile (even when she's frowning, she's still really heckin' beautiful), but she is also mature for her age.

   Yes, she has an amazing personality, cares for her friends, and especially her family. She can be witty and sassy if she tries and wants to. She is smart in adversities and in the face of danger. Fierce and brave. Definitely my favorite, will always be my favorite.

4. Alison DiLaurentis

   

   Alison DiLaurentis is the former queen bee of Rosewood High whose disappearance sparks the events of the series. She is known for her manipulative personality and a complicated history with each of her friends.

   I love Ali so much! She is by far the best liar, sexy, beautiful, smart, funny, confident, and knows what she wants and isn't afraid to do whatever it takes to get it. She can be a bit rude and manipulative sometimes, but we all have good and bad qualities about ourselves, and I think it's better than being boring!

   To get what you want, you may have to hurt people in the process, and if other people find it rude, that is their problem. She is an awesome leader but maybe should toughen up a little, instead of leaving her friends to deal with her mess. Overall, she is amazing, talented, mysterious, passionate, daring, straight-talking, and full of suspense. Her character is very complex, and I think Sasha Pieterse plays her perfectly.

   She always turns me on when she's on screen, and I wish I was more like her! Go Alison!

5. Mona Vanderwaal

   Mona Vanderwaal is a highly intelligent and resourceful individual who was initially an outcast before befriending Hanna Marin. She is later revealed to be the first "A" but continues to play a complex role in the group's ongoing conflicts.

   She is really the most interesting character in this show.

   I feel bad for her all the time, though. Even though she didn't fully admit it, she has been trying to get the Liars to forgive her since season 3. Remember the fire at the lodge? Mona screamed that she'll "never get to know who she is," referring to Redcoat. In that same episode, Hanna stated that if Spencer, but the same applies to Mona, didn't know who Redcoat was, "you are still one of us."

   Mona had been trying to discover Redcoat's identity and tell the Liars throughout all of season three. She fooled everyone into thinking she was on A's side, including Toby and the Liars. Everyone except Charlotte, obviously. After 5x12, it is more than clear whose side she's on.

   I think after what she did for them in that episode, she deserves the Liars' forgiveness. Sure, her plan failed, but she proved that she was willing to die for them - and almost did on a few occasions. By season 7, when Mona is cleaning up after Dunhill's murder, the Liars have reached the point where they could and should have trusted Mona completely.

   I feel like they subconsciously blame her for everything that happened with A.D. A would have come back anyway, as Charlotte, and Mona had no idea that some unknown relative of hers would come afterward. She knew that Charlotte was going to start the game again, so she did something about it. I wish the other characters would have been able to see that.

   Can we all agree that the most heartbreaking moment was when she called the Liars her friends?

6. Emily Fields

   

   Emily Fields is a competitive swimmer and the most reserved of her friends, struggling with her identity and relationships. She has a deep connection with Alison DiLaurentis and later faces multiple threats from "A."

   EMILY! This girl is so sweet and caring. She's often protective of the people she cares about. Her whole story is inspiring and interesting to watch.

   Em's coming-out story was told beautifully. Nothing was set in stone, and during times, she explored her identity just like someone would in real life. In the TV show, sometimes she just seems too irritated, which should be fixed. She always gets hurt the most when bad things happen because she puts everything she has into it. When Maya died, Emily's reaction broke my heart. I didn't even like Maya! Shay Mitchell does an amazing job playing her. Em should be higher up in the list! She's fabulous.

7. Toby Cavanaugh

   Toby Cavanaugh is a quiet and misunderstood young man who is falsely accused of wrongdoing early in the series. He later becomes romantically involved with Spencer Hastings and works to uncover the truth behind "A."

   Toby is the best, and literally, Spoby is the most functional couple on PLL. Ezria is a student-teacher relationship. Emison barely exists because Ali was dead most of the time, and don't get me started on Haleb. Caleb literally left Hanna for this random girl and another terrible spin-off.

   Toby has always been there, and even when he was A, he was only doing it to protect Spencer. And even when he became a cop, it was also to protect her. Even though we all hated Cop Toby...

   I think Toby should be number 2 on the list. People who hate him are probably just stupid Ezria fans. Ezria sucks.

   Okay, I'm a die-hard Spoby shipper, so this was an easy choice. He's my favorite boyfriend out of the others! Toby is a hottie, and he's totally amazing and a super interesting character. His character development is going great, and they're showing his sensitive side, which is something refreshing to see. I love Toby.

8. Caleb Rivers

   Caleb Rivers is a skilled hacker and tech expert who initially lives on the fringes of Rosewood society. He forms a close relationship with Hanna Marin and assists the group in their fight against "A."

   By far my favorite, he's such a sweetheart and the most loyal boyfriend to Hanna. He is honestly all I want in a guy. He's so talented with computers and technology, and I admire him for his super sad past. Also, he's really cute, and that shaggy hair though?

   I love him so much I would actually marry him. He is so protective of Hanna, and I love it. He is so funny and so hot!

   I think that Caleb is the best bad boy and the perfect boyfriend of all of them!

9. CeCe Drake

   CeCe Drake is a mysterious and stylish figure with deep ties to Alison DiLaurentis and the overall mystery surrounding "A." Her true identity and connection to the game's mastermind are revealed later in the series.

   CeCe is a marvelous character, played by the actor so brilliantly. Beautiful, charming, mysterious, and the best villain in Rosewood. I loved the way she was portrayed and loved it when she was A. She is a beauty too. No wonder her admirers are numerous.

   CeCe was my all-time absolute favorite A, so I am very biased.

   Best character and adds a new dimension to the show. Wish she was on it more often.

10. Maya St. Germain

    Maya St. Germain is a free-spirited and confident young woman who moves into Alison DiLaurentis's former home. She has a romantic relationship with Emily Fields before meeting a tragic fate.

    Maya was pretty and outgoing. Her character actually had some humor. I did not agree with a lot of things she said and did, but at least I could watch her on the screen without cringing.

    Maya deserved more. She was a hilarious, strong character who took no crap from anyone. She saw the best in everyone and made a lasting impression on everyone. She didn't have to die.

    Maya was pretty and outgoing. She also had some funny lines. I may not agree with everything she said or did, but at least I could watch her on screen without cringing.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Anne Sullivan

    Anne Sullivan is a therapist in Rosewood who works with the Liars, attempting to help them cope with their experiences. She becomes a target of "A" after uncovering information about their tormentor's identity.

12. ?

    Samara Cook

    Samara Cook is a confident and open-minded young woman who briefly dates Emily Fields, offering her a more relaxed and drama-free relationship. Their romance ends when Emily's lingering feelings for other people create distance between them.

The Contenders

13. Jason DiLaurentis

    Jason DiLaurentis is Alison's older brother who has a troubled past and a complicated relationship with his family. He becomes involved in the ongoing search for answers regarding his sister's disappearance.

    Where has this guy been!? I miss him. He's an awesome character. If Jake leaves, I hope they allow him to be with Aria. Jason is a really hot and awesome character. I hope they reveal more about his past soon.

    Handsome, hot, kind of mystic, independent, and rather quiet but still lovely and honest! He's always alone but stays strong though. Just the best PLL guy of all! I don't get how Aria could choose Ezra instead of him?!

    He's been my favorite since the beginning. I really ship him and Aria and was disappointed that he wasn't given much screen time.

14. Jenna Marshall

    Jenna Marshall is a blind girl in Rosewood who has a tense history with the main characters due to a past incident involving Alison DiLaurentis. She is frequently involved in the mysteries surrounding "A" and has her own secrets.

    I love Jenna. I think she is not the person you must be afraid of. She is so beautiful. I understand that she is that bad because of what "the 5" had done. She has a good character.

    I love Jenna. She is just perfect for this show. She is a very good person, but she is angry because the five blinded her, and I understand. She is my favorite character and I just love her.

    Even though she can scare me, her character is a really nice addition to the show.

15. Noel Kahn

    Noel Kahn is a popular and charismatic student at Rosewood High with a history of dating multiple girls in the series. He is frequently involved in suspicious activities and has connections to Alison DiLaurentis and "A."

    He was gone for the first half of Season 4. He will return in the finale. Even though he is kinda creepy, he is very sexy.

    The show didn't do him justice. Noel's character was greatly expanded in the books.

16. Ashley Marin

    Ashley Marin is the determined and resourceful mother of Hanna Marin, working to provide for her daughter while navigating personal and financial struggles. She faces various challenges, including legal troubles and romantic entanglements, as she tries to protect Hanna.

    She is such a good and interesting person. Hanna has luck.

    Best mom ever! Except for the fling with Jason.

    I love her. She tries so hard to protect Hanna... sometimes with awful consequences.

17. Mike Montgomery

    Mike Montgomery is Aria's younger brother who struggles with anger and emotional issues throughout the series. His behavior and choices occasionally bring him into conflict with his family and friends.

    He is a very cute boy, but very mysterious and suspicious.

    I miss him! Cody Christian <3. He hasn't been here since Season 2, and I miss him. So glad he's coming back in Gamma Zeta Die.

    How could anybody not like him? He's caring, hot, and so sexy. I mean, he's my new celeb crush!

18. Ella Montgomery

    Ella Montgomery is the caring and artistic mother of Aria Montgomery, working as an English teacher while dealing with the challenges of her marriage and family. She struggles with trust issues after discovering her husband's affair and later finds her own independence.

    She is my favorite. I love Charmed so much.

    Why is this Charmed star not in the top 10?

19. Ezra Fitz

    Ezra Fitz is an English teacher at Rosewood High who begins a secret relationship with Aria Montgomery. His past and motivations become more complex as the series progresses.

    I'm loving Ezra and I always will. I don't understand how people still can't forgive him. He is amazing, lovely, kind, and honest. It doesn't matter what he did years ago. Everyone in the show lied, and most lies were bigger than Ezra's, but people still hate him. Sorry, but I think that's just overdramatic. People like CeCe but hate Ezra? Come on! By the way, Ezria is my favorite! Fight me.

    Why isn't Ezra in the top ten at least? He's amazing and so kind-hearted and sweet! Not to mention good-looking. If he was my teacher, I would have done the same as Aria!

20. Alex Santiago

    Alex Santiago is an employee at the Rosewood Country Club who briefly dates Spencer Hastings before their relationship ends due to her family's interference. He distances himself after realizing the complications of being involved with the Hastings family.

21. Jake

    Jake is a martial arts instructor who briefly dates Aria Montgomery, offering her support and a break from the complications in her life. Their relationship ends when Aria realizes she still has unresolved feelings for Ezra Fitz.

    Don't hate me, but I'm loving the mystery of Jake. The actor Ryan Guzman is definitely a hottie, but what drew me to him is his mysterious character. We don't know where he came from, but he's all of a sudden here. I feel like there are plenty of twists with Jake, and I want to see his relationship with Aria thrive.

    I hope they allow Jake to stick around, and without Ezra and Aria together. Ezra is going to mess Jake and Aria up. I hate that! Jake has so much potential!

    I think Aria could have been happy with him. Nice guy.

22. Melissa Hastings

    Melissa Hastings is Spencer Hastings's older sister, whose secrets and romantic entanglements make her a recurring figure in the mysteries surrounding Rosewood. She often appears to have hidden motives, leading to suspicion and tension between her and Spencer.

    At first, I didn't like her, but actually, she's a really interesting character.

    She's so hot. She should've been on the show more.

23. Byron Montgomery

24. Pam Fields

25. Isaac Colbert

    Isaac Colbert is a kind and religious young man who becomes romantically involved with Emily Fields. Their relationship ends after his mother disapproves of Emily and spreads false accusations about her.

26. Lucas Gottesman

    Lucas Gottesman is a student at Rosewood High who is often bullied and socially isolated, eventually developing a close friendship with Hanna Marin. His involvement with "A" and his personal struggles cause tension in his relationships. He also has a knack for photography and technology, skills that prove useful throughout the series.

    I really like Lucas. When he first comes into Pretty Little Liars, we all kind of thought that there might be a sort of love connection with Hanna Marin, but when she finds out that Lucas destroyed Alison's memorial, it was almost as if she was breaking up with him, even though they were never together. I think he is really great, and I light up whenever he is in a scene!

    Great actor.

    Lucas is my favorite, even topping Mona for me. He is adorable, and I love him so much. Yay, Lucas!

27. A

    A is the anonymous antagonist who terrorizes Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily through threats, blackmail, and psychological manipulation. Multiple individuals take on the role of "A" throughout the series, each with their own motives and secrets. The villain usually signs off messages with a simple "-A," leaving the girls in a constant state of paranoia.

    Why isn't A higher on this list?! A is highly intelligent, skillful in just about everything, and always keeps the Liars on their toes.

    A is the best villain of all time.