# SillyTavern Alternative: Your Cards, No Setup

> A hosted SillyTavern alternative: import V1–V3 cards and lorebooks, then chat on any device with built-in models, group chats and branching. No install.

Source: https://reverie.im/en/comparison/sillytavern
Language: en
Last verified: 2026-10-14
Author: Reverie (a vendor comparison of its own product)

SillyTavern is a free, open-source frontend you install and connect to a model yourself. Reverie hosts everything: bring your cards, lorebooks and chats and keep going on any device.

SillyTavern is a locally installed interface for language models, built for power users: character cards, World Info, group chats, personas, extensions and scripting. You supply the model backend. Here is how it compares with Reverie as of October 2026.

## Quick verdict

**Choose Reverie if**

* You want your cards on any device with no install
* You want models built in, with a free one

**Stay with SillyTavern if**

* You want total control over prompts, models and extensions
* You want to run everything locally

## Why people look for a SillyTavern alternative

* **Install and maintain it yourself**: SillyTavern runs on Node.js on your computer, a server or Android. Updates, backups and access from other devices are up to you.
* **Bring your own model**: It's an interface only: you connect an API (and pay for it) or run a model locally, ideally on a GPU with 6GB+ of VRAM.
* **The learning curve**: Its own docs say it embraces a steep learning curve. Reverie works in a browser with models included.

## What SillyTavern does well

* **Total control**: Prompts, generation settings, scripting and a big extension ecosystem: SillyTavern lets you tune everything.
* **Free and open source**: AGPL-3.0, with more than 300 contributors and no account to make.

## SillyTavern vs Reverie, side by side

Checked on October 14, 2026 against SillyTavern's own site, help pages and app store listings. Plans change, so follow the source links before you subscribe.

| Feature            | Reverie                                                                                      | SillyTavern                                                                              |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Setup & Onboarding | Sign up and chat in a browser; imports PNG and JSON cards (V1–V3), lorebooks and JSONL chats | Install on Windows, Linux, Mac, Android or Docker (Node.js 20+), then connect a model    |
| AI Models          | A free model plus DeepSeek, Gemini, GLM and MiMo models, built in                            | Any supported backend: OpenAI-compatible APIs, KoboldAI, AI Horde, local models and more |
| Long-term Memory   | Saved memories you can view, edit and pin, plus chat summaries you can edit                  | World Info, RAG and an auto-summary extension                                            |
| Group Chats        | Group chats with up to five characters; branch from any reply                                | Multi-bot group chats                                                                    |
| Pricing            | Free plan with a free model; paid plans add monthly credits                                  | Free and open source (AGPL-3.0); you pay for any model API you use                       |

## What SillyTavern and Reverie cost

Public prices in US dollars, checked on October 14, 2026. Some vary by region and app store.

**Reverie Pricing**: Free plan with a free model (no daily message limit) and daily check-in credits. Paid plans add monthly credits for stronger models.

* Free: $0.00
* Pro: $9.99 (Monthly)
* Premium: $19.99 (Monthly)
* Ultimate: $59.99 (Monthly)

**SillyTavern**

**Variable cost**: Software, model, API, or hosting costs depend on your setup.

## Sources

* [SillyTavern documentation](https://docs.sillytavern.app/)

## Other SillyTavern alternatives

Reverie isn't the only option. These are the apps people weigh it against most often, each with its own trade-offs.

* [Chub AI compared](https://reverie.im/en/comparison/chub-ai): A big character-card hub that runs on your own API keys or its Mars models.
* [Janitor AI compared](https://reverie.im/en/comparison/janitor-ai): A huge library of community bots with a free in-house model, or your own API key.
* [Perchance compared](https://reverie.im/en/comparison/perchance): Free, no-sign-up AI character chat whose chats stay in your browser.

## Moving from SillyTavern

Upload PNG or JSON cards in the [character importer](https://reverie.im/en/character-importer); embedded lorebooks become World Book entries. Bring chats over as JSONL with the [chat history importer](https://reverie.im/en/chat-history-importer). The [SillyTavern import guide](https://reverie.im/en/import/sillytavern) covers each step.

## SillyTavern alternative: common questions

### What is the best SillyTavern alternative for mobile?

Reverie runs in your phone's browser and installs to your home screen; your cards, chats and memories sync across devices. There's nothing to host.

### Can I import my SillyTavern cards and lorebooks?

Yes. Reverie reads V1, V2 and V3 card fields from PNG or JSON, and embedded lorebooks become World Book entries. See the [import guide](https://reverie.im/en/import/sillytavern).

### Can I bring my SillyTavern chats?

Yes. Import JSONL chat files with the [chat history importer](https://reverie.im/en/chat-history-importer); every message comes over in order.

### Can I use my own API key on Reverie?

No. Reverie's models are built in, including a free one; paid plans add credits for stronger models.

### What are some alternatives to SillyTavern?

[Chub AI](https://reverie.im/en/comparison/chub-ai) for hosted cards with your own API, [Janitor AI](https://reverie.im/en/comparison/janitor-ai), [Perchance](https://reverie.im/en/comparison/perchance) and Reverie. See [all comparisons](https://reverie.im/en/comparison).