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It's a split decision.
Choose Base44 for a lower-cost start, named integrations and a bundled backend, database, authentication and hosting. Choose Lovable if desktop and mobile project management, code download and edit on Pro, or credit scaling to 10,000 matter more. Both are hosted, prompt-led builders, and neither publishes an open-source license or self-hosting option. Before adopting either for a production system, confirm how you can export data and move the app's logic and infrastructure.
01Side by side
| Base44 | Lovable | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Base44 starts at $16 annually; Lovable at $21 annually. | Lovable starts at $21 annually; Base44 at $16 annually. |
| Free tier | 25 message credits, 100 integration credits, up to five apps. | 30 monthly build-credit cap; projects are public. |
| API and SDKs | Base44 supports external services via API. | Lovable emphasizes connectors, without a described API workflow. |
| Integrations | Named Slack, Google Calendar, HubSpot and Salesforce integrations. | Connects existing tech stack; partner names aren't listed. |
| Deployment model | Bundled backend, database, authentication and hosting. | Managed hosting, SSL and backend infrastructure. |
| Platforms | Web. | Web, desktop and mobile. |
| Limits and scaling | Plans top out at 1,200 monthly message credits. | Credit plans scale to 10,000 monthly credits. |
| Lock-in and data export | Base44's code-export path is not published. | Pro includes code download and editing. |
Base44 Choose Base44 if
- Choose Base44 if a lower annual starting price matters.
- Choose Base44 if you need named one-click integrations.
- Choose Base44 if you want built-in analytics and marketing tools.
Lovable Choose Lovable if
- Choose Lovable if desktop and mobile project management matter.
- Choose Lovable if Pro code download and editing fit your workflow.
- Choose Lovable if you need credit plans up to 10,000 monthly.
02Pricing at real usage
Base44 Free includes 25 message credits, 100 integration credits and up to five apps, with authentication, database and analytics. Lovable Free grants five build credits daily (30 monthly maximum), 20 Cloud credits, four in-app AI credits and one connector credit; projects are public on lovable.app.
Base44's annual-billed plans are Starter $16, Builder $40, Pro $80 and Elite $160 per month; annual billing saves 20%. Monthly billing is available, but its prices are not listed. Lovable Pro costs $21 monthly on annual billing or $25 month-to-month; Business is $42 or $50. Both start at 100 monthly credits. Lovable scales to 10,000 credits, priced at $2,250/month for Pro or $4,300 for Business. Top-ups cost $15 per 50 Pro credits or $30 per 50 Business credits. Backend and deployed-AI use draws credits after included grants are depleted; Base44 third-party services bill separately.
03API, SDKs and integration
Base44 builds from plain-language prompts and packages backend, database, authentication, payments and hosting. For connections, it lists one-click integrations with Slack, Google Calendar, HubSpot and Salesforce, and says external services can connect through an API. Lovable also builds from prompts, then connects to a user's existing tech stack without integration code; its homepage does not name partner services.
Neither vendor publishes a language-specific SDK, generated project framework or CLI workflow. Teams planning to automate builds or manage generated code in CI should confirm available APIs, repository sync and deployment controls before adopting either. Base44 lists GitHub integration on Builder; Lovable Pro includes code download and editing. Those features offer different routes into a codebase, but neither product's described connector model is a documented SDK.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Both are hosted platforms: Base44 bundles app backend and hosting, while Lovable handles hosting, SSL and backend infrastructure. Neither vendor publishes an open-source license or self-hosting option, and Base44 does not describe a code-export route.
Lovable says code and data stay yours, and Pro includes code download and editing. That gives teams a stated way to retrieve and change code, but does not document a self-hosted deployment path or a complete data-export format. Base44's integrated backend, authentication and hosting reduce setup, but migration depends on how its app logic and stored data can be extracted. Before committing, ask both vendors about database exports, authentication migration, generated-code ownership and redeployment outside their hosted platform.
Questions people ask
Is there an alternative to Lovable?
Yes. Base44 is an alternative for prompt-built apps, with backend, authentication, database and hosting bundled. It also lists named integrations and a free tier. Choose based on whether its hosted workflow fits; Lovable is stronger where desktop and mobile access or Pro code download and editing matter.
How much is Base44 per month?
Base44 Free costs $0. Paid annual-billed plans are Starter at $16, Builder at $40, Pro at $80 and Elite at $160 per month. The pricing page says annual billing saves 20%; monthly billing is available, but it does not list monthly prices.
Who uses Lovable?
Lovable's homepage lists Adidas, Asana, ElevenLabs, Zendesk and Workday under “Trusted by top brands.” It does not describe each organization's deployment or scale, so the named companies do not establish an individual team's use case or technical fit.
What's a Lovable?
Lovable is a prompt-led app builder that generates software and handles hosting, SSL and backend infrastructure. It also offers connectors, payments and security features. Its plans range from a free tier to paid Pro and Business plans, with a custom Enterprise option.