> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://powerfan-1.gitbook.io/redchat.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://powerfan-1.gitbook.io/redchat.app/guides/response-length.md).

# Response Length

Sometimes a single line — "Yeah, got it." — is all you need. Other days, you're craving the kind of scene-painting where your character unspools a whole chapter. **Response Length** is the dial that controls exactly that. You decide how much your character gives you with every reply.

The good news first: **the default is free for everyone.** You only spend a little RP when you want longer replies. No tricky settings, no hidden traps. You'll have it figured out in about a minute.

***

## What is Response Length?

**Response Length is the setting that decides how much your character writes back.** It's just like asking a friend at a café to "keep it short" or "tell me everything." You're giving the AI a heads-up: "Make this reply about this long."

Turn the length up and your character gives you richer descriptions, deeper emotional beats, and longer lines of dialogue. Keep it short and you get a quick, snappy back-and-forth. There's no right answer — pick whatever fits the mood and the scene that day.

> **Think of it like this:** Response length is the "portion size." From a single bite (Short) to a full-course meal (Extended), order as much as you're hungry for.

***

## Where do I change it?

You can tap **Response Length** in the sidebar and change it anytime mid-chat. You're free to switch it message by message, even within a single conversation — cruise along on Short for the light stuff, then crank it up to Long just for the climactic scene.

1. Open the **Response Length** menu from the chat screen.
2. Pick one of **Short / Medium / Long / Extended**.
3. Send your message as usual, and the reply comes back at the length you chose.

***

## The 4 length options

| Option       | How it feels                         | Great for moments like                                                                     | Cost                                                   |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Short**    | Quick, snappy replies                | Light chit-chat, fast ping-pong banter, when you just want a one-liner from your character | **Free to set — a longer reply may use a bit more RP** |
| **Medium**   | A balanced length                    | Everyday roleplay, a nice mix of dialogue and description                                  | **Free to set — a longer reply may use a bit more RP** |
| **Long**     | Long, immersive replies              | Scenes where emotions run deep, when you need rich description                             | **Free to set — a longer reply may use a bit more RP** |
| **Extended** | The longest, most novelistic replies | Pivotal moments, when you want it to read like a full chapter of a story                   | **Free to set — a longer reply may use a bit more RP** |

> **Worth knowing:** **Choosing a length is free on every plan** — Short, Medium, Long, or Extended, the setting itself never costs anything. The only difference is that a longer reply generates more text, so on a premium model it may use a bit more of your weekly allowance / RP on that message. On the free Default model, even the longest reply still costs nothing.

***

## How is the cost calculated?

RP is deducted **once per message.** Your message and your character's reply are treated as a single bundle, and the cost comes out of that one bundle. In other words, "your message + the AI's reply" = one round.

Turning up the length doesn't add any flat fee — the length setting is free to choose on every plan. The only thing that changes:

* **Your weekly Premium Allowance / RP drains a bit faster:** The longer the reply, the more text the AI generates, so if you're using a premium model, that single message uses a little more of your weekly allowance / RP than a short one would. It's just part of the normal per-message usage cost, not a separate add-on. On the free Default model, longer replies still cost nothing. The same "more work = a bit more RP" idea also applies to setting your memory deep or running a large character profile.

Don't worry — **the app shows you the estimated cost before you send.** No surprise charges. [Red Points & Costs](/redchat.app/guides/red-points-and-costs.md)

> **Why does longer cost more?** A long reply means the AI has to "think" more and write more, which takes more computation. Short replies are light and fast. So keep it short most of the time and go long only for the moments that matter — that's the most economical way to play.

***

## What if I run out of RP?

**Your conversation never stops.**

The default model is unlimited for every user. The length setting is always free to choose, so even if your weekly Premium Allowance or RP runs dry, **you can keep chatting as much as you want — at any length — on the free Default model.** Premium models draw a bit of RP per message (a touch more for longer replies), so you'd just lean on the Default model until your RP refills or you top up.

> **Rest easy:** redchat never locks you out with a hard-lock. Even at 0 RP, the conversation with your character keeps going.

***

## Handy tips

* **Ride the flow on Short and switch to Long/Extended only for the decisive moment.** Leaving it on Extended every time drains RP fast. The trick is to change it on the fly to match the scene.
* **If replies feel like they're getting cut off too short,** bump the length up a notch. If they're getting too wordy, drop it down a notch.
* **RP is a permanent currency that never expires.** Once you top up, it doesn't disappear — so you can save it and spend it on a long, immersive day. [Red Points & Costs](/redchat.app/guides/red-points-and-costs.md)
* **If you also want sharper memory and smarter replies,** look beyond just response length and check out the AI model and memory settings you're using too. [Choosing an AI Model](/redchat.app/guides/choosing-an-ai-model.md), [Longer Memory](/redchat.app/guides/longer-memory.md)

***

## Frequently asked questions

**Q. Does Short cost any RP?** No. Short is **always free on every plan,** including the Free plan.

**Q. Does a subscription make longer replies free?** There's nothing to waive — **choosing a length is free for everyone, on every plan.** Short, Medium, Long, and Extended all cost nothing to set. The only difference is that a longer answer generates more text, so on a premium model it uses a little more RP on that message (on the free Default model it's still nothing). A subscription boosts other perks — response speed, weekly Premium Allowance, the number of personas, and more. [Plans & RP Usage](/redchat.app/faq/faq-plans-rp.md)

**Q. Can I change the length within a single conversation?** Yes! You can switch freely message by message. The new length applies from your next reply onward.

**Q. If I run out of RP, can I not use long replies at all?** You can still set any length you like — the length setting is always free. On a premium model, a long reply uses a bit of your weekly allowance / RP, so once that runs dry you'd just switch back to the **free Default model** (unlimited) and keep going. **The conversation never grinds to a halt.**

***

**In one line:** Choosing a length is free for everyone — Short, Medium, Long, and Extended all cost nothing to set. A longer reply just generates more text, so on a premium model it uses a little more RP on that message (the free Default model stays free), and the app tells you the estimated cost before you send — and even with no RP, the conversation keeps going on the Default model.

**Read next:** [Red Points & Costs](/redchat.app/guides/red-points-and-costs.md) · [Choosing an AI Model](/redchat.app/guides/choosing-an-ai-model.md) · [Longer Memory](/redchat.app/guides/longer-memory.md)

Spot anything missing or wrong in this guide? Let our support team know anytime — it goes a long way toward making these guides better.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://powerfan-1.gitbook.io/redchat.app/guides/response-length.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
