Last updated: 2026-08-19
Shakespeare is an open-source, browser-based AI website and app builder: every project file is stored locally instead of on a vendor's server. Unlike single-model competitors, it works with any AI provider you bring your own key for, and the entire codebase stays open to inspect or fork.
About Shakespeare
Shakespeare is an open-source, decentralized AI website and app builder created by developer Alex Gleason and maintained by Soapbox. It launched in July 2025 at an event hosted by the Human Rights Foundation, and is funded by OpenSats and the Human Rights Foundation with no venture capital, ads, or data sales. The full codebase is published under the AGPL 3.0 license on GitLab at soapbox-pub/shakespeare. Every project lives entirely client-side: files are stored in the browser through IndexedDB, and edits made through the AI chat panel update a live preview instantly. The same browser session doubles as a full development environment, with a terminal, TypeScript compilation, and Git operations that work against standard providers or Nostr Git URLs. Because there is no drag-and-drop mode or starter template library, Shakespeare rewards builders who are already comfortable working from a command line over newcomers who expect a visual editor.
Screenshots
Pricing
Free to use, with no subscriptions or seat fees. Costs come only from AI generation tokens consumed, tracked in real time as you work. Any provider works: bring your own OpenAI or Anthropic key, connect through a Nostr Service Provider, or run a local model instead.
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
- Open-source under a copyleft license, so you are never locked out of your own code and can fork or extend Shakespeare itself if needed.
- Nothing lives on Soapbox's servers, so you keep full control over where a project gets deployed instead of being tied to one host.
- Support for any AI model plus decentralized Nostr Service Providers gives privacy and flexibility few other builders offer.
Cons
- The ecosystem is brand new, with no template library, minimal component library, and virtually no community for troubleshooting 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
How much do you pay for Shakespeare?
Shakespeare has no subscription plans or seat licenses. You pay only for the AI tokens a project consumes, shown with real-time cost tracking as you build. Use your own OpenAI or Anthropic key, a decentralized Nostr provider, or a locally run model to control that spend directly.
What do you get on Shakespeare's free tier?
The whole platform: there is no paid plan, and the only spend is the AI tokens a project consumes. During the beta, calls to Gemini Flash cost nothing, so you can build and test without paying until you switch to a paid model.
What are Shakespeare's closest competitors?
Webflow, Bubble, and Wix are the nearest proprietary builders, each hosting your project on their own servers. Webflow leads on polished visual design, Bubble on complex database-backed apps, and Wix on simple templated sites. Shakespeare's difference is code ownership: you keep the project and host it wherever you like.
What separates Shakespeare from Lovable?
Compared to Lovable, Shakespeare trades a managed, polished workflow for full code ownership: nothing is stored on a company's servers, and you can export and redeploy the project anywhere at any time. Lovable gets a non-technical builder to a finished app faster, while Shakespeare suits developers who want direct control over the codebase without platform lock-in.
How do you set up Shakespeare?
Open shakespeare.diy in your browser; no download or account signup is required to start a project. Add an API key for a provider such as OpenAI or Anthropic (or choose a Nostr Service Provider) so the AI assistant can generate code, then describe what you want to build in the chat panel and watch the live preview update as Shakespeare writes it.
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.