Affordable AI novel writer
A full AI novel-writing workspace for $9.99/month, or free
FictionAI charges a flat fee for the app. The AI itself runs on your own OpenRouter account, billed per use at OpenRouter's prices with no FictionAI markup, and you see the cost of every generation.
3 books free, no credit card. AI use is billed by OpenRouter to your own account.
Two plans
Plus your AI use on OpenRouter, which you control by choosing the model.
| Plan detail | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $9.99/month |
| Books | Up to 3 | Unlimited |
| Series | None | Unlimited |
| Adult content | No | Yes |
| AI usage | You pay OpenRouter; no FictionAI markup | You pay OpenRouter; no FictionAI markup |
How the pricing works
Bring your own key
Connect OpenRouter with one click (or paste a key). OpenRouter bills you directly; FictionAI keeps no balance and adds no markup.
You pick the cost
The Quality setting chooses Fast (Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite), Balanced (Claude Sonnet) or Best (Claude Opus). Cheaper models cost less per chapter.
Costs shown up front
Every generate button shows an estimate from live OpenRouter prices, and the actual cost appears afterwards.
Running totals
Each book keeps a running AI cost, and Settings → Plan & usage shows this month's total.
No word limits from us
FictionAI does not cap words or generations. OpenRouter charges for each one, so your spend depends on how much you write and which model you use.
Same tools on both plans
Story bible, writing workspace, editorial review, covers and every export format are on Free too. Pro gives you unlimited books, unlimited series, and access to NSFW content generation. Free is limited to 3 books, no series, with no NSFW content.
Getting the most out of a small budget
Draft on the Fast setting and switch to Balanced or Best for the chapters that matter most; the Quality setting applies to the next generation.
Edit the story bible before writing. A clean outline means fewer chapters to regenerate.
- Use Settings → Advanced to pick a cheaper model for planning tasks and a stronger one for chapters.
- Rewrite a selection instead of regenerating a whole chapter.
- Set a spending limit on your OpenRouter key.
Questions
What is the cheapest AI novel writing software?
We can't speak for every tool's current prices. FictionAI's own cost is $0 on Free (3 books) or $9.99/month on Pro, plus the AI use OpenRouter bills to your account, which depends on the model you choose. FictionAI shows the estimated cost before every generation.
How does BYOK pricing save money?
With bring-your-own-key, you pay OpenRouter's own per-use prices and FictionAI adds no markup or bundled allowance. You pay for what you generate, and you can choose a cheaper model for drafts.
Can I write unlimited books for $9.99/month?
Yes. Pro ($9.99/month) has no book or series limit and includes adult content. AI use is billed separately by OpenRouter, and you control it.
How much does it cost per book?
It depends on the model and the length. FictionAI shows each chapter's estimated cost before you write it, from live OpenRouter prices, and keeps a running total per book.
Is FictionAI good enough for professional publishing?
FictionAI drafts and helps you revise; publishing quality depends on your editing. It uses the same model families other tools use (Claude, GPT, Gemini via OpenRouter) and exports DOCX, which Amazon KDP accepts for upload, plus PDF, Markdown, plain text and HTML.
Write your novel on your budget
Start on the Free plan and see what each chapter costs before you commit.