Janitor AI (janitorai.com) is a free AI character chat platform where adults create, share and role-play with AI characters. It is live and actively developed in September 2026: it released official iOS and Android apps in February 2026 and a paid janitor+ plan at $12.99 a month in June. Chats run on its own free JanitorLLM model or on outside models you connect.
Last updated: September 2026
What is Janitor AI?
Janitor AI is run by JanitorAI Inc., whose terms of service are governed by Delaware law in the United States; payments are handled with an affiliate, Dulova Investments Limited, in Cyprus. Semafor reported in September 2023 that the site was built by Jan Zoltkowski, an Australian-born developer, launched on June 1, 2023 and passed 1 million users within 17 days.
Its homepage claims more than 15 million users; that is the company’s own, unaudited figure.
How does Janitor AI work? JanitorLLM vs your own API
Each character is a user-written card with a personality, scenario and opening message. When you chat, Janitor AI sends the card and conversation to a language model, in one of three ways:
- JanitorLLM (JLLM): the in-house model and the default for all chats. The help center calls it free and built in. In April 2026 the team switched JLLM to a new base architecture that, according to its changelog, was heavily tuned with data from Gemini and Claude Opus.
- Proxy (bring your own API): you paste a model name, an endpoint URL and your API key from a provider such as OpenRouter, OpenAI or Anthropic. Janitor AI’s own quick-start guide uses OpenRouter with a free DeepSeek model.
- janitor+ Router: launched in July 2026 for janitor+ subscribers, it lets you pick premium third-party models inside Janitor and pay per token from a built-in wallet, without setting up a proxy.
Semafor reported that Janitor AI originally ran on the ChatGPT API and that OpenAI sent a cease-and-desist letter over adult content in July 2023; Zoltkowski was by then building his own model.
Janitor AI news: what changed in 2025 and 2026
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 2025 | Blocked UK access from July 24, citing the cost of complying with the Online Safety Act |
| September 2025 | Launched Scripts (beta) for character logic and lorebooks |
| February 2026 | A DDoS attack briefly took the site down on February 6; the official app entered public beta on iOS and Android on February 7 |
| March 2026 | Added public chats, which users can publish, react to and fork |
| April 2026 | Moved JLLM to a new base model; age verification required for users in Brazil and Australia |
| June 2026 | Age verification went live for UK users on June 15; janitor+, the first paid plan, launched June 24 |
| July 2026 | JLLM-short opened to all users; janitor+ Router launched July 30 |
| September 2026 | Search and character browsing broke on September 10 and 11 after a traffic spike |
Is Janitor AI safe?
Age rules. The terms, privacy policy and safety page all require users to be at least 18, and suspected minors may be suspended or banned. Users connecting from the UK, Brazil and Australia must verify their age through k-ID, a provider JanitorAI says is also used by Discord, Twitch and Snapchat, with a face-based age estimate that JanitorAI says runs on the device, an ID scan, or an existing AgeKey. JanitorAI says it only receives a yes or no on whether you are over 18. The iOS app is rated 18+ and the Android app Mature 17+.
Content policy. Janitor AI permits mature themes, including sexual content between consenting adult characters, for adult users. Its Community Guidelines, updated in February 2026, ban any sexual content involving minors, recognizable private individuals, living politicians, graphic violent imagery, content glorifying self-harm and hate speech, among other categories. AI tools screen content before publication, and human moderators review reports. The mobile app runs in a restricted mode by default; mature content can only be enabled from the website.
Privacy. The privacy policy, updated September 17, 2026, says JanitorAI collects your account details, the characters you create and your chat conversations, along with device data and IP addresses. It says it does not sell personal data, but it lists “conducting research and development to improve our AI systems” as a purpose, and does not clearly say whether chats are excluded from model training. Chats stay private unless you publish them, and you can delete your account in settings, with a grace period to restore it.
Third-party API keys. When you use a proxy, your messages go to that outside provider under its own privacy terms and usage rules, and your key is stored in your Janitor settings. A leaked key can be used to run up charges on your account, so set spend limits and monitor usage with your provider. Never paste your key into unofficial “free proxy” services, and rotate it if in doubt. JanitorAI also warned about fake Janitor apps in February 2026; the genuine ones are published by JanitorAI Inc.
Key features of Janitor AI
Large community character library
The main draw is a library of user-made characters, searchable by genre and scenario tags. Since late August 2026, character pages on the web also suggest similar characters.
Character creator with Scripts and lorebooks
Anyone can build a character with a personality, scenario and multiple opening messages. Scripts, in beta since September 2025, add logic such as keyword triggers, plus a lorebook editor that imports SillyTavern-format lorebooks.
Free built-in model with length options
JLLM needs no setup or payment. Since July 2026 all users can switch to JLLM-short, which Janitor says gives replies about 70% shorter.
Proxy support for outside models
The API settings page, redesigned in July 2026, splits settings into clearer sections and lets you save several custom prompts and switch between them.
janitor+ Router
Subscribers pick from a growing list of premium models, compare per-token prices and context limits, and pay from a wallet. It is web only for now.
Public chats and forking
You can publish a chat as a shareable snapshot that others can react to or fork into their own private chat. Creators can disable published chats on their characters.
Creator tools and mobile apps
- Creator analytics dashboard (since January 2026)
- Scheduled character releases (since January 2026)
- Interface in several languages since June 2026
- Official iOS and Android apps
Benefits of Janitor AI
- Free core product: the character library, creator tools and JLLM cost nothing.
- Model choice: stay on JLLM or connect outside models, which few companion apps allow.
- Creative freedom for adults: looser content rules than most mainstream chat apps.
- Transparent development: the Newsroom posts frequent releases and incident write-ups.
Janitor AI use cases by role
- Fiction writers: test dialogue, explore a character’s voice or draft interactive scenes.
- Role-players and fandom communities: run ongoing stories with original or fan-made characters and share favorite chats.
- Bot creators: build and publish characters, add Scripts logic and track engagement with analytics.
- Hobbyist AI users: compare models on the same character by switching proxies.
It is not built for business, education or anyone under 18.
How much does Janitor AI cost?
As of September 2026, Janitor AI has one subscription plus optional pay-as-you-go model usage. JanitorAI has not announced a yearly price, Router rates are shown per model inside the product, and app store prices may vary by country.
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Character library, character creation, Scripts, JLLM and JLLM-short, proxy support |
| janitor+ | $12.99/month | 5x more context for memory, unlimited priority messages, monthly swipes with frontier models, janitor+ badge, Router access and a $5 launch offer of Router credits (expiring one year after claiming) |
| janitor+ Router | Pay per token (prices shown in settings) | Premium third-party models, web only, 10% off some popular models for subscribers |
| Your own API (proxy) | Paid to your provider | Varies by provider; Janitor’s own setup guide uses a free OpenRouter model |
JanitorAI says it priced janitor+ “to hopefully break even” on GPU costs. The plan suits heavy users who want longer memory.
Janitor AI pros and cons
Pros
- Free built-in model that needs no setup
- Huge, active library of community characters
- Flexible model choice through proxies or the Router
- Strong creator tools: Scripts, lorebooks, analytics and scheduled releases
- Official apps on iOS and Android since February 2026
Cons
- Adults only, with mandatory age checks in the UK, Brazil and Australia
- Recurring stability issues, including a DDoS outage in February 2026 and search failures in September 2026
- Proxies require technical setup and expose you to API costs and key risks
- Privacy policy does not clearly rule out training on chats
- Mobile apps are filtered by default, so the experience differs from the website
How to use Janitor AI
- Go to janitorai.com or install the official app linked from the site.
- Create an account and confirm you are 18 or older; complete k-ID verification if you are in the UK, Brazil or Australia.
- Browse or search characters by tag, or open the creator to build your own.
- Start a chat; JLLM is selected by default.
- Optional: add a proxy in API settings with a model name, endpoint URL and your own key, or use the Router if you subscribe to janitor+.
- Publish a chat if you want to share it, or keep it private.
Janitor AI alternatives
- Character.AI: pick it for a polished, mainstream character app with stricter content rules; c.ai+ costs $9.99 a month, and since late November 2025 users under 18 can no longer have open-ended chats with its characters.
- SillyTavern: pick it for full control and privacy; it is a free, open-source (AGPL-3.0) interface you run yourself and connect to OpenRouter, OpenAI, Claude, local models and more.
- Chai: pick it for a mobile-first feed of community chatbots with a free, ad-supported tier and paid Premium and Ultra plans.
- Replika: pick it for one ongoing personal AI companion rather than many characters; it offers a limited free tier and Pro, Ultra and Platinum subscriptions priced in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Janitor AI free?
Yes. Browsing, creating characters and chatting with the built-in JanitorLLM (JLLM) model is free, and JanitorAI says the free version stays free. The paid janitor+ plan, launched in June 2026 at $12.99 a month, adds longer memory, priority replies, extra swipes on frontier models and access to the pay-per-token Router. If you connect your own API, you pay that provider directly.
Is Janitor AI safe to use?
It is a legitimate, actively maintained platform run by JanitorAI Inc., but it is built for adults and allows mature content. Its privacy policy says it stores your chats and does not sell personal data, but it does not clearly rule out using chats to improve its AI. Use only the official apps, keep API keys private, set spending limits with any provider you connect and avoid sharing personal details in chats.
Does Janitor AI allow NSFW content?
Janitor AI allows mature content between adult characters for users aged 18 and over, within its Community Guidelines. It bans any sexual content involving minors, recognizable private individuals and several other categories, and it removes violating characters or accounts. The iOS and Android apps run in a restricted mode by default; adults can relax it in their profile settings on the website.
What is JLLM on Janitor AI?
JLLM, or JanitorLLM, is Janitor AI’s in-house language model and the default for every chat unless you connect an external model. JanitorAI’s help center describes it as free and built in. In April 2026 the team moved JLLM to a new base architecture, and a shorter-reply version, JLLM-short, became available to all users in July 2026.
Do I need an OpenAI API key to use Janitor AI?
No. That was true in the early days, but today JanitorLLM works out of the box with no key. An API key is optional: it lets you run chats on an outside model through the proxy settings, for example via OpenRouter. You then pay the provider and are bound by its usage rules, and janitor+ subscribers can use the built-in Router instead.
What is the age requirement for Janitor AI?
You must be at least 18. JanitorAI’s terms, privacy policy and safety page all set 18 as the minimum and say suspected minors may be banned. Users connecting from the UK, Brazil or Australia must pass age verification through k-ID, using a face-based age estimate, an ID scan or an existing AgeKey. The iOS app is rated 18+ and the Android app Mature 17+.
Is there an official Janitor AI app?
Yes. The official app entered public beta on the App Store and Google Play on February 7, 2026. JanitorAI has warned about fake apps: the genuine listings are published by JanitorAI Inc. and linked from janitorai.com. The team said it was working toward feature parity with the website, and the app uses stricter content filtering by default.
Verdict
Janitor AI is one of the most flexible AI character platforms in September 2026. It is free, has a large community library and strong creator tools, and lets adults choose between the in-house JLLM and outside models. The 2026 apps, janitor+ and the Router show a maturing business.
The trade-offs: it is strictly for adults, stability has been uneven, the privacy policy leaves questions about chat data, and proxies add cost and key risk. Start free, protect any API key you connect, and choose Character.AI for tighter moderation or SillyTavern for full control.
Sources
- Janitor AI homepage
- Janitor Newsroom: announcements
- Janitor Newsroom: changelog
- introducing janitor+ (JanitorAI, June 2026)
- janitor+ Router (JanitorAI help center)
- What is JLLM? And what do all those pesky abbreviations mean? (JanitorAI help center)
- TL;DR Quickstart Proxy Instructions (JanitorAI help center)
- Shorter responses are here (JanitorAI)
- An update for users in Brazil, Australia, and the UK (JanitorAI)
- Tough news for our UK users (JanitorAI, July 2025)
- Scripts beta is here (JanitorAI, September 2025)
- The Janitor App is Now in Public Beta (JanitorAI)
- Public chats are here (JanitorAI)
- Update on last week’s search issues (JanitorAI, September 2026)
- JanitorAI Terms of Service
- JanitorAI Privacy Policy
- JanitorAI Community Guidelines
- JanitorAI Safety
- Janitor AI – Official App (Apple App Store)
- Janitor: Interactive Stories (Google Play)
- The NSFW chatbot app hooking Gen Z on AI boyfriends (Semafor, September 2023)
- Character.ai (Wikipedia)
- SillyTavern (GitHub)
- Chai AI (Wikipedia)
- Choosing a Subscription (Replika Help Center)
