The verdict
NovelAI is described on its own homepage as the '#1 AI image generator tool for generating AI anime art and crafting epic stories.' That dual focus is the key: it is neither a companion chat app nor a pure image tool -- it is a serious creative writing platform that also happens to have one of the best anime image generators available. On the text side, the proprietary model supports Memory (persistent facts), Author's Notes (style steering), and a Lorebook (world and character context injection), which together allow coherent, stylistically consistent long-form fiction that chat-first platforms cannot sustain. On the image side, NAI Diffusion Anime V3 produces strong character consistency and style coherence, with Anlas as the platform's credit currency used exclusively for image generation. The three plans are Scroll (~$10/mo, limited Anlas), Tablet (~$15/mo, more Anlas, unlimited text), and Opus (~$25/mo, 10,000 Anlas/month, unlimited text, fastest priority). There is no free tier -- only a limited trial. NovelAI is web-only with no native mobile app. It is wrong for the 'AI girlfriend' use case -- there is no persistent character relationship or memory of past conversations. For writers wanting uncensored, long-form, deeply customisable prose with top-tier anime images, it is the strongest option in the category.
Best for writers wanting long-form uncensored prose and high-quality anime images. Not a companion app -- for AI companion chat, CrushOn AI (free NSFW chat). For uncensored image generation without the writing focus, Mage.space.
Pros
- Long-form uncensored writing with Memory, Lorebook, and Author's Notes
- NAI Diffusion Anime V3 -- one of the best dedicated anime image models
- Three plan tiers (Scroll/Tablet/Opus) with clear Anlas credit structure
Cons
- No free tier -- limited trial only, then paid from ~$10/mo
- Not a companion chat app -- no persistent relationship or character memory
- Web-only, no iOS or Android native app
NovelAI FAQ
Is NovelAI free? No -- there is no free tier, only a limited trial. Plans start from ~$10/mo (Scroll).
What are Anlas on NovelAI? Anlas are NovelAI's image generation credits. Text generation is separate and unlimited on Tablet/Opus plans; images cost Anlas regardless of plan.
What are the NovelAI plan tiers? Scroll (~$10/mo), Tablet (~$15/mo), and Opus (~$25/mo). Opus gets 10,000 Anlas/month, unlimited text, and the fastest generation priority.
Is NovelAI good for AI girlfriend roleplay? No -- NovelAI is a creative writing platform with no persistent character memory or relationship mode. For that, use CrushOn or Candy AI instead.
Does NovelAI make anime images? Yes -- NAI Diffusion Anime V3 is one of the strongest dedicated anime image models available, with strong character and style consistency.
Scored on the public six-point method, assessed against documented features, pricing and real user reports (plus hands-on use where we have account access) · last updated September 2026.