Character.AI
4.4
Millions of community characters with unlimited free text chat
The default starting point: unmatched variety and the most generous free tier in the category.
$7.92/moVoice callsMemory+3
Home / Free & budget / TextGen
TextGen
4.0
The veteran local-model front end, now a no-install desktop app
0TextGenCompareVisit TextGen ↗
Our verdict. Formerly text-generation-webui: not a companion app, but the plumbing most local companion setups are built on. Best for: Running local models with a browser UI.
Capability profile
What it actually shipsA quick read of the features this product ships today, scored from real catalogue fields — not an opinion. Voice is three tiers (live calls, voice notes, or none); everything else is shipped or not. The full breakdown is in the table below and on the comparison pages.
Editor score: 4.0 / 5. Best for Running local models with a browser UI.
At a glance
Hand-verified dataPrice
Free
Free and open source.
- Free tier: usable without paying
- Price band: Free
- Regional pricing varies by country — confirm the amount at checkout
- Checked by hand on 14 Sept 2026
Prices come from public pricing pages and change often. What you pay depends on your region and the plan you pick.
- Price details
- Free and open source.
- Companion types
- Any character
- Voice
- Voice notes / TTS
- Images & video
- Image generation
- Memory
- Retains context across sessions
- Custom characters
- Yes
- Runs locally
- Yes — can run offline on your own machine
- Adult content
- Optional mature mode — the product has an optional mature mode we do not cover on this site
- Visual style
- Mixed
- Platforms
- Desktop · Web
- Privacy & safety notes
- Fully local; supports API and extension ecosystems.
Price history
Our own price-tracking dataset — updated every time we re-check the catalogueTracking since 27 Sept. As we collect more snapshots, the trend line fills in here. See the full price-tracking dataset →
What it does well
- Supports nearly every local model
- Active extension ecosystem
- Free and open source
Where it falls short
- Technical audience only
- No polish at all
Tags
Categories
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TextGen — common questions
Is TextGen free?
Yes — TextGen has a free tier you can use without paying. Free and open source. We last checked it by hand on 14 Sept 2026.
How much does TextGen cost?
Free (Free). Free and open source. Companion pricing changes often and varies by region, so confirm the amount at checkout. We last checked it by hand on 14 Sept 2026.
Does TextGen remember previous conversations?
Yes — TextGen keeps context across separate chat sessions rather than resetting every time you open it.
Does TextGen have voice?
Partly — TextGen offers voice notes or text-to-speech playback, but not live two-way voice calls.
Does TextGen have an adult mode?
TextGen has an optional mature mode that can be switched off. This directory covers the product itself and does not describe explicit content.
Which platforms does TextGen run on?
TextGen is available on desktop, web.
Can I run TextGen locally?
Yes — TextGen can run on your own machine or against your own model, so conversations do not have to leave your hardware.
How current is the information on this page?
The price and feature details for TextGen were last checked by hand on 14 Sept 2026. Everything else on the page comes from the product's own public documentation.
Reader reviews
Loading…Before you buy. We publish prices from public pricing pages and label anything we have not personally checked. Prices on companion sites change often and regional pricing varies, so confirm the final amount at checkout. Affiliate disclosure. Spotted a wrong price? Tell us.