Backyard AI is a character chat platform for text and voice conversations with fictional AI characters, with free and subscription plans plus mobile apps.

Backyard AI

Overview

Backyard AI is a character chat platform for creating and talking with AI-powered fictional characters through text and voice. The homepage presents it as a place to explore characters, build custom interactions, and shape how the AI responds with tools for setting, memory, and output format.

The product is offered on the web and through mobile apps, with separate pages for iOS and Android. Its plans page also shows subscription tiers with different model options and context sizes, alongside a free entry point for trying the service before paying.

Features

Text and voice character chat

Create fictional text and voice chats with AI-powered characters, using the web app or supported mobile apps.

Character discovery and community hub

Browse and use a Community Hub of characters, with the site promoting thousands of characters and the app highlighting creator following.

Lorebooks for persistent context

Add Lorebooks to supply contextual history, memory, and setting details so characters can respond with more relevant background.

Author’s Note prompts

Use Author’s Note to steer scene, atmosphere, location, and story direction during a chat.

Grammar-based response control

Define custom response structure with Grammars, including scene text, narrative formatting, and choice-style output.

Advanced model parameters

Adjust advanced model parameters such as token samplers, context length, and prompt templates for more control over generation.

Use Cases

  • Roleplay with custom characters

    Use Backyard AI to roleplay with a custom character, combining text chat, voice calls, and scene-setting tools to keep the interaction aligned with a chosen persona.

  • Story-driven writing and worldbuilding

    Build a setting-heavy conversation by adding Lorebooks, then use Author’s Note and grammars to keep details, tone, and formatting consistent during long chats.

  • Group character chats

    Run chats that involve more than one character at once, using Backyard Parties when you want a group interaction instead of a one-on-one exchange.

  • Long-form character conversations

    Choose a larger paid model when you need more memory for extended conversations or more detailed responses, or stay on the free tier for lighter experimentation.

  • Mobile character chat

    Use the iOS or Android app to continue a character chat away from the desktop while keeping access to the same character-based workflow.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Supports both text and voice chat with AI characters.
  • Offers character-building tools such as Lorebooks, Author’s Note, Grammars, and advanced model parameters.
  • Provides a free way to try the service with a weekly message limit before subscribing.
  • Includes multiple model tiers, with the Pro plan offering larger context and a broader model selection.
  • Has mobile app support, including iOS and Android listings in the collected sources.

Cons

  • Pricing and plan details are present on the plans page, but the site’s main pricing page in the collected evidence returns a 404, so the pricing structure is not fully clear from all sources.
  • The plans page says Android is coming soon in one place, while the Google Play listing shows an Android app, so platform availability may vary by version or rollout.
  • The strongest evidence is for character chat and roleplay use; the site provides less detail about broader productivity or business workflows.

FAQ

What platforms does Backyard AI support?

Backyard AI is available on the web, with companion apps for iOS and Android. The source also notes a native iOS app and says Android support is coming soon on the plans page, while the Google Play listing shows an Android app.

Is Backyard AI free or paid?

The plans page says the service offers free access with 300 messages per week, and paid Standard and Pro subscriptions with different model selections and context sizes.

Can I chat with multiple characters at once?

Yes. The plans page says you can chat with up to four characters at once through Backyard Parties.

Does Backyard AI use content filters?

The plans page says the service does not censor or filter text model generations. It also says Community Guidelines still apply to content shared on the Community Hub.

How do refunds and cancellation work?

The plans page says subscriptions can be canceled any time from the Manage Subscription page or by emailing support, and refunds are available within the first 7 days if you do not love the service.

Quick Facts

Category
AI Chat
Product type
Character chat platform
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Pricing shape
Free tier plus Standard and Pro subscriptions
Company
Ahoy Labs, Inc.
Website
backyard.ai