Compare software

PolyBuzzSillyTavern
Free

The site advertises free chat; paid options are not described in the research.

 Free

Free and open source under the AGPL. You pay only for whatever model backend you connect…

Web Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted
  • Very large library of user-made characters
  • Browsable by genre and theme
  • Deep prompt control: character cards, lorebooks, world info, author's notes and templates
  • Connects to local runners as well as commercial APIs
  • Built for entertainment and role-play, not productivity
  • Character content is user-made and varies in quality and tone
  • A front end only; you must supply a model backend
  • Setup involves Node or Docker rather than an installer
Web application Self-hosted
Closed source Open source
License not stated License: AGPL-3.0
Not stated if an account is needed No account needed
Needs internet Works offline

Checked October 2, 2026

Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.