NovelAI | AI-Powered Storytelling for Creative Freedom
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✍️ AI Story Writer & Anime Art Generator Updated June 10, 2026

NovelAI Review

An AI-powered story writer and anime image generator that produces uncensored text and art from user prompts.

Uncensored story writing Anime image generation Lorebook Text-to-speech
★★★★☆ 8.4/10
Visit NovelAI → Freemium · From $10/mo
SSL-encrypted sessions Encrypted story storage · staff cannot read stories Operated by Anlatan LLC since 2021
NovelAI review — featured image

Is NovelAI Worth It?

NovelAI is worth the cost for writers, roleplayers, and anime fans who want uncensored text and image generation. It writes long-form fiction and generates anime art from prompts, with paid plans from $10/month that include unlimited text. The free Paper tier covers a limited trial for testing.

About NovelAI

NovelAI is an AI-powered story writer and anime image generator that produces uncensored text and art from user prompts. Anlatan LLC operates NovelAI from the United States. NovelAI runs in the browser at novelai.net without a software install. NovelAI targets writers, roleplayers, and anime fans who want NSFW-capable text and image generation.

NovelAI bundles two creation engines into one account. The text generator writes stories, roleplay, and adventures from a prompt. The NovelAI Diffusion model builds anime images from text and tags. The Lorebook, Director’s Tools, and text-to-speech features extend each story. Image generation runs on an Anlas currency set by image size, model, and step count, while text generation stays unlimited on every paid plan.

Is NovelAI safe, private & secure?

NovelAI is a legitimate platform with SSL encryption and encrypted story storage, and adult content stays private to the account. NovelAI secures account and generation sessions over an encrypted connection and encrypts stored stories so that staff cannot read user content.

Privacy & secure payments

NovelAI publishes a privacy policy that documents data handling, and users delete a story and account data from the settings page. NovelAI processes payments through established third-party providers, uses a discreet descriptor on card billing statements, and does not store the full card number on the platform.

✅ Worth it if you

  • Want private, unfiltered story writing with memory
  • Write long-form fiction or unfiltered roleplay
  • Generate anime art to match a story with NovelAI Diffusion
  • Need the Lorebook to recall characters and facts

🤔 Look elsewhere if you

  • Want a chat companion or voice interaction
  • Need only light, occasional generations (the Paper tier may be enough)
  • Want images without spending Anlas
Pricing Freemium
Free plan Paper trial · 50 text gens · 30 image gens
Starting price $10/mo
Owner Anlatan LLC
HQ United States

Our Verdict

8.4/10 ★★★★☆ Editor score

Pros

  • Uncensored long-form story writing
  • NovelAI Diffusion anime art
  • Encrypted private story storage
  • Lorebook keeps story memory
  • Unlimited text on paid plans

Cons

  • Image generation spends Anlas
  • Free Paper tier caps generations
  • No chat companion or voice features
  • Learning curve for model settings
  • Opus plan reaches $25/mo

How It Works

Sign up

Visit novelai.net and select sign up.

Verify account

Create an account with email and verify the address.

Write a prompt

Open the Storyteller and write a prompt or pick a preset.

Set controls

Set the AI module, tone, and output length.

Generate text

Generate text and continue the scene turn by turn.

Describe an image

Open Image Generation and describe a scene with tags.

Render art

Render the image and spend Anlas from the balance.

NovelAI Features

📖

Story generator

Writes prose, dialogue, and adventures.

🎨

NovelAI Diffusion

Generates anime art from text and tags.

📚

Lorebook

Stores characters and facts for memory.

🎬

Director's Tools

Edits and steers a generated image.

🔊

Text-to-speech

Reads story text aloud.

🎭

AI modules

Apply preset writing styles and themes.

🧠

Custom AI training

Trains a module on a personal text set.

🧩

Context memory

Recalls earlier parts of a long story.

NovelAI Pricing

Paper (free)
$0
  • 0 monthly Anlas
  • 50 text generations
  • 100 text actions/month
  • 30 image generations up to 1024x1024
Start free
Tablet
$10 /mo
  • 1,000 monthly Anlas
  • Unlimited text
  • Standard context
Get Tablet →
Scroll
$15 /mo
  • 1,000 monthly Anlas
  • Unlimited text
  • Larger context memory
Get Scroll →
Opus
$25 /mo
  • 10,000 monthly Anlas
  • Unlimited text
  • Largest context
  • Free standard-size images
Get Opus →

Who Is NovelAI Best For?

🎭 Anime fans & roleplayers

NovelAI suits roleplayers who want unfiltered, long-form interactive stories; anime fans use NovelAI Diffusion for character and scene art; the Lorebook keeps roleplay characters consistent.

🎨 Digital artists

NovelAI helps digital artists who want fine control over anime art; the tag-strength system weights each element; NovelAI Diffusion recreates a character from a saved tag set.

✍️ Writers

Writers use NovelAI for long-form fiction with unlimited text, Lorebook memory, and custom module training.

NovelAI Alternatives

ToolBest forPriceNotesCompare
SpicyChat NSFW roleplay chat from $5/mo Free tier available vs →
Candy AI AI companion and visuals from $12.99/mo Limited free tier vs →
Janitor AI Character roleplay Free with own API Free tier available vs →
NovelAI — this review Story writing and anime art from $10/mo Paper trial
🆚

NovelAI vs Candy AI

Candy AI centers on an AI companion with chat, voice, and polished visuals (from $12.99/mo), while NovelAI centers on long-form story writing and anime image generation (from $10/mo). NovelAI offers deeper writing controls, a Lorebook, and custom module training; Candy AI offers conversation and companion features that NovelAI does not. Users who want a chat companion choose Candy AI, while users who want a writing and art tool choose NovelAI.

Try NovelAI free Test before you commit — cancel anytime during trial
Visit NovelAI →

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NovelAI FAQ

Is NovelAI free?

NovelAI offers a free Paper tier with 50 text generations and 100 text actions per month. The Paper tier adds 30 free image generations up to 1024×1024 resolution. Unlimited text and the full Anlas allowance require a paid NovelAI plan.

How much does NovelAI cost?

NovelAI premium plans cost from $10 per month on the Tablet tier with 1,000 Anlas. The Scroll plan costs $15 per month, and the Opus plan costs $25 per month with 10,000 Anlas. Annual billing lowers the per-month cost on each NovelAI plan.

Who owns NovelAI?

Anlatan LLC owns and operates NovelAI from the United States. The Anlatan team develops the platform’s custom language models and NovelAI Diffusion. NovelAI releases regular updates to its writing and image models.

Is NovelAI safe?

NovelAI is safe to use, with SSL encryption protecting account sessions. NovelAI encrypts stored stories so that staff cannot read user content. NovelAI publishes a privacy policy and keeps generated content private to the account.

Is NovelAI legit?

NovelAI is a legitimate platform operated by Anlatan LLC since 2021. NovelAI provides active support and processes payments through secure providers. NovelAI releases regular updates to its language and image models.

Is NovelAI worth it?

NovelAI is worth the cost for writers and anime fans who want uncensored text and image generation. The unlimited text, Lorebook memory, and NovelAI Diffusion justify the subscription. Light users find the free NovelAI Paper tier enough to test.

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NovelAI ★★★★☆ 8.4/10 · From $10/mo
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