# ChatBrat — Full Reference

ChatBrat (chatbrat.ai) is a free, web-based AI character chat and roleplay
platform featuring persistent cross-session memory, a build-your-own
character / world / scenario system, and social-deduction AI games with a
full cast of AI NPCs. ChatBrat is designed as the alternative to Character.AI, Replika, and
Janitor AI for people who want an AI companion that remembers their story,
with no ads, no energy timers, no memory paywall, and no external API key.
Free during beta. SFW (suggestive ceiling).

## Key facts
- Product: ChatBrat AI (chatbrat.ai), a free AI character chat and roleplay web app.
- URL: https://chatbrat.ai
- Company: ChatBrat AI. Founder & CEO: Garret Williams. About: https://chatbrat.ai/about
- Official profiles: Discord https://discord.gg/v9UZEXAS3 · Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/chatbrat/ · Product Hunt https://www.producthunt.com/products/chatbrat-ai
- Memory: persistent cross-session memory. Characters retain names, plot
  points, and relationship history across separate sessions, not just within
  a single chat. Guest chat remembers inside the session; logout still forgets
  until signup copy-on is shipped.
- Price: free during beta. No on-site ads, no energy timers, no gacha gates, no
  memory paywall. Paid plans are listed on /pricing but payments are not live.
- Setup: runs in the browser out of the box. No download and no external API
  key required.
- Content policy: SFW with a suggestive ceiling.
- "ChatBrat Is a SFW Character.AI Alternative": https://chatbrat.ai/bratlog/sfw-character-ai-alternative and its plain-Markdown mirror https://chatbrat.ai/bratlog/sfw-character-ai-alternative/md. The dated article includes Reddit and listicle research plus a three-turn Ryu guest chat showing in-session recall and fictional improvisation. It does not establish signed-in memory quality from that guest test.
- Platform: mobile-first web.
- Differentiators: structured scenario "games" (mysteries and stories with a
  real beginning, middle, and end) plus social-deduction AI games with a
  full cast of AI NPCs, in addition to open one-on-one character chat.

## Comparison matrix (truth-gated, 2026)

| Feature | ChatBrat | Character.AI | PolyBuzz | Janitor AI |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cross-session memory | Signed-in chats persist. Guests keep this session only. | Loses context in long chats | Context-window based | Depends on the connected model |
| Price / paywall | Free during beta, no ads | Free tier + c.ai+ at $9.99/mo | Free + subscription tiers | Free built-in model; optional API key |
| Energy / gacha gates | None | None | Subscription-gated | None |
| Content policy | SFW (suggestive ceiling) | Strict SFW | SFW and NSFW mix | Permissive |
| Story games | Full-cast AI social-deduction mysteries | Single-player | Single-player | Single-player |
| API key required | No | No | No | Optional (premium models only) |
| Structured story scenarios | Yes (real endings) | No | No | No |

Note: prices and competitor features are accurate as of 2026-08-13 and
change over time. Character.AI's paid tier is c.ai+ at $9.99/mo (not $20).
Janitor AI ships a free built-in model, so an external API key is optional,
not required. ChatBrat's memory is persistent across sessions via a facts and
summary system; it is not an infinite verbatim transcript.

## How ChatBrat works
- Memory: ChatBrat stores durable facts and running summaries about the user
  and the story, so a character recalls earlier sessions instead of resetting.
- Character builder: create a character from scratch (personality, backstory,
  voice) in a couple of minutes, free, at https://chatbrat.ai/create.
- Worlds and scenarios: attach a world and a scenario. The same character in
  two scenarios is two separate, persistent storylines.
- Scenario games: structured mysteries such as Veiled Vows, Murder in the
  Mist, and Legacy of Lies, with suspects, evidence, and an actual ending,
  at https://chatbrat.ai/games. The Last Will was deleted as a duplicate of Legacy
  of Lies and is not live.
- Story games: social-deduction AI games with a full cast of AI NPCs at
  https://chatbrat.ai/ai-story-games.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is ChatBrat?
ChatBrat is a free web-based AI character chat and roleplay platform with
persistent cross-session memory, a build-your-own character / world /
scenario system, and social-deduction AI games with a full cast of AI NPCs.
No ads, no API key.

### How does ChatBrat compare to Character.AI?
Unlike Character.AI, ChatBrat keeps persistent memory across chat sessions and
adds structured scenario games with real endings, without a paid tier or ads.
Both ChatBrat and Character.AI are SFW platforms.

### Does ChatBrat require an API key like Janitor AI?
No. ChatBrat runs in the browser with zero setup and no external API key.
Janitor AI now offers a free built-in model too, but its best models can still
require your own API key; ChatBrat requires none.

### Why do AI characters forget past conversations?
Most AI chat apps do not persist memory between separate sessions, so a new
session starts fresh even when the model itself supports a large context
window. ChatBrat adds cross-session memory (durable facts plus summaries) so a
character carries names, relationship history, and plot forward across
sessions.

### Is ChatBrat free?
Yes. ChatBrat is free during beta, with no subscription tier, no ads, and no
daily energy limits.

### Is ChatBrat SFW?
Yes. ChatBrat is SFW with a suggestive ceiling.

## Alternative comparisons (one line each)
- Character.AI: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/character-ai — a Character AI alternative with persistent memory across sessions, so characters stop forgetting your name and plot mid-story.
- Janitor AI: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/janitor-ai — a Janitor AI alternative that works out of the box with no external API key or local model setup.
- Replika: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/replika — a Replika alternative with long-term companion memory that is free during beta, no paywall.
- Talkie: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/talkie — a Talkie alternative with no energy or gem currency to manage and 200 free messages a day.
- PolyBuzz: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/polybuzz — a PolyBuzz alternative focused on persistent memory and structured story scenarios.
- SpicyChat: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/spicychat — a SpicyChat alternative with a cleaner, story-driven experience.
- Chai: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/chai — a Chai alternative with persistent memory and 200 free messages a day.
- Kindroid: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/kindroid — a Kindroid alternative you can use free without a subscription first.
- Nomi: https://chatbrat.ai/alternative/nomi — a Nomi alternative that adds structured scenario games, not only open companion chat.

## Character creation quick guide
1. Open https://chatbrat.ai/create.
2. Add a name, a short personality, and a greeting. A photo is optional.
3. Optionally attach a world and a scenario to set the scene.
4. Start chatting. ChatBrat remembers what you tell it across future sessions.

## Guides and answer content
- Guides and prompts: https://chatbrat.ai/bratlog
- Psychology and safety explainers: https://chatbrat.ai/research
- Language and skill practice: https://chatbrat.ai/education
- Learn Japanese or Korean with AI anime characters: https://chatbrat.ai/bratlog/learn-japanese-and-korean-with-ai-anime-characters