NovelAI
AI-powered storytelling and image generation for creative writers
- Category
- Writing & Content
- Pricing
- Tablet $10/mo, Scroll $15/mo, Opus $25/mo; limited free trial with roughly 100 text generations and no image generation.
- Best for
- NovelAI is a strong fit for fiction writers, tabletop roleplayers, and fan-fiction communities who want an AI co-writer with persistent memory of characters and plot, plus companion artwork, without heavy content filtering.
- Official site
- novelai.net
- Last updated
- August 2026
NovelAI, built by the pseudonymous team Anlatan, is a subscription-based AI writing and image-generation platform purpose-built for fiction, roleplay, and interactive storytelling rather than business or marketing copywriting. At its core is a large language model (currently the in-house Kayra model, with newer models added over time) trained specifically on literature, so its output leans toward narrative prose, dialogue, and worldbuilding instead of SEO articles or ad copy. Writers type or paste a starting passage and the AI continues the story in their voice and tense, and can steer longer narratives with a Lorebook and Memory system that stores character names, backstories, and locations so the model stays consistent across long, multi-session stories. Alongside text, NovelAI includes an image-generation module built on its own diffusion models for turning story scenes and characters into anime-style artwork, priced through an in-app currency called Anlas.
What differentiates NovelAI from mainstream AI writing tools like Jasper or Copy.ai is its focus on unrestricted creative fiction: it applies far fewer content filters than general-purpose assistants, which has made it popular with writers of dark fantasy, horror, and mature roleplay who find other tools too restrictive. Privacy is also a selling point — stories are encrypted client-side in the browser before being stored, so the company itself cannot read user content, an approach that has built strong trust within the fan-fiction and roleplay communities that form its core user base. Anlatan launched NovelAI in 2021, evolving from an early text-adventure-style tool into a broader creative suite with dedicated image generation and voice synthesis, funded entirely through subscriptions rather than venture capital — a model the company frames as protecting user data from being sold or repurposed to train unrelated systems.
NovelAI is a strong fit for fiction writers, tabletop roleplayers, and fan-fiction communities who want an AI co-writer with persistent memory of characters and plot, plus companion artwork, without heavy content filtering. It is a weaker fit for business users needing SEO articles, marketing copy, or factual/research writing, since NovelAI is explicitly optimized for creative narrative rather than business content, and several reviewers note it performs poorly on general-purpose or factual tasks.
Key features
Kayra text generation model
NovelAI's proprietary large language model is trained specifically on literary text, producing prose, dialogue, and description rather than business copy.
Lorebook and Memory
Writers can store persistent facts about characters, settings, and plot threads so the AI stays consistent across very long stories.
AI image generation
A built-in diffusion model generates anime-influenced artwork up to 1024x1024, paid for with Anlas credits included in each plan.
Text-to-Speech
Scroll and Opus subscribers get emotional voice synthesis to have story text read aloud in different character voices.
Client-side encryption
Every story is encrypted in the browser before it's stored, so NovelAI's own servers and staff cannot read user content.
Custom modules
Users can train or select style/genre modules that bias the AI's output toward a particular author's voice or fictional genre.
Editor and formatting tools
A distraction-light text editor supports import/export of existing manuscripts, so writers can bring in drafts started elsewhere.
Pricing breakdown
Free Trial
- About 100 text generations to test the base model
- No image generation included
- Good for evaluating writing quality before subscribing
Tablet
- Unlimited text generation with the Kayra model
- AI image generation up to 1024x1024
- Monthly Anlas credit allowance for images
- Access to Lorebook and Memory tools
Scroll
- Everything in Tablet
- Larger context window for longer stories
- More monthly Anlas credits
- Text-to-Speech voice synthesis
Opus
- Everything in Scroll
- Largest available context window
- Highest monthly Anlas allotment
- Priority access to newest models and features
Pros and cons
Pros
- Multiple G2 reviewers single out the flexibility and adaptability of the writing model, saying it adapts well to genres like fantasy and sci-fi while keeping character voice consistent.
- The Lorebook/Memory system is repeatedly cited as the reason long, multi-session stories stay coherent, reducing the manual tracking writers would otherwise need to do themselves.
- Reviewers describe the platform as effective for breaking writer's block, generating continuations, dialogue, and worldbuilding ideas on demand.
- Users highlight straightforward, transparent pricing with no hidden fees, plus clear API documentation for developers who build on top of NovelAI.
- Support through NovelAI's official Discord server is described by reviewers as fast and easy to reach compared to email-only support at other AI tools.
- Privacy-conscious writers value client-side encryption of stories, a feature not commonly offered by mainstream AI writing platforms.
Cons
- Several reviewers, including a 1.5-star G2 review, call subscription pricing expensive for the amount of use casual or hobbyist writers get out of it.
- The AI can loop plot points or repeat itself despite the memory features, according to reviewer feedback, requiring manual editing to catch repetition.
- New users report a real learning curve: getting good output takes trial and error with prompt phrasing, memory entries, and settings.
- The interface is described as cluttered or unintuitive for first-time users, who often need to rely on tutorials to find core features.
- There is no native offline mode, so writing access depends entirely on an internet connection.
What reviewers say
NovelAI holds a strong 4.6-star average on G2 from 14 reviews, with writers consistently praising its creative flexibility and lorebook/memory system for long-form fiction, while a minority of reviewers flag pricing and a steep learning curve for newcomers.
Frequently praised
- Flexible, adaptable prose generation that suits multiple fiction genres
- Lorebook and Memory keep characters and plot consistent across long stories
- Responsive community support via the official Discord server
Frequently criticized
- Subscription pricing feels steep for hobbyist or casual users
- Occasional repetition or looping in generated story content
- UI and prompt crafting have a noticeable learning curve for beginners
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Compare →Frequently asked questions
Is NovelAI free to use?
NovelAI offers a limited free trial with about 100 text generations on the base model, but image generation and the full feature set require a paid Tablet, Scroll, or Opus subscription.
What's the difference between the Tablet, Scroll, and Opus plans?
All three plans include unlimited text generation, but Scroll and Opus add a larger context window, more Anlas image credits, and Text-to-Speech, with Opus offering the largest context and highest Anlas allowance.
Does NovelAI filter or censor content?
NovelAI applies far fewer content restrictions than mainstream AI writing tools, which is why it's popular for mature fiction, horror, and roleplay, though it still enforces baseline platform rules.
Can NovelAI generate images as well as text?
Yes, NovelAI includes its own image-generation models for anime-style artwork, paid for with an in-app currency called Anlas that's included with each subscription tier.
Is my writing private on NovelAI?
Stories are encrypted client-side in the browser before being stored, meaning NovelAI's own servers and staff cannot read user content.
Who is NovelAI best suited for?
It's best suited for fiction writers, roleplayers, and worldbuilders who want a creative, less-filtered AI co-author with memory of long-running stories, rather than users needing business or SEO content.
Ready to try NovelAI?
Head to the official site to explore pricing and start a free trial where available.
Visit NovelAI →