Character.AI vs SillyTavern
Compare Character.AI and SillyTavern side by side — pricing, content policy, platforms, and how to switch.
Comparison
Side by side
| Character.AI Visit ↗ | SillyTavern Visit ↗ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Freemium · $9.99/mo | BYO API |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | self-host, desktop |
| Content policy | SFW only | Optional NSFW |
| Monthly visits | 207M/mo | — |
| Founded | 2021 | 2023 |
| Headquarters | Menlo Park, California | — |
| Primary regions | US, BR, IN | Global |
| Tags | #roleplay#sfw#social | #local#byo-api#open-source |
Differences
How they differ
- Character.AI is SFW only; SillyTavern allows NSFW content.
- Character.AI is freemium; SillyTavern is bring-your-own-API.
- Character.AI has mobile apps; SillyTavern does not.
- SillyTavern is self-hosted; Character.AI is a hosted service.
Migration
Switching between them
C S
◐ Partial Character.AI → SillyTavern
Persona migrates. NSFW lorebook needs trimming, memory caps at platform limits.
Effort · 20–40 min
S C
○ Manual SillyTavern → Character.AI
No automated converter. Manual export/import per asset.
Effort · 1–2 h
Card Converter — automate the manual bits
Drop JSON · pick target · export · 30 sec end-to-end