Quick answer: NovelAI has no lasting free plan for full use. Most writers start on Tablet at $10/mo. If images matter, Scroll ($15/mo) or Opus ($25/mo) is where Anlas / image limits stop biting. There is usually no yearly discount — monthly is the price.
Checked against NovelAI’s public pricing in September 2026. Anlas and model names change; confirm before you subscribe.
If you want long-form writing help without NovelAI’s image stack, compare NovelAI vs Sudowrite and NovelAI alternatives. Feature depth: NovelAI review.
Pick a plan in 30 seconds
- Mostly text / lorebooks, rare images → Tablet ($10/mo).
- Stories + better images regularly → Scroll ($15/mo).
- Heavy image gen + max context → Opus ($25/mo).
- You only want ChatGPT-style essays → Skip NovelAI; use a general writing tool.
NovelAI pricing plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price (per month) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | $10/mo | $10/mo (typically no annual cut) | ~1024-token memory class, Kayra access, unlimited text gen, basic image gen |
| Scroll | $15/mo | $15/mo | ~2048-token memory, better image settings / resolution / steps |
| Opus | $25/mo | $25/mo | ~8192-token memory, priority / top image settings, experimental features, strongest image allowance |
Trial — what you can test
NovelAI usually offers a limited text trial (rough order of ~100 generations on a reduced setup). Image generation is often locked or tiny on trial. Use it to feel the prose model, not to judge Opus image quality.
Hidden costs and limits
- No annual “save 20%” pitch on most public pages — budget the monthly sticker.
- Text can be unlimited on paid tiers while images stay metered via Anlas on lower plans.
- Extra Anlas can be bought if Tablet/Scroll image caps run out — Opus is the “stop buying packs” tier for heavy image users.
- No public API for piping NovelAI into your own apps.
- Memory / lorebook caps differ by tier — long stories feel the Tablet ceiling first.
Who should choose what
Tablet ($10/mo) — Hobby writers who care about the storytelling model and dabble in images.
Scroll ($15/mo) — Regular image + story users who outgrew Tablet’s image settings.
Opus ($25/mo) — Power users who want max context and continuous image work without babysitting Anlas.
Cost reality over three months
- Tablet only: $10 × 3 = $30. Fine if you rarely hit image walls.
- Tablet + Anlas top-ups: easy to drift toward Scroll’s $15/mo without noticing.
- Opus from day one: $25 × 3 = $75. Sensible if you already know you generate images daily; wasteful if you are “just trying the prose model.”
Because NovelAI rarely discounts annual billing, there is no clever “pay yearly and forget” trick. Treat every month as a renew-or-cancel decision after you check Anlas and memory limits.
When to skip NovelAI
Skip if:
- You need neutral business copy or SEO blogs — wrong product.
- You want API automation — not offered publicly.
- You mainly want a writing coach UI like Sudowrite — see NovelAI vs Sudowrite.
Browse NovelAI alternatives first if storytelling + image gen is only a maybe.
Final Verdict
NovelAI is priced for creative fiction + optional images, not generic productivity AI. Tablet at $10/mo is the right entry if text is the job; jump to Scroll ($15/mo) or Opus ($25/mo) only after images or context limits annoy you for a full week.
Pricing checked September 2026. Verify on novelai.net. See our affiliate disclosure.
What to read next
- Writing coach UI instead of a story model → NovelAI vs Sudowrite.
- Other fiction tools before Opus → NovelAI alternatives.
- Features beyond the sticker → NovelAI review.
FAQ: paying for NovelAI
Should I pay NovelAI yearly? Usually no. Public pages typically show the same monthly sticker as annual. Budget month to month and cancel if Anlas or memory caps annoy you.
Tablet, Scroll, or Opus first? Start on Tablet ($10/mo) if text is the job. Move to Scroll ($15/mo) when images annoy you for a full week. Opus ($25/mo) is for daily image volume and max context — not a trial tier.