“Free AI editing” can describe three very different things: a free script, a paid model account, or a free trial of a hosted editing service. The distinction matters to writers deciding what to do with an unpublished book.
What the free EditRoast Skills actually include
The open-source Full Manuscript Roast and Proofreading ZIP packs include Python scripts for DOCX/TXT/Markdown preparation, chapter splitting, progress tracking and evidence validation, plus instructions for Codex and Claude Code. Downloads require no EditRoast account or payment. No fixed word cap is enforced by the script; model allowances still apply.
Does local mean offline?
The bundled preparation and validation scripts are local and make no EditRoast network calls. When a user instructs a connected AI agent to analyze a scene, however, the model provider can receive that scene under its own privacy policy. A locally installed skill is not proof that all AI inference happens locally.
How to audit the pack yourself
- Open the public GitHub source.
- Inspect the Python entry points and avoid unrelated third-party downloads.
- Read the reproducible privacy check, run the test on a fresh clone and review the passing GitHub Actions run.
- Check your own Codex/Claude account settings, enabled tools and data-handling policy.
- Never commit client manuscripts or API keys to version control.
The project-run check tests Python imports, risky execution calls, ZIP contents and common credential patterns. It is not a third-party certificate or protection against malware on the author's computer.
Where the charges can appear
A provider subscription and an API key are different billing arrangements. The open-source pack has no EditRoast processing charge, but a long manuscript consumes many model turns. A paid EditRoast editorial report is a separate delivered service. A human editor may charge for specialist judgment, development and accountability that no automated test can certify.
When to stop using AI and consult a professional
Ask a human when privacy restrictions prohibit cloud processing, when sensitive factual or legal assertions need verification, or when the stakes of a rights negotiation exceed the limits of automated suggestions. For an independent author's practical experience, see Nadi Petrova's guide to publishing tools.