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SillyTavern vs Z.ai
SillyTavern edges Z.ai on our editorial score (4.3 vs 4.1), but SillyTavern is the better fit if you want live voice calls and long-term memory and image sharing and custom characters; Z.ai has no clear edge there.
0| SillyTavern | Z.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 4.3 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Price band | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Price detail | Free and open source under AGPL-3.0. You pay only for whichever model API you connect. | Web chat is free (checked 2026-09-30); GLM Coding and API plans are priced separately for developers. |
| Adult content | Optional mature mode | No adult mode |
| Voice | Live calls | No |
| Images | Yes | No |
| Video | No | No |
| Memory | Yes | No |
| Custom characters | Yes | No |
| Companion types | Any character | Any character |
| Platforms | Desktop, Web | Web |
| Runs locally | Yes | No |
SillyTavern — our take
If you want total control and zero subscription, this is where the advanced users live.
- Complete control over prompt and memory
- Works with local or hosted models
- Free forever
Z.ai — our take
A capable free general assistant — the closest free peer to DeepSeek for everyday chat.
- Free frontier-model chat
- Fast responses
- No account friction to try
SillyTavern vs Z.ai — common questions
Which is cheaper, SillyTavern or Z.ai?
They cost the same on our recorded numbers (Free).
Which one has a free tier?
Both do — you can try either without paying.
Which remembers conversations better?
SillyTavern retains context across sessions; Z.ai keeps context only within a session.
Which handles adult content differently?
SillyTavern: Optional mature mode. Z.ai: No adult mode. This directory is SFW — we record whether a mature mode exists so you know before signing up, and we describe no explicit material.