Base44 review, pricing and verdict

Base44 is an AI app builder owned by Wix that turns a prompt into an app with database and hosting; the free plan allows up to 5 apps.

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Last updated: 2026-11-03

Base44 is a prompt-driven AI app builder with a free plan capped at 5 apps and paid plans billed per credit allowance. Its security page lists SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, and GitHub code export starts on the Builder plan, which makes it a hosted-backend choice rather than a self-hosted one.

Hokai Editorial Rating: 3.8 / 5

  • ease of use: 4 / 10
  • value for money: 3.5 / 10
  • support quality: 3.5 / 10
  • feature completeness: 4 / 10

About Base44

Base44 is an Israeli AI app builder created by Maor Shlomo and bought by Wix in June 2025, in a deal reported at about $80 million up front plus earn-out payments through 2029. Describe an app, a website or an agent and it produces the front end, the database, user sign-in, file storage and hosting as one unit, running on Base44's own infrastructure. a16z placed it at number 46 on its Top 100 web list in October 2026.

The builder is chat first. Builder chat writes the app, Discussion mode lets you plan changes without touching the live app or spending credits, and a visual editor handles colours, fonts and spacing by clicking an element. Auto-generated API endpoints cover every data object, Stripe checkout is a one-click integration, and built-in email, analytics and an SEO and GEO dashboard cover launch and growth. Every change is versioned, so a bad edit can be rolled back.

Ownership and lock-in are the questions buyers ask first. Base44's pricing FAQ says the code, the data and the users are yours, and that two-way GitHub sync exports the full source to your own repository. GitHub integration is listed from the Builder plan up, while Starter lists in-app code edits only. Compared with Lovable, which generates a React and Supabase stack, Base44 keeps the backend inside its own platform, which is quicker to start and a bigger move if you later leave.

Pricing is credit based. Figures are per month when billed annually, and paying yearly takes 20% off each paid plan. Free is $0 with 25 message credits, 100 integration credits and up to 5 apps. Starter is $16 with 100 message credits and 2,000 integration credits. Builder is $40 with 250 and 10,000, plus AI model select and GitHub integration. Pro is $80 with 500 and 20,000, and Elite is $160 with 1,200 and 50,000 plus premium support. Enterprise is custom and adds SSO and a dedicated architect. Third-party services such as Stripe or SendGrid bill you directly.

It suits founders, product managers and small teams building MVPs, internal tools, customer portals and lightweight SaaS. For a development environment in the browser that covers many programming languages, Replit is the better fit. For React front ends that deploy to Vercel, look at v0, and for a Vite and WebContainers workflow Bolt.new is the closer match. Developers who prefer an editor-first workflow can compare Cursor or GitHub Copilot, and visual builders such as Framer, Bubble, Softr, Adalo and WeWeb take a more manual no-code route. Our roundups, the best AI app builders of 2026 and AI app builders with real pricing, compare them side by side, and Smart Match can narrow the list to your brief.

On security, Base44's security page lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and GDPR with a data processing agreement on request, AES-256 encryption at rest and a choice of data region. Its subprocessor directory names OpenAI and Anthropic as the providers of LLM calls, alongside Wix.com Ltd. Training opt-out sits on the Enterprise tier.

Pricing

Prices per month when billed annually, 20% cheaper than monthly. Free $0 (up to 5 apps). Starter $16.

Builder $40 (GitHub integration, AI model select). Pro $80. Elite $160 (premium support).

Enterprise custom. Credits per plan are in the comparison table. Third-party services such as Stripe and SendGrid bill separately.

Read from base44.com/pricing on 2026-11-03.

Plans and pricing
TierMonthly priceWhat it includes
FreeFree
Starter$16/mo
Builder$40/mo
Pro$80/mo
Elite$160/mo

Feature Comparison by Tier

FeatureProFreeEliteBuilderStarter
Message credits per month500251,200250100
Integration credits per month20,00010050,00010,0002,000
AppsUnlimitedUp to 5UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Custom domain✓—✓✓✓
GitHub integration✓—✓✓—
AI model select✓—✓✓—
Premium support——✓——

Key Features

  • Full-stack generation from a prompt: A single prompt yields a running app with its data layer, user accounts and publishing already in place, with no separate backend to set up.
  • Discussion mode: Plan or analyse a change in chat without touching the live app or spending message credits on edits.
  • Two-way GitHub sync: Paid plans from Builder up export the full source code to your own repository, and the pricing FAQ states you own the code, data and users.
  • One-click Stripe payments: Add a checkout flow or subscriptions through a Stripe integration, with auto-generated API endpoints for every data object.
  • Built-in growth tools: An SEO and GEO dashboard, social content generation, email and an analytics dashboard ship inside the platform.
  • Version history and rollback: Every change is tracked, so you can restore a previous version of the app, code or content.

Pros

  • Free plan includes up to 5 apps with authentication, database and analytics, so a working prototype costs nothing.
  • Backend, database, hosting and sign-in come from one prompt, which removes the Supabase or Firebase setup that Lovable and Bolt.new still ask for.
  • GitHub sync on the Builder plan gives a code-export route, and the vendor states the code belongs to the user.
  • Holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certification per its security page, which most prompt-to-app builders do not list.

Cons

  • Credits run out: message and integration credits are capped each month, and usage varies by action and the AI model chosen.
  • The backend runs on Base44 infrastructure, so leaving means moving data and logic even though the code exports.
  • Starter lists in-app code edits but not GitHub integration, so export needs the Builder plan or higher.
  • Training opt-out is listed as an Enterprise feature, which matters for teams building on confidential data.

Product Information

Cloud
Yes
Self-Hosted
No
On-Premise
No
Languages
English
Training
Documentation, Help centre

Data Handling

Training-data policy
Per the security page, workspace data can be excluded from AI model training on the Enterprise tier only.
Compliance
SOC 2 Type II · ISO 27001 · GDPR

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Base44 cost in 2026?

Billed annually, Base44 charges $16 a month for Starter, $40 for Builder, $80 for Pro and $160 for Elite, with a Free plan at $0. Enterprise is custom. Message credits rise from 25 on Free to 1,200 on Elite, and third-party services such as Stripe bill you directly.

Is Base44 free to use?

Yes. The Free plan needs no card, allows up to 5 apps and includes authentication, database functionality and analytics. It has no custom domain and no GitHub sync, and monthly credits are small enough that a real project usually outgrows it.

What are the best alternatives to Base44?

Lovable suits teams that want a React and Supabase codebase they host themselves. Replit fits people who want a browser IDE, and Bolt.new fits developers who want to iterate on code directly. v0 is the pick for React front ends deployed to Vercel.

Can you export your code from Base44?

Yes, from the Builder plan up. Base44 states that you own what you build, and its GitHub integration pushes the full source to your own repository. Starter does not list it. The backend still runs on Base44, so moving off means rehosting it.

How do you get started with Base44?

Open base44.com, describe the app, website or agent you want, and the builder generates it with a database and sign-in. Refine it by chatting, use Discussion mode to plan changes without spending credits, then publish or connect a custom domain on a paid plan.

Top Alternatives

  • Lovable: Pick Lovable if you want a React and Supabase codebase you host and control.
  • Replit: Pick Replit for a multi-language coding environment with real-time collaboration.
  • Bolt.new: Pick Bolt.new if you want to iterate on code directly and export it.

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