Best AI for roleplay. Choose the model per scene.

Apps such as SillyTavern, Janitor AI and Chub let you pick the model behind your characters. A budget model keeps long chats cheap, Claude takes the scenes that matter, and one APIsRouter key runs them all: about 8,100 GLM 5.3 Flash messages for $10.

Models for roleplay, and what they cost

One message in a running chat: about 8,000 tokens of character card and history in, 400 out, priced without caching. Every model here sells below its maker's own price.

  • GLM 5.3 Flash (glm-5.3-flash): 8,100 messages for $10, $1.22 per 1,000 messages. Z.ai's GLM, the lowest cost here, for long everyday chats.
  • DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (deepseek-v4.1-flash): 8,000 messages for $10, $1.24 per 1,000 messages. Nearly the same cost as GLM, for long everyday chats.
  • DeepSeek V4 Pro (deepseek-v4-pro): 2,000 messages for $10, $5 per 1,000 messages. DeepSeek's larger model, for replies that need more thought.
  • Gemini 3.8 Flash (gemini-3.8-flash): 1,600 messages for $10, $6 per 1,000 messages. Google's Gemini, for a different writing voice.
  • Claude Sonnet 4.6 (claude-sonnet-4-6): 400 messages for $10, $24 per 1,000 messages. Anthropic's Sonnet, for scenes where the writing matters.
  • Claude Opus 5.5 (claude-opus-5-5): 300 messages for $10, $30.40 per 1,000 messages. Anthropic's Opus, for the scenes where every line counts.

Apps that let you choose the model

Each takes an OpenAI-compatible URL and a key, so every model above works in all of them.

  • SillyTavern: A free app you run on your computer or Android phone, with many settings to tune.
  • Janitor AI: A website full of ready-made characters; its proxy setting takes your own model.
  • Chub AI: A website of character cards; its reverse proxy in Secrets takes your own model.
  • RisuAI: A free app for the browser, the desktop or your own server, with a Custom API setting.
  • Agnaistic: A free, open-source app at agnai.chat or on your own computer, with a Third-Party preset.

How to choose

  • Start cheap: Begin long chats on GLM 5.3 Flash or DeepSeek V4.1 Flash; $10 lasts thousands of messages.
  • Switch for the big scenes: Move to Claude Sonnet 4.6 or Claude Opus 5.5 when a scene deserves it, then back. It is one field in the app.
  • Watch the card size: The character card and the chat so far go with every message, so a long card costs on every reply.
  • Keep one key: The same APIsRouter key works for every model and app here, so trying another model costs nothing to set up.

Two ways to pay

Both fill one balance, spent as you chat.

FAQ

What is the best AI for roleplay?

No single model is best for every scene or budget. For long everyday chats, a budget model such as GLM 5.3 Flash or DeepSeek V4.1 Flash gets about 8,100 messages for $10; for scenes where the writing matters, Claude Sonnet 4.6 or Claude Opus 5.5. The apps above let you switch between them.

What is the best free AI for roleplay?

SillyTavern, RisuAI and Agnaistic are free apps, and Janitor AI and Chub AI take your own model. For the model, APIsRouter's $2 trial credit covers about 1,600 DeepSeek V4.1 Flash messages: sign in and claim it, no card needed.

Which app is best for AI roleplay?

SillyTavern if you want to run it yourself on a computer or Android phone; Janitor AI or Chub AI for ready-made characters in the browser; RisuAI for the browser, desktop or phone. All of them take the same APIsRouter key.

Can I use Claude for roleplay?

Yes. In any of these apps, set the model to claude-sonnet-4-6 or claude-opus-5-5 with the APIsRouter URL and key.

Why does a long chat cost more?

Roleplay apps send the character card and the chat so far with every message, so each reply costs more as the chat grows. Starting a new chat resets the history.

Do unused credits expire?

No. Credit stays in your balance until you use it, and requests stop when it runs out, so there are no surprise bills.