Install SillyTavern. Then connect a model in one minute.

SillyTavern is free and runs on your computer or Android phone, but it has no model inside. Clone it, start it, then point it at APIsRouter for DeepSeek, Claude or Gemini: about 8,000 DeepSeek V4.1 Flash messages for $10.

Windows (Command Prompt)

git clone https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern -b release
cd SillyTavern
.\Start.bat

Mac and Linux (Terminal)

git clone https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern -b release
cd SillyTavern
./start.sh

Android (Termux)

pkg update && pkg upgrade
pkg install git nodejs-lts nano
git clone https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern -b release
cd SillyTavern
bash start.sh

From install to first message

  • Install Node.js and Git: Get the LTS version of Node.js and Git from their websites. On Windows, use a folder outside Program Files and do not run SillyTavern as administrator. On Android, the Termux commands install both.
  • Clone and start: Run the commands for your system, one line at a time. The first start installs what SillyTavern needs, then serves it at http://127.0.0.1:8000; open that in your browser if it does not open by itself.
  • Connect a model: Open API Connections (the plug icon), choose Chat Completion, set the source to Custom (OpenAI-compatible), paste the values below and press Connect. Test Message checks it.
  • Update now and then: Run git pull inside the SillyTavern folder, then start it again.

If something goes wrong

  • 'git' is not recognized: Git is not installed yet. Install it, then open a new window and run the commands again.
  • 'npm' is not recognized: Node.js is not installed, or the window was opened before it was. Install the LTS version, open a new window and run .\Start.bat again. On Mac or Linux the same problem reads: npm could not be found in PATH.
  • already in use: Port 8000 is taken, usually by SillyTavern open in another window. Use that one at http://127.0.0.1:8000, or close it and start again.
  • Empty model list: The source must be Custom (OpenAI-compatible), and the endpoint must end exactly at /v1.

Connect a model

Paste these into API Connections; SillyTavern adds /chat/completions to the endpoint itself. For the key, start on the $2 trial credit, or top up from $10 below and it arrives by email.

API: Chat Completion
Chat Completion Source: Custom (OpenAI-compatible)
Custom Endpoint (Base URL): https://api.apisrouter.com/v1
Custom API Key: sk-your-apisrouter-key
Enter a Model ID: deepseek-v4.1-flash

What $10 buys

One message in a running chat: about 8,000 tokens of character card and history in, 400 out, priced without caching.

  • DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (deepseek-v4.1-flash): 8,000 messages for $10, $1.24 per 1,000 messages. The lowest cost here, so long chats stay cheap.
  • 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, between DeepSeek and Opus in price.
  • Claude Opus 5.5 (claude-opus-5-5): 300 messages for $10, $30.40 per 1,000 messages. Anthropic's Opus, for scenes where every line matters.

SillyTavern guides

  • The best API for SillyTavern: Every suggested model on one key, and what each costs per message.
  • SillyTavern on Android and iPhone: Run it in Termux on Android, or open it on an iPhone from your computer.
  • SillyTavern character cards: Where to find cards, how to import them, and how many messages a card size leaves you.
  • SillyTavern presets: Import a preset, and what each Context Size does to your bill.

Two ways to pay

Both fill one balance, spent as you chat.

FAQ

What is SillyTavern?

A free, open-source app for chatting with AI characters that you install on your computer or Android phone. It has no model of its own: you connect one through an API, such as APIsRouter, or run one locally.

Is SillyTavern free?

Yes. SillyTavern is free and open source. What costs money is the model you connect: through APIsRouter, about 8,000 DeepSeek V4.1 Flash messages for $10, or about 1,600 on the $2 trial credit.

How do I install SillyTavern?

Install Node.js and Git, run git clone https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern -b release, go into the folder with cd SillyTavern, then start it with .\Start.bat on Windows or ./start.sh on Mac and Linux. It serves itself at http://127.0.0.1:8000.

Can I use SillyTavern on my phone?

On Android, install it in Termux with the Android commands above. There is no iPhone app: run SillyTavern on your computer, set listen: true in config.yaml, add the phone's IP address to the whitelist there and restart SillyTavern. Then open http://<your computer's IP>:8000 in the phone's browser on the same Wi-Fi.

Which API should I use with SillyTavern?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash for long, cheap chats; Claude Sonnet 4.6 or Claude Opus 5.5 for scenes that need more care. One APIsRouter key covers all of them; what $10 buys on each is listed above.

How do I update SillyTavern?

Run git pull inside the SillyTavern folder, then start it again.