Pick Base44 if
- You want a simple working app with login and data, fast
- It's an internal tool for a small group
- You'll never need to run it off the platform
Pick Lovable if
- The app might become a product
- You want your code in Git from the free plan
- You need SSO, roles or a security review to pass
Short answer: Base44 is the simpler, cheaper way to a working app with users and data, and Lovable is the more portable one. Both build quickly with a backend included; the difference is what happens later. Lovable syncs code to Git on every plan and documents how to self-host; Base44 puts GitHub behind its $40 Builder plan and its apps still expect Base44's backend. Facts below are from both vendors' pricing pages and docs, checked November 1, 2026; see our Base44 and Lovable reviews for the detail.
Side by side
| Feature | Base44 | Lovable |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App builder | App builder |
| Cheapest paid plan | $16/mo billed annually (Starter) | $25/mo (Pro, 100 credits) |
| Free tier | 25 message credits and 100 integration credits a month, up to 5 apps, auth and database included | 5 build credits a day, capped at 30 a month; publishing to invited people only (10 per project) |
| Billed in | Message credits (building) and integration credits (app features calling AI, email and so on) | Credits per message (0.5 to 1.7+ in Lovable's own examples) |
| Builds | Web apps with built-in data entities, auth, analytics and AI agents | Web apps; apps created since May 13, 2026 use TanStack Start, older ones React + Vite |
| Backend | Integrated backend and database on every plan | Lovable Cloud: managed Supabase underneath (database, auth, storage, edge functions), or connect your own Supabase |
| Code export | Two-way GitHub sync on Builder and above, main branch only | GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket sync on every plan; .zip download on paid plans |
| Lock-in | Local development runs a local Base44 backend through its CLI; running without Base44 isn't documented | Cloud can't be disconnected once on; no access to the underlying Supabase project; data moves by manual migration |
| Rubric score | 3.0/5 | 3.7/5 |
Sources: base44.com/pricing, Lovable docs: subscription plans, and the docs linked in each review. Prices checked Nov 1, 2026, USD before tax.
Scores
- SpeedEven
- DepthLovable
- BackendEven
- ExitLovable
- PricingEven
- TeamLovable
Scores out of 5 on our published rubric. The reasons for each score are in the Base44 and Lovable reviews.
They tie on speed, backend and pricing predictability. Lovable leads on depth, exit and team readiness, which is why it scores 3.7 to Base44's 3.0.
The differences that matter
What you pay for
Lovable meters one thing for building (credits per message) and gives small monthly grants for its Cloud backend and AI; usage beyond them comes out of the same credits. Base44 meters building in message credits and the running app in integration credits: by Base44's own figures, about 1 per email, 1 per LLM call on its automatic model (from 3 on other models), 1 per generated image, and 1 per 100 backend function calls. Database operations are free on Base44. Base44's credits don't roll over; Lovable's monthly credits roll over for up to two months.
Backend
Both include a backend. Base44's is built into every plan, including Free, with entities, auth and analytics. Lovable Cloud is managed Supabase with database, auth, storage and edge functions; alternatively you can connect your own Supabase project from the start, which Base44 doesn't offer.
Getting your code out
This is the decisive difference. Lovable: Git sync to GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket on every plan, .zip on paid plans, and a self-hosting guide that covers moving the frontend and the backend. Base44: two-way GitHub sync from the Builder plan, on the main branch only, with local development that runs base44 dev to start a local Base44 backend. Base44 doesn't document running an app without its platform.
Teams
Lovable Business adds SSO, role-based access, a security center, a DPA and training opt-out. No Base44 plan on the pricing page lists SSO or roles.
Which to pick
| Situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Booking tool or tracker for a small team | Base44 | Fastest and cheapest with login and data |
| MVP you hope to raise money on | Lovable | Portable code and a documented exit |
| Company tool that needs SSO | Lovable Business | SSO and roles on a published plan |
| Lowest monthly cost, no Git needed | Base44 Starter | $16 a month billed annually |
| Developers will take it over later | Lovable | Git on every plan, standard stack |
Questions people ask
Is Base44 cheaper than Lovable?
At the entry level, yes: Base44 Starter is $16 a month billed annually against Lovable Pro at $25 monthly or $21 annually. But Starter has no GitHub access; Base44's GitHub sync starts at Builder, $40 a month billed annually. Base44 also charges integration credits for what the running app does, such as emails and AI calls. Checked November 1, 2026.
Which one owns my code?
Both say you own what you build. In practice Lovable is easier to leave: Git sync on every plan, a .zip download on paid plans, and a documented self-hosting guide. Base44's two-way GitHub sync needs the Builder plan, and local development still runs through Base44's CLI and backend.
Which is better for an internal tool?
For a simple internal tool used by a small team, Base44 is quicker and cheaper, with login and data built in on every plan. If the tool needs SSO, roles or might grow into a product, Lovable's Business plan and easier exit are worth the extra.