What is Janitor AI?
Janitor AI is one of the most popular AI chatbot platforms out there, letting you create and interact with AI characters that feel surprisingly real. You can customize personas, have long conversations, and yes - it supports nsfw AI chat for adults who want that option.
The platform blew up fast:
- Launched in June 2023 by Jan Zoltkowski
- Hit over a million users in the first week
- Around 70% of users are women (the community is pretty welcoming)
- Now hosts over 35,000 unique AI characters
Note: Janitor AI focuses on chat - if you need to generate images of your characters, check out BasedLabs AI which handles both text-to-image and video generation.
What Is Immersive Mode?
Immersive mode is what makes conversations feel less robotic. The AI:
- Uses more natural, expressive language
- Picks up on emotional cues and responds appropriately
- Creates deeper back-and-forth that feels like talking to an actual character
Worth turning on if youre building virtual companions or want more engaging roleplay scenarios.
How To Use Janitor AI in 2026
Getting started is straightforward:
- Go to janitorai.com and create an account
- Set up your profile (username, preferences)
- Browse characters using filters (trending, most popular, specific tags)
- Click any character to start chatting
- Or create your own custom character with whatever personality you want
The interface shows character cards with images and interaction counts so you can see whats popular.
Is Janitor AI Free?
Sort of. Heres the breakdown:
Free option: Use JanitorLLM Beta (their built-in model). Just make sure your API settings are set to "Janitor LLM" - otherwise youll get charged.
Paid options: If you want to use OpenAI or other premium models, you need to bring your own API key. Costs vary by model.
Janitor AI API Pricing (2026)
If youre using OpenAI models through Janitor AI:
| Model | Input Cost | Output Cost | |-------|------------|-------------| | gpt-4o | $2.50/1M tokens | $10.00/1M tokens | | gpt-4o-mini | $0.15/1M tokens | $0.60/1M tokens | | gpt-4-turbo | $10.00/1M tokens | $30.00/1M tokens |
Prices as of January 2026 - check OpenAIs pricing page for current rates.
For most casual use, the free JanitorLLM works fine. Power users who want GPT-4 quality should budget accordingly.
Setting Up Your API Key
- Get an API key from OpenAI (openai.com > API section)
- In Janitor AI, go to Settings > API configuration
- Select "OpenAI" and paste your key
- Save and test with a quick message
Thats it. Some users also use reverse proxies shared in the Discord community - these can be cheaper but less reliable.
Is Janitor AI Safe?
Reasonably safe if you follow basics:
- Download/access only from official sources
- Use unique API keys (dont share them)
- Dont share personal info in chats
- Remember its still in beta - expect occasional bugs
The platform has a privacy policy, but as with any AI service, assume your conversations could theoretically be logged.
Janitor AI Not Working? Try This
If things break:
- Check their Twitter for server status updates
- Verify your API key is still valid (they expire)
- Clear your browser cache
- Try a different character (some are broken)
- Email [email protected] if nothing works
Most issues are temporary server problems that resolve within a few hours.
Janitor AI Alternatives (2026)
If Janitor AI isnt quite what you need, here are solid alternatives:
Flave.ai
More focused on AI influencers, with better image generation and higher quality chat. Good if you want visuals alongside conversation.
Character.AI
Huge library of pre-made characters. More family-friendly by default but very polished interface.
Replika
Designed for one-on-one AI companionship. More personal and intimate than character-based platforms.
AI Dungeon
Text adventure meets AI. Great for storytelling and collaborative fiction.
For more options, check out our NSFW Character AI Alternatives guide.
Last updated: January 2026