NovelAI vs ShortlyAI
Comprehensive comparison for 2026 — features, pricing, and expert verdict
Overview
Choosing between NovelAI and ShortlyAI is a common dilemma for professionals looking for the right solution. Both platforms have carved out significant market positions, but they take notably different approaches to solving similar problems. In this comprehensive comparison, we analyze every aspect that matters — from features and pricing to user experience and support — so you can make an informed decision.
Ratings Comparison
Feature Comparison
| Feature | NovelAI | ShortlyAI |
|---|---|---|
| Long Form | Yes | Yes |
| Short Form | Yes | Yes |
| Seo Tools | No | No |
| Templates | No | No |
| Tone Control | Yes | No |
| Plagiarism Check | No | No |
| Multilingual | No | No |
| Api Access | No | No |
| Team Collaboration | No | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Starting Price | $10/mo | $79/mo |
| Founded | 2021 | 2020 |
Feature Analysis
Both NovelAI and ShortlyAI share a solid foundation of core features including Long Form, Short Form. Where NovelAI pulls ahead is with exclusive access to Tone Control, which can be a deciding factor for teams that rely on this capability. Looking at user ratings, NovelAI holds an overall score of 7/10 and an ease of use score of 5/10, while ShortlyAI scores 5/10 overall and 9/10 for ease of use. These ratings reflect real user experiences and can indicate differences in usability, support quality, and overall satisfaction.
Pricing Breakdown
When it comes to pricing, NovelAI offers a more budget-friendly entry point at $10/mo, compared to ShortlyAI's starting price of $79/mo. Neither platform offers a free plan, so you will need to budget for at least the starting tier from the beginning. Be sure to take advantage of any trial periods they may offer.
Pros & Cons
NovelAI
- Custom AI models fine-tuned on published literature
- Strong privacy focus with encrypted stories
- Unique AI image generation for characters and scenes
Cons
- -Steep learning curve for configuration
- -No collaboration or team features
- -Output quality inconsistent without careful setup
ShortlyAI
- Clean distraction-free interface
- Good at continuing your writing naturally
- Simple /write command makes it intuitive
Cons
- -Very expensive for limited features
- -No templates, SEO tools, or team features
- -Acquired by Jasper, future uncertain
Who Should Choose Which?
The ideal user for each platform differs considerably. NovelAI is best suited for interactive fiction, storytelling, creative writing, roleplaying, making it a strong choice if you fall into any of these categories. ShortlyAI, meanwhile, shines for blog posts, long form articles, stories, distraction free writing, which means it may be the better pick if your needs align with those use cases. Founded in 2021, NovelAI describes itself as "AI storytelling tool with custom models trained on literature." ShortlyAI, established in 2020, positions itself as "Distraction-free AI writing tool focused on long-form content." Both platforms have been in the market for a similar duration, giving each ample time to refine their offerings and build a loyal user base.
Our Verdict
After analyzing all the data, **NovelAI** comes out slightly ahead in this comparison, thanks to higher user ratings (7.0 vs 5.0), more features (3 vs 2), more competitive pricing. However, this does not mean ShortlyAI is a poor choice — far from it. ShortlyAI excels in its own right, particularly for blog posts and long form articles. Our recommendation: if you value custom ai models fine-tuned on published literature, go with NovelAI. If clean distraction-free interface matters more to you, ShortlyAI is the way to go. Either way, both are solid platforms that have earned their place in the market.