NovelAI Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

NovelAI is a service built around AI story writing, and it also makes anime-style images. People like it for the long-running storytelling tools, but you may want something that fits a different kind of project: a novel you plan carefully, a game-like adventure, or a tool you can run on your own computer.

Here are ten NovelAI alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. They cover novel planning, interactive stories, manuscript feedback and a local app. I've written each description from the tool's own website, so check the current details there before you sign up. If you're also weighing up where AI belongs in your wider work, my roundup of AI tools for small business owners may help.

Ten NovelAI alternatives at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free tier, free play or free open-source software. Trial only means a free trial without an ongoing free plan. No means the site states neither. Offers change, so confirm on the site itself.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
AI Dungeon	Text adventure game	Open-ended interactive stories and community scenarios	Yes
Authors A.I.	Manuscript feedback	Notes on plot, pacing and characters	Yes
Fictionary	Story editing software	Outlining, writing and scene feedback for genre authors	Trial only
Hidden Door	Interactive storytelling	Choosing a world and playing through a narrated story	Yes
KoboldCpp	Local app	Running language models on your own computer	Yes
Novelcrafter	Novel planning	Views for planning, a story wiki and optional AI	Trial only
Perchance	Web story generator	Quick story generation in the browser	Yes
Plot Factory	Story planner	Planning stories and fictional universes online	Yes
Squibler	Book writing tool	Outlines, drafts and revisions for books and screenplays	Yes
Sudowrite	Fiction assistant	Drafting, expanding and brainstorming for novelists	Trial only

Ten tools for writing, planning and playing with AI stories

AI Dungeon

Best for: Players who want to steer an open-ended text adventure, or try community-made scenarios, rather than draft a book.

Authors A.I.

Best for: Writers who've already drafted a manuscript and want analytical feedback rather than generated text.

Fictionary

Best for: Genre authors who want outlining and editing tools with scene-level feedback from a built-in AI instructor.

Hidden Door

Best for: Readers and players who want to pick a world, create a character and make choices as a Narrator builds the story.

KoboldCpp

Best for: Hands-on users who want free, open-source software for running language models on their own computer.

Novelcrafter

Best for: Novelists who want planning tools and a story wiki, with AI features that are optional.

Perchance

Best for: Quick experiments and prompts, because the generator is described as free, unlimited and needing no sign-up.

Plot Factory

Best for: Planners who like to organise stories and fictional universes online, including on a phone.

Squibler

Best for: Authors and screenwriters who want outlines, first drafts and character tracking in one writing tool.

Sudowrite

Best for: Novelists who want help drafting scenes, expanding rushed passages and brainstorming plot and characters.

Writing a novel, playing a story or editing a draft: which AI story tool fits

AI story tools fall into a few camps, and a tool that's wonderful for one can disappoint in another. Decide first whether you want to write the words yourself with help on the side, have the AI draft passages for you, or play through a story that unfolds as you make choices.

• Drafting help. Suggests the next passage, expands a rough scene or offers alternatives you can edit.
• Planning and organising. Keeps characters, places and timelines in order across a long project.
• Interactive play. The story is built as you go, closer to a game than a manuscript.
• Feedback. Reviews what you've already written and points out where it's strong or weak.

Keeping your own voice in an AI-assisted story

AI suggestions tend to drift towards the average. If you want a book that sounds like you, write the key scenes yourself and use the tool for options, edits and questions. Read each suggestion aloud, keep the lines that sound like you, and cut the rest.

It also helps to keep a short style note with your characters' speech habits, the tense and point of view, and a few sentences that capture the tone. Paste that note into a tool whenever it allows custom instructions.

Who owns the story you make with an AI writing tool

Ownership and permitted use differ from one service to the next, and the law around AI-assisted writing is still developing. Read each tool's terms about your text, whether it's used to improve the service, and what you can do with the result, especially if you plan to publish. This is general guidance, not legal advice, so check your own situation.

Questions to ask before you move your story away from NovelAI

• Can I export my stories, characters and notes in a format the new tool accepts?
• Will the new tool use my writing to train anything?
• What age rules and content rules does it have?
• What are the limits on the free plan or trial?
• Does it work in a browser, on a phone or only on a computer?
• If I stop using it, what happens to my files?

If you need help working out which tools suit a creative or content business, you can ask about working with an AI consultant in the UK.

Running AI story models on your own computer instead of NovelAI

An app that runs on your own machine can keep your writing private and avoids daily limits. The trade-off is set-up time and the need for a computer that copes with the models. You'll also choose the model files yourself, so check each model's licence for what you can do with the text it produces.

My overview of which AI tools are free to try covers where free routes tend to run out.

Content rules, age limits and privacy for AI story platforms

Story platforms set their own content rules and age requirements, and these vary widely. Read them before you start, especially if younger people will use the tool. Most services also keep your text on their servers, so avoid putting real personal details about other people into a story.

Mistakes to avoid when choosing a NovelAI alternative

• Judging a tool on one prompt rather than on a full scene from your own project.
• Building a whole manuscript in a place you can't export from.
• Skipping the terms about publishing and ownership.
• Relying on generated text without reading it carefully for errors and repetition.
• Forgetting that interactive game tools and manuscript tools are different things.

Do you make an AI story writing or interactive fiction tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

A short checklist before you sign up to a NovelAI alternative

Write down the one scene or chapter you'd most like help with. Try two tools on it, compare how much editing each result needs, and check the export options and terms. Keep the tool that leaves you feeling most like the author.

Frequently asked questions

What can I use instead of NovelAI?

You can use a novel-planning tool with optional AI, a drafting assistant, an interactive story game or software you run on your own computer. The right choice depends on whether you want to write, plan or play.

Are there free NovelAI alternatives?

Yes, several have a free plan, free play or free open-source software, and others offer a free trial. Check each tool's own site for what's included.

Can I publish a story written with AI help?

Rules differ between tools and countries, and the law is still developing. Read the tool's terms and check your own situation, especially for commercial publishing.

Do AI story tools keep my writing private?

Not always. Read the privacy page to see how text is stored and whether it's used to improve the service, and avoid real personal details about other people.

Do I need a powerful computer for AI story writing?

Not for web tools, which do the heavy work for you. Apps that run models locally need a capable computer, and each app lists its own requirements.