What Is Janitor AI?
Janitor AI is an advanced conversational platform where users can create, customize, and interact with virtual AI characters. Designed to simulate natural human dialogue, it’s widely used for roleplay, creative writing, customer simulations, and AI companionship.
The project was introduced by Jan Zoltkowski in mid-2023 and rapidly gained traction, crossing over a million users within its first week. Its appeal lies in its freedom of customization, letting anyone design characters with specific backstories, tones, and personalities.
Unlike most chatbot services, Janitor AI gives users control over which language model (LLM) powers their characters — including Janitor LLM, OpenAI’s GPT series, and KoboldAI.
Is Janitor AI Free to Use?
Yes, Janitor AI offers a free version, perfect for beginners and hobbyists.
The free plan utilizes the Janitor LLM Beta model, allowing you to chat, build, and experiment without any cost or credit card requirement.
However, if you connect to external AI providers (such as OpenAI or Anthropic), usage may incur costs depending on the amount of tokens consumed.
👉 Pro Tip: To stay within the free tier, go to Settings → API Options → Select “Janitor LLM”.
Janitor AI API Pricing Explained
Janitor AI doesn’t charge directly for its own system when using Janitor LLM, but when you connect other APIs like OpenAI, you’ll pay those providers.
Below is the updated OpenAI pricing (2025) for reference:
| Model | Input Tokens | Output Tokens |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-3.5-Turbo | $3 / 1M tokens | $6 / 1M tokens |
| GPT-4 | $30 / 1M tokens | $60 / 1M tokens |
| GPT-4-Turbo | $10 / 1M tokens | $30 / 1M tokens |
| GPT-4o (Omni) | $5 / 1M tokens | $15 / 1M tokens |
💡 Tip: One chat message = roughly a few hundred tokens, depending on message length. To reduce costs, keep prompts concise or use GPT-4o, which offers better efficiency at a lower rate.
Kobold AI API Integration (Step-by-Step Installation)
If you want more control or offline usage, integrating KoboldAI United with Janitor AI is a great option. Here’s how:
Install KoboldAI United
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Go to the KoboldAI GitHub repository.
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Download the ZIP file and extract it.
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Run the installer as Administrator and complete the setup.
Step 2: Load the Pygmalion 6B Model
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Launch KoboldAI and select the Pygmalion 6B model (optimized for roleplay and storytelling).
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Check your GPU VRAM to allocate performance between GPU and CPU.
Step 3: Link KoboldAI to Janitor AI
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Run the “remote play” batch file in KoboldAI.
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Copy the generated local URL.
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Go to JanitorAI → Settings → API URL and paste the link.
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Save and start chatting instantly.
💡 You can also rent a hosted GPT instance (approx. $0.20/hour) if you don’t have local GPU resources.
How To Use Janitor AI (Quick Start Guide)
Using Janitor AI is simple — here’s the full beginner walkthrough:
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Sign Up → Go to janitorai.com → click Sign Up.
Enter your username, email, and password. -
Set Up Profile → Add a display picture and a short bio.
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Create a Character → Go to Create Character, enter name, traits, and upload an avatar.
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Start Chatting → Select your bot and click Start Chat.
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Save Conversations → Access saved chats under My Chats anytime.
You can also import bots, share character links, or chat anonymously using a guest account.
Why Janitor AI Might Not Work (Troubleshooting Guide)
If Janitor AI is not responding or loading properly, try the following:
Common Causes & Fixes
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting Room Loop | High traffic or server maintenance | Wait a few minutes; avoid refreshing repeatedly |
| Login Failure | Incorrect credentials or cookies | Clear cache or reset password |
| Chat Not Loading | API key or model misconfiguration | Verify correct API in Settings |
| Slow Responses | Server overload | Switch to a lighter model or use off-peak hours |
| Script Error | Browser extensions or cache | Try incognito mode or disable extensions |
Check @JanitorAIOfficial on X (Twitter) or Discord for real-time outage alerts.
Is Janitor AI Safe?
Janitor AI is generally safe if used responsibly.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
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Download only from the official site (janitorai.com).
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Never share personal details in chats.
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Use a unique password for your account.
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Review the privacy policy to understand how chat data is stored.
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For sensitive use cases, connect your own API key for privacy.
⚠️ Since Janitor AI is still evolving, treat it as a beta product — stable for casual use, but not ideal for confidential business data.
Top Janitor AI Alternatives (2025)
If you’re seeking similar or more secure platforms, here are strong alternatives:
1. Character.AI
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Free, easy to use, massive character library.
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Focused on entertainment and storytelling.
2. KoboldAI
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Offline and open-source.
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Full control over models and data.
3. Chub.ai
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Community-driven, customizable characters.
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Often used for NSFW and roleplay use cases.
4. Voiceflow
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Best for business and no-code chatbot creation.
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Drag-and-drop interface; integrates with major LLMs.
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Ideal for developers and SaaS startups.
5. Alltius
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Tailored for enterprise-grade conversational AI.
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Build, train, and deploy assistants using structured knowledge bases.
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Pay-per-query pricing starting from $0.005 per query.
Key Features of Janitor AI
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🧠 AI Character Customization: Build unique personas with memories and tone.
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💬 Dynamic Roleplay Engine: Real-time, personality-driven dialogue.
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⚙️ Multiple Model Support: Choose between Janitor LLM, OpenAI, or KoboldAI.
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🔐 Private Chat & Data Control: Option to use local APIs or custom keys.
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🧩 Community Sharing: Discover, clone, or collaborate on character templates.
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🌍 Cross-Platform Access: Works seamlessly on PC, tablet, and mobile browsers.
How Janitor AI Works (Simplified)
When you send a message, Janito AI:
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Processes your text input.
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Sends it to the connected language model (Janitor LLM, GPT, or KoboldAI).
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Generates a response based on the character’s predefined traits.
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Displays it in the chat interface.
Each message exchange counts as a single API request. You can save sessions, export logs, or switch models mid-conversation for different styles of replies.
FAQs About Janitor AI
Q1. Is Janitor AI still active?
Yes, it’s operational in 2025. Occasional downtime happens during maintenance or heavy traffic.
Q2. Can people view my chats?
No, your chats remain private unless you choose to share them publicly.
Q3. Is Janitor AI suitable for businesses?
Yes, with API integration, it can support customer support bots, virtual agents, or interactive demos.
Q4. Does Janitor AI store personal data?
Only basic login and configuration data; chat logs are user-specific.
Q5. Can I connect my own API key?
Absolutely it’s recommended for privacy and performance control.
Final Thoughts
Janitor AI continues to stand out as one of the most accessible, creative, and flexible AI chatbot builders in 2025.
Whether you’re writing stories, automating customer chat, or simply experimenting with conversational AI, it gives you the freedom to personalize every interaction.
For casual users, the free Janitor LLM plan is perfect.
For creators, writers, or developers, connecting your own API key unlocks professional-grade performance.
