Both HammerAI and JanitorAI focus on character creation and interactive storytelling, but they differ in approach to customization, accessibility, and user priorities. While HammerAI emphasizes privacy, offline use, and robust storytelling tools, JanitorAI offers fast web-based access with a wide variety of user-made characters, catering more to casual and roleplay-focused users.
| Feature | HammerAI | JanitorAI |
|---|---|---|
| 🎯Primary Focus | General character interaction, privacy-first, with strong tools for custom character development and storytelling. | Character-based chatting with a large public library of user-made bots, mostly for fun or roleplay. |
| 🧑💻User Experience | Available via desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux) and web; no account needed for offline use. | Web-based only; requires account and setup to connect to external AI models (e.g., OpenAI, Kobold). |
| 🔒Privacy | Fully private on desktop—no data is sent to the cloud unless cloud models are used. | Conversations go through third-party APIs and are not stored locally. Limited privacy controls. |
| 🌐Offline Mode | Fully functional offline desktop mode using local models. | Requires an internet connection and access to third-party AI services. |
| 🎯Target Audience | Users who value privacy, storytelling, and creative control over their AI experience. | Users looking for quick, web-based character chats—especially for NSFW or playful roleplay scenarios. |
| 🖼️Image Generation | Built-in “Create Image” button with the Flux 1 Schnell model; supports image generation within chats. | No built-in generation; depends on integration with external APIs like OpenAI. |
| 📚Story Writing Mode | Built-in story mode for long-form interaction with characters in a narrative format. | No dedicated story writing mode—mostly freeform chat or roleplay-based. |
| 📖Lorebooks | Allows detailed, structured lorebooks to guide character memory and depth. | Characters have profiles, but no lorebook or advanced memory management built in. |
| 🖥️Platform Availability | Desktop and web versions available; runs offline or online. | Web only; no official desktop or offline version. |
| 💰Pricing | Offers a free plan with local models and unlimited conversations. Paid plans ($9/month and up) unlock cloud AI models, longer memory, image generation, and priority support. | Free to access, but requires third-party API keys (e.g., OpenAI) which may have separate costs. No official premium plan from JanitorAI itself. |
Key Differences
While both platforms center around character interaction, there are several key distinctions:
- Privacy: HammerAI keeps everything local (if desired), while JanitorAI uses third-party APIs with limited privacy.
- Offline Capabilities: HammerAI supports offline use out of the box. JanitorAI does not.
- Ease of Use: JanitorAI is browser-based but requires external API setup. HammerAI works immediately after installation.
- Customization: HammerAI has detailed storytelling and lorebook support; JanitorAI focuses more on plug-and-play character interactions.
- Image Generation: Built-in in HammerAI; external setup required for JanitorAI.
If you want privacy, local control, and storytelling depth, HammerAI is the better fit. If you prefer light, web-based character chats, JanitorAI may suit your style.
Ready to try them out?
- Download HammerAI desktop
- Visit JanitorAI
