Frequently Asked Questions

What is Writingmate?

Writingmate is an AI workspace for using text, image, and video models from multiple providers. You can chat with one model, compare text responses, work with files, search the web, create reusable prompts and Agents, generate media, and connect outside tools through MCP.

See Key Features for an overview.

How does Writingmate work?

Create one Writingmate account, then choose an available model or workflow. Writingmate sends your request to the selected AI provider and keeps your chats and saved work in your workspace.

Model access, message allowances, image and video limits, and other features depend on your workspace plan. Use Profile Settings → Subscription for your account's current terms.

How do I start using Writingmate?

Visit writingmate.ai, create an account, and start a new chat. You do not need a ChatGPT account or a separate account with every model provider.

You can use Writingmate in a browser or install the web app on a supported desktop or mobile device. See Use Writingmate as a Desktop or Mobile App.

Is Writingmate free to use?

Writingmate has a free plan with access to Basic models. Paid plans add higher model tiers, larger allowances, and more features. Prices and trial offers can change, so check the live pricing page and the checkout page before purchasing.

See Compare Subscription Plans for a feature comparison.

Do I need a ChatGPT account?

No. Writingmate uses your Writingmate account. A ChatGPT subscription is separate and does not activate Writingmate features.

Which AI models does Writingmate support?

Writingmate's catalog includes text, image, video, reasoning, coding, and multimodal models from multiple providers. Models are added, updated, repriced, or retired over time, so a fixed list in this FAQ would become inaccurate.

Use the AI Models Directory to browse the public catalog. In the app, the model selector is the source for models currently available to your workspace. A model's availability can depend on its Basic, Pro, or Ultimate tier, your plan, provider status, and workspace Model Settings.

See Supported AI Models for model discovery and access details.

How quickly does Writingmate add new models?

There is no guaranteed release schedule. A model must be publicly available and compatible with Writingmate's providers, safety controls, billing, and product workflows before it can be offered. Check the model selector or AI Models Directory for current availability.

What is the Writingmate Chrome extension?

The Writingmate Chrome extension is a legacy browser client that remains listed in the Chrome Web Store. Its interface, model list, and features may differ from the current Writingmate web app.

For the current product experience, use writingmate.ai or install the web app. Do not assume that every current web feature is available in the extension.

Does my paid plan include the Chrome extension?

Extension access has varied across current and legacy subscriptions. The live public pricing page no longer lists the Chrome extension as a separate plan feature. Check the terms shown in Profile Settings → Subscription and at checkout for your workspace.

If you previously bought an extension subscription or cannot confirm access, contact Writingmate Support before making another purchase. See Managing Your Subscription.

Does Writingmate have message limits?

Yes. Text-model usage is tracked in Basic, Pro, and Ultimate model categories. A request can use more than one counted message when it contains a long conversation, large files, or a long response. Image and video generation use separate allowances.

Limits differ by plan, and legacy, promotional, and AppSumo plans can use different rules. See Message Limits and the usage indicator in chat for the current values.

Is there a BYOK subscription plan?

No standalone BYOK subscription is currently offered in the web app. BYOK means “bring your own key.” It is an account setting for supported requests, not a separate plan that includes Writingmate features.

The current API Keys page accepts an OpenRouter API key. It does not provide separate fields for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or other provider keys.

Do I need my own OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google API key?

No. Writingmate plans include model access under their current allowances. You do not need separate provider API keys for normal use.

Can I use my own API key?

You can add an OpenRouter API Key under Profile Settings → API Keys. Supported requests then use the OpenRouter account that you manage and pay for.

OpenRouter BYOK can bypass Writingmate message limits for supported requests. It does not unlock a model that your plan cannot select, guarantee access to every OpenRouter model, or replace separate image and video requirements.

See Set Up Your API Keys for setup and credential-safety guidance.

Can I add an arbitrary custom model?

Not through the current Writingmate model settings. You can choose and manage models from Writingmate's catalog, but the web app does not currently accept an arbitrary OpenAI-compatible base URL, provider key, and model name as a custom chat model.

Can I use Writingmate from an external app or coding tool?

Yes. Create a Writingmate Developer Key under Profile Settings → API Keys, then connect a compatible client to Writingmate's OpenAI-compatible API or MCP endpoint. A Developer Key authenticates the external client to Writingmate; it is different from an OpenRouter BYOK key.

Developer access is an alpha, fair-use feature. It uses the current workspace's model access and allowances and is intended for personal tools, coding assistants, local clients, and internal workflows. It is not licensed for reselling Writingmate or running a customer-facing production service without a separate written agreement.

See the OpenAI-Compatible API and MCP Integration guides.