Is N.E.K.O free, and what AI API costs should I expect?
The base N.E.K.O application is currently free on Steam and the project code is available under Apache License 2.0, but AI providers, speech services, and other third-party services can have separate fees, quotas, and terms.
Last fact review: 2026-07-23. Prices, quotas, models, and provider availability are changeable service facts; check the linked provider before making a purchase decision.
What “free” means
| Item | Current position | What may still cost money |
|---|---|---|
| Base Steam application | Free, Early Access | Future distribution terms can change; check the Steam page |
| Project source code | Apache License 2.0 | Third-party dependencies, assets, trademarks, and services retain their own terms |
| Built-in free provider path | No user-supplied API key is required for the shipped free profiles | It is a remote service with adjustable availability and quotas |
| Your own provider API key | You choose and fund the provider account | Token, realtime, speech, image, or other provider charges |
| Voice cloning and TTS | Multiple provider and local-service paths exist | Cloud providers can require a key, account, or paid quota |
| Steam Cloud and Workshop | Available through supported Steam features | Network access and the relevant Steam account are required |
“Open source” and “free application” do not mean every model, voice, character asset, or hosted service is licensed or operated by Project N.E.K.O.
Three common ways to use AI services
1. Use the shipped free path
The current configuration contains free core and assist profiles that do not ask the user for an API key. These profiles connect to a Project N.E.K.O remote service; they are not local models and should not be presented as an offline mode.
The current Steam EULA explains that free API requests can be forwarded through N.E.K.O servers to service partners. It also states that free-service quotas may be adjusted. For that reason, this documentation does not publish a permanent daily quota.
2. Bring your own API key
You can configure supported providers with your own account and credentials. In this mode:
- the provider controls pricing, rate limits, regional availability, and retention terms;
- different N.E.K.O features may use different provider roles;
- a provider that supports text chat may not support realtime voice, vision, ASR, TTS, or Agent work;
- changing the selected model can change both quality and cost.
According to the current Steam EULA, input for a paid provider API is sent from the device to the selected provider. Always review that provider's current terms.
3. Configure local or self-hosted components
Some components can use local or self-hosted services, including optional local embeddings and selected speech or vLLM-Omni paths. This can reduce dependence on hosted APIs, but it is not a single switch and may require hardware, model assets, and additional setup.
See Can N.E.K.O run completely offline? before treating local configuration as cost-free or network-free.
Why this page does not publish a provider count
Provider definitions are data-driven and can change independently across:
- primary conversation and realtime profiles;
- assist profiles used for text, vision, summary, correction, or Agent roles;
- ASR, TTS, voice-cloning, and other feature-specific registries;
- regions, account plans, and releases.
A single number such as “14+ providers” mixes these categories and becomes stale quickly. Use the current API Providers reference for configuration behavior, and verify the provider visible in the version you are running.
How to choose
| Your priority | Recommended starting point |
|---|---|
| Try N.E.K.O with minimal setup | Start with the available free profile, while accepting that it is remote and quota-limited |
| Control model choice and billing | Add your own supported provider key |
| Reduce external processing | Evaluate local/self-hosted components one by one |
| Predict monthly cost | Use your provider's usage dashboard and current price sheet; N.E.K.O does not set those rates |
| Avoid unexpected data routing | Read Where does N.E.K.O send conversations and memory? |
Want to try the free base application before choosing a provider? View N.E.K.O. on Steam, then return here to compare API paths.