Quick answers to the questions we hear most. Browse the rest of Lyra University for the full guides.
Common questions
Is Lyra free?
Yes. You can browse, chat, and create stories for free on web, iOS, and Android. Eligible new accounts may also receive a welcome bonus of stars. Subscriptions are optional and let the cast remember more and remove ads; depending on your account they are Lyra+ and Lyra Pro (a star bonus, and on Pro a weekly Jupiter allowance) or Nova and Supernova (a bigger weekly Mercury allowance).
Does chatting cost anything?
Every plan includes free roleplay on Mercury, the default model. How much depends on your account: some play it without a limit, others get a free allowance — in the apps, a weekly allowance. Past it, messages cost stars, or a subscription adds more. The Plans screen and the model picker show what yours includes. On the free plan, premium models cost stars for every message; Lyra+ and Pro include a weekly allowance first, then pay the same per message. Jupiter is Ultra: Pro includes a weekly allowance, and on other plans each Jupiter message costs stars. The other Ultra models (Orion and Sirius) cost stars for every message on every plan.
Why are there message allowances on the free plan?
Every message costs us real money to write, premium models most of all. A free allowance on Mercury keeps everyday play free; past it, and on premium models for free accounts, messages cost stars — this keeps Lyra free to play and the service sustainable. Subscriptions include weekly allowances first, then pay the same per message.
What happens to tools when my allowance runs out?
Tools keep you on the model you chose — every model can drive them, so nothing switches. Replies use the same weekly allowance as ordinary ones on that model. When an allowance ends, messages cost stars, or you can subscribe or upgrade. A reply with tools can take several steps behind the scenes and so use the allowance faster. The built-in Lyra AI Assistant is free on every plan on its default model; pick another and it costs what that model does.
Why is the Tools button asking me to upgrade?
Tools on a story — web search, its own computer, longer answers — are a Lyra+ feature. The built-in Lyra AI Assistant is the exception: it opens for everyone on every plan, so help, reporting a problem and building a story are always within reach.
Why can I not switch on tools, or change my reply length?
Agent tools — auto memory, worldbook lookup, web search, the computer — and the reply style dials (length, first or third person, dialogue balance) are Lyra+ features. On the free plan the storyteller writes at its own length in third person, and your chat memory is the conversation itself rather than durable notes.
What are stars and what do they cost?
Stars are credits for premium extras like media generation. The app shows the current star price before you generate or send anything that uses them. Available pack sizes and prices are shown on the Stars screen, and subscribers receive bonus stars with each pack.
Which model should I use?
Mercury is the default and a great starting point, with Mars as the fast, detailed alternative and Saturn for characters who push back instead of agreeing. Neptune is a creative fan favorite, Venus writes long, richly detailed replies, Neptune Plus serves Neptune at full precision — noticeably faster — and Luna is quick and snappy. Jupiter (Ultra) is built for sprawling worlds and long arcs — Lyra Pro includes a weekly allowance; on other plans each message costs stars. Orion and Sirius, also Ultra, are paid in stars on every plan. You can switch models per chat.
How does memory work?
The cast remembers the scene as you play — earlier moments and your choices carry forward, so the story stays consistent. Paid plans let the cast keep more of the story in mind, which helps longer stories hold together, and add auto memory: durable notes the storyteller writes about you and recalls later.
Can I make my own stories?
Yes. Anyone with an account can create a world — set a greeting, scenario, definition, tags, and visibility — and publish it in minutes. See the “Creating a story” guide.
What is the number in the corner of a story’s cover image?
That badge is the story’s engagement — a popularity indicator for how busy that world is, abbreviated once it grows (for example 4.1k or 411k). Long-running public worlds show far larger numbers than new ones. For a story you made yourself, open Recent → Mine: the number on your own stories there is that story’s exact chat count.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Cancel from wherever you subscribed: web subscriptions in your account settings (billed securely by Stripe), iOS in the App Store subscription settings, Android in Google Play subscriptions. You keep your benefits through the end of the period you already paid for; see the Refunds page in the footer for the refund policy.
Is there an age requirement?
Yes. Lyra is an adults-only platform and you must be 18 or older to use it.
