Shakespeare Review: Open-Source Decentralized AI Builder | hokai.io
Shakespeare is an open-source, decentralized AI website builder running entirely in your browser. Support any AI model, export projects, and pay only for tokens. No lock-in.
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.
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.
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.