SillyTavern without the setup: run character cards in a browser
SillyTavern is excellent and extremely configurable, but it expects you to run it yourself. If you want the same character cards without a local install, this is the trade-off you are choosing between.
The honest comparison
These are not really competitors — they read the same card format, so a card works in both. The question is only where you want to run it and how much control you want over the prompt pipeline.
| SillyTavern | Lingki AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Install and run it yourself | Open a URL |
| Works on a phone | Only with a hosted instance | Yes, directly |
| Character card format | V2/V3 | V2/V3 |
| Prompt and pipeline control | Very deep | Preset-level |
| Extensions ecosystem | Large | Built-in features only |
| Model | Your own API key | Your own API key |
| Chat storage | Your machine | Your browser storage |
When to pick which
- You want fine-grained prompt control, extensions and local files — use SillyTavern.
- You want to open a card on your phone during a commute with nothing installed — use Lingki AI.
- You want both — keep your cards as PNG files and load them wherever you are.
Moving cards between the two
Download a card from the Lingki library and it is a normal character card PNG: drop it into SillyTavern’s character folder or import it through the UI and it loads as usual. Going the other way, export from SillyTavern and import the PNG into Lingki. Nothing is converted or locked.
| Client | Reads V2/V3 cards | Runs in a browser | Needs local setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lingki AI | Yes | Yes | No |
| SillyTavern | Yes | Yes, self-hosted | Yes |
| Other card-compatible clients | Usually | Varies | Varies |
Frequently asked questions
Does Lingki AI read SillyTavern character cards?
Yes. It reads the standard V2 and V3 character card format, which is what SillyTavern exports.
Do I still need my own API key?
Yes. Like SillyTavern, you connect your own model provider, so you decide which model answers and what it costs.
Can I self-host Lingki AI?
The project ships with Docker deployment files, so it can be run on your own server as well as used at lingki.info.