Backyard AI is a platform for fictional text adventures, interactive stories, roleplaying, and voice chats with AI characters. Its Community Hub offers thousands of characters to explore, and users can customize characters with lorebooks, an author's note, grammars, and model parameters. Group chats can include up to four characters, and voice calls are listed as an option. The free plan includes 300 messages per week, one model, and 16k maximum memory. A free desktop app runs local models offline; the listed download is for macOS Intel. Users can access local models from a mobile browser or iOS app through opt-in tethering. Cloud subscriptions provide hosted models, with model selection and limits varying by tier. Standard costs $12 per month and offers unlimited messages with Standard models. Pro costs $35 per month and includes Standard and Pro models, with a 100,000-token maximum context. Backyard AI supports GGUF models but not FP16, GPTQ, or AWQ files. Its listed platforms are Android, iOS, macOS, and web.
Who it is for
Backyard AI may suit people looking for fictional chat, interactive stories, or roleplaying with AI characters. Its local desktop option may appeal to users who want offline model use, while cloud tiers provide hosted models.
What is good
- Community Hub offers thousands of characters.
- Characters support lorebooks and model parameters.
- Group chats allow up to four characters.
- Free desktop app runs local models offline.
- Voice calls are listed as a feature.
What to know first
- Free plan is limited to 300 messages per week.
- Free plan includes one model and 16k maximum memory.
- Supports GGUF, but not FP16, GPTQ, or AWQ.
- Listed desktop download is for macOS Intel.
Verdict
Backyard AI offers character-focused chats with both hosted and local model options. Check the free-plan limits, supported model formats, and listed desktop download before choosing a tier.
Backyard AI plans and pricing
All plansCompared on AI roleplay chatbots
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $12/mo
- Persistent memory
- Yes
- Voice chat
- Yes
- Native mobile apps
- Yes
- Content controls
- mature
