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Dyad is our top pick for buyers who want editable code, local project files and a choice of AI model. For spreadsheet-based operations, Glide is a stronger fit; Softr makes more sense for portals and internal tools. The low starting prices can be tempting, but credit limits, per-user charges and platform lock-in change the value equation. We ranked these tools for overall fit, not just the cheapest entry price, and included the main trade-off to weigh before switching.
Quick picksThe shortlist
DyadDyadBest overall · $20/mo
GlideGlideBest for spreadsheets · $25/mo
SoftrSoftrBest for portals · $19/mo
Base44Base44Best for quick builds · $16/mo
ReplitReplitBest bundled infrastructure · $18/mo
LovableLovableBest hosted prototype · $21/mo
FlutterFlowFlutterFlowBest for Flutter apps · $29/mo
EmergentEmergentBest for idea testing · $17/mo
BubbleBubbleBest for MVP validation · $29/mo
Bolt.newBolt.newBest backend bundle · $25/mo
v0v0Best for Vercel teams · $30/mo
RorkRorkBest for mobile prototypes · $20/mo
Hostinger HorizonsHostinger HorizonsBest for small experiments · $6.99/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DyadDyad | 8.0 | $20/mo | Yes | — |
| GlideGlide | 6.8 | $25/mo | Yes | — |
| SoftrSoftr | 6.6 | $19/mo | Yes | Yes |
| Base44Base44 | 6.4 | $16/mo | Yes | — |
| ReplitReplit | 6.3 | $18/mo | No | — |
| LovableLovable | 6.2 | $21/mo | Yes | — |
| FlutterFlowFlutterFlow | 6.4 | $29/mo | Yes | — |
| EmergentEmergent | 6.4 | $17/mo | Yes | — |
| BubbleBubble | 6.0 | $29/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| Bolt.newBolt.new | 5.4 | $25/mo | Yes | — |
| v0v0 | 5.6 | $30/mo | Yes | — |
| RorkRork | 6.0 | $20/mo | Yes | — |
| Hostinger HorizonsHostinger Horizons | 5.5 | $6.99/mo | No | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallDyadDyad
Dyad ranks first for buyers who want project files on their own machine, editable code and the freedom to choose an AI model. The pricing page lists a free plan and a paid starting price of $20. Its main catch is credit limits on paid plans, so check how much usage you get before relying on it for a larger build.
What works
- Free plan includes 20 Basic Agent messages per day
- Runs locally and keeps project files on disk
- Works with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Ollama, and LM Studio
What doesn't
- Pro includes 200 AI credits per month, not unlimited usage
- Max costs $79/month for 900 AI credits
- Credit reload price is not specified
- Best for spreadsheetsGlideGlide
Glide is a good match for teams turning spreadsheet-based operations into internal apps, especially when role-based access matters. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $25. Its AI app generation is a plus, but caps and limits on monetization can make it a weaker choice if you plan to grow beyond internal use.
What works
- Builds apps from existing Excel or Google Sheets data
- Keeps app data synced with the live source
- Row-level permissions control what users can see and do
What doesn't
- Free plan limits teams to 2 members and 10 projects
- Basic allows only 2 published apps and 1 enabled workflow
- Plus is $50/month and allows 3 team members
- Best for portalsSoftrSoftr
Softr suits internal tools and client portals, including teams replacing an Airtable-and-Zapier setup or generating CRUD apps with AI. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $19. The trade-off is per-user pricing: costs can rise as more people need access, and past price increases make it worth checking the current terms.
What works
- AI builder generates database, UI and workflows together
- Built-in database and automation can replace Airtable and Zapier
- Granular user roles suit client and partner portals
What doesn't
- App user caps are low even on paid tiers
- Not built for complex apps, per Reddit comparisons to Bubble
- Past pricing changes spiked bills for existing free users
- Best for quick buildsBase44Base44
Base44 is aimed at fast prototypes and internal business tools, with hosting bundled in. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $16, putting its entry point below many rivals here. That price may suit a quick validation build, but the published guidance says to think twice before trusting it with a complex production app.
What works
- Hosting, authentication and database are included
- Free plan includes analytics and up to five apps
- Connects to Slack, Google Calendar and HubSpot
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at 25 message credits monthly
- Starter costs $16/month billed annually
- Third-party services bill separately
- Best bundled infrastructureReplitReplit
Replit combines an AI Agent with hosting and a database, and its team features include SSO, SOC 2 and admin controls. The published starting price is $18. That makes it worth considering for non-coders willing to work step by step, but token costs and inconsistent results are reported concerns; check expected usage before committing.
What works
- Bundles auth, database, hosting, and monitoring with zero setup
- Replit Agent writes and publishes production code from a prompt
- Model routing reportedly cuts average cost 65% versus old Max Mode
What doesn't
- No free plan; Core billing starts at $20 a month
- One 294-comment Reddit thread flatly calls it a scam
- One user reported spending $700–$800 fixing one Agent-built app
- Best hosted prototypeLovableLovable
Lovable fits nontechnical builders who want a hosted web-app prototype, solo users who value included hosting, and teams that need SSO and access controls. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $21. It is less convincing once credit costs add up or a prototype grows into a production app with more complex requirements.
What works
- Prompt-based app building with hosting handled
- Free plan available for testing
- Pro includes private projects and custom domains
What doesn't
- Free projects are public on a lovable.app domain
- Free build credits cap at 30 per month
- Credit top-ups cost extra after included grants
- Best for Flutter appsFlutterFlowFlutterFlow
FlutterFlow is a fit for builders targeting Flutter apps, including solo users shipping a simple app and teams that want visual controls or code export. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $29. Check export terms and team pricing before choosing it: free exports are a concern, and predictable team costs may be harder to get.
What works
- Generates and checks app screens from a plain-language description
- Lets you review changes on a copy before pushing them live
- Includes email, Google, and Apple sign-in
What doesn't
- Free plan has no code download or store deployment
- Basic AI usage is sized for a simple app
- Annual Basic pricing requires $351 upfront
- Best for idea testingEmergentEmergent
Emergent is built for prototyping web or mobile app ideas and includes hosting, with a free tier for trying it out. The pricing page lists paid plans from $17. It is worth comparing for a short prototype, but the published guidance flags credit limits and reliability as issues to check before paying or putting a larger project on it.
What works
- Free plan includes 10 monthly credits
- Builds web and mobile experiences
- Includes website, CRM and dashboard builders
What doesn't
- Standard includes only 100 monthly credits
- Pro costs $200 monthly before annual billing
- Credit cost per task is not specified
- Best for MVP validationBubbleBubble
Bubble can help solo founders validate an app idea or build an MVP, and it supports web and mobile projects. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $29. The longer-term calculation is less attractive if workload-unit charges rise with use or you later want to leave the platform, so plan for both before scaling.
What works
- AI Agent turns a prompt into an editable starting app
- One platform covers web, iOS, and Android apps
- Visual editor gives hands-on control over backend logic
What doesn't
- Workload-unit pricing means costs can spike with traffic
- Starter plan jumps to $32/month without annual billing
- Reddit users report a 2024 price hike with features removed
- Best backend bundleBolt.newBolt.new
Bolt.new is worth considering when you want a backend bundled with the app builder, centralized billing and seats for a team. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $25. Reddit users report wasted tokens and stalled projects, which can weaken the value of that bundled setup if you need many rounds of rework.
What works
- Backend, hosting and databases bundled, no extra platform needed
- Automatic model routing aims to balance quality and cost
- Unused Pro tokens roll over to the next month
What doesn't
- Reddit users report tokens burned on empty or failed builds
- Free plan capped at 300K tokens daily, 1M monthly
- Multiple threads describe bugs worsening as projects grow
- Best for Vercel teamsv0v0
v0 fits teams already committed to Vercel that want one-click deployment, quick UI prototypes or component scaffolding. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $30. That is a higher starting point than several tools here, and usage-based credits plus mixed Reddit reviews make it harder to recommend outside a Vercel-based stack.
What works
- One-click deploy straight to Vercel production
- GitHub sync pushes code directly to repos
- Design mode allows visual fine-tuning after generation
What doesn't
- Free plan limited to 7 messages per day
- Credit-based pricing makes costs unpredictable per prompt
- Reddit threads report paying per bad or failed answer
- Best for mobile prototypesRorkRork
Rork is aimed at mobile app prototypes built with chat-based prompts, and it may suit teams that need iOS publishing. The pricing page lists a free plan and paid plans from $20. Budget for credits before starting, and decide how you will take the code with you; the published guidance flags both as planning points.
What works
- Build mobile apps by chatting with AI
- Supports App Store publishing
- Rork Backend includes realtime data, auth and storage
What doesn't
- Free plan is limited to design mode
- Pro’s 100 monthly credits cost $20
- Extra credit rates are not published
- Best for small experimentsHostinger HorizonsHostinger Horizons
Hostinger Horizons is best kept to small prompt-built website projects, particularly if you already use Hostinger or want to try a template-based experiment. Its starting price is $6.99, and the published plan details list 30 monthly credits. That low entry price leaves little room for rework, so it is a narrow pick rather than a general app-building choice.
What works
- Build from a plain-language prompt
- Supports web app creation without coding
- Includes templates and website rebuilding
What doesn't
- Explorer includes only 30 AI credits monthly
- Monthly billing costs $9.99
- Reddit users report Supabase login problems
03How we chose
We compare AI app builders on the costs and constraints that matter after the first prompt: published pricing, plan limits, credit rules, hosting terms, and what users can export or keep. We also consult product documentation to check how features and limits are described, and Reddit discussions for reported friction or switching concerns. These sources do not replace a hands-on test, and we do not claim to have run benchmarks or built apps in each product. Where pricing or ownership terms are not published clearly, we treat that as a comparison gap rather than guessing.
04Compare the real cost, not just the entry price
A low starting price does not tell you what a working app will cost. Check the current pricing page for the plan you would actually need, then read its limits: credits, generations, collaborators, projects, and any usage caps. Confirm whether credits renew, expire, or are shared across features; if the vendor does not publish those terms, treat the cost as uncertain.
- Price the likely monthly usage, not a one-off prompt.
- Check whether hosting, a custom domain, or deployment is included or billed separately.
- Look for plan restrictions that could force an upgrade, such as limits on users, records, or publishing.
- Compare the same workload across tools; a credit is not a standardized unit.
Before switching, estimate a normal month and a busy month. A plan that fits only when usage is unusually light may not be the cheaper choice.
05Check hosting, export and ownership before you build
A generated app is only useful if you can run it, maintain it, and leave with it. Before committing, check the docs and plan terms for where the app is hosted, how deployment works, and whether the platform supports the domain and integrations you need. Do not assume that a visual editor or generated code means you can export a complete, portable project.
- Find out whether you can export source code, data, or both.
- Check what happens to the live app if you cancel or downgrade.
- Confirm whether the app depends on platform-specific services, databases, or workflows.
- Look for documented limits on publishing, collaboration, and app access.
If portability matters, treat it as a requirement, not a bonus. Ask the vendor for written answers where the docs are unclear, and include the cost and effort of moving data or rebuilding platform-specific parts in your switching decision.
Questions people ask
How should I compare AI app builder credits?
Do not compare credit counts as if they were equivalent. Check what actions consume credits, whether they renew or expire, and whether the vendor publishes per-action costs. Estimate your expected usage from the plan terms; if the conversion is unclear, mark the monthly cost as uncertain.
Does an AI app builder include hosting?
That depends on the product and plan. Check the vendor's pricing page and docs for deployment, hosting, custom-domain support, and any usage limits. Do not assume that being able to preview an app means it is hosted for public use or included in the advertised price.
Can I export an app and leave later?
Check separately for source-code export, data export, and the ability to keep a deployed app running after cancellation. These are different things. If the docs do not clearly explain what you can take with you or what stops working, ask the vendor before building a business-critical app.
Should I choose a prompt-to-app or no-code builder?
Choose based on how you expect to build and maintain the app, not the label. Compare the editing workflow, documented limits, deployment terms, integrations, and portability against your requirements. If other people need to maintain the app, confirm they can understand and change it without relying on repeated prompts.