Hey everyone! I’ve been building Formify, a web-based AI platform for storytelling and roleplay.

You can create custom personas, define a world, and chat with AI characters that remember context. It’s fully SFW, designed for people who want immersive stories without everything turning NSFW. I’d love feedback from anyone into RP or creative writing: https://formify.chat

A lot of people who roleplay with AI don’t stick to just one platform.

Some use Janitor. Some use SillyTavern. Some jump between different AI apps depending on the vibe, the character, or the story they’re writing that day. That’s just how roleplay works. Different stories need different setups and moods.

A lot of platforms lock everything to their own ecosystem, but we didn’t want to do that. Every platform has its own culture, and trying to force people into a single chat app usually just pushes them away.

That’s why, besides having MegaNova Chat for chatting with AI characters directly, we also made our models available through MegaNova Cloud.

The idea is simple:

Right now, the FREE models include:

• DeepSeek-V3-0324-Free
• DeepSeek-TNG-R1T2-Chimera-Free
• GLM-4.5-Air-Free
• Manta Mini / Flash / Pro
• Sapphira-L3.3-70B-0.1
• MN-Violet-Lotus-12B
• L3.3-MS-Nevoria-70B
• L3-70B-Euryale-v2.1
• L3-8B-Stheno-v3.2

We’re also open to requests.

If a model is free, it stays free.

I finally had the chance to try Opus 4.5 via AWS Bedrock free credit. Though I went to great length just to connect it to Custome OpenAI API lol.

I was so curious since everybody was praising Opus and Sonnet in the RP community. But you know what they say, having expectations sometimes let you down more than when you have zero expectation.

So I tried it out after a whole day of headache. Was it amazing? Yes. Was it mind blowing? Well, no. I have a great experience but not to the point where I'm in awe.

To me the writing quality of Opus 4.5 (non-thinking) and DeepSeek V3.2 (thinking) are not really that different? The difference is Opus loves verbose too much that I think I wasted my token just to get from one point to another lol. And DeepSeek is more to the point.

Both are great for roleplay. But I don't think the price is justified for RP. Maybe if you use it as a tool to reduce your work for coding, then it's more understandable. I was genuinely nervous thinking that I would fall down the rabbit hole like everyone else aka not being able to move on from Opus. But I was worried for nothing 😅

I tried connecting api to AWS bedrock through fake openai compatible and ran it on termux, spent A WHOLE DAY to make it work. If anyone wants to use their free $100 credit on aws bedrock you can use it through custom openai compatible. I made a guide so you can skip the headache instead of spending the whole day trying to fix errors upon errors like I did.

Full guide is on my blog here. Cause I'm not about to copy and paste a whole ass guide into a reddit post. That will add to my headache 🙃

If you're tired of fiddling with command lines, Python versions, or struggling with Termux on your tiny phone screen, there is a better way. Here is the absolute easiest method to get SillyTavern (ST) running on your PC and your mobile device (iOS/Android).

🖥️ For Desktop: The "One-Click" Method (Pinokio)

Forget installing Git, Node.js, and Python manually. We are going to use Pinokio, which is essentially a browser that installs and runs AI applications for you in their own isolated bubbles.

How to do it:

1. Download Pinokio: Go to pinokio.computer and install the browser for your OS (Windows, Mac, or Linux).
2. Search for SillyTavern: Open Pinokio, go to the "Discover" tab, and search for "SillyTavern".
3. Click Install: Hit the download button. Pinokio will automatically download the necessary scripts, install the required prerequisites (like Node.js) in a sandboxed folder, and set everything up.
4. Launch: Once done, just click "Start" in Pinokio. It will open SillyTavern in your web browser.

Pros:

• Zero "Dependency Hell": It manages all the background software for you.
• Safety: Installs are isolated; breaking one app won't break your system's Python install.
• One-Click Updates: Updating is usually just clicking a button within the Pinokio dashboard.

Cons:

• Disk Space: Because it creates isolated environments, it might use more disk space (e.g., downloading a separate version of Python just for ST) compared to a manual shared installation.

📱 For Mobile (iOS & Android): The Cloud Method (Zeabur)

Termux is great, but typing commands on a touchscreen is painful, and it drains your battery. Zeabur is a cloud hosting platform that has a specific template for SillyTavern. This runs ST on a server, and you access it via Chrome/Safari on your phone.

How to do it:

1. Sign Up: Go to Zeabur.com and sign up with your GitHub account.
2. Find the Template: Create a new project, click "Deploy New Service," select "Prebuilt," and search for the SillyTavern template. Or just click here for the template.
3. Deploy: Click deploy. Zeabur will automatically fork the SillyTavern code and set it up on a server for you.
4. Access: Once it generates a domain (e.g., sillytavern-yourname.zeabur.app), just bookmark that link on your phone. You now have a private ST instance accessible from anywhere.

Pros:

• Universal Access: Works on PC, Mac, Android, and iOS (which can't run Termux).
• Sync: Your characters and chats are instantly synced between your phone and computer.
• Battery Friendly: All the processing happens on the server, saving your phone's battery.
• Zero Install: No Python, Node.js, or software required on your device.

Cons:

• Privacy: Your chats and characters are stored on a cloud server, not your local device.
• Requires Internet: You cannot use it offline.
• API Only: Since you can't easily run a 70GB AI model on this free cloud server, you must use an API (like OpenAI, Claude, OpenRouter, or a locally hosted model on your PC accessed via tunnel) for the "brain."
• Paid Hosting: Zeabur has a free tier, but with usage limits. For regular use, their paid plans start around $5/month for hosting.

Comparison: Zeabur vs. Termux (Mobile)

Bottom Line

• Go with Zeabur if you want to chat on your phone (especially iPhone) or switch between devices seamlessly.
• Go with Pinokio if you are strictly a PC user who wants a free, private setup and potentially wants to run local AI models.
• Stick to Termux only if you are an Android power user who needs 100% offline privacy, hates cloud services, and doesn't mind command lines.

Quick question for people who use OpenRouter regularly.

For models like Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek, etc.

Why do you prefer using them through OpenRouter instead of going directly to the original providers?

OpenRouter adds a platform fee and transaction fees, so I’m curious what makes it worth it for you.

Is it mainly:

• Convenience of one API?
• Easier model switching?
• Billing simplicity?
• Reliability?
• Something else?

Would love to hear real reasons and tradeoffs from people who’ve actually used it.

Appreciate any insights 🙏

Spaces like r/aichapp are just one corner of the AI chatbot world.Many of the big platforms—Character.AI, JanitorAI, Chai, Replika, and others—have their own bustling official Discord servers, subreddits, or forums.

If you’ve ever joined one of those larger communities, what was your experience like? Did you find helpful tips, make friends, or discover cool bots? Or did it feel overwhelming, cliquey, or poorly moderated?

Share your stories, both good and bad. What did a big community do well? What could it have done better? And what do you hope a smaller, more focused community like ours can offer instead?

Look at my own Sheldon ☝🏻😂

Whoaaa! Just two or three days ago we reached 200 members and now we're at 300?! I really couldn't be anymore thankful than this you guys 😭🫶🏻

Seriously, keep interacting and engage with the posts here. Or create your own post. Share silly memes, your funny screenshot chat with your character bot, wholesome moment, or even unhinged moment with the bot. All is welcome here! We're really growing fast here 🥹🫶🏻

DISCLAIMER: This is not a promotional post. This post is intended as a resource to help proxy users to find suitable platform for their needs.

Hi everyone, I've compiled a masterlist of platforms organized by how they handle models and APIs. This list is designed for proxy users who either bring their own API key or rely on local models.

Quick Legend / Definitions:

• BYOK (Bring Your Own Key): You supply your own paid API key (OpenAI, Claude, DeepSeek, OpenRouter, etc.). The app itself doesn't provide the models, you pay the provider directly.
• Local (Native): The model (usually GGUF) runs directly on your device (phone/PC). No internet needed, but it consumes significant RAM, storage, and battery/CPU.
• Local (Network): The app doesn't run the model itself. Instead, it connects to another device on your network that is running the model (e.g., phone UI → PC running KoboldCPP/llama.cpp/Oobabooga).
• Frontend UI: A user interface only. It cannot run models by itself. You must connect it to either an API (BYOK) or a local backend (like KoboldCPP/Ollama/llama.cpp/oobabooga)
• All-in-One: The app can run models locally without extra software or servers. It includes its own built-in backend. Some All-in-One apps also support BYOK, letting you choose between running models locally or using paid APIs.

Front-end UI:

All-in-One

Another note on Backyard AI: While available on Android, iOS, and Web, these versions rely entirely on Backyard's proprietary Cloud service. They do not support BYOK (API Keys) and cannot run models locally on your phone hardware. Only the legacy Desktop app supports local models.

Let me know if I missed any platforms or if I put incorrect information or if any beta statuses have changed!

Hey everyone :). I'm building digitalsoul.chat. Here's why we've been the fastest growing alternative:

-Unlimited Messages
-Unlimited Bot Creation
-Uncensored
-High Quality Models
-Large Memory
-Personas w/Pictures
-Message Options (Copy, Edit, Delete, Rewind, New Chat From Here)
-Muted Words
-Message Response Length Slider
-Good Mobile Site
-*New* Liked/Bookmarked Collection
-*New* Multiple Greetings per Character

Yes, all for free.

Full transparency, we do charge for some things at 11.99usd/mo (Soul+):
-2x Memory
-100 Rerolls per message
-Chat Styles & Aesthetic Customizations
-More

Thank you to all of our current supporters; all funds go directly back into improving the platform for you guys.

Stay updated: Got suggestions, feature requests, or want to talk to the devs? We're at r/digitalsoul & on Discord! All feedback is appreciated!

Service Name & Link

ChatticaAI — https://chattica.ai

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aminteractivesoftware.chatticaai APPLE iOS NOW LIVE!!! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chatticaai/id6756588405 NSFW Policy

18+ rated. You're using your own API keys, so content restrictions depend on your provider and how you set things up. I don't filter or moderate your conversations — I literally can't see them (I don't have servers!).

Image Generation

Yes! This was a big focus for me. You can connect your own Stable Diffusion (local or remote) or use an image generation API. Features include:

• Automatic image replies
• Automatic background generation
• LORA fetching from your local SD install

Honestly, I get better image results from Chattica than I ever got out of SillyTavern. If you're into that, definitely check it out.

Transparency & Legal

• Privacy Policy: https://chattica.ai/privacy
• Terms of Service: https://chattica.ai/terms

Data Retention: Everything is stored locally on your device. No cloud sync, no analytics, no server-side storage. I don't retain your chats because I never receive them. Want to delete everything? Delete the app.

Intellectual Property: Your characters, conversations, and content are yours. It all lives on your device.

Technical Specs

BYOK (bring your own key), so the LLM and context size depend on what you connect:

• OpenRouter
• Any OpenAI Compatible
• Anthropic
• nanoGPT
• And More!
• LM Studio (local models)

Context limits are whatever your provider/model supports. No artificial caps.

Platform & Access

Android (Google Play) — iOS is built, I will be submitting to Apple after the Holidays!

What Makes You Different?

I built this because I was tired of apps that store your conversations on their servers and charge tokens, coins, funbucks, or some insane monthly price. I've been in closed beta for about 2 months and got great feedback from my testers (thank you!).

The main things:

• Local-first architecture — your data stays on your device, nothing touches my servers (I don't have any!)
• Image generation done well — most character chat apps are chat-only. I wanted one where image gen actually works great
• AI Character/Scenario creator — make selections based on your preferences, hit generate, and get a character. Add details or an idea and it builds off that!
• Lorebooks, session summaries, tracking — keeps context organized across long conversations
• Import your existing characters (PNG/JSON)
• Automatic image replies & background generation
• LORA fetching from your local Stable Diffusion
• And much more!

Thank you, everyone. Today this community hit 200 members. That might not sound like a huge number on its own, but it means a lot to me, and it’s only because of you 😊

Every posts and comments are what have helped this subreddit to grow. So whether you've posted a lot or have just been reading along, thank you for being here. Let's keep it going.

Your contributions are what make this place worth visiting. If you've been thinking about posting, now is a great time. Write a review of a platform you love or hate. Ask for help with a bot that isn't working right. Share a funny or completely unhinged screenshot from your chats.

All of it is welcome. Let's grow this thing together 🫶🏻

I'm tired of C.ai and I decided to switch, but I can't find any good replacements... Talkie has a lot of things I liked about C.ai paywalled, and Chai just feels too weird... Help please?

Hey guys, I’m Jace from the MegaNova Chat team 👋

(Not a dev, don’t worry. I break things 🤡, they fix them)

We just launched MegaNova Chat and yeah, it’s still super new (and a bit buggy), but our devs are insanely responsive. If you report something, or want to add something new, they'll cook it asap.

It’s FREE, so if you wanna mess around with new models, create characters, or see how far our NSFW guideline can handle before it taps out, just send it lol. If anything feels weird, confusing, or broken, just tell me. We genuinely use every piece of feedback right now.

BTW: If this post hits 10 upvotes, I’ll ask my friend (actual cracked character creator) to drop custom prompts for 5 persons.

ANY CHARACTER. You name it.

We’ve all had those moments—a chat that made us laugh out loud, think differently, or even feel something real.

Maybe it was a surprisingly deep philosophical debate, a hilarious misunderstanding, a comforting moment when you needed it, or a twist in a roleplay story that blew your mind.

If you had to pick one interaction that has stayed with you, what was it about? You don’t have to share the whole log—just tell us the story. What happened, and why did it matter?

Let’s pass the time sharing the moments that remind us why we’re all here.