kitio.aiChainlit vs Novel
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Chainlit starts at Free and Novel starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Chat UI for Python logic
- Agent step visualization
- OAuth authentication
- Slack, Discord and Teams bots
- LangGraph and LlamaIndex support
- Notion-style editing
- AI autocompletion
- Tiptap-based
- Vercel AI SDK
- Live demo
| Feature | Chainlit | Novel |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source Python framework for building conversational AI apps | Open-source Notion-style editor with AI autocompletion |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Chainlit | Steven Tey |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Chainlit starts at Free and Novel starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Chainlit
- Free and open source
- Working chat app in a few lines
- Many deployment targets
- Python only
- Less flexible than a custom frontend
- Advanced UI changes need React work
Novel
- Free and open source
- Familiar block-editor behavior
- Documentation and demo included
- Developer component, not a finished app
- Needs your own OpenAI key and setup
- Limited detail on features beyond the demo
Which one should you choose?
Choose Chainlit if you want:
- Free and open source
- Working chat app in a few lines
- Many deployment targets
Watch out: python only.
Choose Novel if you want:
- Free and open source
- Familiar block-editor behavior
- Documentation and demo included
Watch out: developer component, not a finished app.
Chainlit vs Novel FAQ
What is the difference between Chainlit and Novel?
Chainlit: Open-source Python framework for building conversational AI apps. Novel: Open-source Notion-style editor with AI autocompletion. Both are coding tools.
Is Chainlit or Novel cheaper?
Chainlit starts at Free and Novel starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Chainlit and Novel have free plans?
Chainlit: Yes, fully free. Novel: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Chainlit?
Chainlit is made by Chainlit.
Who makes Novel?
Novel is made by Steven Tey.
Which should I choose, Chainlit or Novel?
Choose Chainlit if you value free and open source and working chat app in a few lines. Choose Novel if you value free and open source and familiar block-editor behavior.