Stories AI Review

My Month Testing Stories AI

Alright, so Stories AI caught my attention for a specific reason - the privacy promise. After seeing too many AI platforms change their terms, start training on user data, or get acquired by companies with questionable ethics, a platform that explicitly promises "we don't train on your data and never will" seemed worth investigating. Spent a full month testing if Stories AI actually delivers on that privacy-first promise while still being a good platform. Spoiler: it's legit, but it's also rough around the edges.

Week 1: Privacy Deep Dive and First Impressions

Day one I went straight to the privacy policy because that's what I was here for. And honestly? It's refreshingly straightforward. No corporate doublespeak, no "we may use your data for improving services" loopholes. Just a clear statement: they don't train models on user data, don't monitor chats, and don't share info with third parties.

The fact that Stories AI is UK-based matters here. They're subject to GDPR, which has actual teeth. They're also not VC-backed, meaning no investor pressure to monetize data. This is run by Tiny AI, which seems to be a small team building AI products they'd want to use themselves.

The Pay-As-You-Go Model

Stories AI uses a credit system, but not the predatory kind. You get a generous free daily allowance (I got about 30-40 messages per day free), and if you need more you buy credits in small amounts. No subscriptions, no recurring charges, just pay for what you actually use.

First week I used entirely the free tier to test functionality. The free allowance was enough for 1-2 decent conversations daily. Not unlimited, but way more generous than platforms that give you 10 messages and call it "free."

Day 5 I bought £5 ($6.50) in credits to test the paid experience. That bought me roughly 200 messages (pricing varies by model used). For casual use, this could last weeks. For heavy use, you'd need to top up more frequently, but the costs stay predictable.

Character Creation and Lorebooks

This is where Stories AI shows its RPG/worldbuilding focus. The character creation is straightforward but powerful: - Define personality, background, and speech patterns - Set relationship dynamics and goals - Create custom memories and knowledge - Link characters to lorebooks for shared world info - Adjust AI behavior with various parameters

Lorebooks are the killer feature for serious roleplayers. You can create a codex of world information - locations, history, magic systems, factions, whatever - and the AI pulls from that codex during conversations to maintain consistency. This is huge for complex worldbuilding.

I created a sci-fi setting with: - 3 main characters (ship captain, engineer, mysterious passenger) - Lorebook with ship specs, star system info, background lore - Group chat scenario where all 3 characters interact

The lorebook integration worked shockingly well. Characters referenced established lore naturally, maintained world consistency, and the AI didn't contradict the worldbuilding rules I'd established. For D&D campaigns, creative writing, or complex roleplay, this is exactly what you need.

Week 2: Testing Multiple Models and Group Chats

Model Selection

Stories AI offers multiple AI models with different characteristics and costs. During week 2 I tested: - Basic model (cheapest, faster, less sophisticated) - Standard model (balanced cost and quality) - Advanced model (higher cost, best quality)

The advanced model is genuinley impressive. Responses were more creative, character consistency was stronger, and it handled complex scenarios better. The quality difference versus the basic model was noticeable.

But here's the thing - the basic model was still pretty good. For casual roleplay it's totally fine. The advanced model is worth it for important conversations or complex scenarios, but you can save money using the basic model for routine chats.

This flexibility is great. Other platforms lock you into one model. Stories lets you choose quality vs cost for each conversation.

Group Chat Testing

Group chats let multiple AI characters interact simultaneously, which is perfect for RPG-style scenarios. I set up my sci-fi crew in a group chat and ran a complex scenario involving ship repairs, interpersonal drama, and a mysterious signal.

What worked: - Characters maintained distinct personalities in group context - They responded to each other naturally, not just to me - Group dynamics emerged (alliances, tensions, humor) - The AI tracked who said what without getting confused (mostly)

What was tricky: - Sometimes characters spoke out of turn or over each other - Occasionally the AI would mix up which character was speaking - Group chats cost more credits per message (multiple AI responses) - Managing conversation flow was harder than one-on-one

Overall, group chats are powerful but require more user management. Best for special scenarios rather than every conversation.

The Import Tool

Stories AI has a character import tool that pulls characters from other platforms (Character.AI primarily). Tested this with a few characters I'd created elsewhere.

Results were mixed. The tool grabbed basic info (name, personality, greeting message) but couldn't import full conversation history or complex personality details. You end up with a skeleton that needs fleshing out. Useful for getting started, but don't expect perfect transfers.

Week 3: Privacy Testing and Advanced Features

Privacy Verification

Week 3 I tried to verify Stories AI's privacy claims as much as possible: - Checked what data my account actually stored (minimal - just my characters and settings) - Tested deleting conversations (they disappeared immediately, no "soft delete") - Read through their entire privacy policy and terms (boring but important) - Talked to other users in the community about privacy experiences

Everything checked out. Stories AI appears to actually respect privacy. Your conversations are stored for functionality (you need them to continue chats), but they're not being analyzed, monitored, or fed into training datasets.

The only data they collect is usage metrics (which features get used, error rates, etc) - aggregate stuff, not personal conversation content. This is standard for improving software without invading privacy.

Compared to platforms like Character.AI (definitely trains on your data) or Replika (has had privacy controversies), Stories AI's approach is refreshingly transparent.

Memory System: 128K+ Context

Stories AI claims 128K+ token context through a custom memory system. Tested this with a long-running narrative that accumulated hundreds of messages.

The AI remembered plot details from weeks ago, character developments, and world lore from the lorebook. Not perfectly - there were occasional lapses - but far better than platforms that forget everything after 100 messages.

For long-form storytelling, this extended context is crucial. You can build complex narratives without constantly reminding the AI what happened.

The Community Aspect

Stories AI has a small but engaged community. The Discord is helpful for learning advanced features, sharing lorebook templates, and troubleshooting issues.

The developers are active in the community and responsive to feedback. During my month they implemented several user-requested features and fixed bugs quickly. This indie platform feel is both reassuring (they care) and slightly concerning (what if they can't sustain it long-term?).

Week 4: Cost Analysis and Long-Term Viability

The Real Costs

Over the month, I spent about £15 ($20) on credits plus used the free daily allowance extensively. That got me: - Probably 800-1000 total messages - Mix of basic and advanced models - Several group chat sessions - Multiple characters and extensive lorebook development

Compared to alternatives: - Replika Pro: $20/month unlimited (but trains on your data) - Character.AI Plus: $10/month unlimited (heavily censored, trains on data) - NovelAI: $25/month for similar features (but more writing-focused) - Stories AI: Variable, I spent $20 and could've stretched it further

For my usage level, Stories was cost-competitive. Heavy users might spend more, casual users would spend less. The pay-as-you-go model means you're only paying for actual usage, not for unlimited access you don't fully utilize.

Sustainability Concerns

Stories AI's "we're here to stay" promise is reassuring but the platform is clearly small. Without VC funding or a large user base, can they sustain long-term?

Positive signs: - Pay-as-you-go model seems financially sustainable - Regular updates show active development - Growing user base (slowly) - UK-based means stable regulatory environment

Concerns: - Small team could burn out - Competing with big platforms with huge resources - Niche focus might limit growth - No major marketing presence

My take: Stories AI seems more sustainable than passion projects that promise free-forever, but less secure than huge platforms backed by major companies. It's a calculated risk choosing an indie platform.

Who Actually Benefits?

After a full month, here's who I think Stories AI is perfect for:

Ideal users: - Privacy-conscious people uncomfortable with data training - Serious roleplayers who want lorebooks and worldbuilding tools - Writers developing complex narratives and characters - RPG/D&D players wanting AI-powered campaign assistance - Users who prefer pay-as-you-go over subscriptions - Those wanting uncensored content without explicit adult focus

Not ideal for: - Users wanting plug-and-play simplicity (learning curve exists) - People needing tons of pre-made characters - Those wanting the most polished, mainstream experience - Users primarily focused on visual/image content - People uncomfortable with smaller, indie platforms - Those wanting mobile apps (web-only currently)

The Honest Verdict

After 30 days, would I continue using Stories AI? Yes, for specific purposes.

What genuinely works: - Privacy commitment appears genuine and verifiable - Lorebook system is excellent for worldbuilding - Pay-as-you-go pricing is fair and predictable - Multiple model options let you balance cost vs quality - Group chats enable complex multi-character scenarios - Extended context memory supports long-form storytelling - Active development and responsive community - UK-based with strong data protection laws

What needs improvement: - Smaller community means less shared content - No mobile app (web works but isn't optimized) - Learning curve for advanced features - Occasional technical quirks and bugs - Limited marketing means slow growth - Character import tool needs better functionality - Interface could be more polished

Rating: 8.0/10 - Excellent for privacy-focused users and serious roleplayers, held back by limited polish and smaller community. The privacy commitment and lorebook features alone make it worth considering.

Would I recommend it? Yes, with caveats. If you care about privacy and want advanced worldbuilding tools, Stories AI delivers. If you want the most polished mainstream experience or don't care about privacy, other platforms might suit you better.

The platform isn't trying to compete head-on with Character.AI or Replika. It's carved out a specific niche - privacy-first, worldbuilding-focused, pay-as-you-go AI roleplay for serious users. In that niche, it excels.

Final thought: In an AI landscape increasingly dominated by corporate platforms that monetize user data, Stories AI represents an alternative path - small, independent, privacy-respecting, community-driven. Whether that path is sustainable long-term remains to be seen, but for now, it's a valuable option for users who care about those principles.

I'm keeping my account active and will continue using Stories AI for complex worldbuilding projects where I need lorebooks and group chats. For quick casual chats I might use other platforms, but when privacy matters or I need advanced roleplay features, Stories AI is my go-to.