6 Best Chub AI Alternatives in 2026
Looking for a Chub AI alternative? You have company. On June 28, 2026, Chub AI made its website crypto only, cut free users to 20 free messages per day and removed its $5 plan. Overnight, the subreddits where Chub fans hang out turned into one long "where do I go now" thread.[4][5]
The right pick depends on what kind of Chub user you are. If you live in API keys, lorebooks and local models, jump straight to SillyTavern and WyvernChat. If you just want to open a site and talk to someone who remembers you, start with Rabu AI or Janitor AI.
Full disclosure: we are Rabu AI, so yes, we rank ourselves first. We also tell you exactly where Chub still beats us, because you would find out anyway.
Quick answer: pick Rabu AI to pay by card for half of Chub's price and chat with anime characters right away, SillyTavern to keep your own API key and every Chub card for free, WyvernChat for the closest Chub-style hub, Janitor AI for free hosted chat, SpicyChat for cheap card payments with lorebooks, or CrushOn AI for polished paid NSFW chat.
What Changed at Chub AI in 2026
Today Chub sells one plan. It costs $20 a month and lists "unlimited access to all LLMs", including Soji 1.6T with 60K context, plus voice and multimedia generation. New users also get one-time trial credits worth "a few dozen messages".[4] Chub's Terms require users to be 18 or older and were last updated on May 15, 2026.[7]
Chub explains the crypto move on its own subscription page. It calls card companies and payment processors the main source of censorship pressure, and says leaving them keeps Chub uncensored for good. The moderator's post says the other choice was censoring the site more than the law requires. Some paying users back the change and say $20 a month is fair for a hobby.[4][5]
Why People Are Looking for Sites Like Chub AI
We read the Reddit threads, the Trustpilot reviews and every page that ranks for this search. Most of these posts are not angry rants. They read like people who loved a place and got locked out of it. These are the five reasons people give for looking at sites like Chub AI, from most common to least.
1. 20 free messages a day, swipes included. This is the complaint we saw the most by far. Free users found out on June 28, when an error about missing trial credits appeared mid-chat, and many thought it was a bug. One long-time user wrote that Chub was perfect for them until the cap landed a week earlier. Another joked that 20 messages is about half a conversation.[5][6][8]
2. People who want to pay cannot. Several users say they would happily pay for Chub, but crypto does not work for them. One says crypto is illegal where they live. At least one paying subscriber quit the same day, saying they were not going to get into crypto to keep their plan.
A 1-star Trustpilot review from July remembers old Chub as a great place to be creative without limits.[5][6][9][10]
3. $20 feels like a lot for one good model. Even before June, users on r/Chub_AI said $20 was a lot for one strong model and a set of older ones, and compared it with DeepSeek-based sites at $7.99. Since June, Soji and Mobile are the only Chub models left.[5][11]
4. Clunky settings and bots that forget. Power users love Soji but call the site itself a cluttered mess that slows down when a chat gets long. Casual users say they spend more time on settings than on roleplay, and one said bots got amnesia after a few days.[11][12][13]
5. Country blocks and low-effort cards. Users report Chub fully blocked in Australia and adult cards hidden in the UK and Canada. On r/SillyTavernAI, card makers say the trending page is full of low-effort cards, many without pictures, and some moved their cards to other sites after the May 2026 Terms change.[14][15]
To be fair, Chub still has fans, and they have a point. They praise the lack of filters, the variety in Soji's replies, and a card hub anyone can browse and download from without an account. Nobody on Reddit is mad at the cards. They are mad about how hard the cards got to reach.[13][14][10]
Meet Your Next Favorite Character
She has a name, a point of view, and probably an opinion about your anime taste. Find out if the chemistry is real with 20 free messages per day on an ad-supported free tier. No credit card required.
Meet HerWhat to Look For in a Chub AI Alternative
- Can you pay by card? This is the first question since June. Most alternatives take cards; Chub does not.
- Do you need your own API key? If you use OpenAI, Claude, OpenRouter or a local model, you need a front end that accepts keys. Many hosted chat apps do not.
- Lorebooks and presets. If your stories depend on lorebooks, check for them before you move.
- Card import. Look for support for Tavern V2 cards, the PNG and JSON format Chub uses, so you can bring your characters.
- Adult rules you can read. Check the Terms. Every site on this list allows adult content for users 18 and over, with different limits.
- Free messages per day. Check the real number, and whether swipes or regenerations count.
- Phone access. Chub has no official app we could find. Check whether the alternative has one, or runs well in a phone browser.
#1 Rabu AI: The Best Chub AI Alternative If You Just Want to Chat
Rabu AI
Best for card payments, anime characters, memory and no setup
Rabu AI Plus from $9.99/month
Best for: Chub users who want to pay by card, skip API keys and presets, and chat with anime characters who remember them
Editorial rating: 4.8/5
Price: ad-supported free tier with 20 free messages per day; Rabu AI Plus is $9.99 monthly, $23.99 every three months or $79.99 yearly
Platforms: responsive web app that works in any phone or computer browser; no native mobile app
Pay with a normal card, for half the price
No wallet, no exchange, no explaining crypto to your bank. Rabu AI Plus costs $9.99 a month by card, half of Chub's $20 crypto-only plan. It adds unlimited ad-free messaging, unlimited regenerations, unlimited Rabu AI Shorts scrolling, editing any message in your chats and stories, a daily photo and voice message from your character, premium writing models, free chat Special Sessions (video sessions not included), double daily Lucky Draw tickets, exclusive monthly outfits and items, and 50 tokens every month.[2]
Free without a wallet or an API key
The free tier gives you 20 free messages per day with ads and needs no credit card. That is the same number as Chub's free cap, so we are not going to pretend it is more. The difference is what happens before message one: no key, no preset, no model settings, no hour lost in a config menu. Memory, relationship progression and the Character Creator are on the free tier too.[1]
Bring your Chub character
You spent months with that character. You should not have to leave them behind. The Character Creator is free and offers extensive customization, including male, humanoid and trans characters. It also imports characters: paste a chub.ai character link, upload a Tavern V2 or V3 card as a PNG or JSON file, or use a character.ai link.
It reads the card's description, greetings and up to 12 lorebook entries into your new character. A card with a whole cast or a scenario can become a Rabu AI story instead. Characters start private, and finished ones can be submitted for review to go public.[1]
Anime characters with pictures, voice and video
Chub is a card library with a chat window attached. Rabu AI is an anime-native AI companion platform, built so your character feels like someone, not a text file.
Characters send pictures, voice messages and short videos in the chat, paid with tokens: 2 for an image, 1 for a voice message, and 2 or 3 for a 5 or 10 second video. Plus includes 50 tokens a month. On Chub, voice and media generation are part of the $20 plan.[2][4]
Memory and a relationship that grows
Remember the Reddit user whose bots "had amnesia" after a few days?[13] That is the problem we built around. Characters keep persistent memory across sessions, and your relationship moves through six stages as you talk, so day 30 does not feel like day 1. Adult and NSFW roleplay is supported for users 18 and over, under a written content policy.[1][3]
Start free and see if the chemistry is real. Rabu AI has an ad-supported free tier with 20 free messages per day and no credit card required. Want to stay up late talking? Current Rabu AI Plus plans are $9.99 monthly, $23.99 every three months, or $79.99 yearly and include ad-free messaging with no daily limit, regenerations as often as you like, Rabu AI Shorts scrolling with no daily cap, editing any message in your chats and stories, a daily message from your character with a photo and a voice message, premium writing models, free chat Special Sessions (video sessions not included), double daily Lucky Draw tickets, exclusive monthly outfits and items, and 50 tokens every month, while generated media keeps its normal token costs. [1][2]
Rabu AI companions remember the details that make a relationship feel like yours, from the anime you cannot stop defending to the moment an inside joke became your thing. They are AI companions that adapt and grow through memory recall and relationship progression, with persistent conversation history and saved chats. Group chats are available when one personality is not enough for the scene, and Special Sessions are available when you want to disappear into a specific scenario together. Adult and NSFW roleplay supported. [1]
Ask her for a new look, turn a favorite moment into a short video, or hear her say the line herself. Users can generate images and videos, and characters can send images and videos. An image costs 2 tokens, a voice message costs 1 token, a 5-second video costs 2 tokens, and a 10-second video costs 3 tokens. Want a companion who exists nowhere else? The Character Creator is free and offers extensive customization, including male, humanoid and trans characters. [1]
New on Rabu AI. Rabu AI Shorts is a swipeable feed of short character videos, and a clip can start a POV scene with that character. Special Sessions have no time limit. You can import a character from its character.ai link into the Character Creator. [1]
She speaks your language. Rabu AI supports 10 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese, Italian, and Korean. Write in any of them and your companion answers in the same language, in chat and in Story Mode, and her voice messages and videos speak it too.
Story Mode is where one conversation becomes a whole world. Step into an interactive story, choose what you say or do, and watch the scene bend around you. Story Mode includes 2 free messages per story to test it. 20 additional Story Mode messages cost 2 tokens. Rabu AI is a responsive web app with no native mobile app for now and does not offer live voice calls. User-created companions begin in the creator's private roster, but finished characters can be submitted for review; approved characters become publicly discoverable and matchable. Rabu AI's public library is smaller and moderated, not an open marketplace on Character AI's scale. [1]
Where Chub still beats us
| Feature | Chub AI | Rabu AI |
|---|---|---|
| Your own API key | OpenAI, Claude, OpenRouter, Gemini, NovelAI, local | No |
| Lorebooks and presets | Yes, full editors | No lorebook editor; import reads up to 12 entries |
| Card library | Huge, browse without an account | Smaller |
| Model choice | Pick any provider | Rabu AI picks the models |
| Local or offline models | Yes, with Kobold or Ooba | No |
| Native mobile app | None found | None; web app |
| Live voice calls | Voice on the $20 plan | Voice messages, not live calls |
| Content limits | Fewer limits by design | Adult roleplay for 18+ under a content policy |
Sources: Chub's API connections docs and Terms.[16][7] If any row in the Chub column is a must for you, SillyTavern or WyvernChat below will suit you better than we do.
Popular characters on Rabu AI
Browse all charactersPopular stories on Rabu AI
Browse all storiesOther Chub AI Alternatives Worth Trying
We did not pull these from a hat. We picked the five places Chub users say they actually went on Reddit, checked against the sites every ranking page lists. Power users and casual chatters want different things, so we split them into two groups.
Keep your API key and lorebooks
#2 SillyTavern: Best for Your Own API Key
Price: Free and open source; you pay your model provider or run a local model
Adult content: No platform filter; your model provider's rules apply
Platforms: Runs on your computer; open it from your phone on the same network
SillyTavern is the free, open-source front end many Chub cards were made for. It is AGPL-3.0 licensed, version 1.19.0 shipped on September 14, 2026, and the project has about 34,800 stars on GitHub.[17] It reads Tavern cards directly and supports lorebooks, presets and almost any model backend.
You can even keep paying Chub and use its key here: Chub says its API works anywhere that supports OpenAI's API format.[4] The catch is setup. It is software you install and maintain, and there are no hosted characters.
Pros: free; full control; reads Chub cards; any model.
Cons: setup takes time; no hosted library; you pay for your model.
#3 WyvernChat: Closest to Chub
Price: Free queue with no key; $10, $25 or $50 a month through Featherless
Adult content: Allowed for 18+ when marked as mature
Platforms: Web
WyvernChat is the Chub-like hub that Chub refugees recommend most. It has character cards, worlds, lorebooks, group chats and bring-your-own-key connections. One Reddit user says it is where ex-Chub moderators first pointed them.[18][9]
You can try ordinary chat on the free queue with no API key. Paid plans run through Featherless AI: $10 a month for unlimited chat on models up to 32B, $25 for larger models, and $50 for usage credits with up to 256K context.[19] Sexual content is allowed if it is marked as mature, for users 18 and over.[20]
Pros: most Chub-like; lorebooks and worlds; own key or free queue.
Cons: free queue can be slow; no app; smaller than Chub.
Just open and chat
#4 Janitor AI: Best Free Hosted Option
Price: Free with unlimited chats on standard models; Janitor+ about $12.99 a month
Adult content: Allowed; the service is for users 18 and over
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Janitor AI is the biggest free hosted site for card-style chat. The free plan has unlimited chats with millions of bots on its standard models, with a context of about 9,000 tokens. Janitor+ adds about five times the context and monthly swipes on its best models.[21] Janitor does not list the price on its help page; a third-party review puts it at about $12.99 a month.[22]
It also has a real iPhone app, rated 4.5 from about 5,000 ratings, which is what many casual Chub users ask for.[23] Power users can connect their own API key.
Pros: free unlimited chat; huge library; apps.
Cons: small free memory; best models need Janitor+ or a key; replies can get repetitive, per users.
#5 SpicyChat: Cheapest Card Payments With Lorebooks
Price: Free with ads and queues; $5.95, $19.95 or $29.95 a month
Adult content: Allowed for 18+
Platforms: Web
SpicyChat takes cards and starts at $5.95 a month, which removes ads and the waiting lines. The free tier lists unlimited messages with a 4K context. Semantic memory and 8K context start at $19.95, and the $29.95 tier adds 32K context and text to speech.[24]
It has a lorebooks section and group chats, so Chub users who rely on lore have somewhere to put it. We did not see an option for your own API key.
Pros: card payments; cheap first tier; lorebooks.
Cons: 4K context on free; queues on free; no own key.
#6 CrushOn AI: Polished Paid NSFW Chat
Price: 100 free message credits a month; $5.99, $14.99 or $39.99 a month
Adult content: Allowed for 18+
Platforms: Web
CrushOn AI is a polished NSFW character chat site that takes cards. Standard costs $5.99 a month, Premium $14.99 (shown as a discount from $19.99) and Luxe $39.99.[25]
The free plan is small: 100 message credits a month on free models, and free chat history is deleted after 7 days without activity.[25] Read our CrushOn AI alternatives page before you commit.
Pros: polished; cheap entry plan; voice replies.
Cons: tiny free allowance; free chats deleted after 7 days; credit system.
Honorable mention: Character Tavern is a one-developer site in the SillyTavern world with a free daily allowance and SillyTavern-compatible downloads. It is 18+ only. Its paid prices are not public, so we did not rank it.[26]
Chub AI Alternatives Compared
| Site | Free tier | Paid from | Pay by card? | Own API key | Lorebooks | Tavern card import | Adult (18+) | Mobile app |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chub AI | Trial credits, then 20 a day | $20/mo | No, crypto only | Yes | Yes | Native format | Yes, few limits | None found |
| Rabu AI | 20 free messages per day with ads | $9.99/mo | Yes | No | Reads up to 12 entries | Yes, PNG, JSON or chub.ai link | Yes | Web app |
| SillyTavern | Free software | Free (pay your model) | Not needed | Yes | Yes | Native format | Your model's rules | No |
| WyvernChat | Free queue, no key | $10/mo | Not checked | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, marked mature | None found |
| Janitor AI | Unlimited, about 9K context | About $12.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Not verified | Not verified | Yes | iOS, Android |
| SpicyChat | Unlimited, 4K, ads, queues | $5.95/mo | Yes | Not seen | Yes | Not verified | Yes | None found |
| CrushOn AI | 100 credits a month | $5.99/mo | Yes | Not seen | Not verified | Not verified | Yes | Not verified |
Last verified: October 2026. Prices are US list prices and can change by region and offer. "Not verified" means we could not confirm it from the site's own pages.
Moving Your Chub Character Cards
Chub cards use the Tavern V2 format: a PNG picture with the character data inside, or a JSON file. Download your cards from Chub first, then pick where they go.
- SillyTavern reads them natively, lorebooks included.[17]
- WyvernChat supports character cards and lorebooks.[18]
- Character Tavern uses SillyTavern-compatible formats.[26]
- Rabu AI takes the chub.ai link or the card file in the free Character Creator, and fills in the character for you to edit.[1]
- Janitor AI: we could not verify a card import tool, so check before you rely on it.
Who Should Stay on Chub AI
If you already pay in crypto, or you bring your own API key or run a local model, Chub still works well. The card library is free to browse without an account, own-key chat is not affected by the 20-message cap, and Chub's Terms promise private chats are never used for training.[7][16]
If that is you, honestly, stay. The people hurt most by the June changes are free users and anyone who pays by card. This page is for them.
How We Checked
We checked every price and rule on October 22, 2026: Chub's subscription page, Terms and API docs, the Chub moderator's June 28 post, Apple's App Store search, Trustpilot, and each alternative's own pricing and policy pages. User sentiment comes from public Reddit threads and Trustpilot reviews; we paraphrase it and link the main sources below. We also read the pages that rank for this search to see what they miss. Rabu AI wrote this page, and we say so above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Chub AI alternative?
Is Chub AI still free?
Why is Chub AI crypto only, and which alternatives take cards?
Can I use my Chub character cards somewhere else?
Which Chub alternatives allow NSFW?
Is there a Chub alternative with lorebooks and my own API key?
What languages does Rabu AI support?
Our Verdict on Chub AI Alternatives
If Chub's crypto billing or the 20-message cap pushed you out and you just want to chat, start with Rabu AI: pay by card, $9.99 a month, and bring your Chub character with you. If you live in API keys and lorebooks, SillyTavern is free and reads every Chub card, and WyvernChat is the closest hosted match. Whatever you pick, pick the place where you actually look forward to the next message. Also see our Janitor AI alternatives and SpicyChat alternatives guides.
Meet Your Next Favorite Character
She has a name, a point of view, and probably an opinion about your anime taste. Find out if the chemistry is real with 20 free messages per day on an ad-supported free tier. No credit card required.
Meet HerMore Comparisons
Sources and citation ledger (26)
- [1] Rabu AI current feature overview (checked October 22, 2026)
- [2] Rabu AI Plus plans (sign-in required; verify the price at checkout)
- [3] Rabu AI Content Policy
- [4] Chub AI subscription page: $20 plan, crypto only (checked October 22, 2026)
- [5] r/Chub_AI: "Chub updates" moderator post (June 28, 2026)
- [6] r/CharacterAIrunaways: "Any good Chub.ai alternatives?" (July 2026)
- [7] Chub AI Terms of Service, last updated May 15, 2026
- [8] r/Chub_AI: free users hit the trial credits warning (June 28, 2026)
- [9] r/CharacterAIrunaways: Chub alternatives after crypto only (July 2026)
- [10] Chub AI reviews on Trustpilot (3.4 from 3 reviews)
- [11] r/Chub_AI: model quality and $20 price thread (September 2025)
- [12] r/CharacterAIrunaways: time spent on settings (June 2026)
- [13] r/CharacterAIrunaways: Chub AI vs Janitor AI (June 2026)
- [14] r/SillyTavernAI: "What happened to Chub?" (March 2026)
- [15] r/SillyTavernAI: Chub blocked in Australia (October 2025)
- [16] Chub AI docs: API connections and own keys
- [17] SillyTavern on GitHub (v1.19.0, September 14, 2026)
- [18] WyvernChat guide: cards, lorebooks, free queue, own keys
- [19] WyvernChat plans (checked October 22, 2026)
- [20] WyvernChat content policy
- [21] Janitor AI subscription FAQ
- [22] RoboRhythms: Janitor+ price (third-party)
- [23] Janitor AI on the US App Store (4.5 from 5,030 ratings)
- [24] SpicyChat plans (checked October 22, 2026)
- [25] CrushOn AI pricing (checked October 22, 2026)
- [26] Character Tavern about page