---
title: "Deploy SillyTavern in the Cloud — No Node.js Install. Any Device, Always-On."
description: "Run SillyTavern in the cloud — no Node.js, no install, any device."
category: "AI/ML"
url: https://railway.com/deploy/sillytavern-cloud
---

# Deploy SillyTavern in the Cloud — No Node.js Install. Any Device, Always-On.

Run SillyTavern in the cloud — no Node.js, no install, any device.

**[Deploy SillyTavern in the Cloud — No Node.js Install. Any Device, Always-On. on Railway](https://railway.com/template/sillytavern-cloud)**

Machine-readable deploy manifest (JSON, validated by TemplateCI): https://railway.com/deploy/sillytavern-cloud/manifest.json

- **Creator:** SilverBanana
- **Category:** AI/ML
- **Total deploys:** 41

## Template content

### SillyTavern https://sillytavern.app/img/logo.png

- **Image:** ghcr.io/null2264/st-railway:latest
- **Public domain:** Yes

## Documentation

# Deploy and Host SillyTavern on Railway

SillyTavern is the open-source AI chat and roleplay frontend with **25k+ GitHub stars** and
300+ contributors — the power-user standard for AI character interaction, creative writing,
and storytelling. Connect Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, DeepSeek, Ollama, KoboldAI, or any
OpenAI-compatible backend. Character cards, World Info lorebooks, group chats with multiple
AI characters, user personas, RAG document support, TTS, and a full extensions system.

Normal SillyTavern requires Node.js v20+, Git, and 15–30 minutes of local setup — and only
runs while your computer is on. This Railway template deploys SillyTavern as an always-on
cloud service accessible from any browser, any device, anywhere. One click. No installs.

---

## What This Template Deploys

| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| **SillyTavern v1.17.0** | The full SillyTavern AI frontend — character cards, lorebooks, group chats, extensions, TTS, and prompt control served on port `8000` via Railway's HTTPS proxy |
| **Persistent Volume (`/data`)** | Stores character cards, chat history, lorebooks, settings, and extension data — survives every redeploy |

Single-service architecture. No database, no Redis. All state is filesystem-based on the
persistent volume.

---

## About Hosting SillyTavern

SillyTavern is not an AI — it is a highly configurable frontend that manages prompt
formatting, memory injection, sampling parameters, and interface behaviour while connecting
to the AI backend of your choice. Running it locally means managing Node.js versions,
dependency conflicts, startup scripts, and only having access while your machine is awake.

Railway turns SillyTavern into a persistent cloud service. Deploy once, get a permanent
HTTPS URL, and access your characters, chats, and lorebooks from any device — desktop,
mobile, or tablet — without touching a terminal.

Typical cost: **~$2–5/month** on Railway's Hobby plan. Character.AI and Janitor AI are
free but impose content filters and don't allow custom models. SillyTavern on Railway gives
you full model choice — Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, or any local model via OpenRouter — with
zero platform restrictions and full ownership of your character cards and chat history.

---

## Deploy in Under 3 Minutes

1. Click **Deploy on Railway** — SillyTavern builds automatically (~2 minutes)
2. Open your Railway-assigned URL — SillyTavern loads immediately in your browser
3. Go to **Settings → AI Connections** and enter your API key (Claude, OpenAI, OpenRouter,
   or any compatible endpoint)
4. Import a character card or create your own — start your first conversation

No Node.js. No Git. No terminal. No local machine required.

![SillyTavern character chat and settings](YOUR_SILLYTAVERN_CHAT_SCREENSHOT_URL_HERE)

---

## Common Use Cases

- **SillyTavern without local Node.js install** — skip the 15–30 minute setup entirely;
  get a permanent browser URL that works on any device without touching a terminal
- **Always-on AI character companion** — your Railway instance runs 24/7 even when your
  computer is off; no need to restart SillyTavern before every session
- **SillyTavern on mobile** — access your characters, chats, and lorebooks from any
  smartphone or tablet via the Railway HTTPS URL without complex local network setup
- **Multi-model AI creative writing workspace** — switch between Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini,
  DeepSeek, and local models via OpenRouter without reconfiguring your setup
- **AI roleplay with full prompt control** — fine-tune system prompts, sampling parameters,
  context window size, and memory injection in ways that Character.AI and Janitor AI
  do not allow
- **Group chat with multiple AI characters** — run simultaneous conversations with multiple
  distinct AI personas using SillyTavern's group chat feature

---

## Configuration

| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `WHITELIST_MODE` | Recommended | Set to `false` to allow access from any IP — required for browser access on Railway |
| `BASIC_AUTH_USER` | Recommended | Username for basic auth — protect your instance from public access |
| `BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD` | Recommended | Password for basic auth — set before sharing your Railway URL |
| `ENABLE_CORS` | Optional | Set to `true` to enable CORS for extension integrations |
| `PORT` | Auto-set | Railway injects the port automatically |

> SillyTavern does not store API keys server-side — all API keys (Claude, OpenAI, OpenRouter,
> etc.) are entered via the Settings UI and stored in your browser's local storage.
> Add basic auth credentials above to prevent others from accessing your instance.

---

## SillyTavern vs. Alternatives

| | SillyTavern (Railway) | Character.AI | Janitor AI | RisuAI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Local install required** | ✅ Not on Railway | ✅ No install | ✅ No install | ✅ No install |
| **BYO model / API key** | ✅ Any backend | ❌ Fixed model | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| **Content filtering** | ✅ None (model-dependent) | ❌ Heavy filters | ⚠️ Some | ✅ Minimal |
| **Character cards** | ✅ Full PNG/JSON import | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| **World Info / Lorebooks** | ✅ Full system | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| **Group chats** | ✅ Multiple AI personas | ❌ No | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited |
| **RAG document support** | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| **TTS / voice** | ✅ MiniMax, ElevenLabs | ❌ No | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited |
| **Extensions** | ✅ Full ecosystem | ❌ No | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited |
| **Monthly cost** | ~$2–5 (Railway) | Free / $9.99 | Free (API cost) | Free (API cost) |

---

## Dependencies for SillyTavern Hosting

- Railway account — Hobby plan (~$2–5/month) for the single-service deployment
- API key from at least one LLM provider — Claude (Anthropic), OpenAI, Gemini, DeepSeek,
  or a free OpenRouter account for access to multiple models

### Deployment Dependencies

- [SillyTavern GitHub Repository](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern) — source,
  releases, and changelog
- [SillyTavern Documentation](https://docs.sillytavern.app/) — full configuration reference
- [SillyTavern Extensions](https://docs.sillytavern.app/extensions/) — extension ecosystem
- [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/) — free tier access to Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini,
  DeepSeek, and 200+ models from a single API key
- [Chub.ai](https://chub.ai/) — community character card library
- [Railway Volumes Documentation](https://docs.railway.com/volumes) — persistent storage

### Implementation Details

This template deploys SillyTavern v1.17.0 from the official release with a Railway
persistent volume mounted at `/data`. All character cards, chat histories, lorebooks,
settings, and extension data are stored on the volume — not inside the container. Redeploys,
version updates, and Railway container restarts do not affect your characters or chat data.

SillyTavern listens on the Railway-injected port behind Railway's HTTPS proxy. Basic auth
is strongly recommended — without it, anyone with your Railway URL can access your
SillyTavern instance. API keys entered in the Settings UI are stored client-side in browser
local storage and are never transmitted to the Railway server.

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Why use Railway instead of installing SillyTavern locally?**
Local SillyTavern requires Node.js v20+, Git, and 15–30 minutes of setup — and only runs
while your computer is on. Railway gives you an always-on HTTPS URL accessible from any
device. No installs, no version conflicts, no startup scripts. Your characters and chats are
available 24/7 from desktop or mobile without maintaining a local environment.

**Which AI provider should I use with SillyTavern?**
OpenRouter is the best starting point — free tier access to Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, and
DeepSeek from a single API key. For dedicated Claude access, use Anthropic directly. For
local model support without GPU costs, Ollama via a separate Railway service or a public
OpenRouter endpoint is the cleanest path.

**Do I lose my characters and chats if Railway redeploys?**
No. All character cards, lorebooks, chat history, and settings are stored on the Railway
persistent volume at `/data`. Redeploys and version updates do not affect your data.

**Is my API key stored on the Railway server?**
No. API keys entered in SillyTavern's Settings UI are stored in your browser's local
storage — never on the server. If you access SillyTavern from a new browser, you will
need to re-enter your API key. This is standard SillyTavern behaviour regardless of
deployment method.

**How do I prevent others from accessing my SillyTavern instance?**
Set `BASIC_AUTH_USER` and `BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD` in Railway Variables before your first
deploy. Anyone visiting your Railway URL will be prompted for credentials before SillyTavern
loads. Without basic auth, your Railway URL is publicly accessible to anyone who has it.

**How do I update SillyTavern to a newer version?**
Update the image tag or source reference in Railway service settings to the latest release
and redeploy. Your volume data — characters, chats, lorebooks — is unaffected by updates.

---

## Why Deploy and Host SillyTavern on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your
infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically
and horizontally scale it.

By deploying SillyTavern on Railway, you get an always-on AI frontend — character cards,
lorebooks, group chats, full prompt control, and support for every major LLM provider —
accessible from any device at ~$2–5/month with no local Node.js install and no setup time.

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