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KoboldAI Lite
What KoboldAI Lite is
KoboldAI Lite is a lightweight web interface for KoboldCpp, KoboldAI Client, and AI Horde. It requires no dependencies, installation, or setup, and is bundled with KoboldCpp distributions. Users can choose Story, Chat, Instruct, or Adventure modes, with Classic, Messenger, and Aesthetic interface styles; some styles are unavailable in certain modes. The supported provider list includes AI Horde, KoboldAI and KoboldCpp APIs, OpenAI-compatible services, Google Gemini, OpenRouter, Cohere, and Claude-compatible APIs. The KoboldAI.net browser version does not host models or provide an API, so generation needs a provider or local/self-hosted API. Stories are stored in the browser, and downloading a JSON save helps avoid losing them if cookies are deleted. The interface can import several formats, including KoboldAI JSON, KAISTORY saves, character cards, world information, and raw text. The free online hosted version costs nothing. The source code is licensed under AGPLv3, and the interface supports Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted use.
Who it suits
KoboldAI Lite suits people who want a browser interface for story, chat, instruction, or adventure use with a provider or local API. It also fits users who want to run KoboldCpp offline or import supported story and character files.
What it does well
- No dependencies, installation, or setup required.
- Offers four interaction modes.
- Imports character cards, world information, and raw text.
- Local KoboldCpp can run offline.
What to know first
- Online version does not host models or provide an API.
- Generation requires a provider or local/self-hosted API.
- AI Horde stories may be visible to a volunteer.
- Browser-saved stories can be lost if cookies are deleted.
Limits
The online version is free, but it requires an AI provider or local/self-hosted API for generation and does not host models or provide an API. Stories are stored in the browser and may be lost if cookies are deleted.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| KoboldAI Lite | Free online hosted version; requires an AI provider or local/self-hosted API for generation | Free |
| Free | Free online; bundled with KoboldCpp · No account required · local or hosted backend required | Free |
As koboldai.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the KoboldAI Lite website in a browser.
- Choose Story, Chat, Instruct, or Adventure mode.
- Connect an AI provider or local/self-hosted API for generation.
- Choose an available interface style for the selected mode.
- Import a supported save, character card, world information file, or raw text if needed.
- Download a JSON save to keep a browser-stored story.
Verdict
KoboldAI Lite provides multiple modes and import options without requiring a local installation. Users need a generation provider or local API, and should save browser-stored stories as JSON.
Questions
How much does KoboldAI Lite cost?
KoboldAI Lite is free.
Does KoboldAI Lite include hosted models or an API?
No. The online KoboldAI.net version runs in the browser but does not host models or provide an API. Generation requires an AI provider or local/self-hosted API.
Which modes and interface styles are available?
Modes include Story, Chat, Instruct, and Adventure. Styles include Classic, Messenger, and Aesthetic, though some styles are unavailable in certain modes.
Which platforms are listed?
Listed platforms are Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows.
Is KoboldAI Lite open source?
Its source code is licensed under AGPLv3.
How are stories saved, and what privacy applies?
Stories are saved in the browser, and the maker recommends downloading a JSON save because deleting cookies can lose them. With AI Horde, a story is sent to a random volunteer who may see it.
Facts from KoboldAI Lite's own pages
- Adventure mode
- Adventure mode supports choose-your-own-adventure interaction by narrating the result of described actions. · koboldai.com, 21 Oct 2026
- AI Horde integration
- Users can generate text through AI Horde workers and manage their own Horde worker from a lightweight dashboard. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- AI Vision
- AI Vision uses AI Horde or a local A1111 endpoint for image interrogation, and the page says this functionality is not provided by KoboldCpp itself. · koboldai.com, 9 Oct 2026
- API limitation
- KoboldAI.net runs in the browser and does not provide an API or host models. · koboldai.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Bundling
- KoboldAI Lite is packaged with KoboldCpp and launches at the local browser address http://localhost:5001 by default. · koboldai.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Chat mode
- Chat mode presents an interactive character-persona conversation. · koboldai.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The project publishes a dedicated API reference, feature guides, FAQ and setup documentation. · koboldcpp.net, 21 Oct 2026
- External providers
- The UI can connect to custom endpoints including OpenAI, Claude, local Kobold instances and remote Kobold instances. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- File compatibility
- Supported imports include KoboldAI save formats, KAISTORY, Tavern and SillyTavern character cards, Oobabooga exports, Agnai/Tavern world info and plain text. · koboldai.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Image generation
- The interface can request Stable Diffusion images through AI Horde and show them inside stories. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Independent metadata
- Hugging Face hosts a KoboldAI Lite Space marked as a static app with AGPL-3.0 licensing. · huggingface.co, 21 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The interface is a single static HTML page that needs no dependencies, installation or setup. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Instruct mode
- Instruct mode uses instruction-and-response prompting similar to ChatGPT-style workflows. · koboldai.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- KoboldAI.net lists AI Horde, KoboldAI/KoboldCpp API, OpenAI-compatible providers, Google Gemini, OpenRouter, Cohere, and Claude-compatible APIs among supported providers. · koboldai.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Interface styles
- The product offers Classic, Messenger and Aesthetic interface styles, with availability varying by mode. · koboldai.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Kobold API
- The documented primary generation endpoint is /api/v1/generate, with model, context-length, streaming, abort, token-count and performance endpoints also available. · koboldai.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Licence
- KoboldAI Lite is released under the GNU AGPL version 3.0. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: app-store availability
- A community warning says KoboldAI/KoboldCpp has no official Google Play app and identifies purported store listings as fake. · reddit.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: hosted privacy
- When AI Horde is used, prompts and responses travel across volunteer infrastructure and may be readable by parties at either end. · koboldai.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: model accuracy
- The same independent guide reports that smaller local models often forget conditions, misapply modifiers and invent rules during D&D play. · tableforge.gg, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: separate backend
- An independent D&D guide says Lite supplies narration but requires a separate model backend and does not include dice, character sheets or a rules engine. · tableforge.gg, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: speech errors
- A public KoboldCpp issue records Lite Whisper voice-input failures returning service-unavailable errors during SSE streaming and text generation. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Local privacy
- The maker says KoboldCpp can run offline without sending inputs elsewhere, and the Lite UI stores content locally in the browser. · koboldai.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Modes
- It offers Story, Chat, Instruct, and Adventure modes. · koboldai.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where KoboldAI Lite stands on Freedom251
- AI Roleplay Chatbots#1 of 46