Shakespeare: Open-Source AI Writer May 2026
Last updated: 2026-06-01
Shakespeare is an open-source, decentralized AI website builder running entirely in your browser. Support any AI model, export projects, and pay only for...
Shakespeare is an open-source, decentralized AI website builder launched in July 2025 by Alex Gleason and backed by OpenSats and the Human Rights Foundation. Runs entirely in your browser with local file storage, supports any AI model, exports complete projects, and charges only for AI tokens consumed. Free to use with no subscriptions or vendor lock-in. AGPL 3.0 licensed.
About Shakespeare
Shakespeare is an open-source, decentralized AI-powered website and web app builder created by Alex Gleason and maintained by Soapbox. Launched in July 2025 at an event hosted by the Human Rights Foundation, Shakespeare represents a fundamental shift away from proprietary, centralized website builders by running entirely in your browser with no downloads, no vendor lock-in, and complete data ownership. The platform is backed by OpenSats and the Human Rights Foundation with no venture capital, no ads, and no data sales. Unlike Webflow, Bubble, or Wix which trap your code and data on proprietary servers, Shakespeare stores all your files locally in your browser using IndexedDB with LightningFS. You describe your website or web app in plain language to an AI assistant, and Shakespeare generates the code and interface. The live preview shows your site side-by-side with the chat interface, with every change appearing instantly. When you are done, export your complete project—HTML, CSS, JavaScript, databases—and deploy anywhere: your own server, Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages, or anywhere else. Shakespeare's most powerful feature is complete AI provider flexibility. Unlike competitors locked to one model, Shakespeare supports any AI provider: bring your own API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Routstr, PayPerQ, or run your own model locally. During the beta, Gemini Flash is free. Shakespeare also integrates with Nostr Service Providers, a decentralized alternative for teams who want to use AI without sharing their API keys with a centralized company. All development happens entirely in your browser with a full IDE: text editor, file browser, terminal commands via chat, Git integration (client-side, supporting Nostr Git URLs), TypeScript compilation via esbuild-wasm, and a virtual Linux environment with commands like cat, grep, ls, mv, rm, head, tail, git, and hexdump. Pricing is radically simple: free to use, pay only for AI generation tokens consumed with real-time cost tracking. No monthly subscriptions. No hidden fees. No platform lock-in. The codebase is 100% open-source under the AGPL 3.0 license, available on GitLab at soapbox-pub/shakespeare. Shakespeare is not for everyone. It requires comfort with command-line tools, Git, and decentralized protocols. The ecosystem is brand new with no templates, limited component libraries, and a tiny community. Compared to Webflow's design polish or Bubble's pre-built workflows, Shakespeare is raw and unpolished. But for developers and builders who refuse vendor lock-in and want complete control over their code and data, Shakespeare represents the future of web development.
Screenshots
Pricing
Completely free. No subscriptions. Pay only for AI generation tokens consumed, with real-time cost tracking. Gemini Flash is free during beta. Support any AI provider: bring your own OpenAI/Anthropic keys, use Nostr Service Providers for decentralized access, or run your own model locally.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Code Generation: Describe your website or web app in plain language and Shakespeare generates HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and databases automatically with a live preview updating in real time.
- Browser-Based IDE: Complete development environment in your browser: text editor, file browser, terminal, Git integration, TypeScript compilation, virtual Linux environment with standard commands, all without downloading or installing anything.
- Local File Storage: All your project files are stored locally in your browser using IndexedDB, so your code stays on your machine and never touches Soapbox's servers.
- Any AI Provider Support: Bring your own API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Routstr, PayPerQ, or run your own model locally. No lock-in to a single AI vendor or model.
- Client-Side Git Integration: Full Git operations (clone, push, pull) happen entirely in your browser using isomorphic-git, supporting standard Git providers and Nostr Git URLs (nostr://).
- Complete Project Export: Export your entire project as a deployable application and host anywhere: your own server, Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages, or any infrastructure you control.
Pros
- 100% open-source under AGPL 3.0 with no proprietary lock-in: your code stays yours and you can fork or modify Shakespeare itself if needed.
- Runs entirely in your browser with local file storage, so you control your data completely and can deploy to any host without platform restrictions.
- Support for any AI model (bring your own keys) plus decentralized Nostr Service Providers gives privacy and flexibility no other builder offers.
Cons
- Launched July 2025, so ecosystem is brand new with no template library, minimal component library, and virtually no user community for help or shared projects.
- Requires comfort with command-line tools, Git operations, and Nostr protocol concepts, making it inaccessible to non-technical creators compared to Webflow or Wix.
- Browser-based development environment may struggle with very large projects, complex backend logic, or teams requiring strict version control workflows beyond what isomorphic-git provides.
Product Information
- Cloud
- Yes
- Self-Hosted
- Yes
- On-Premise
- No
- Languages
- English
- Training
- Documentation, Soapbox Blog, Community (Nostr), Video tutorials
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shakespeare and what does it do?
Shakespeare is an open-source, decentralized AI-powered website and web app builder created by Alex Gleason and maintained by Soapbox. Launched in July 2025 at an event hosted by the Human Rights Foundation, Shakespeare runs entirely in your browser with no downloads. You describe your website in plain language to an AI assistant, Shakespeare generates the code and interface, and you export the complete project to deploy anywhere. All files are stored locally in your browser, never on Soapbox's servers.
How much does Shakespeare cost?
Shakespeare is completely free. There are no monthly subscriptions, no hidden fees, and no platform lock-in. You pay only for AI generation tokens consumed, with real-time cost tracking showing exactly what you spend. During the beta, Gemini Flash is free. You can bring your own API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, or other providers, or use decentralized Nostr Service Providers to access AI without sharing credentials with a centralized company.
What are the main features of Shakespeare?
The core features are AI-powered code generation from natural language descriptions, a browser-based IDE with text editor, file browser, terminal commands, and Git integration, local file storage using IndexedDB so your code never leaves your machine, support for any AI provider (bring your own keys or use Nostr), client-side Git operations supporting Nostr Git URLs, and complete project export so you can deploy anywhere.
Is Shakespeare free to use?
Yes, Shakespeare is completely free to use. You pay only for AI generation tokens consumed with real-time cost tracking. Gemini Flash is free during the beta period. There are no monthly subscriptions, no seat licenses, and no platform fees. You can use Shakespeare as much as you want; the only cost is the AI tokens you actually consume.
What are the best alternatives to Shakespeare?
The main alternatives are Webflow (proprietary, design-focused, $12-165/month), Bubble (proprietary, full-stack app builder, $30-529/month), and Wix (proprietary, website builder, $14-99/month). Choose Webflow if you want beautiful design with pixel-perfect control but accept vendor lock-in. Choose Bubble if you need complex database-driven apps on a proprietary platform. Choose Wix if you want simplicity and templates. Choose Shakespeare if you refuse vendor lock-in, want complete code ownership, and are comfortable with Git and command-line tools.
Who is Shakespeare best for?
Shakespeare is best for open-source advocates and developers who refuse vendor lock-in, privacy-conscious builders using decentralized AI through Nostr Service Providers, and full-stack developers comfortable with Git and command-line tools. It is not a good fit for non-technical creators needing templates and drag-and-drop simplicity, enterprise teams requiring formal support and SLAs, or teams needing a large ecosystem of plugins and pre-built components.
Can I use any AI model with Shakespeare?
Yes, Shakespeare supports any AI model. You can bring your own API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Routstr, PayPerQ, or run your own model locally on your machine. You can also use decentralized Nostr Service Providers to access AI without sharing your credentials with a centralized company. This flexibility means you are never locked into a single AI vendor or model, and you can switch providers anytime without rebuilding your project.
Top Alternatives
- Lovable: Pick Lovable if you want a managed, polished app builder with deployment included; pick Shakespeare if code ownership and zero platform lock-in matter more than hand-holding.
- v0: Choose v0 when you need beautiful React UI components in the Vercel ecosystem; choose Shakespeare when you want full project ownership and multi-model flexibility.
- Replit: Pick Replit for collaborative coding and instant deployment; pick Shakespeare when open-source principles and decentralized storage are non-negotiable.