Best AI Story Generators Tested for Every Type of Writer
Five top AI story generators—ChatGPT, NovelAI, Claude, Sudowrite, and AI Dungeon—were tested for storytelling, character building, and long-form drafts. Each offers unique features suited to different writing styles and needs.

The Best AI Story Generators: A Field Report
Writers today fall into two camps. Some treat AI tools as a passing trend, while others test their limits to see how they can push creativity further. This report looks closely at five top AI story generators—ChatGPT, NovelAI, Claude, Sudowrite, and AI Dungeon—to determine which ones truly deserve a spot in a writer’s toolbox.
Each tool was tested for short stories, character development, world-building, and long-form drafts. The goal was to identify their best use cases, pricing, standout features, and which types of writers benefit most from each.
How These AI Tools Were Tested
- Short stories: Speed and originality in generating engaging drafts.
- Character building: Assistance with personality, backstory, and consistent traits.
- World development: Ability to remember and apply details about settings, rules, and lore.
- Long-form drafts: Handling momentum and coherence across thousands of words.
Additional factors included ease of use, creativity, value, and unique features. Some tools lean towards playful experimentation; others focus on delivering polished drafts. Both approaches have their place depending on your writing style.
Top 5 AI Story Generators
- ChatGPT: A versatile assistant for idea generation, dialogue, and drafting.
- NovelAI: Focused on immersive storytelling with control over tone and style.
- Claude: Great for structured, long-form narratives and logical progression.
- Sudowrite: Supports creative prompts, expansions, and editing.
- AI Dungeon: Interactive storytelling with dynamic branching adventures.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is widely known and serves as a creative assistant across many writing tasks. It’s not limited to fiction, making it a flexible tool for outlining, dialogue, and fact-checking without switching platforms.
Key Features
- Projects and memory: Save drafts and let ChatGPT remember characters and tone for consistency over multiple sessions.
- Custom GPTs: Create versions trained on your own writing style to keep your voice consistent.
- Context handling: Better retention of story arcs and callbacks in longer texts.
Pricing
- Free plan: Based on GPT-3.5, good for experimenting but limited for serious fiction.
- ChatGPT Plus ($20/month): Access to GPT-4, which offers enhanced storytelling capabilities.
- Team and Enterprise plans: For professional or collaborative projects.
Best for: Writers who want a generalist AI that can handle brainstorming, drafting, and editing in one place.
NovelAI
NovelAI is built specifically for creative writing. Unlike multipurpose AI tools, it focuses on fiction and offers features designed for deep story continuity.
Key Features
- Lorebook: Create entries for characters, places, and rules that the AI automatically integrates into the story.
- Text Adventure Mode: An interactive, game-like storytelling experience beyond prose generation.
- Multiple Model Options: Choose from different AI models instead of a single fixed style.
Pricing
- Tablet ($10/month): Basic features with lower context length.
- Scroll ($15/month): Increased memory and more features.
- Opus ($25/month): Top tier with maximum power and features.
Best for: Writers who need tight continuity for complex worlds, multiple characters, and sprawling plots.
Claude
Claude is a more structured AI that shines in long-form writing. It approaches projects with calm precision rather than flashy outputs.
Key Features
- Large context window: Handles extensive drafts and notes easily.
- Projects: Organize story elements like outlines and references in one place.
- Artifacts: Dedicated spaces for beat sheets, character dossiers, and style guides.
Pricing
- Pro: $17/month billed annually or $20 month-to-month.
- Max plan: For heavier users, plus Team and Enterprise options.
Best for: Writers working on long, complex projects with multiple subplots and large casts.
Sudowrite
Sudowrite feels like a writer’s companion, aimed at improving existing prose and sparking creativity.
Key Features
- Describe and Expand: Adds vivid detail and depth to flat writing.
- Rewrite Options: Offers multiple stylistic rewrites to find the best fit.
- Brainstorm and Character Generators: Helps generate fresh ideas without steering you in one fixed direction.
Pricing
- Hobby & Student ($10/month): Limited generation credits for light use.
- Professional ($22/month): More credits for ongoing drafts.
- Max ($44/month): High credit limits for heavy daily work.
Best for: Writers who already have drafts but want help polishing and enhancing their prose.
AI Dungeon
AI Dungeon offers a playful, interactive approach to story generation, functioning more like a game than a typical writing tool.
Key Features
- Infinite Adventures: Start with preset genres or create custom scenarios.
- Multiplayer Mode: Invite friends to collaborate in the same story session.
- Worlds and Scenarios: Build persistent worlds with recurring characters and rules.
Pricing
- Free plan: Access to basic models.
- Adventurer ($9.99/month): Better text quality and fewer limits.
- Champion ($14.99/month) and Legend ($29.99/month): Access to the most powerful models.
Best for: Writers who enjoy improvisational storytelling or collaborative roleplay experiences.
AI Story Generators Compared at a Glance
Tool | Standout Features | Downsides | Pricing | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
ChatGPT | Custom GPTs, memory, context handling | Can rush pacing | Free (GPT-3.5), Plus $20/month | Versatile for fiction and non-fiction |
NovelAI | Lorebook, Text Adventure Mode | Requires setup for best results | $10–$25/month tiers | Complex worlds & longform fiction |
Claude | Huge context window, Projects, Artifacts | More cautious with dark themes | Pro $17–20/month | Structured longform projects |
Sudowrite | Rewrite options, Describe/Expand | Continuity weaker than others | $10–$44/month credits | Draft polishing & writer’s block help |
AI Dungeon | Infinite adventures, multiplayer mode | Prose less polished | Free, $9.99–$29.99/month | Interactive storytelling & play |
Final Thoughts
Each AI story generator brings different strengths. ChatGPT works well as an all-purpose tool for brainstorming and drafting. NovelAI is strong on world-building and story continuity. Claude helps structure and manage complex longform projects. Sudowrite boosts your prose with rewriting and expansion tools. AI Dungeon offers a playful environment for interactive storytelling.
Your choice depends on your writing preferences. For polished drafts, Claude or Sudowrite are solid picks. For expansive universes, NovelAI stands out. For versatility, ChatGPT remains a top option. And if you want to treat story creation like a game, AI Dungeon delivers that experience.
AI won’t replace the unique spark you bring to your writing, but it can assist with breaking through blocks, tracking complex arcs, or simply reminding you why storytelling is rewarding.